Drug Rehab Options Blog

I just want to let you all know, that I'm still hanging in there...made it to day 8. My hubby is the one who said I should put "still doing great" in the title...lol.
He also says that he's proud of me, I'm proud of me too.
I'm telling myself, that I'm not quitting, I'm just cutting back and taking it a day at a time. Will I have some beer tomorrow? I don't know...Will I never have beer again? I don't know that answer to that either. All I know is that I'm not doing it right now and that tomorrow morning I will wake up the same way I did this morning...feeling pretty darn good!
I can't believe that I made it this long....would have had at least 3-4 drunk nights in by now...Gesh, that's about $40.
I love doing crafts and the past couple of days I have stopped by the craft store to buy some things for a new project that I just discovered...I ended spending some money on crafts instead of beer, now I have something to show for with no guilt.
Just wanted to share and say "I love you" guys!!!
:You_Rock_

XOXO

P.S. And yes, coming to this wonderful place has played the majority role in why I haven't drank for 8 DAYS!!!!
THANKS AGAIN!!!

Hi there everyone,
It has been since New Year's Eve that I have had my last drink of alcohol and it marked New Year's Day as my 1 day of sobriety. I have been doing fine since then, until today. My hubby just got home from the lawyer's office, as we are forced to file Chapter 7, due to losing our jobs a little over 2 month's ago. We are expected to lose a few items....in which I've learned to come to terms with and that's ok, they can be replaced down the road.
Well, on the way home, I came so close to pulling into the parking lot of the corner market to buy some beer. I'm in between sadness, stress and some relief that soon this will all come to an end and the creditors will finally quit harrassing us. I know that it's not our fault that we lost our jobs, but in a way I feel very guilty that I can no longer afford to pay back the loans. It's like I want to say I'm sorry but there is nothing I can do about it. So we are turning the items over to the creditors once we go to court...I only want to save my house and our other car.
Anyway, let me tell you what was going through my mind, because if I don't get to the point I will just keep on rambling about my problems....lol! Sorry, I'm bad at doing that.
Well, I kept thinking...Pull over and get some beer, my hubby even offered to give me the money that he had on hand in order for to buy some. Then the other part of me kept thinking...maybe it's not a good idea, think about how bad you will feel tomorrow and the guilt you will carry. Is it really worth it?
Then I thought about everyone on here...what would the people on SB do? Before I knew it, I was in my driveway...went into the house, turned on the computer and started writing this post to you and taking a drink of pepsi with wild cherry flavor. Not exactly what I wanted, because I really like diet pop...but I guess this will have to do. As I write this I'm really trying to calm my craving for a beer or 2, 3, 4....etc. Instead of stopping at the corner market, I thought of SB and decided I needed to hurry up and get home and share what is on my mind. I hope that I just don't say...oh well, go get it...you deserve it. I need to be strong. Trying so hard...I feel like I'm in a battle....even though I know that I'm in the right place.
Right here with you.
I hope this makes sense and if there are any typo's I apologize...I just need to hurry up and post this before I change my mind. By the way, I'm not proof reading this...just type and send.
Thank you all so much for listening and being here with me.
XOXO
:Val004:

posted also in the Narcotics 12 step forumLast night I was at a meeting and my hubby called. It was my dad....he slipped away into eternity while watching the Viking game with my mom.... tomorrow I will fly back to San Diego to help my mom.

Please pray I make wise choices and and super vigilant about my recovery!!!!! I really thought I was going to skate into my year of clean time 1/20/09 easily. This will not be easy. I want to come home and give you guys all a good report. I do not even have my laptop, as it is in the shop.....

My Dad Howard was not ill, I had an awesome 2 weeks w/ he and my Mom....I still cannot believe he is gone....he was just 75 and may have had a stroke or thrown a clot into his lung. He was not in pain, only winded my mom said.....then he closed his eyes and was gone.

I loved him so much. He helped form my silly personality, always a jokester he was.....he was kind and a God fearing man. He did an awesome job as a Dad and a husband. He worked at Rohr Industries for 45 years as a tool and die worker. He and my mom were married for 52 yrs. He loved Jesus and the verse I have in my avator is the verse he read as a boy and received Christ as he Savior.

Thanks guys. Sheila

I love you and miss you Daddy and will see you in a little while....love Sam

(he always called me Sam cuz he wanted to name me Samatha and my mom named me Sheila) lol

Howard E. G. 8/29/33-1/4/09

Last night I was at a meeting and my hubby called. It was my dad....he slipped away into eternity while watching the Viking game with my mom.... tomorrow I will fly back to San Diego to help my mom.

Please pray I make wise choices and and super vigilant about my recovery!!!!! I really thought I was going to skate into my year of clean time 1/20/09 easily. This will not be easy. I want to come home and give you guys all a good report. I do not even have my laptop, as it is in the shop.....

