Do I have a problem? Day 2

[Joemero]

Thanks for all of your input. This is the most responsive and caring forum I've ever been on! So today is day 3, I and I feel pretty good. I don't think I should have any issues until Saturday, at the BBQ get together with my friends (we have a bbq club). I know wine & liqour is my major problem as far as not being able to stop. Perhaps I can control the urges by just having 3 beers tops? That's another thing about going AF...people start wondering if you have a problem. They're like....."WHAT????? You, not drinking...c'mon!" Anyway, I will try to abstain as much as possible, and perhaps just stick to beer. I heard John Daly has a system where he drinks only miller lite, becayuse anything else will get him over the edge.

Geez, I've got a problem, Sat is not even here yet, and I'm already strategizing my drinking.

[lilnev]

Congrats on day 3. For me, days 3 through 6 were the hardest (yes, all three times I've quit). The first few days were easy, on the excitement of quitting. And after the first week it gets easier (but don't fall into the trap of thinking you're all better now!). But days 3-6, my brain would just keep looping back to alcohol. "Can I drink now? How about now?"

If you're going to be around people who are drinking, and you don't want to, definitely have something non-alcoholic in hand. Water, soda, whatever. It'll give your hands something to do, comforting you with the habit of physically manipulating a beverage. And if you're worried about peer pressure, there's no harm in a white lie. "I shouldn't, I'm on medication," or, "I'm trying to lose a few pounds and I don't need the empty calories," are great excuses that anyone will except.

Well done so far, keep it up!

[louise]

Take alcohol free beer to the BBQ. And some other nice non-alcoholic drinks. Enjoy the conversation. You may find that others are really not drinking that much. Think of it as an experiment.

[livingfree]

Joe - congrats and welcome!! From what you described ... I would recommend getting 30 days ALCOHOL free before you even begin thinking about modding. It is really hard to clearly think through the process while your brain is still operating under the influence. Even a drink a couple of times a week really confuses your brain early on. Read RJ's book and implement as many of the steps as you can. It all works "together" for the best shot at this. I am not a fan on topa - having taken it for 7 weeks out of my more that 7 months of sobriety now. But you will have to weigh what you already know about yourself.

Best to you

[DeeBee]

Joe the great thing is that you are now recognising that you are plotting and planning the next drink and it's bugging you. It doesn't happen overnight so you have to stay vigilant in your thoughts.... think sober AF thoughts.

Stock up on some supps before you head out on Saturday.

[gabby]

Ya know Joe....I didnt read all the posts but what strikes me the most is your 2x cancer survivor.

I have no room to talk here but would that not have scared you into living a healthy life right there? Have you listened to "the last lecture" by Randy Pausch?

you should and I think I will post that in General D.

[Joemero]

Ya know Joe....I didnt read all the posts but what strikes me the most is your 2x cancer survivor.

I have no room to talk here but would that not have scared you into living a healthy life right there? Have you listened to "the last lecture" by Randy Pausch?

you should and I think I will post that in General D.

THAT is what hurts the most...when i was a whole month in the hospital at one point, I had promised myself that I would be the healthiest person ever If I got through this. Well that didn't happen and 7 years later it hit again, and I survived it again, but yet I'm still weak to the Alcohol. I recently took up cycling as a hobby and joined a local club. That has helped, I'm just glad I joined this community, it has been good for inspiration.

[nanlovesdogs]

Hey Jomero,

I, too, am concerned about the weekend and I am not even AF yet! My consumption is about half of what it was a few days ago and I am happy about that.

Let's keep good thoughts about the weekend and stick to a 3-beer limit! My friends would probably think I was abducted by aliens if they saw me without a beer in my hand. Probably, like you, staying in would also cause a shift in the cosmos. Since it has only been a few days, I am not going to beat myself up if I blow it, but will try very hard not to.

Best of luck!

[gabby]

I think Randy in his last lecture jokinly called it the "death bed conversion"

Joe if you can go back and hold on to those thoughts when you were scared and afraid you were gonna die. That would do anything to hang on to life. Even.......give up the drink?

[gabby]

im no expert but drinking is probably hurting your cell structure. hell its hurting all of our cell structure but you having already been through severe damage twice no less you are much more prone to it again - i know you know this sorry to come off preachy