Author Topic: Please pray for strength for me (Read 12244 times)

NobodyForNow · « **Reply #50 on:** October 08, 2007, 01:53:21 PM »

There's no doubt in my mind that I'm an alcoholic. All the signs are there.

On Saturday night, September 29, I had thirteen 16-ounce beers. The night before I had eleven. The night before that was ten. Twelve or thirteen beers got to be pretty common in the last year or so. If I only had eight, I thought I was doing prety good.

I was embarassed to go to the same liquor store every three or so days, so I would alternate between three different stores.

If I made a beer run in the afternoon, I'd stuff a shopping bag in my pants when I left, so that when I returned with a bag of something the neighbors might think I had gone to the grocery store. I don't think I was fooling them. If I already had beer in the trunk, I'd stuff the shopping bag into my pants, drive a few blocks, grab a six pack from the trunk and put it in the bag, and then come back home.

That's classic alcoholic behavior.

I had a really good session with my counselor today. He understands the reasons I don't want to join AA. He said that if I don't have multiple relapses then I probably wouldn't need to join. But if I do have multiple relapses I'll have to join.

Being able to talk about this really helps, even if I am hiding my name. Thanks to everyone for tolerating this thread.

Paddy · « **Reply #51 on:** October 08, 2007, 02:19:52 PM »

Quote

On Saturday night, September 29, I had thirteen 16-ounce beers. The night before I had eleven. The night before that was ten.

That's impressive. Even I can't do that.

One small silly suggestion (it helps, scout's honor). Begin now to do everything differently, to remind yourself you're on a new path. If you tie your left shoe first, change and tie the right first. If you button up your shirt, begin to button it down. If you shave, then brush your teeth, reverse it. etc., et yada. It doesn't sound worthwhile, but it is. It's an affirmation to yourself that you CAN do things differently. It's empowering, in a small but significant way. Call it displacement behavior, whatever. It helps get your mind away from the 'poor me' thinking.

Best to you.

Ex-MA Hole · « **Reply #52 on:** October 08, 2007, 03:06:28 PM »

+1 to what Riley said.

(I love you too, Mike.)

Paddy · « **Reply #53 on:** October 09, 2007, 08:22:43 PM »

OTOH, here's a guy whose alcoholism hasn't seemed to interfere with his success

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8S64FBO0&show_article=1

roo_ster · « **Reply #54 on:** October 10, 2007, 05:05:05 AM »

I'm glad you're making a go of it.

Keep up the good work and don't rule out AA (or other groups of folks who have BTDT).

Mabs2 · « **Reply #55 on:** October 10, 2007, 05:27:45 AM »

Quote from: NobodyForNow on October 08, 2007, 12:53:21 PM

Thanks to everyone for tolerating this thread.

Tolerating ain't the word, bro. Wink

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #56 on:** October 10, 2007, 02:08:30 PM »

funny thing if you are new to it you might not realize it yet but you've halped me stay sober with this thread. i never understood how that worked in the beginning

Desertdog · « **Reply #57 on:** October 12, 2007, 12:15:14 PM »

Quote

Being able to talk about this really helps, even if I am hiding my name. Thanks to everyone for tolerating this thread.

In AA meetings you use your first name only, and that can be an alias if you want it to be.

Remember the members in the AA meetings have Been There Done That.

Another surprising thing you find in the meetings is how some body has a story that sounds just like yours.

Laurent du Var · « **Reply #58 on:** October 19, 2007, 06:28:27 AM »

How are we doing Nobody for now ?
Are you managing your thirst ?
Did you get into an AA programm?
Give us hope here, man !

NobodyForNow · « **Reply #59 on:** October 19, 2007, 11:29:11 AM »

Laurent du Var, things are going great. It's been seventeen days now and I don't have any cravings at all. Detox went real smooth.

I'm managing my thirst by drinking water, orange juice and lemonade like crazy. I don't much care for soda pop.

I have a lot more energy and I'm getting a lot more work done. Who knows, maybe I'll get a raise?

As for AA. I don't want to do AA unless I have to. My counselor said that I've been doing great and he doesn't think I need AA. But he did say that if I have multiple relapses that I would have to do AA. But he also said he doesn't think I'll relapse.

I never thought I could quit. Now I wish I had quit years ago.