My Dad Howard was not ill, I had an awesome 2 weeks w/ he and my Mom....I still cannot believe he is gone....he was just 75 and may have had a stroke or thrown a clot into his lung. He was not in pain, only winded my mom said.....then he closed his eyes and was gone.

I loved him so much. He helped form my silly personality, always a jokester he was.....he was kind and a God fearing man. He did an awesome job as a Dad and a husband. He worked at Rohr Industries for 45 years as a tool and die worker. He and my mom were married for 52 yrs.

Thanks guys. Sheila

I love you and miss you Daddy and will see you in a little while....love Sam

(he always called me Sam cuz he wanted to name me Samatha and my mom named me Sheila) lol

Howard E. G. 8/29/33-1/4/09

Here it is day, 3...I would be drinking by now, because this would be the "other" day of my "every other" day drinking binge. This has became a routine of mine since my hubby and I lost our jobs a little over 2 months ago. We just got back from the store and I'm getting ready to make some taco salads...yummy. Still hanging in there and taking it "A Day At A Time". I'm so happy that my hubby is supportive of me and he doesn't like drinking that much anymore. He used to enjoy drinking about a year and a half ago and just did it mostly out of boredom. Me on the other hand did it out of boredom, for fun, when I was stressed and mostly for the buzz...I enjoyed doing it no matter what. It sure made everything more fun...like cleaning house, dishes, doing crafts and just plain hanging out at home. But I would have such terrible guilt the next day, even if everything went just fine the night before. I just wanted to check in and let you know how I was doing and that I haven't had a drink since New Years Eve. Right now I'm drinking a Diet Pepsi w/Wild Cherry flavoring...."Cheers, here's to another day and here's to today". :dance8::dance8:
Let's just see what tomorrow brings, because it is another day.
I would love to say no more for me please, never doing it again...but that is just to scary to think about. That is why I'd rather deal with it a day at a time. Besides, I think I would be pleased with myself if I did just cut back to once a month compared to the every other day routine.
Thanks for Listening and God Bless!!!
Take Care,
XOXO

Thank you all! I have been lurking since I decided to change my drinking habits 4 days ago! The stories have helped me through the really tough hours!

I am 25 and have been improving my drinking habits since the age of 21, when my husband and I were really bad--- splitting a jug of scotch some nights :( Now I just really like wine and we got it down to only a couple drinks most nights. However, it was EVERY DAY and got to be costly, both financially and physically. Rare was the day when the BEAST didn't strike after work...and it seemed any excuse to have "just one" was enough. Even though we were drinking a lot less (many nights within manageable limits), it became harder and harder to turn down additional drinks, or to abstain all together. We have never been in any trouble, but I have started to feel like trouble was on the horizon. Then came the wake-up call...went to a friends' house and observed the behavior of his real crazy alcoholic friend. That sunk in big-time, and I stewed about it over my last drinks (4 that night). The next morning, 4 days ago I was hung over and realized around 8 PM that I hadn't had a drink even though it was our day off. I went with it...hubby offered a beer and I said no. He seemed happy and ready for a change as well. That night I battled the usual shakes and anxiety, as well as belly pain. Starting day 2, I felt fine, and feel better today come day 4! I can already see my complexion clearing, and I have more energy! The diahrrea seems to be my biggest withdrawl symptom, and that is abating as well...

I realize after days of non-drink that it was much more the habits we got into than the alcohol itself. We went out to Olive Garden (too expensive with drinks, so we usually don't go there) on day 2 as a treat, and had no problem turning down a free wine tasting!! Last night we went to hubby's bro's house, where we usually drink, and were offered beer but decided not to. Nobody said boo, and we had a great time! It's not like we would have any problem with a beer (I NEVER drink more than 1-2 beers...filling but tasty), but we already made a commitment and set which days this season we could drink... Christmas and New Years! Funny, I'm not even concerned or waiting around for those days... and I know its because this is the right time for us to be adults and be more responsible. Also, on the first day sober I read about AVRT, and everything just made sense. And I have identified my danger/habit time...if I just resist the urge for that immediate unwind, and do something else, EAT instead, or take a shower...well, the craving magically vanishes! I really think working in a bar in my early youth set me up to learn bad habits as a drinker...but now I feel powerful and in-control! We have already dropped the more unsavory drinky acquaintances, and don't go to parties, so that's not an issue for us. For a long time we won't be going to bars or the usual after-work haunts, but try new places where the habits are absent. Seems to work so far. Don't feel the need for meetings...the fam and friends know we are abstaining completely, at least for the time being. Always been the type to get things done on my own, and hubby on my side doesn't hurt :) Some education and reading personal experiences has brought me around, and I can't thank you guys enough!

Peace and Love this holiday season! It will be my best in years!!!!!

