and bad news, but still good!!! I slipped again BUT, again I don't like the feeling and the shame associated with it!
the good news is, while abstaining I feel so terrific! emotionally I feel bi-polar! sometimes I'm elated, then I crash and get depressed and sad and terribly worried about all the damage etc. from previous drinking...
I plan to continue to abstain, and get my life back! it might be a little late, but I don't feel hopeless anymore! in this process of abstaining from alcohol I've had glimpses of myself, alive and enjoying life! I've been knitting, gardening, renovating, reading! I like these activities, and I don't want to sabotage my life again.
Thank you for your honesty, sorry to hear that you slipped. Try to see this as a learning experience! What will you do next time when presented with this temptation? Virgin cocktail? Food? Alternative activity? Just say no thanks? Only you can devise what will work best for you. Make up an emergency coping plan. Better to have a plan in place for this temptation before you ever become tempted.
This was a slip not a relapse. You have made great progress so far! That's great and you should be rewarding yourself accordingly.
Keep persevering! Let us know what coping mechanisms you come up with; we can help if you need some feedback.
I too have slipped....but I have learned, through another discussion in the group (think it was Georgeandthedragon's post) to count AFD (alcohol free days) versus AWD (alchohol wasted days). This has helped a great deal in terms of not getting overly discouraged and giving up when I have had a drink (or several). I just keep focusing on how great I feel on the AFD days. Entering zero drinks in my diary in the morning is also affirming and rewarding. In the last 90 days, there have been 8 days where I have had one or more drinks....which means there have been 82 days that were alcohol free. You're not a failure for slipping Sue...just put it in perspective and keep your eyes on the prize of sobriety. You can do it!
I once decided 3 years ago to join this program and wasn't comitted.... I now have re-joined the program and am using all the tools necessary to make sure I suceed! I think you are being true and realizing that you need to make some changes.
The shift in the thinking comes within.... However you need to identify thoses triggers that made you slip...
I KNOW it calls upon you to take the way of comfort of drinking. However there is much more comfort in sobriety for us and much more to gain!
Stay strong and keep posting as we are here for you!
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