First post in this group. 10 days without a drink today.

[KyndCulture]

10 Days ago I put myself in an outpatient alcohol recovery group. The booze has me completely. I've been out of control with it for a long time. I finally owned up to it 2 weeks ago, that my life is a diaster and booze is at the core of the chaos.

Today is my 10th day sober. I don't remember the last time I went 10 days without a drink, probably not in the last 12 years. I'm very proud of myself today and I feel so good!

I just wanted to share that, til I can tell my therapist tommorrow that I survived a whole weekend without even a drop.

[NMDemDist2]

1. superb news Kynd! congratulations! that's just AWESOME!!

:bounce: :woohoo: :party: :yourock: :applause: :bounce: :woohoo: :party: :yourock: :applause: :bounce: :woohoo: :party: :yourock: :applause: :bounce: :woohoo: :party: :yourock: :applause: :bounce: :woohoo: :party: :yourock: :applause: :bounce: :woohoo: :party: :yourock: :applause: :bounce: :woohoo: :party: :yourock: :applause: :bounce: :woohoo: :party: :yourock: :applause: :bounce: :woohoo:

[demosincebirth]

2. Congratualations!! Been to any AA meetings?

[KyndCulture]

3. No I am not doing AA.

Meetings are scarce here and I attended one last year and it was too much god and jesus for my tastes. I am buddhist and was most uncomfortable.

I am doing a 3 times a week rehab program that is secular. 2 days of group and one day of one on one with my therapist.

So far so good.

[NMDemDist2]

4. I see they have one most everyday and you can mention that you

have a different "higher power" and should be fine. in fact other folks may feel the same way


http://www.area35.org/cgi-bin/csvsearch.pl?District=03

[demosincebirth]

5. Good luck, then.

[RetroLounge]

6. Don't let the god thing bother you

I've been in AA 16 years, and my conception changes over time, and the hardcore jesus freaks usually drink or disappear when they discover we don't want to be converted and that it violate the traditions to try.

In fact, i am reading a book now that you might enjoy.

One Breath at a Time, Buddhism and the 12 steps, by Kevin Griffin.

Congrats on your 10 days!

RL

[astral]

14. I was asked to recall my last / worst hangover. . .

and was told one day at a time, I never have to go back there, and I never have to feel that way again.

Just for today, I'm not going back there. It gets easier, believe me. The AA program makes it possible to have a new start, a new life, without having to do it all alone. It becomes a stronger and more important and bigger part of your life as the days go by, and it belongs one of the rocks you can cling to, along with your very own Higher Power. You don't have to define it to have it, to feel it (if you don't feel it, don't worry, because that takes practice one day at a time too.)

Everyone who woke up sober today : Congratulations! Everyone who didn't : Congratulations for being HERE and thinking about sobriety -- you are in the process, and you are not alone.

[helderheid]

7. This post has given me courage to go to AA

Kynd, I have a hangover and am terrified out of my mind about my drinking. My life is in the toilet right now. You've given me courage.

[NMDemDist2]

8. ....

check you PM and :hug:

[helderheid]

9. thanks

:hug:

[demosincebirth]

12. Try going to 90 meeting in 90 days

and if you don't like it...we'll refund your misery.

Thats what they told me...years ago.

[KyndCulture]

15. Helder.

Tody is 19 days without a drop. I've been thru some hell the last few weeks, and if that bullshit didn't make me crawl into a bottle, I know I have the courage to lick this beast.

We to my dietician to day, my anemia is gone, and the malnutricion is MUCH better. My white blood cell count is almost back to normal.

My shrink has me on some really good meds that make me relaxed enough to handle that feeling I get around 5pm to pick up a cocktail.

THe booze ruined my life, I lost almost everything I loved. I was so far down in that bottle I couldn't see the top.

After 19 days, I cannot tell you how really GREAT I feel. My eyes are cloudy anymore, I smile a whole lot more, I made a new friend just the other day on my block.

Saw my shrink today and he's way proud of me.

