New Members - Please Introduce Yourself Here

[Cookie]

Dear, Sweet, Wonderful Kaz,
I cannot thank you enough for responding to me. Your warm welcome is literally bringing tears to my eyes. Your reassurance is lifting a huge weight from my shoulders and I am deeply thankful. This is the hardest thing I've ever faced, but knowing I am not alone is incredibly comforting. I will move forward with renewed strength and look into your suggestion regarding the additional forum. I need all the help I can get.
All my best,
Cookie

[linda6666]

Cookie..You will always find me lurking round the early threads, to cheer you guys on Welcome hun

[Cookie]

Dear Delightful, Incredibly Kind Clara,
I cannot thank you enough for responding to my cry for help. To know that there is someone out there who understands and can relate means the world to me. I know I cannot live like this any longer. In answer to your question, there is absolutely no one I can confide in regarding RL. Therefore, I put my trust in those who have shared experiences. Everyone here seems so supportive and encouraging. You give me the strength to see a glimmer of hope.
All my very best,
Cookie

[Cookie]

Dear, Wonderful, Inviting linda6666,
Thanks so very much for your warm welcome. This is scary but joyous at the same time. Somehow I finally feel like living alcohol-free could be possible. It just has to be.
All my very best,
Cookie

[Clara.]

This is scary but joyous at the same time. Somehow I finally feel like living alcohol-free could be possible. It just has to be.
All my very best,
Cookie

It is, isn't it? And an alcohol free life is possible - even an enjoyable alcohol free life . I am in very early days myself but I know this from talking with and observing others who have far more experience.

Stay with us.

xx

[Cookie]

Thank you again, Kaz. I am so glad I found you here.

And Clara, together we can conquer this beast. Knowing we are in similar boats is reassuring beyond words. Thank you so much.

Your pal,
Cookie

[Cookie]

Dear Clara,
I just read that you've been sober for nearly 6 months, wow!!! that's a huge milestone. Please forgive me for suggesting we were in the same boat. I did not realize how far ahead your boat has successfully sailed before mine. You are an inspiration. I'm glad my morning's description reminded you of how hideous this drinking life is. At least something good came out of it.
Sincerely,
Cookie

[Clara.]

Dear Clara,
I just read that you've been sober for 6 months, wow!!! that's a huge milestone. Please forgive me for suggesting we were in the same boat. I did not realize how far ahead your boat has successfully sailed before mine. You are an inspiration.
Sincerely,
Cookie

Not at all Cookie, we still are in the same boat. Even if I'm a bit further along I never know when I may hit a squall and feel tempted to weather it using that wretched old habitual method and today has been a bit rough! I'm still getting used to sobriety

[64Turtles]

Hello to the new additions,

You will find loads of help and suggestions and camaraderie. We are all on this "boat" because we have found life difficult using alcohol. I was in a sorry state when I found this site and 2 years later I couldn't imagine the life I have now. Take your time and look around. Be honest and the result that comes will be knowledge and power. You will find opportunity knocking. Everyone is different but we are the same in that we needed help to overcome this illness, disease, or drink problem (call it what you choose).

I am glad to see you have found us .

If you are ready to take a chance on yourself - the admission is free, the hill is steep, but the results can be astounding. Be gentle on yourself as we all got off the right path somewhere and through difficulty and struggles we have made progress to a better place.

Pull up a chair and have some tea and read. Post when you feel comfortable. We are a gnarly looking bunch but harmless really. Glad you came round

[itstime]

Hello everyone

I first looked (didn't register!) at this site almost two years ago. When at that time I decided to try and cut down on my drinking. Instead of joining this forum, I put a calendar on my fridge and crossed out the days that I hadn't suffered from a blackout the night before. Of course after 1 month of seeing lots of black crosses I decided all was well again. Which is laughable considering I was then 42 and been drinking rather heavily since I was 15.. I mean how many blackouts are acceptable??

Well, two years on and I still need reassurance that I am not an alcoholic!!! The trouble is.. family, husband and some friends are indicating otherwise. But hey.. I don't drink everyday, I maintain my job, I am smart, I pay my bills.. so what's the problem with getting smashed twice/three a week and getting smashed in the comfort of my own home or my very good fun neighbours house. Okay so I usually end up rowing with someone, or I reach out to family over the phone for a self pitying account of whatever has bothered/or not bothered me that day. In the morning of course memory fails me and I now simply accept that I must apologise to everyone but not knowing the reasons why. And then the shame and guilt.. well until midday when I put on face and decide that everyone should get over it!

