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Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 23, 2015 17:29:24 GMT -5
Strongpines, This forum has only been around a little over a month. Many of us came over from an About.com forum that had been around for years. This format is very different and (just speaking for myself here) hard to get accustomed to. So yes, it's a little quiet, but there are some good people here and a lot of recovery support. Stick around and liven things up for us, will you? Tell us about yourself if you feel so inclined. Ask questions. Make comments. I think you will find that people will respond and welcome you very shortly. Again, Welcome. Mark/Jeyu
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Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 23, 2015 16:16:06 GMT -5
Hi pt, I suppose it seems like you're talking to yourself around here sometimes. I just wanted to tell you that I have enjoyed reading your "Quotes for Reflection". Thanks for posting them. You seem to be doing well. Mark/Jeyu
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Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 23, 2015 16:05:03 GMT -5
Hi - not sure this is the correct thread to post on. I am three days sober, lost my license, lost my job, am on probation - but am ever thankful no one was hurt when I was arrested for DUI. Live in the middle of nowhere so am using online forums to keep in touch with the world. Thank you for listening. This is not my first rodeo with the drink - but it is my last. Hi Strongpines, Welcome! This is the perfect thread to post on because you sound very positive. Three days is a big deal because it shows commitment and a desire to change your life for the better. One of our posters formerly known as Mark_LA cautioned me early on about the "built in forgetter" of alcoholism. The addicted brain will try to talk you back into another drink, that this time will be different, but I'll bet you've been to that rodeo before too. I sure have. Yesterday was a year and a half for me, but I remember very well where you are now. Keep that positive attitude and you can change those three days into a lifetime of sobriety. Mark/Jeyu
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Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 18, 2015 20:47:09 GMT -5
Summie,
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your decision. Please feel free to post when and it you feel like it. I stayed pretty close to the forum for the first few months after I quit drinking and received a tremendous amount of knowledge and support here. I remember when I was at your point telling myself that I never wanted to go through the last few days again and there was only way to make sure the I didn't.
Mark/Jeyu
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PAWS
Oct 17, 2015 17:35:36 GMT -5
Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 17, 2015 17:35:36 GMT -5
Yvan, In alcoholism, as in most things, knowledge is empowering. Most people would appreciate being able to predict the future. PAWS seems to be common enough to be considered predictable. I agree that the forum can be a very important source of knowledge and therefore power. When I quit drinking, I thought PAWS belonged to big DOGS. I learned the difference here. I'm glad to see that you are doing well. Mark/Jeyu
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PAWS
Oct 17, 2015 15:26:35 GMT -5
Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 17, 2015 15:26:35 GMT -5
PJ, Good article. Thanks for sharing it. Mark/Jeyu
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PAWS
Oct 17, 2015 7:46:38 GMT -5
Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 17, 2015 7:46:38 GMT -5
JoeY,
Same here. I wasn't ready to quit until I knew that alcohol had me. If I hadn't quit when I did it would have been 'till death do us part', probably sooner rather than later.
The good thing about the forum for me is that it has given me the opportunity to think my way through recovery rather than react through it; not that I have always chosen that path. Many of us face similar circumstances in the process of recovery. Knowing what to expect and seeing how others have navigated the same waters has been of tremendous benefit to me.
Mark/Jeyu
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PAWS
Oct 17, 2015 7:16:03 GMT -5
Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 17, 2015 7:16:03 GMT -5
Hi JoeY I drank for 30 plus years and was one of those non-existent 'functioning' alcoholics; I would work every day, start drinking on the way home, then drink until I fell asleep or sometimes blacked out every night. Like you, I quit several times for short periods only to start back again within several months. Your statement comparing PAWS to aversion therapy definitely has credibility. I have managed to avoid relapse partially because I have always felt that I could never do this again. Mark/Jeyu
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PAWS
Oct 16, 2015 21:22:37 GMT -5
Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 16, 2015 21:22:37 GMT -5
Sam, You have discussed this before and I really appreciate the fact that you have. I actually think that learning about PAWS from you and others here probably saved me from relapse. I'm feeling better the last several days so it's a good time to reflect on things and learn from the experience. I feel that PAWS somewhat resembles an episode of depression in that the individual knows what is happening but is unable to do much other than hold on if possible until it passes. Knowing that PAWS would eventually pass made this doable for me. I know that few like this word except maybe old cowboys, but do you think there are 'triggers' that precipitate episodes of PAWS? I'm not high on being blindsided and if these events are predictable in some way, it may be possible to mitigate their effects. Mark/Jeyu
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For Kim
Oct 16, 2015 7:35:20 GMT -5
Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 16, 2015 7:35:20 GMT -5
