I have a drink problem - Professional opinion

[Corinna]

Keep it up as all things one day at a time.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Last night was a real test as we were watching football and that normally means having a beer (or 2) in hand. I did fancy a drink but then realised I was thirsty not craving alcohol so had a lovely glass of iced water

Saturday is my wedding anniversary (yep! married on April Fool's Day!) so we will be going out for a meal. I may have wine, I may not but if I do I'm going to approach it the same way I did my diet - a couple of squares of chocolate instead of the whole bar, a glass or two of wine instead of the bottle!

I also have an exercise machine at home which I now jump on for half an hour if I find my mind turning to drink

Thanks once again for all your advice and support - I've got a way to go yet but my whole approach to alcohol has changed completely and I woke up singing this morning!!!

[jenluckenbach]

Wonderful update. Keep up the good work. Happy anniversary.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

I woke up singing this morning!!!

Wow Denise, I am realy proud of you!!! I wasn't at home yesterday, so I didn't read all the updates then. But I am amazed at how well you are doing this!!! Keep thinking like this, it will change your life completely!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY !!!

[Laura's Babies]

It is time for me to go back to work and I just wanted to say Good LUCK and keep it up! Hope when I get back next month, there will be nothing but good news from you! keep at it, keep it up!

[JenBKR]

(((hugs))) and happy anniversary! Sounds like everything is going really well. Keep up the good work, we are all so proud of you!

[Catty1]

Good work.

Sounds like the 'substitution method' is working so far. Hope you are able to just live sober one day.

hugs
Catty1

[Pawsitive Thinking]

My hubby announced that his brother and wife may be coming round on Saturday night - they drink vodka like its going out of fashion and I would normally have seen this as a great excuse to drink lots but my first reaction this time was "just because they are drinking it like water it doesn't mean I have to". Will let you know how I get on but I am confident that I will pass this test - I am determined not to let me (or you) down....

Won't be posting every day now because quite frankly it doesn't make for very interesting reading but I do know I can come back here if I need a boost

[Catty1]

"He was interested and conceded that he had some of the symptoms, but was a long way from conceding that he could do nothing about it himself. He was positive that this humiliating experience, plus the knowledge he had acquired, would keep him sober the rest of his life. Self-knowledge would fix it.

(Fred wound up back in hospital - he goes on to say)

"I reasoned I was not so far advanced as some of you...that I had been usually successful in licking my other personal problems, and that therefore I would therefore be successful where you...failed...it would be only a matter of exercising my will power and keeping on guard.

"As soon as I regained my ability to think...not only had I been off guard, I had made no fight whatsoever against the first drink. This time I had not thought of the consequences at all...I now remembered what my alcoholic friends had told me, how they prophesied that if I had an alcoholic mind, the time and place would come - I would drink again. They had said that though I did raise a defense, it would one day give way before some trivial reason for having a drink...I knew from that moment that I had an alcoholic mind. I saw that will power and self-knowledge would not help in those mental blank spots. I had never been able to understand people who said a problem had them hopelessly defeated. I knew then. It was a crushing blow."

pp40 - 42, Alcoholics Anonymous

Denise: I chose these words for you, based on what you have shared. I wish you the best. Your posts aren't boring - I see a lot going on, the early stages, the coping methods familiar to many of us. "Don't miss it at all -feel better." 'We know that such a man is like a boy whistling in the dark to keep up his spirits.'

Just remember - you don't have to ride the dump truck all the way to the dump.

Any time you want a boost or help, you can come here, as you said, absolutely!

When you decide you want RECOVERY - get to AA.

Hugs
Catty1

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Thank you - have printed that out, its a lot to absorb in one go but I can see "me" in those words......Maybe I was worse than I thought and I thought I was doing so well *sigh*

[Karen]

You are doing well, you haven't been drinking, and you're not gonna start, right? When they're drinking "vodka like water" you can drink water - looks pretty much the same, right?, and guess which of you will feel best in the morning?

[RedHedd]

"He was interested and conceded that he had some of the symptoms, but was a long way from conceding that he could do nothing about it himself. He was positive that this humiliating experience, plus the knowledge he had acquired, would keep him sober the rest of his life. Self-knowledge would fix it.

(Fred wound up back in hospital - he goes on to say)

"I reasoned I was not so far advanced as some of you...that I had been usually successful in licking my other personal problems, and I wish you the best. Your posts aren't boring - I see a lot going on, the early stages, the coping methods familiar to many of us. "Don't miss it at all -feel better." 'We know that such a man is like a boy whistling in the dark to keep up his spirits.'

Just remember - you don't have to ride the dump truck all the way to the dump.

Any time you want a boost or help, you can come here, as you said, absolutely!

When you decide you want RECOVERY - get to AA.

Hugs
Catty1

Catty1 - Thank you. I couldn't have said it better. Denise, good luck to you. Your posts are NOT boring, in fact lately this has been the first thread I check on PT. I NEED to read that other people are also trying to live sober one day at a time - it's what helps keep ME sober and has worked for a long time, one day at a time.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Denise, I'm so glad that you've admitted that you have a problem and that you're now doing so well. I don't know much about alcoholics but I too used to drink too much on the weekends. I'd go out with my drinking friends and then end up with a major hangover the next day. Many times I didn't even remember the whole night because I had black outs. I became very bored with drinking and tired of getting hangovers so I just stopped completely. I may have one drink on special occasions but I don't miss it at all. I hope that you'll continue to do well and you have my full support. Please take care. (((HUGS)))

P.S. I don't associate with my drinking friends any more but have made new non-drinking friends.

[Catty1]

Denise - you are doing tremendously!

I hate to be devil's advocate. Just if you DO have alcoholism, there are things you might want to be aware of.

We can really judge ourselves harshly when it comes to something like this - just remember, you are not bad trying to get good, you are ill trying to get better!

And I think you have a real capacity for honesty, which is the key.

"It takes what it takes."

Hugs
Catty1

[carole]

Denise please don't feel you are boring us, not at all, and do post daily if that is what helps you through all of this.

Again i am so proud of you ,what you have achieved is really something, i hope you are proud of yourself to, but i am concerned about you,i detect a little bit of denial still, but as i have said before you need to be assessed professionally IMO, i think it is very dangerous for you to be continually putting yourself in temptations way, if you are indeed an alcoholic, this is not something you should be doing,and you will need to make some real changes and be honest with family and friends, they will respect you for it in the end.

I don't mean to put you on a downer sweetie, i just want you to really be aware of the reality of the situation, and i speak purely from the heart as i care about what happens to you,my experience has taught me alot and if i can help you in anyway i am here anytime, take care and i wish you well for today and all days. hugs.

Denise i just wanted to add, i don't think you should be putting yourself through all these tests so early on in your recovery, plenty time for that, honestly having family over who drink heavily, is really not a good idea IMO, maybe you could postpone it, i compare it to dieting a little , when i am in the first early stages, it is madness for me to put myself in any situation where yummy food exists, now two weeks or more down the track, i am strong enough to say no, give yourself time sweetie, you are doing marvellous and one day at a time, one thing at a time is the best way to tackle it,don't make things so hard for yourself OK.