Day 15

Happy Surfalicious Thursday everyone!

Day 15 is here!
We're halfway through the month of June!

It's amazing how much can change with this program in so short a time. Even with slips and all, there seems always to be forward movement. Maybe it happens in baby steps. maybe a few leaps & bounds here & there, maybe we get turned around for a few paces & head in the opposite direction, and if we're lucky, we keep an even steady keel at some point. But all in all, the big picture is the same - PROGRESS! All hard won! & don't we know it!!

If you haven't yet, take a look at the articles that cv posted on the GD board called "Great background on brain, alcohol & diet". There's some really good info there about supps, and other aspects of healing from the effects of alcohol abuse. This is war as far as I' m concerned, & Information is power, so I'm gonna dig in!

Have a great day Surfers!! 8o

Deirdre

"Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit."
-Napoleon Hill

Good Morning All,

I wish I could pop in here all sunshine and smiles but I can't. What I wish I could do is climb to the highest mountain and yell at the top of my voice "God I can't take anymore, do you hear me??!!"

I was so frustrated when I got home last night the old H.A.L.T. went through my head. Funny though, I don't even want a drink. I guess that is the bright side in all of what I am going through right now! I am very grateful for that!

I hope you are all doing well and have a wonderful day!!

Donna

PS. Really great quote Deirdre!

Hi all

Been busy since our long weekend down under...but have just realised that today is day 30. Not feeliong like a drink is becoming a habit and I like it!!!

Donna, what can I say? I read your post and feel blessed. So often we say 'It could be worse' but never really think about it. Take some comfort from the fact that you can share your pain here. I can't offer advice or a cure but I have always felt better when I share a burden. Be extra kind to yourself OK??

Alison

Hey All--
Dierdre, I second your enthusiasm for the articles linked on CV's post on the GD board--great stuff. In fact, I spent most of the evening reading them and I now have a MUCH better understanding of how our brain chemistry affects us in terms of wanting/craving alcohol...most inspiring, is the fact that something can be done about it! I, too, HIGHLY RECOMMEND that everyone read them....

Donna, I think it would be very odd if you felt all sunshiney after what you've been going through. I also think that it's wonderful that you haven't had a drink over it all--a real sign of how far you've come. None of us want bad things to happen in our lives and we feel sad when they happen to those we love, but there may be some small consolation that then we really know how much progress we've made...I hope some tiny ray of sunshine comes into your life today...

And Alison, I know what you mean about not drinking becoming a habit--fantastic, isn't it! Good work!

What IS becoming a habit is feeling so much better about myself...I actually got a new haircut on Wednesday and now I even LOOK better! It's something I had just put off and put off because I had to go a long way to go to my "regular" guy (in Brooklyn, Dierdre!). On Wednesday, I just suddenly decided that my overgrown, straggly hair needed to go! Since then I've had compliments from everyone...now if I could only lose those pounds (and pounds!) of acohol weight, I'd REALLY look great!

Off to a good start this morning--
hugs, to all--
susan

Good morning,
With all kids home from school and underfoot all day it's hard for me to post everyday.I originally put the computer in a public place so they could be monitored but never thought I would be monitored by them.
Jane, I loved reading the story of your 14yr old yesterday.I have not come out and explained any of this to my teenage children.Maybe I'm afraid of admitting to a problem or maybe I.m afraid of failure.Maybe I have to just do this alone for now.There is nothing to be ashamed of I know.The honestly you have is admirable.
I learned yesterday that my brother-in-law and siter-in-law and their 12 year old son are coming from europe to stay with us for a month in july.That stressed me out as they are nice people and my kids love their cousin but they have to be driven everywhere and won't go anywhere on their own as they don't speak english. My husband will be working quite a bit of the time so guess who will be spending all her time with them. They've come here before at xmas and after about a week I got nasty as I need my space.But they are not drinkers so that should not affect my progress here.I should not worry about it two weeks ahead of time.If I'm philosophical I can admit that in the big picture of life it's a really small problem... Relax and breathe...
Have a great day all.
Janet

Hi All,

Just popping my nosy beak in here for a moment. I always read here and love the support, encouragement and genuine community feel.

I have to say Jane, your story about your son nearly brought me to tears - happy tears of course!! That is one of the sweetest things - validation through the eyes of a 14yr old. I wanna hug him!!! (14yr old boys just love hugs from strange, older females - not!)

It's funny, I never doubted my childrens love, even at the worst of times - but knowing they LIKE me is soul lifting. Your son obviously likes you lots Jane.

