3rd week and Struggling

[Sara]

I'm in my third week of sobriety and it is going okay. However, I can't help but think about it sometimes especially if I hear someone or see it. I have limited all friendships and opportunites that relate to alchohol. I'm pretty much spend my time working, excercising, spending time with sober family members, reading, and attending my church. But, the thoughts still come. Can anyone give any tips on how to deal with thoughts.

Sara

[angussdundee]

Hello Sara.
My first thoughts are, You do not need to struggle along on your own. when you first attempt to stop drinking and get sober, you need the help and support of people who have gotten sober before you and who are enjoying staying sober one day at a time.
When I was at the point where you seem to be at now it was suggested to me that I don't drink for one day at a time, attend regular AA meetings, ask someone to sponsor me who could introduce me to AA's twelve step programme of recovery and if I did all that, my life would improve on a daily basis. That's exactly what I did and my life continues to improve on a daily basis.
I'm glad that you've found this site and have posted a little bit about yourself. I'm sure the others here will offer their hands to you in friendship. If you really want to stop drinking and get well, these people will do everything they can to help you.

Keep coming back.

anguss.

[Sara]

Thank you for responsing so rapidly. It is surely a big help. I think I'm going to start AA groups. But, I'm also interested in some online AA groups. Do you know of any online AA groups?

Sara

[CarolD]

;D? ?Use? Goggle? for? on? ?line? AA
In fact..AAOnline? is? an interesting? site.

http://www.aaonline.org/index.php

Blessings...
? ?

[joyroadman]

Sara & Everyone

I attend 2 weekly online meetings.I get a lot out of these meetings.We stay on recovery and have a structered AA meeting.
It starts 7:00 E.S.T. and we call it the Hour Of Power

here is the url to the site,you will have to register to get into the chatroom.
We usually have 4-7 people there weekly and some great topics.Sara,we also have 3 or 4 great ladies there who will be gratefull to be of help to you.

http://groups.msn.com/LanguageoftheHeart

Saturdays and Sundays at 7:00 EST
any alcoholic who wishes to attend will be most welcome!

[samf]

Hi, Sara! Glad you came and talked! First time I ever got sober, I had had a spiritual experince and ended up in church, looking for my Higher Power....the one I felt I had experienced.
After some time I drank again and then ended up wanting to go to AA but was too chicken...my reasoning for wanting to go was that I was really miserable and had seen by then how these AA's seemed to be able to live in a spiritual fashion I had never been able to do...it was amazing to me.
Eventually I was twelve stepped into AA...I consider it grace, today.
Some of my favorite things in the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, is "God could and would, if He were sought." "We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves".
There's a lot in me that blocked me off from a Higher Power. The Big Book had a practical program of action in it that I still am just amazed by.
And I have so much to learn still.
I still have thoughts of drinking sometimes...it just seems to pop in there once in a while...but I've kind of end up recoiling, every time.
I still don't know why.
I love how everyone reaches out and gives things to help...it's amazing.
If you ever want to just visit, please feel free to write, too, ok?
Do you have a Big Book?
Do you need help finding meetings where you live?
I also have a women's email AA meeting I am a part of if you are interested.
Will send a private message and give you the name of the group, etc....there's a lot of them at the AA web site, too.
Glad to "meet" you!

Samf (who is a female)

[PHANTOM VISITOR]

Sam, you wrote: "...but I've kind of end up recoiling, every time. I still don't know why."

Could these excerpts from 84 and 85 be the reason? "We will seldom be interested in liquor. If
tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. ....the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us."

My emphasis and it's taken out of context - you may want to read the whole passage. If you do I think you'll find you're in a recovered state. Would you agree?

[markg4468]

Hi,
I had the same problem.....You have to keep yourself busy!! There are a ton of online meetings and a lot of people, like here to listen and share...Sometimes, when I get "the thoughts", I just come here and read people's threads...It makes me humble, thankful and rejunivated all in one!! Remember, we take one hour at a time if we have to...
Good luck!

[Patsyd1]

Hi Sara,

This is just a suggestion, and it works. I would suggest getting to as many face to face AA meetings as you can. Sit up front and listen. Identify and do not compare. Ask someone at the AA meeting for help, and get lots of phone numbers.

Sara, this is a WE program, its one alcoholic helping another. Look up "Alcoholics Anonymous" in your phone book, call that number and let them know what you have posted here. The AA member who answers the phone can tell you where the nearest AA meeting is in your area Sara.


God Bless :)

[colourbubbles]

Hi Sara

I hope you take the advice giving to you from the other members. I have been sober for 14 Months and I know with out going to meetings of AA I would not be alive today!!!

I try many times to control and stop drinking in my own tin pot way but I couldn't. In the end I was a daily drunk struggling in every area of my life with two small children.