Jenn said, "Do you sketch, paint or journal? I'm hoping to start painting again, sometime, I keep saying it but don't actually do it, erghh!! I have impossible expectations of what my paintings should look like and of course, like all expectations, always disappoint. I can minimise dissappointment by eliminating unrealistic expectations, not just with painting. Always expecting too much of oneself, always leads to feeling 'not good enough'. Story of my life. I'm real good right now, looking forward to holidays in Victoria with my son. I wrote about that in my post to Mark/Jeyu but can't find where I posted it, dammit !! Also wrote about my AA meeting which was good." Hi Jenn, I can't find the post either. Concerning the painting, I have been considering painting again as well, but haven't decided yet. I painted quite a bit years ago, a scotch in one hand and a paintbrush in the other. I remember once dipping my brush in my scotch by mistake to clean it, then thinking, what the hell and went on painting and drinking the tainted scotch. I have/had the same problem as you do with painting. I never could consider a painting finished because it was never perfect and if it wasn't perfect, it wasn't finished. I painted to relax but it never quite proved to be relaxing for me. I might try TuTu's JFDI style of painting and see how it feels. (Hey Tutes, that's not an insult, but rather a compliment). It is good to see that you are doing well. I am too. Mark/Jeyu
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Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 15, 2015 23:40:47 GMT -5
Post Acute Withdrawl (PAW) Exerpted From "Staying Sober" By: Terence T. Gorski SYMPTOMS OF POST ACUTE WITHDRAWAL There are six major types of PAW symptoms. They are the inability to think clearly, memory problems, emotional overreactions and numbness, sleep disturbances, physical coordination problems, and general problems in managing stress. The inability to solve usually simple problems because of any or all of these symptoms leads to diminished self-esteem. A person often feels incompetent, embarrassed, and not okay about themselves. Diminished self-esteem and the fear of failure interfere with productive and challenging living.Part of my difficulty in learning to live a happy and rewarding life without alcohol is that I never effectively learned how to deal with the problems associated with life. I was conditioned over many years to escape them through alcohol. When I decided to quit drinking, I expected my problems to go away, and certainly some of those caused by alcohol abuse did rather quickly. But the desire to escape, rather than deal with stress, emotions, etc. was still there because it had been a way of life for many years. The path to sobriety, for me, has been about learning, in some instances for the first time, how to navigate myself through situations where escape had become instinct. This became especially difficult when faced with periodic bouts of PAWS. I only know of two ways to deal with PAWS, either drink (not an option) or wait it out and plow through the day to day tasks of living, knowing or at least hoping that there are better days ahead, and relying on the work of recovery to get through to the other side. I think so many people relapse just because of this. PAWS, the desperate efforts of the addicted brain to get its fix. Statistics say it usually works; the addicted brain usually wins out. But armed with the knowledge, mostly gained here, I have been able to ride out those episodes of PAWS and gain some experience and confidence in the process. I will be 18 months next week. I am just coming through my most significant episode of PAWS. I won, at least this round, and if I never win the war but also never lose a battle, I suppose I will be, in effect, the ultimate winner of my internal battle. I no longer crave alcohol and I haven't in a long time, but there are times when I DO crave escape. My knowing that these are times when I am most vulnerable to relapse have been very important in avoiding a relapse. As new problem solving skills are learned and new methods of dealing with stress are developed, I have found that the problems are not insurmountable and the stress not quite as severe. As much as anything, this is an explanation of why I haven't been very active around here lately. Quite honestly, I just couldn't think of much that I considered worth saying. Some may think I should have waited it out a little longer. ? Mark/Jeyu
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Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 14, 2015 22:49:11 GMT -5
Hey Jude, Glad you found this place. Any start can be the one that succeeds in placing you on the path to the sober life that you desire. I hope you stick around and participate in the many benefits that the forum can provide to you. Congratulations on your now 3 days! Mark/Jeyu
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Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 13, 2015 0:17:08 GMT -5
Hey TuTu,
You need to give some hints such as "my birthday is in two days" or "my birthday is tomorrow" or "today is my birthday". Anyway, happy belated birthday!
I like the painting. If I am supposed to see something in your painting, I do. I see a little orange lady with pigtails in a green tutu running away from a food fight holding a bowl in her right hand (bottom right). I also see gasoline, well, petrol down under, being poured from a can onto a campfire (top left) in which case the little orange lady in the green tutu with pigtails is a only a burning amber. (No, I haven't been drinking, but I did grill steaks tonight).
That's it, I see steaks on a grill!
Mark/Jeyu
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Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 6, 2015 23:27:49 GMT -5
Hey Sam,
Tom and Donald, the resemblance is amazing. Really. I've been putting in a lot of time at work (what's new), then coming home and watching some great baseball. Go Astros!
Mark/Jeyu
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Post by jeyu0422 on Oct 2, 2015 15:22:01 GMT -5
Yeah, Blue, we're gonna need a wall alright, to keep a few of us here!
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