Ok, so I just joined today & I've already admitted I don't have any sober time under my belt. I have been lurking for quite some time & finally decided to join. I'm hoping to get the support I need to quit drinking. Here's my situation. My husband has no idea how much I drink. He travels a lot for work & can't tell just by talking to me on the phone that I've been drinking. He also drinks, but he doesn't have a problem like I do. We both really enjoy drinking together though. Sitting out by a campfire having some beers, watching a movie & drinking some wine, having some drinks over at a friend's house, drinking beers while watching football... ok, so I'm sure you get the point. I'm just wondering how anyone has dealt with drinking when you & your hubby really enjoy doing it together?? How has it affected your relationship when drinking isn't a part of it anymore? It makes me think of the movie "When a Man Loves a Woman" with Andy Garcia & Meg Ryan. He liked her as an alcoholic because then he could always take care of her. They had problems when she decided to get sober. Just wondering if anyone has experienced any negative consequences in a relationship after deciding to get sober? How do you deal with it?? Sometime I'm afraid that if I get sober, our relationship will completely change & maybe not in a good way. Any thoughts??

Hi guys, well it's day 7 today, and life is looking up...

I'm usually a hermit with a glass in my hand, but this week I have been to town twice, once with Hubby and once with Miss 19, I had a great time both times with no panic attacks or anxiety.

I've been enjoying cooking again instead of it being a chore.

I've smiled more this week than in the last 6 months, and it's a smile that comes from right down deep, a happy warming smile.

I've done so much more with my children, and again, because I've realy enjoyed it, not just out of guilt and responsibility like when I was drinking.

I've spent last weeks booze money on a set of wheel trims for my car, 4 DVDs and a double christmas CD for the family, it felt great.

I've eaten well and feel healthier for it, I've drunk a ton of water & juice and feel healthier for it, and I've gotten more excersize and feel good.

I'm looking forward to Christmas with no booze, just a fun time with my husband and children, they are all the buzz I need.

The only negative is sleeping, it's a shocker, but I'll get there, and I know I'm very lucky to only have one negative thing happening, I've gotten off lightly this time, and I intend on making the most of it, my detoxs in the past have been shocking, as have my recoveries (that didn't last obviously) so I never want to do this again because I know I won't get it as easy as this next time.... someone is definately looking over me and blessing my efforts!!!

I hope every one is having a fantastic day and feeling rightly proud of their efforts :Val004:

Hi guys, I thought I'd better check in, as I know some of you were a little concerned because I had a mates birthday & my birthday bbq party tonight.

Well I went, I had an absolute ball with my friends, my hubby & children, and I stayed sober. It was weird, Hubby almost never drinks, but I told him to go ahead and have a beer, I had to get used to it, so here was I with my ice cold coke, and him a beer, it was bizzar, a complete opposite to the norm (he always has the coke lol)

I didn't feel stressed, just weird. But I really enjoyed myself, I don't know how long it's been since I had a genuine smile on my face for so long, and even after we got home, the kids & I cranked the rock & roll music up and boogied together, what a hoot. I can't remember feeling this happy, it was like a life time ago.

I hope everyone else had a great day :)

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the forum, but not new to the idea of wanting/needing to quit drinking...I have been drinking for many years and longest I went without beer was 3 months. I have been to AA meetings a couple of years ago and I think I only went about 8 times total.
I feel like I "sort of" hit rock bottom last night...I did drink and I drank alot. Well, I got to the point of sadness I almost wanted to die....literally wanted to not to be here anymore. It really scares me that I was near the point of thinking about it.
Just a month and a half ago both my husband lost our jobs, since then I have been drinking every other day. I feel so empty inside, he can't collect unemployment for another 5 weeks and no one has been calling him for a job interview. Next week, we are going to see a lawyer because we know that we are going to lose most of the things that we worked so hard for the past 18 years...so we have to file chapter 7.
The bill collectors are ringing our phone off the hook, I can't believe that we are in this situation. I used to get happy when I would put the little check marks next to the bills that were paid for the week.
We also have a motorcycle/scooter and we totally love riding together....plus we just bought a boat and only took it out twice and we are going to lose that as well. This month's bills are starting to roll in again and I still need $1000 to pay the lawyer to start our bankruptcy. I feel like I'm burning my candle at both ends.
I'm sorry that I sound like I'm having a pity party but I just need to talk about it. My poor hubby puts up with my up and down mood swings and he barely even drinks, so he really has no escape. He used to drink but not so much anymore, I'm so proud of him, I wish that I had control like that.
He just came in and asked me who I was writing and I told him a message board because I'm too embarrased to be truthful with him right at this minute because this scene seems all to familiar to him.
I'm not embarrassed to be here with all you wonderful people infact I feel very thankful that I found you guys tonight. I don't know what the future has in store for me, I just wanted to come in here and share little piece of myself and ask for help.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and God Bless You!