Quitting drinking

Did you get the whiskey out of your place?

Trying again wrote:

kibitzer wrote:

And one bad day doesn't mean it's all over, either. It's one day. Then you take care of business the next day.

I'm friends with someone who's gone about 30 years sober. If she slipped tomorrow, that wouldn't mean that the last 30 years were a waste--she's still done herself a huge favor for 30 years.

Congrats on keeping it going. Take care of today.

To me it is. There's something about keeping the streak alive. If I break the streak, that will make it easier to drink because 1-2 days without doesn't seem as big of an accomplishment as 15 days. It took a lot to get my mind ready to start not drinking again. If I drink, then it could be months or years until my mind is reaady for another streak. Makes sense?

Whatever works. If keeping the streak alive is what's doing it for you, then keep doing it. Good luck.

Trying again wrote:

kibitzer wrote:

And one bad day doesn't mean it's all over, either. It's one day. Then you take care of business the next day.

I'm friends with someone who's gone about 30 years sober. If she slipped tomorrow, that wouldn't mean that the last 30 years were a waste--she's still done herself a huge favor for 30 years.

Congrats on keeping it going. Take care of today.

To me it is. There's something about keeping the streak alive. If I break the streak, that will make it easier to drink because 1-2 days without doesn't seem as big of an accomplishment as 15 days. It took a lot to get my mind ready to start not drinking again. If I drink, then it could be months or years until my mind is reaady for another streak. Makes sense?

So what would be the problem if you drank once a month? Honest question.

John Utah wrote:

Trying again wrote:

To me it is. There's something about keeping the streak alive. If I break the streak, that will make it easier to drink because 1-2 days without doesn't seem as big of an accomplishment as 15 days. It took a lot to get my mind ready to start not drinking again. If I drink, then it could be months or years until my mind is reaady for another streak. Makes sense?

So what would be the problem if you drank once a month? Honest question.

That wouldn't be a problem at all. Of course, if that were an option, there wouldn't have been a problem in the first place.

The problem is that people with compulsive disorders have a very hard time limiting habits to once a ___. It is usually safer to avoid the activity altogether.

Well done. I want to support you in this. The first step really needs to be remove temptation. That whisky collection must go. So, there are a couple of ways to do this, but I am here to help. Shipping it all to me is likely the easiest way, but we can obviously discuss the best way for me to get that whisky from you. What works for you? Let me help you.

John Utah wrote:

Trying again wrote:

To me it is. There's something about keeping the streak alive. If I break the streak, that will make it easier to drink because 1-2 days without doesn't seem as big of an accomplishment as 15 days. It took a lot to get my mind ready to start not drinking again. If I drink, then it could be months or years until my mind is reaady for another streak. Makes sense?

So what would be the problem if you drank once a month? Honest question.

Alcoholic's don't just drink once a month, or just have one and call it a night. That's the entire problem. If they have one, they may as well have 50. The flood gate open is either open or its closed.

thinlizzyjar wrote:

Did you get the whiskey out of your place?

There is no need, because I am not tempted by it. What I'm doing is recognizing that addition runs in the family so I had better make sure I don't end up like them. Plus fat. Plus money.

Oh Please wrote:

thinlizzyjar wrote:

Did you get the whiskey out of your place?

There is no need, because I am not tempted by it. What I'm doing is recognizing that addition runs in the family so I had better make sure I don't end up like them. Plus fat. Plus money.

What do your math skills have to do with anything?

John Utah wrote:

Trying again wrote:

To me it is. There's something about keeping the streak alive. If I break the streak, that will make it easier to drink because 1-2 days without doesn't seem as big of an accomplishment as 15 days. It took a lot to get my mind ready to start not drinking again. If I drink, then it could be months or years until my mind is reaady for another streak. Makes sense?

So what would be the problem if you drank once a month? Honest question.

The Jeff and Stickman answered the question for me. Once a month opens the flood gates...

Uh, oh. I got to 17 days. IPA, whisky, wine on tap. Will restart the a new streak on Monday.

I've gone a week. I never binged but drank 3 drinks a day and seemed to be dependent on it as a stress reliever and enjoy the taste. I now can eat more food or lose weight which is a bonus. No DT's. It's hard with pressure from family/friends not to lighten up and have a drink around the holidays. I have more energy to workout and more clear headed.

Hungover. That's one way to not drink today.

Trying again wrote:

Uh, oh. I got to 17 days. IPA, whisky, wine on tap. Will restart the a new streak on Monday.

No, start today. Drinking for three more days because of a slip is a bad plan. One day at a time, beginning today.

I'll tell you what the problem would be for ME. Even if I was successful at this for an extended period (not all that likely), it would be torture. Every single day of the month (but one) I would be fighting the compulsion. Whatever it is in my brain that wants to drink would be constantly coming up with reasons why this would be a good day, why two days a month would be just as good, etc...

Once I closed the door completely, all that went away. With drinking out of the question, life is so much easier. For me, that was the thing that finally drove me to quit and the thing that will keep me from ever starting back.

Coming up on 17 years ....

trying again wrote:

I meant to say I feel it HAS to come from within this time.

This. No more needed.

I quit drinking alcohol almost two decades ago.

What worked for me (and still does): every night I get butt-naked, lay on my belly and let my wife pour a bottle of vodka through an funnel into my ass.

I think this is viable long-term option for more health-conscious individuals like me.

another perspective wrote:

I quit drinking alcohol almost two decades ago.

What worked for me (and still does): every night I get butt-naked, lay on my belly and let my wife pour a bottle of vodka through an funnel into my ass.

I think this is viable long-term option for more health-conscious individuals like me.

An enema for a douche!

Just look at sobriety like training. Do you give up running altogether because you miss one day, or do you put it behind you and get back to training. It's a given that an alcoholic is going to relapse at least a few times before they turn things around. Don't let one setback ruin everything. 15 days is something to be proud of, but the end goal is to build the patterns, behaviors, and relationships that allow you to be sober for life. Good luck.

I don't know why "Trying again" with a capital T stole my handle but I wish him all the best. :)

I am totally fvcked.

Trying to start again tomorrow.

My legs are shot, running uphill is a nightmare, I lost a race two weeks ago because I was too hungover.

I am tired of this. Seriously TIRED of this life.

I will stop tomorrow.