If I could show you how much my life has changed in this short space of time you'd be amazed. And all I did was my that phone call and went to my first meeting.

I really hope you give AA a shot. If you do I would stake everything I have that you wont be disappointed.

[markg4468]

I agree...I am very thankful to be here today. As I have said, after losing 5yrs of sobriety to Rx painkillers and my own ego I find it to be very refreshing not to be numb anymore. Sometimes I take it one day at a time, sometimes 1 minute at a time. However, I would have never made it without all of your support..I pray for all of us, we ARE special, resourceful people. i am so humbly thnakful for you all and AA. Have a great day!

[dabobster]

Sara~so glad you are trying to be good to yourself~youseem to be making necessary changes to enhance yer chances to stay sober,its 'Well worth'any inconviences you might experience early on I kept me main focus on reading the 'Daily Reflections' quite a lot not much caring about any special 'order' just reading thru it a lot for me was Very good food for thought~sopmething to keep my 'focus' on~making a gratitude list helps~might try a journal for yer thoughts~we sometimes use a ''God Jar''~write down what is bothering us &putting in jar~one of my favorite ways to spend time with recovery in mind is RecoveryChat.com~a friendly caring place with ppl. that have been there & know what it is like :o really caring w. newcomers~good chat room lots of traffic~dont be bashful~enjoyable conversation w/ recovery in mind but not always a topic is an ''open chat'' room~flouirish and thrive~good way to live~got my life back before it was too late within AA love & service~Robert Osborn~dabobster214@yahoo.com~feel free anytime~

[Sara]

Thanks everyone.

[heather l]

hi sara i'm heather l and i'm also struggling i've been sober this time for almost 5 weeks i've been in and out of my sobriety for a few years now but i'm gonna keep trying -thats what's so cool about aa-you can always come back to welcome arms and phone numbers.right now i'mjust trying to keep myself occupied but yesterday i was feeling really crazy so i threw myself into my kids swimming pool -the freezing ass water made me forget my ****ty thoughts and all that "reasoning" i do with myself when the urge to use or drink rears its ugly head!breathe in breathe out- right?!

[MIKEYBEEF]

Heather you do almost the same things as me. Im at 77 days and a couple weeks ago i started taking St Johns Wort (900mgs a day 3 times a day and something called 5htp,there not prescription and they help to promote a good mood and well being. These are good for any depression and anxiety. I wish you the best. One other note I always try to stay busy also and it gets exausting sometimes so know,as hard as it is at first,I allow myself sometimes to do nothing and feel board.Im training myself to except doing nothing sometimes,so I can give my active brain a break. This is something users rarely do,theres always an instant cure for boredom. Except boredom for what it is. A break for the mind. I wish you the best. ;)

[samf]

Yah!!! ;D
This old guy used to tell me, breathe in, breathe out, walk slow...drink lots of water.
I pray. I call and even though I never knew what to say, have never really had any trouble coming up with things to talk about with another drunk or addict...they usually get the ball going, if I can't. It shuts my stupid head up...LOL.
Heather I am real glad you're here!!!
Mikeybeef...you sound good...keeping busy!
I asked my HP to remove the obsession...I ask HP for help when I have intrusive thoughts about drinking or using...it happened less and less as time went by.
And I keep talking to other drunks and addicts and keep coming back today.
Big hugs to you both!
Samf

[david b]

hi
just try to bring everything into one day at a time, when you get up remind yourself you only have to cope with this or 24 hours, and if you can get to a meeting that breaks your day down even more, try and get contact nombers and where and when meetings take place, , the meetings will help you get through , and we here in the fellowship will be thinking and praying or you? take it easy
david

[oberon]

I'm in my third week of sobriety and it is going okay. However, I can't help but think about it sometimes especially if I hear someone or see it. I have limited all friendships and opportunites that relate to alchohol. I'm pretty much spend my time working, excercising, spending time with sober family members, reading, and attending my church. But, the thoughts still come. Can anyone give any tips on how to deal with thoughts..............................

KEEP DOING EXACTLY THIS........................THE drinking thoughts will GENUINELY one day just be one and you will have to looking to find em. I haven't though of a drink for real in over a quarter of a century.......based on my own experience it really will happen.............course dealing with life thats a whole other ball game.....But you will figure it. .. ;D Point your nose and ask your ass to follow you'll get there........... ;)

[moon]

It is tough that first few weeks ,I remember mine the mind racing was terriable,it is okay,hang in there,call someone in the program,find something that calms the mind reading playing games,get involved with the fellowship of AA go to a lot of AA parties,dances,meetings,there are so many things to do sober and it be fun,really I suggest plugging in to a home group and really grabbing on and get involved with the fellowship,and always helping others is a great way to get out of your self