Keep up the good work

Kate

hello hello everyone. i'm going to find a gd board. what is a gd board? lol hummm i must get a book of acronyms. wow, i am so grateful for our little community. so grateful. well today is a lite day so i can't wait to go reading at that gd board. and i had a function to go to for networking but i just think i would rather stay at home and read about the brain and alcohol and work out instead. lol wow, my life is really changing. ooh. i hardly recognize myself. speaking of which this topomax really curbs the appetite.
have a great day all. i'm praying for all of us just one moment at a time.
K. um and no i'm not a religious person. just praying as in a simple prayer of grace

'Morning ya'll,

Day 10 here. 9 down. 9? Is that even possible already? How? shrug...

Just like the others have said, if ya haven't had a chance to read cv's post on the General Disscusion Board titled "Great background on brain alcohol and diet"... It's a must read!

When I found MWO I suspected that RJ was onto something BIG by addressing nutritional deficits as they relate to alcohol consumption. It just made sense. After being on the nutrition program for 11 days and reading the articles cv posted, I'm totally convinced we can "fix" much of our compulsion to over indulge with proper nutrients. It's like finding the missing link! FASCINATING!!! Can't wait to see how the WHOLE program runs with the cd's added...

Well, went for our swim yesterday. 20 minutes of non-stop moving. MUCH better than... shiver... pilates.

Gosh, so many people here I'd like to talk with... Shas, Let me know how the melatonin works for ya? It's frustrating to be that tired!

Janet, Teens... sigh... they're eyes and ears are EVERYWHERE! Remember how easy it was to have a private conversation when they were little? All ya had to do was to S-P-E-L-L aroud them. Ha! My friends and I even learned to speak a lil spanish, once the kids learned to R-E-A-D. Don'tcha know the little turd muffins learned SPANISH???!
Company for a month? Oh maaaaaan. That IS a long time! Please post here if or when ya feel either homocidal or suicidal, k?

Donna. Aww hell... Sunshine all the time is over rated anyway... Sometimes ya need a little cloud cover so you don't burn... NO drinkie poo? Veeeery proud o you!

fellover. 30 days? as in an entire month? Waaaay kewel! Hmmm.... A NON-drinking "habit"? I like it!

Susan. New doo? FAB! Letting mine grow in a lil bit here. Went to a highly recommended trendy place and really don't like what the "artist" created... Shrug... It's only hair... It grows...

Kate... Good to read ya again, girl! And... 14 yr old boys only like to get squeezy hugs from strange older women IF the woman reeks of Ben-gay and has garlic breath... Uh huh... That's MILF material alright... nodding

Kimber. You sound GREAT! Is that a new "tude" you're sporting??? It looks good on you, girl.

And my dearest fearless leader, Dierdre. Can't thank you enough for caring about all of us enough to moderate this board. I know you're crazy buzy and not getting enough sleep! Take care of YOU today! Ya hear? That's a mom type order now... HUGZ

And to all who read the story about my son from last night. Thanks for your kind words. It was really a profound experience for me... Jane HATES the feelings... See? I can't even talk about them without going into the 3rd person...GEES!

HAPPY NOT HUNGOVER THURSDAY YA'LL!

Good afternoon all,

I was reading Jane's story from yesterday and one thing comes to mind. For years I have kept my battle private with the exception of AA friends. I was never one to come out to co-workers anyway. My fears of failure are at the heart of it. What if I don't make it and someone sees me drinking? What will people think then! Will my friends reject me if I fail? I'll bet money my town is smaller than yours Jane We don't even have 1 stoplight!

Heres the thing, Mwo has changed my perspective on "making it". Andrew, Sharyn and others who are struggling,you'll see what I mean by that very soon. This is so brand new for all of us, this freedom to try and fail and learn from it without the humiliating public confessing. 12 step programs have convinced us that failure is some kind of fatal flaw in how we're not working our program or worse, a character defect. I think the opposite is true. I ALWAYS learn more from relapse than I otherwise would without it. I'm not endorsing nor encouraging drinking for those who've chosen to abstain. I just want to say Learn and grow from your slips. I know I do.

What else is cool about this place is the caring way everyone asks about eachother. People often mistake problem drinkers as a selfish lot. You are demonstrating otherwise.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Truly.

Lori

Yabba Dabba Doo!
Last skoolday with kids, one more day tomorrow, filled with mtgs, paperwrk, cleaning out, and graduation in the evening.
Some of my kids didn't really want to leave today. They really depend on our support and routine to keep it together. Sad, but true.
Day 16 AF for me..get this...Last day of skool party with teachers at the Mexican restaurant, with pitchers of margaritas! I had a diet virgin cuba libre (diet coke with lemon.) When asked, I said I had taken a pain reliever for my back and couldn't drink.
(By the way, my back IS killing me....too much sitting in front of the computer at this website! I must get a new computer chair with proper lumbar support!)
Check ya' later, amigos!
Anni