Slipping

[joop]

on no Gerard today focus on getting over the hangover, lots of water and food.

I think there are a few who slipped around 3 months, so hope they can help. I slipped at 6 weeks, and just getting over the inital hangover and then getting straight back on the AF road was important for me. It made me realise sober was where I wanted to be and I learned a few things from it. As Col said brilliantly, shit happens - Its a slip, not a relapse - just don't let it become a relapse

[Amarok]

I slipped once after 8 weeks. Like joop says jump back on yer horse. The next few days may be a bit tricky, I found myself having another slip about a week later but havent drunk since then. Dont let it progress further down a slope.

[Gerard]

Thanks guys. I'll have to be on my guard from now on - can't take things for granted

[roledog33]

Gerard,
I have slipped a few times. The longest I have gone sober at any time is 7 months. Got home from a deployment and started drinking again. You cope with it by doing what you have done the other times; just like you are doing now. You jump back on the wagon. Slips, blips, even relapses are expected. It's what you learn from them and how you deal with them. Like in a movie I saw once....."A champion fighter isn't a champion because he can get hit. It's how the champion reacts to being knocked down." You are a champion, gerard....how are you going to react to "being knocked down?" We are here for you.

roledog33

[Gerard]

As Joop says, this slip has made me realise that sober is definitely where I want to be. Hoping I can find the strength to carry on. Thanks for your supportive comments

[Tink]

Gerald
Yep 3 months was a wall for me. Did it in the start 2 times at 3 months and then again at 6, after that I had the long stint of almost 4 years. A slip is just that unless you feed the beast it becomes weaker and weaker. Put it back in the cage mate and don't let it put you there.
We learn from it and won't go down easily next time it rears its nasty head. Don't mean use it for an excuse to keep it up just means as they say... Shit happens.
My warning is letting myself get tired and then depressed. Feeling sorry for myself is a huge food for that bugger.
So, chin up, chest out , eyes ahead and one foot in front of the other. My hand is on your shoulder, been there mate but I can only promise if you keep at it you will master it.

Love to all and special love to those struggling today. Thank goodness today I'm not and support here has helped me put that EAF back in the cage.
T

[Tink]

P.S.
Roledog you are a champion and I loved that

[cowboy]

What Tink says Gerard.

If sobriety is your ultimate goal this should be no deterrent. The important issue here is that you do not go back to uncontrolled drinking again. It's a slip - like the the thread says - nothing more.

[Gerard]

Thanks guys. Time to dust myself off and get back in the race

[Pickles40]

Hi Gerard, I hope you feel a bit better. My longest being sober is 6 months and that was over three years ago, now I,m coming to 5 months soon but its not easy. You are doing well and you have been honest with yourself and come have come back straight on here, I admire you for that.

For me these threads have been very helpful and i have found in myself so far keeping sober is by coming on here every day or just reading around and keeping busy with a course. That has helped me.

Take care Gerard and see you round the threads,

[Gerard]

Thanks Pickles. Still feeling very rough, but no surprise there

Hope to learn and move on.

[powellct]

Oh boy, if I had a pound for every time I heard of someone "slipping" or wanting to, I'd have about, ooooh, twenty quid now. I run groups now for people with "wonky thinking", and almost everyone (me included) hits this wall at 3 - 6 months. I have no idea why, whether its PAWS related I don't know, but it happens.

Couple of important points;
1) Its a slip, its happened, and you can't unhappen it. Treat it like that, dust off and move on. Learn from what caused it, or more importantly your reaction to the event that made you think drinking was a great coping mechanism.
2) No-one is a failure. You cannot BE a failure. You can fail AT something, but you cannot BE. So get that out of your head for a start.....

Col

[SunriseTime]

Gerard - lots of good advice been offered, I had more cravings approaching 3 months.

Some my thoughts - I think also it depends what's going on in our lives at the time too. Work stress, personal stress, illness with loved ones, death of close ones and or relationship stress. Or just plain celebration drinking.

Though I do not confess to know anything and perhaps a longer +6 month or 1 year plus member could chip in. But I think the 1. celebration type drinking ie 'I am on holiday, I can just have a few and stop when I get home' is more easier to manage the craving than 2. The stress and 'shock type' triggers that happen and will happen we are all human and we will have to face a death, a marriage break up, being run down and so low 'what the hell' thoughts. These are the difficult times to manage. Because I see trigger events as not going away in a space of a few hours, they could be there festering for days/weeks.

We only have so much energy and we just need to channel it in the right places at the right time - we perhaps need to be totally focused on our precious sober life as if it were our own human life.

ST

[powellct]

Let me put a spin on drinking because of "stress". In laymans terms, what you are actually saying is "this [event] has upset me so much, I'm going to hurt myself". Doesn't seem so attractive and coping when you put it like that.....

[Gerard]

Thanks to all for sharing your thoughts and advice. Much appreciated

[George]

Hi Gerard

There's only one thing for you to do here and that's to get back on the horse. Things like this happen but if you pick yourself up and get going again then that's it sorted, no problem, eh. I've tripped a few times, once after thirteen months but I don't give up, I just start again. Hope that you'll do the same, ok

[Tink]

George bravo mate xo.
My wing is healing and I have my wand drying with super glue. Now, if I watch where I step I should be ok?
I really did trip the other day and my partner said....walk much? We both had a laugh. He was with me on my slip and tried to stop me. He didn't drink but sat with me and listened as I vented and eventually went to bed. Next day he woke me with coffee and we talked. He is a dear man. Just another reason for me not to do that again.
T

[grendeldave]

Slipping eh? Well, had me fair share. After my most recent one I went back and read over some of my old posts. The older ones are under my old username of grendelslip. Tink, I know you know this cos it is a lesson you helped me learn. Oh, I might still have the toilet paper. The earlier slip posts were about Oh waily, waily waily, poor me. The one that really got me started really properly being sober instead of just not drinking said 'Day 1. I screwed up.' Actually I was less polite. No excuses. "I'. I use the EAF thing but it is my addiction. "I" do not have to listen to it.

I think you guys are already doing this but it don't hurt to say it: getting straight back on that horse/wagon whatever you think of it as is vital. So is putting the slip behind. I did. I had some physical withdrawal and the sense of failure/embarrasement/shame, not least because I thought I had cracked it. Now? I am a liittle bit older, a damn sight wiser and a much harder nut to crack. Not uncrackable -that is the wisdom - but harder.

Now get off the Slipping thread cos I don't see no more slipping!

Dave

[mb]

Hello to you all.
I have had a little relapse - could also be called a major f*** up!
Shocked at the attitude from my surgery - told me it was self inflicted and not
an illness!
Have returned to AA, I went last night and my sponsor is picking me up again
This evening. I know this approach isn't for everyone but I think it's worth a shot
Wishing everyone health and happiness.xxx

[Gerard]

Hi mb,

I'm also shocked by the attitude of your surgery. Taking myself off to the doc tomorrow following my own recent slip, and hoping for a better reception. You may need to cast about for another surgery: hunt high and low for whatever support you need.

Hope you're ok for now.

Take care.