298 days, today.
I know EXACTLY how you feel. And that's why it took me some five tries to quit. Longest I've ever gone before now was 97 days. Not only did I have a psycho-social/emotional dependence on alcohol, but I genuinely enjoyed the taste. Not a good combo.
It's imperative that you don't let that conditioned memory get the better of you. Like anything else you do regularly, your mind has programmed itself to the cause and effect of alcohol consumption. It knows that usually when you feel Sensation A (angry/sad/lonely/depressed), you have a significant intake of Stimulus X (alcohol, in this case), which produces Sensation B (calm/temporary euphoria/increased confidence/etc.).
You need to replace Stimulus X with a new Stimulus that's auditory, visual, or physically-intensive so that you can program your CNS to recognize Stimulus Y as a response to Sensation A.
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01-24-2013, 07:29 PM #5671Near, far, wherever you are...
...I believe that the heart does go on.
Once more, you open the door.
And you're here in my heart.
And my heart will go on and on.
*HILARY/MICHELLE 2016*
-Misc Progressive Thinkers Crew-
{I Need Feminism Because Women Bring Us Life}
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01-24-2013, 10:22 PM #5672
- Join Date: Nov 2010
- Location: San Bernardino, California, United States
- Age: 59
- Posts: 32,348
- Rep Power: 187052
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01-25-2013, 04:31 PM #5673
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01-25-2013, 04:38 PM #5674
- Join Date: Sep 2007
- Location: Monticello, Kentucky, United States
- Age: 59
- Posts: 12,391
- Rep Power: 0
if your asking "when will it get better?"
I remember asking myself "is it ever going to get better?"
Feeling like you will always have the anxiety, cravings, the guilt and shame and the other negative things that seem be ever present in early recovery.
For those who are serious about working the 12 steps, getting involved in recovery instead of just going to meetings hoping you absorb sobriety by osmosis.
If you are actively pursuing sobriety your life will improve. you may never get rich financially, but if your like most newcomers you couldn't handle being rich anyway
you will lose that sense of impending doom that always hangs around, the feeling that any minute the whole thing will come crashing down. The feeling that you will always have to be on the lookout and guarding against that next drink will lessen and you will begin to just know that "today I am not taking a drink or using drugs".
Keep at it and work hard at your sobriety than you did at trying to drink and drug and you will reap many rewards.
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01-25-2013, 08:57 PM #5675
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01-25-2013, 09:10 PM #5676
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01-27-2013, 05:31 AM #5677
- Join Date: Jun 2010
- Location: Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Age: 41
- Posts: 610
- Rep Power: 453
Well that is my first week sober done, last drink 20th January. I feel better already even sleeping quite good and got back to training on Friday after getting out hospital on Thursday. I don't feel too anxious to be honest but just slightly. I went to the gym on Friday, gym yesterday afternoon and then went out running between 11pm-12am last night. Reason I went so late was because I had so much energy and enthusiasm for some reason. Going to gym again today and may actually start going EVERY single day to take my mind off things and to use unspent energy. Plus having bipolar I can get hypos at anytime which makes me very "high". Still have shaky hands a little but that may be due to having too much coffee this morning lol, something I am going to avoid in the future as well, see if it can help it plus tablets I am on can cause parksonian(sp?) symptoms so who knows.
Feel good about the future and look forward to sobriety and though I have suffered from anxiety all my life I know the drink made it worse and hopefully the anxiety will decrease as the days, weeks and months go on.
From reading other peoples stories everyone seems to have an improved life from stopping drinking and hopefully I will be one of these as well.
God bless
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01-27-2013, 07:34 AM #5678
- Join Date: Nov 2010
- Location: San Bernardino, California, United States
- Age: 59
- Posts: 32,348
- Rep Power: 187052
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01-27-2013, 10:14 AM #5679
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01-29-2013, 09:52 AM #5680
- Join Date: Jun 2010
- Location: Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Age: 41
- Posts: 610
- Rep Power: 453
I know I have only stopped drinking for 9 days and my anxiety levels have greatly reduced but never been in any what i would call major situations yet without alcohol so i dunno how i will be with that. Anyway the question I have is how long did it take for your sleep to get back to normal? I mean it isn't crazy bad, I am getting about 5-6 hours sleep at night but broken sleep waking up around 5 times during this time, not needing the toilet, having nightmares or anything, just wakening up for no particular reason. I am running myself ragged in the gym on the treadmill and hitting the weights hard adding up to around 2 hours per day so that isn't an issue, I am burning off a alot of energy doing this.
As I say I am not long off it so I don't expect miracles and I am surprised through other peoples stories that my anxiety levels are quite low so I can't complain, but has anyone else have had this issue and if so, how long did it take to get a good nights rest.
Thanks
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01-29-2013, 11:17 AM #5681
WHen you first stop drinking alcohol you want to drink but can not for obvious reasons. Now if you hold on you will reach a stage where you do not want to drink. I mean you still can't but you do not want to, there is a big difference.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
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01-29-2013, 02:15 PM #5682
My experience, after a while I felt so much better that I couldn't believe how I wasted my time. Also, knowing that at any given notice I can now get in my vehicle and drive somewhere without worrying about getting a DUI or hurting someone due to impaired driving. Situations always come up where alcohol seemed like the answer, especially at first and its tempting. But in my case, since being sober. I cant stand what I have seen it do to families while being sober. Its a daily reminder.
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01-29-2013, 02:19 PM #5683
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01-29-2013, 02:20 PM #5684
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01-29-2013, 02:23 PM #5685
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01-29-2013, 02:55 PM #5686
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01-30-2013, 12:45 PM #5687
- Join Date: Jun 2010
- Location: Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Age: 41
- Posts: 610
- Rep Power: 453
Thanks I will look into purchasing these supplements. I already take an antidepressant/antipsychotic that did work at first as it was quite sedating and I was on top dosage but it has no effect anymore. Hopefully these and getting up at same time and going to bed at same time(which should be easy now) will help, thanks for advice, always much appreciated.
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02-02-2013, 12:25 AM #5688
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02-03-2013, 06:26 AM #5689
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02-03-2013, 07:08 AM #5690
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02-03-2013, 07:29 AM #5691
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02-03-2013, 07:34 AM #5692
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02-04-2013, 09:30 AM #5693
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02-04-2013, 09:53 AM #5694
- Join Date: Nov 2010
- Location: San Bernardino, California, United States
- Age: 59
- Posts: 32,348
- Rep Power: 187052
It happens.
I've always heard that relapse is part of recovery, although it doesnt have to be an option.
So know you got to ask yourself 3 questions
1. Where did you go wrong?
2. What would you do differently?
3. Where do you go from here?
But I suggest not beating yourself up over it.
It will only make you want to drink more.Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. – Thomas Jefferson
Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
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02-04-2013, 07:54 PM #5695
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02-05-2013, 03:03 AM #5696
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02-05-2013, 04:11 AM #5697
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02-05-2013, 07:38 AM #5698
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02-05-2013, 08:56 AM #5699
- Join Date: Jun 2010
- Location: Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Age: 41
- Posts: 610
- Rep Power: 453
lol only 16 days for me, but I have seen some change already. Anxiety levels down, more focused, head less cloudy. Going to the gym everyday minus a sunday is helping, strength is going crazy elevated and same with cardio levels. Only thing which is annoying me is I am coming out with a few spots and notice my skin is getting a bit dry on my face, bought a moisturiser for that though. I suppose this may be toxins coming out of my body as I am eating "healthily" every day. Anyway else notice any changes in there skin after stopping?
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02-08-2013, 06:43 AM #5700
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