Laurent du Var · « **Reply #60 on:** October 19, 2007, 09:26:40 PM »

Good news, mon ami !
Keep us posted.
(And what is wrong with soda pops ?)

LadySmith · « **Reply #61 on:** October 20, 2007, 01:24:56 AM »

That's great news, NobodyForNow. I hope all the prayers helped (they certainly didn't hurt

).

Barbara · « **Reply #62 on:** October 22, 2007, 01:02:52 AM »

Hang in there!

Tuco · « **Reply #63 on:** October 22, 2007, 12:53:34 PM »

There will come a day when the only thing between you and a drink is a reliance on a power greater than yourself.
GET STARTED GETTING TO KNOW THAT POWER.

ps, That isn't my quote, but I've btdt, bought the coffee cup.

feel free to pm me if you please.

Laurent du Var · « **Reply #64 on:** November 02, 2007, 10:46:36 PM »

How are we doing, Nobody ?

Still on lemon juice ? Still not member
of the AA ? Give us hope here, man -
my hands are shaking, and christmas is coming up.

(Seriously the decoration, glittery stars and such are already up
but the hot christmas wine vendors are not selling yet...)

Laurent du Var · « **Reply #65 on:** November 05, 2007, 11:07:42 PM »

Just pushing it up to see if Nobody is good.

LadySmith · « **Reply #66 on:** November 06, 2007, 03:46:51 AM »

I'm curious as well, Laurent.

Ex-MA Hole · « **Reply #67 on:** November 06, 2007, 05:49:14 AM »

I jumped on the wagon once or twice before I made the long trip I am on now.

Dude (or Dudette), if you've fallen, no worries, we'll still be here to pick you back up.

NobodyForNow · « **Reply #68 on:** November 06, 2007, 08:04:42 PM »

I havn't fallen. Today is five weeks.

I can't believe how easy it's been. My counselor thought I would need a week in a hospital to detox. The only uncomfortable time was the first night five weeks ago. And even that wasn't bad.

I guess I just lucked out. My counselor says maybe I'm a lot stronger than I think.

Thanks for all of the prayers and for checking up on me.

It looks like I won't be going back to beer, but I'm spending a lot on lemonade.

Bogie · « **Reply #69 on:** November 06, 2007, 08:42:07 PM »

That's because you weren't that much of a lush. Believe me, there's a LOT worse.

There's a lot of folks who don't catch the monster before it eats 'em alive.

RadioFreeSeaLab · « **Reply #70 on:** November 07, 2007, 06:07:02 AM »

Good work!

...lemonade tastes better anyways.

Paddy · « **Reply #71 on:** November 07, 2007, 06:13:42 AM »

Congratulations! Enjoy, and keep on keepin' on, one foot in front of the other.

Mabs2 · « **Reply #72 on:** November 07, 2007, 11:37:15 AM »

I've never understood why people like beer.
Every alcoholic drink I've ever smelled reaks.
Especially wine. Sad

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #73 on:** November 07, 2007, 12:46:35 PM »

NobodyForNow, my older brother is a lifelong drunk. Treatment centers never did anything for him. It sounds like you either have great self-control or, as you said, you lucked out. My guess is that it's the former.

mbs357, some things are acquired tastes. Beer, Springsteen and Dylan come to mind. Wink

grislyatoms · « **Reply #74 on:** November 10, 2007, 05:18:35 AM »

I'm joining you, nobodyfornow.

I always said that if I ever woke up with a hangover again, that would be the end of it. I feel like I just got run over by a bus.

I started drinking when I was 15. I quit when I was 23. Started again when I was 30.

This past week, I took the whole week off as my b-day present from me to me. Didn't touch a drop.

Yesterday, I dropped kiddo off at school, got my paycheck, got all the Thanksgiving dinner fixin's, and got a 12 pack. The 12 pack is gone. (Just to be clear, kiddo went to her Mom's yesterday after school, as scheduled.) It's not doing me any good anymore, if it ever did.

I've done it before. I'll do it this time, for good. Thanks for the inspiration.

(I need a big mug of coffee, something greasy and a nap.) sad

FWIW, I went to AA when I quit the first time. I hated every minute of it. angry

News:

Author Topic: Please pray for strength for me (Read 12244 times)

Paddy

Paddy

cassandra and sara's daddy

Paddy