If I can do it after 12 yrs in the bottom of a bottle for every problem, baby you can to.

The trick is that you must make the promise to yourself to NEVER EVER pick up that first drink, even if you think it's harmless, it is the road back to hell.

IT's what we do after that first drink, that we cannot control. At least I know I can't. AA is not the only program out there. The groups here are mostly closed and too far away from me walk, so I using an outpatient rehab clinic that is working for me.

My insurance covers it all under my mental health and addiction rider.

A HUGE contratulations to every who woke up sober today or woke up think it might be time to stop.

PM me any time if you want to talk. It's only been 19 days but everyday it gets a little easier.

[jeanarrett]

10. Must be something in the water.

After 20 years of almost daily drinking, and many, many years on the fence, two drunk drivings, in and out of AA, 30 days of rehab 15 years or so ago, I too have finally gotten sick of running on the rat wheel. Last Wednesday, I decided to go back to my first step group and have been sober ever since (six days). Woo hee! Anyone who doesn't understand what an alcoholic is would say, six days, big fucking deal. I am in awe of the old timers, the six monthers, the people with five years, one year, etc. You know what six days means to us newcomers, and what 10 days means to KC. I quit once for 67 days about two years ago. I thought I was on my way, but I went back out. Why? I was trying to do it for someone else. Now, I know that I must do it for me and me alone--my liver was starting to hurt. I've seen up close and personal what a destroyed liver looks like in my 34 year old brother who died 13 years ago. Even that couldn't stop me.

I've been to some meetings, I white-knuckled it a couple of times this weekend. I ate lots of ice cream cones. I talked to some old friends in AA. I told my kids what I was doing so that they could harass and/or encourage me if necessary and as necessary. I ate and kept my stomach full at all times. I tried not to be lonely, angry, tired or hungry. I slept well and didn't wake up with a hangover, not once. I got lots of projects done around the house (just little ones) that I thought I could only tackle with a drink and consequently which have sat there undone for months because once I had the drink, I didn't feel like doing them anymore.

Six days! I never thought I could do six days again. I'm trying for seven, but that's all. On day seven, I'll try for eight. I'm not going to look ahead. Just today. Because that got me before, too much thinking about how much I was going to miss it on Christmas, etc.

Last night at my AA meeting, it felt like I had come home--what the hell's wrong with me that I haven't stuck to this in the past?

Hang in there KC and congrats!

[NMDemDist2]

11. oh jean! that is the perfect share

it's the best one I've heard in quite a while! :hug:

you have the right attitude and one day at a time is just the perfect amount to stay sober

:hug:

:yourock:

[demosincebirth]

13. You probably stopped going to meetings

Am I right?

Glad you're back!

[KyndCulture]

16. Congratulations.

The first day I woke up not hungover, was the real day I knew I had to do this for me.

It's 19 days now, and it feels like the cats meow. I wake up every morning, drink my tea and sit outside and thank the universe for helping me make it one more day.

[NMDemDist2]

17. so glad it's going well Kynd!

keep it up (one day at a time)

:hi:

[CountAllVotes]

18. good for you KyndCulture!

I personally did the 90++ meetings in 90 days when I quit in 1986. If I had not done that, I rather doubt I'd be where I am today - sober! :D I realize you don't like this approach, but one thing about it, it is cost effective for sure!

Good for you and I'm glad you realized you have a problem and took appropriate action! It is a difficult thing to face.

When I get distraught, I always think back to the days I drank and remember the incomprehensible demoralization I constantly put myself through. I am so very glad I no longer have to worry about these types of things happening to me because of something called alcohol.

:thumbsup: and yes, you are right, people that drink and are around us a lot are a threat to our sobriety and we must never lose sight of this. Thank YOU for reminding ME about this! :D

For the longest time I was a remember of a group for "Atheists, Agnostics and Free Thinkers". That was highly interesting to me as I was pretty much devoid of any religious beliefs at the time. However, since that time, I do have faith that there is indeed a higher power! :D