Four days ago, my fun friend had a heart attack after we had an evening of wine, gossip and song. Trouble is she has 4 children and her youngest are only 10 & 9. So a pact has been made that we quit together. Got to be easier that way for her don't you think?

Day one and craving a drink (hair of the dog)... just one glass of wine, passed by a bar that I hoped some people would be in there that I knew. My fun friend would never have to know.. would she??? Unfortunately/or fortunately they weren't in there so homewardbound I went.

Day two and really craving a drink as usual after work. Straight home but very irritable.

Day three and passed by the same pub for same reason after work.... once again irritable.

Today... woke with a splitting headache as did my very good fun friend. Did I drink last night?????? NO I didn't. So what's this all about????

And then I remembered about your forum. I have spent the last couple of hours reading and searching for an entry that is NOT like me!!!! and you know what? Every entry IS like me!!!!

So I registered and here I am warts and all.

Feeling weepy and and in a temper... this doesn't feel good at all.

So maybe I am an alcoholic...... Of all the days for realisation to set in as Saturday is normally my ladies liquid lunch... so much for that now. Off for another blooming cup of coffee. Sorry to rant

[MancMuso]

Hi Itstime

You've done a good thing and believe me I know it doesn't feel good it really helps to know that you're not the only one feeling weepy and in a temper because you've realised you find it hard to control.

Post lots, read lots and be kind to yourself. I'm back on week one after nearly a month without a drink so feeling like a total bloody idiot too. But nowhere as near as much of an idiot as the other morning when I woke up after consuming a small vinyard and being a tit.

Good luck and give me a shout if you need an ear x

[64Turtles]

very wise this Zoe person....does this mean we CAN actually eat the elephant if we do it one bite at the time???? (no offense dave.tusker)

itstime, MM - I did on off on off in my early days until this changed and I did different. Glad to say different was in a positive direction. It happens with effort and time. So welcome to the 'bloody nose bunch" that kept hitting ourselves in the nose cause the warts were bothering us hehehe

[linda6666]

Hi Itstime... I will also give you my welcome and also say the early days are scary and for this reason you must try to focus on today and no further, (even if it means just thinking about the hour that you are in) and stay focused on that.

Think today you will not drink, now i know this might sound like it will take forever doing it this way, but if you fog your mind with thoughts of "never drinking again", it will scare the pants off you. Because you are letting go of what used to be your "Bezzi mate" , your bound to feel sad and confused...

But as your days go by and you start t live a sober life then your thoughts slowly stop thinking about drink and start thinking other things. But with all good things, it takes time.

Yes some often slip/slide until they find their feet, but it can be done and also can be fun,
a lot of people think once drink is took from your life then so is the fun, but this is so not true, we all find ways to have fun but without drink.

And what is fun is waking up hangover free/ knowing you have not upset anyone/ rang anyone and just being able to remember what you have done, this is GREAT

So i say give the 7 Day challenge a bash, you have got nothing to loose but a great deal to gain...

Small steps/ small thoughts and never beat yourself up for something you can not change, but you can change what is to come..

[Clara.]

Hello Slingy Again

Nice going on 4 days, and great that you're feeling OK with it. Hopefully the posting problem will resolve itself, how frustrating that can be!

Are you cutting down, or out completely? Have you checked out the sobriety challenge threads for 1 week, 2 weeks, etc, they are so supportive.

Clara

[sweetharmony]

[sweetharmony]

[sweetharmony]

[sweetharmony]

[sweetharmony]

[linda6666]

I woke this morning to a strange feeling given it was the first Sober Saturday in a long time....I still had anxiety as soon as I woke saying to myself...'arrgghh what happened last night, what did I do, guilt, etc...' Then took a few minutes to say to myself 'but you didnt drink'!! Weird but I still feel I must have offended someone or done something wrong even though I know I clearly didnt! Anyone had this or similar feelings....???

These feelings are normal, so are drinking dreams, where you dream many times that you have drank, but over time they do subside.
Its just what your brain normally thinks when you wake up after a drink..You will soon start to feel the benefit of not drinking and knowing exactly what you have done, and who you have NOT upset... Keep it up