First Weekend Without Alcohol?!
First Weekend Without Alcohol?
Its my first weekend in approx 10 years without alcohol, and boy its hard. I was told to stop by my Doctor as it was causing anxiety/depression. I never went out at the weekends just had a few in the house, a few being approx 15 pints over the weekend.
I feel bored and lost, although in saying that I done things today that I've never done on a Saturday like shopping, visiting family etc, ussually on a Saturday I have a hangover and don't feel great.
Although I feel totally bored and would love a few drinks. Does this craving get easier?? I hope so.
Answers:
I really believe the longer you go without, the easier it becomes as the toxins, alcohol and general sluggish feeling leave your body. I think you will notice a vast increase in energy and acuteness of your mind return. Take up something that occupies your time. It's summer so get out and enjoy something totally different.
well done as the saying goes things can only get better good luck you can do this
Keep strong, and if the craving comes back, go to an amusement park, the regular park, the mall, or anywhere to keep you active. That's what my uncle did, and it worked for him.
good luck. If you get bored get on a chat line.
well man it is kind of hard but you can get over it just replace it with something else like soda
It does get easier in time. Hard to say without more information. Were you drinking every day? If not, you're just bored, go for a walk, yeah. If you're an alcoholic, it's a different matter. Which are ya?
Good for you! Keep at it the craving does ease. Fill your time with whatever entertains you & use the money you are saving for other treats.
Congrats to you and I wish you the best of luck on your adventure of changing your life. GOOD LUCK!
Absolutely. Like any addiction, it is not just mental. You aren't just bored. You were chemically dependent on alcohol, and physically addicted. Just like going through withdrawls from any drug, you will finish these cravings and be stronger for it. not to say that you will forget booze completely, you may have days of intense craving even years from now. But it becomes second nature NOT to drink, just as it was second nature TO drink.
You may want to consider joining a support group, as having friends and meetings with others going through the same thing is probably one of the most helpful and success driven methods in becoming sober.
I am a big believer of replacing one bad addiction with another harmless one. treat yourself to fun things now that you have stopped drinking. anything that will consume your brain the same way thinking about booze does; excersize, television, eating, playing on the computer. Replace your old addiction with a new one that doesn't make your life unmanagable! (People from AA tend to disagree with this, but i've done it and it works)
don't let yourself get too bored or lonely and depressed, as that will often lead to the first drink. keep yourself busy, happy, and social.
If you start to feel sad or nostalgic for your beer, REMEMBER: you haven't given anything up, you've gained a much healthier and in the long run happier life. Congratulations and GOOD LUCK! here are some sites to help you:
Kudos to you!!! I know it's rough in the beginning but you have to occupy your time with other things...do not focus on the fact that you are not drinking this weekend or any other time. See what else is going on in your area and get involved.
Spend more time doing things you never get an opportunity to do...and look at it this way I am sure you are saving a lot of money by not drinking.... and your LIVER will thank you also in a few more years!!!
Listen to your doctor, follow his instructions...
Remember you have been a great chance to choose to live a longer life!
This coming August, I will have gone 10 years without alcohol, never mind one weekend.
Since I stopped, my life in general has got better and better.
well i cant answer your question but i just wanted to take the time to congratulate you for taking this bold step before it became to late.
really believe the longer you go without, the easier it becomes as the toxins, alcohol and general sluggish feeling leave your body. I think you will notice a vast increase in energy and acuteness of your mind return. Take up something that occupies your time. It's summer so get out and enjoy something totally different.
Here is my favorite saying:
Man takes drink;
Drink takes drink;
Drink takes man.
Alcohol creeps up on a person, especially when they drink every day....without their conscious knowlege, it takes you over and removes everything that is important in life.
Every minute you choose to not drink, you are choosing to not let alcohol take those things away from you. (Job, money, loved ones, sanity, honor, self-esteem, and the ability to see the real world as it is.)
The pride that eventually comes from being able to face each day without being "medicated" is a better feeling than having that drink every day.
My mother drank every day of her life for 30 years. A LOT. (1-3 fifths of scotch a day). She lost her job, went bankrupt because she couldn't remember if she paid the mortgage or not, had epileptic seizures because of permanent brain damage from alcoholism, caught herself on fire from cooking while drunk, and lost her friends and family. She also got involved with other alcoholics, and they raped her, assaulted her, and stole things from her.
She was diagnosed with lung cancer, and died 2 weeks later. Her last 2 weeks she was going through DTs from alcohol withdrawal. She spent the last 2 weeks feeling awful, and wishing she had chosen sobriety. But she didn't.
You are making an excellent choice. The way you see the world for a while will seem like a boring, negative place, but you will understand how good it feels to see everything the way it REALLY is.
(boredom is really a form of anger.....think about what makes you angry.)
I drank all the time for about 7 years. The craving does go away. (I have gone more or less without alcohol for 20 years.)
I no longer enjoy the taste of alcohol.
It doesn't just take time....it takes lifestyle changes. I had to stop hanging around with the same old bar hopping crowd, and focus on something that would make me happier....(reading, school, fishing...you name it.)
Good luck.
To keep cravings away eat sweets and make sure you are eating 3 meals a day. Drink lot of fluids but not alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant. You could go to an AA meeting there you find people going through the same thing you are. I'm sober 4+ years with the help of AA and not a craving in sight! And after I stopped drinking my life has got better and better. I you offered me a vodka and coke for a million pounds I wouldn't take it. Email me if you want. Good luck :o)
I just wanted to say "Good Job" and "Keep your head up" It does get easier.. and after a few weeks you'll feel MUCH better..
Just wanted to say really well done :-) Keep it up, it will get easier with time.
It not only gets easier, but while your waiting, your life gets better! Check out my personal experiences with alcohol on the following page. http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/40...
best thing to do-get a weed habit!
Congratulations this is just the beginning of the best part of your life well done,take up a hobby go walking or read that book that you always wanted to read or do a bit of gardening but keep up the good work and take care of yourself.