Day 5

Aloha Surfers!

Happy Monday! (If there is such a thing, right? ol )

Big Congrats on a great abs weekend!! You made it!!

And even if you didn't make it, here's to giving it another go!!!


OK, so Chris Moltisanti on the Soprano's is relapsing again, or still, and it's SO hard to watch! I never would have thought so before, obviously, because I would have been watching with my 3rd or 4th drink in hand. Now, it's just painful to see the fragility we all have inside us depicted on TV. We're so vulnerable to this svengali...booze! It really sucks to think there's something inside us that could be uncontrollable once it gets the edge. But that's the reality. So we need reinforcements guys!!! That being said...how's everyone doing on their program?
CD's Supps, Meds, Exercise? What else are you doing to keep on your track that helps you? Journaling? Sleeping? Standing on the roof & shouting? Praying? Please share your secrets, you never know who you may be helping, including yourself!

So guys, I'm so sorry I wasn't able to get back to all of you yesterday...I'll try & catch up later, really just had to get some sleep & go to work...uggghhh!!

Marcie please check in & tell us how you're doing. You're in my thoughts girl!

Deirdre

Good morning,
Yesterday was a rough one for me. Not sure exactly what happened, I guess just let my guard down and had a bad slip. I'm not going to beat myself up too bad, I feel awful for it, but all I can do is learn from it. I've come a long way, one day of drinking in 5 weeks is great compared to how I've been in the past.

Looks like it is going to be a beautiful day today. I have the day off work today, I'm gonig to enjoy the weather and hang out outside for a while.

Marcie

Hi
Just checking in, its nightime here and cold. Day 18 I think for me! Gotta check with the calendar.
Happy to see you here marcie and I am sorry you were so stressed yesterday but glad to talk to you on chat!
I feel great but sort of grieving for my old life, don't want to go back there but............sometimes I would just like to drink just once more 0] go figure? I won't but it doesn't stop me from wanting too!
Anyway I hope evrybody else has a great day and enjoy your sunshine on the other side of the world.
Love Shas
PS My plan of attack is supps, meds (campral), being positive and COG therapy with my doctor, not really good with the exercise routine yet

May I join you? I made it three weeks in May, then have been drinking. Lots of stress in my life right now - but no excuse. I need to get back to the program (even the exercise). So today is again day one for me.

I tried to start with AFD's on June 1. Instead of no alcohol, I chose 4 beers Thursday, 9 beers Friday and then 14 beers on Saturday. YIKES! But yesterday was another day and I made it. Also for the first time in like ever, I was on a flight in first class with the free booze and I chose not drink. It was interesting watching the effects of 3 drinks or so on my fellow travellers. Something I would have never noticed before because I would have been one of them.
Heres to a great day y'all.
Love and Peace,
Phil

Hey People! Back in NYC and back on board(s)! :rollin

Marcie, I'm so glad to hear you're not beating yourself up over your slip... For me, slips have been an important (and humbling!) part of learning about myself both in terms of my limitations and, more importantly, my strengths. Someone made the point that it's not about the fall but about getting back up--I couldn't agree more! I also think that as we learn more about ourselves we have the opportunity to become less judgemental and more compassionate towards other people--we're all just human and struggling to make sense of our lives and the world around us...and we're all doing the best we can!

So, here I am back in the city...it was such a shock to get back after spending the week in green Vermont (caterpillars, June bugs, snakes and all!). Went to a birthday party yesterday evening--lots of lovely red/white wines, cakes, ice cream, etc...none for me though! A lot of people hadn't seen me since I got back from rehab so I had to keep fielding questions like: "So, HOW are you DOING?" -- all meant very sincerely and caringly, yet somehow I managed to feel a bit like a freak on display.... Well, maybe I'm exaggerating--everyone was really great, I was just feeling a little vulnerable, I guess...

The other weird thing was that I think I forget how INTENSE I can be when I'm not drinking...I got into a rather heated socio-political "discussion," with a close friend which resulted in tears--not mine, but his! Perhaps a birthday party wasn't the best place for a reality check about what's going on in the world....now THERE'S an excuse for drinking--or so I always claimed anyway!

I've got a fairly flexible day today...mainly catching up on stuff after being away for the week....

Have a good day everyone--and be gentle with yourselves and others! I'll check back later...
hugs, susan

Hey, don't feel bad, I am struggling so badly with ABS that my last post was to the MOD thread. YIKES!!! Maybe this was a "freudian slip on my part!
wellseasoned

Dear Wonderful June Abs people,

I have had a bad couple of days, and can't continue with the June Abs program. Sorry to bail out, but I guess, I am not ready right now.

I haven't gone on a binge, and was able to moderate, but not abstain. My husband is heavy drinker so there is always booze around. It's so hard for me after dinner, not to join in for a glass of wine. He wants me to sit and relax with him, and that wine is looking me in the face.

Any suggestions how to deal with this evening tradition?

Sadly,
Miss Layla

Miss Layla,

Please do not feel like you need to bail if that is not what you wish to do. This is not a race, and we are ALL works in progress. You do have it extra hard with a husband who wishes you to share in this nightly ritual with him. The question is, do you want to share that ritual with him?

Another question you may want to consider here, is what your end goal is. Do you eventually want to successfully moderate, or do you want a life of total abs. Often this period of abs for people is used to make this very decision.

If you want to continue with this period of abs, is it possible to explain to your husband that this is a time in your life that you need just for YOU, so that you can calmly come to some important life decsions for yourself? I do not know, because I am not even sure if your husband is aware that you are doing this program or not.

Please give this some thought. We are here to support you in whatever way you need!!

Donna

Miss Layla,

No bailing allowed! Just kidding... but we would all like you to stick around. Each and everyone on the boards bring something valuable- well, except a few troublemakers we have had but I digress!

Deidre,

Week 8! WOW! So glad to "know" real people are being successful in this battle. Makes it more of a reality for me.
Why are some letters in your screenname capitalized? Just curious...

Marcie,

You have been another really good example for me. I watched you struggle as I have. I know you slipped yesterday but overall, you have made HUGE improvements and I admire that.