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Post by jeyu0422 on Apr 30, 2020 16:01:16 GMT -5
Doc, One of the best ways to hold yourself accountable is to tell your family and some close friends that you think you are developing a problem with alcohol and have decided to quit drinking. Tell them NOT to believe you if you say at some point that you have things under control and can drink again socially. The saying “once a pickle, never a cucumber again” (or something like that) applies here. I assure you that your addicted brain will try to convince you that you can drink again and that you will be able to control things this time. Been there. Done that. Many times. It doesn’t work. Mark (Jeyu)
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doc74
Junior Member
Posts: 13
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Post by doc74 on May 1, 2020 6:36:48 GMT -5
Thanks for the support Mark. I do plan to begin speaking with those close to me about my problem with alcohol. And, I've told myself many times that I won't be drinking this weekend or that weekend, and I never live up to that. I did make a good step yesterday, and no drinking last night... so I feel good this morning. Additionally, I've declined an invitation for a regular virtual happy hour late this afternoon with some friends. While I could just drink a club soda or a water and join them, I feel like at this time I need to distance myself from those situations until I have better control of myself. Hope you have a good day.
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Post by angelina1512 on May 1, 2020 6:58:56 GMT -5
Hey Doc,
glad to see you called in again, that’s a good start. Fly fishing sounds like you really enjoy the whole relaxing side to it, I like fishing. Hubby and I use to do it quite a bit until we started a cafe, even though we are closed at the moment we havent had time to go fishing. I might suggest to hubby to go this weekend, could be good for us.
Mark is a wonderful friend, you should really listen to him, he is older and wiser. Ha ha. I’m just getting back at him for calling me the old friend from Australia.
stay focused, and busy. It’s amazing how much time is spent drinking. I now have a soda water with ice if I feel like joining them, sometimes a coke.
check in each day, let us know how it’s going. Try and stay clear of the guys that drink a lot, till you feel like you are more in control.
stay safe.
angelina
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Post by jeyu0422 on May 1, 2020 7:35:01 GMT -5
Doc, Congratulations! Good plans set the foundation for good decisions. Days add up and you will look back and realize that YOU have the power to change your life. That statement does not jive with the core teachings of AA but some of us here have proven that it can happen. Mark (Jeyu)
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doc74
Junior Member
Posts: 13
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Post by doc74 on May 2, 2020 9:36:15 GMT -5
Well, made it through a Friday night without a drink. Woke up on a Saturday morning feeling good. Sunshine and fresh air today... lots of time in the back yard cleaning up and cranking tunes. Gonna be a good day! Hope all are doing well!
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Post by jeyu0422 on May 2, 2020 17:15:19 GMT -5
Doc, That’s great news. Every day adds up and will give you confidence that you can do another. About a month in my journey, I remember being extremely tempted to have just one, but I resisted because I didn’t want to throw away all of those hard earned days of sober equity. Mark (Jeyu).
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Post by angelina1512 on May 3, 2020 2:33:09 GMT -5
That’s the good thing about becoming friends on the forum, you don’t want to drink as it would let the others down. That kept me straight for a long time. I wouldn’t because I would have to tell Mark and Brett, the 3 musketeers, that I had failed, so I never did.
it got me to the point where I knew I didn’t need to drink to have fun, to stress less, to socialize. I could do that all on my own without the Dutch courage, without one or six drinks.
so you can do life without the buzz, make life buzz on its own.
angelina
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doc74
Junior Member
Posts: 13
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Post by doc74 on May 3, 2020 9:48:03 GMT -5
Well, I would love to report that I made it through Saturday without a drink, but that wouldn't be truthful. While I had a decent plan to spend the day outside, I did not have a good enough plan for the night. Had a bonfire in backyard and ended up having a couple beers. Normally I would commend myself for only having a couple and not feeling terrible today, but the entire point is to not drink. So, I think I learned that, even though I had a very solid Friday, it was only one day later that I let myself down. I have to be much more deliberate throughout each day. I'll keep pushing forward, and appreciate the support.
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Post by jeyu0422 on May 3, 2020 12:41:27 GMT -5
Doc, Honesty with yourself and others is a big part of this, so you certainly have what it takes. It took me about 15 years from the first time I knew I needed to quit drinking until I finally made it work. I sincerely hope you don’t put yourself through that like I did. Mark (Jeyu)
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