Aa
Can you relate?
I need to quit alcohol for good but it's just such a struggle. I feel so proud of myself when I don't drink. I feel the energy, I am a better Mom, I feel productive. It feels like a glimpse of what I used to be 10 years ago when I drank only very little or when I was very young not drinking at all and was able to get excited about little things in life. I get so determined and it feels easy for a couple of weeks. I feel like I can go forever without a glass of wine. Then I have one and the whole world just falls apart. I feel guilty but the wine kicks in and I'm happy, for a moment. Next day I feel terribly sick because of the repeating pattern of binges. My husband tells not to be so hard on myself that it's ok but I know it's hurting me badly at this point, physically and emotionally. Been drinking 5-8 glasses of wine daily for years. I don't think it's ok to even have that one night every other 2-3 weeks with wine. I beg for strength. I don't crave the taste but I do crave the effect sometimes. It is just not worth it. The price has become too much. It takes me up to a week to get back to somewhat normal after one evening with wine. The aftermath is horrible. I am going to try my hardest again. Can anyone relate?
Thank you for listening..
Thank you for listening..
Hi there AugustRose, I sure can relate to what you're saying. I was a pretty bad drunk, and as this disease is progressive, we all can get to where i was when i finally was able to quit. I think that you need to consider looking into a women's group of AA to help you. It's not often that an alcoholic can maintain sobriety unless they use some sort of program to help them, and the 12 step program has literally given freedom to millions of folks at all degrees of alcoholism. It CAN help you too!!! I promise you. There are also online groups of AA , but honestly , from my own experience, i can tell you that finding a "Closed" women's meeting is the best way to go. When i first went, i didn't open up, i just listened and heard my own story, over and over, from other women that were sober, for years. Why did they continue to go to meetings after years of sobriety I wondered at the time. It didn't make any sense to me. The reason became clear to me after my choosing and committing to a "home group" of AA. It was the people, the human contact, the love and comradarie that happens in those rooms. It's the realization that my quitting drinking really mattered to the people i became friends with. It was having a host of numbers i could call whenever i had the urge or the craving to pick up a drink. I was saved by those women and those numbers and the time i spent there, drinking coffee and eating doughnuts and celebrating every single sober day. Give it a try and you'll be amazed at how good it can feel to Accept the things you cannot change,and have the courage to change the things you can, and having the wisdom to know the difference.
AA is an AMAZING program with AMAZING closed women's groups. I surely hope that you'll give it a chance, Tell yourself to check it out every week for a couple of months, and you'll not have to reset your tracker. It iwill add up the days like money in the bank.
I'm here for you. My name is LIz, and Im an Alcoholic. Just like You..
AA is an AMAZING program with AMAZING closed women's groups. I surely hope that you'll give it a chance, Tell yourself to check it out every week for a couple of months, and you'll not have to reset your tracker. It iwill add up the days like money in the bank.
I'm here for you. My name is LIz, and Im an Alcoholic. Just like You..
The biggest reason for continuing on with a program is that we are only one drink away from a drunk. To this day, 16 years later, if i picked up a drink, i'd be the same drunk i was way back when. I really don't think i would pick up although anything is possible. The memories of being trapped having to drink, is a nightmare i will never forget. I can relate to how you're feeling.
I would love to have that support, those friends that would understand where I'm at and my struggle. I will try to find a group. Thank you for all your kindness and understanding. I don't ever want to reset the tracker again.
I'm praying for you that you find the strength then, to follow through, give it a real chance. You might start off the meetings saying that you'll be happy to help set up the group and make the coffee. i did that, and it was nice, i was able to socialize with those that were used to running the group, and i know that they appreciated any extra effort on my part. It's like saying to yourself that you are "home" i guess.... and part of what's happening,> it's sure not necessary though, just a thought if you're so inclined. If when you do go to a closed women's group, and you don't seem to jive after a couple few meetings, consider picking another meeting, where you might feel most comfortable. Of course, you can also go to closed meetings where there are both men and women, but from my experience, it was so much more comfortable and helpful to hear from ladies, or same sex. Please let me know when you go to a meeting, and how you're feeling?
I'm here if ever you need to talk.
LIz
I'm here if ever you need to talk.
LIz
I will let you know. I'm amazed that you took time to give me advice and share your experiences. I'm truly grateful.I will have to try a mixed sex meeting as the women only in my area is only on Saturdays when I have to work at my job but that's ok. I'm very shy around strangers but will do my best to connect with others. It may sound strange, I could possibly reach out for support to friends I already have or family but I don't want to explain myself. I've tried with my husband but he's not ready to stop with me and I can't fix him when I feel broken myself. I feel really good today, one day at a time. :-)
COMMUNITY LEADER
I've been sober/clean 31 years now....and life is still more manageable when i break it down into one hour at a time,then the next,then the next!So many tasks we get overwhelmed with in daily living!You are taking a good first step and we are always here for you as sounding boards.....PLUS we've all been in your shoes with the drinking and the damage its caused....to ourselves!
Thank you! Today was so hard but I kept thinking just a minute at a time. I can't believe I've brought this on myself..
Congratulations on your amazing journey. Stay strong.
Congratulations on your amazing journey. Stay strong.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Not a one of us ever decided to have the disease of alcoholism!But we are responsible for NOT allowing it to ruin our lives!Life is one day at a time.Hope you stay with us on a daily basis if possible!:)
How are you dong today AugustRose,? Did you get to a meeting yet? I was once shy around people but i have to say, i never suffered from much shyness around other addicts. It's like there's this unspoken bond and respect between people in the program. There's not problem with a mixed meeting, but going to a "closed" group was a lot more beneficial for me than the open meetings. The open meetings seemed to me a bit like going to a movie, or an outing, whereas in the closed meeting I felt more involved and closer to the people. Also a great place to get a same sex sponsor.
Hope to hear you've gone to a meeting.
Hoping you're still sober One Day At A Time....
Hope to hear you've gone to a meeting.
Hoping you're still sober One Day At A Time....
Hi Liz... 9 days since my hopefully last ever relapse night. I haven't been to a meeting yet but I have finally a couple of days off work and will research more groups to go to. A closed group sounds amazing, just need to find one. Today I went bowling with my son and first time in at least 12 years didn't order any wine in a place with a bar. Can't say I didn't want to..Tiny steps everyday. :-) The meeting is next. I am very sure that if I do this on my own it will fail and I will end up trapped and sick again and it gets harder every time to climb out of that hole. Thank you for your message, you're amazing!
I'm really glad to hear that you went bowling with your son. It's incredible just how important it is to look back on the memories we make with our kids when we're clean and sober. When we look back when we were drinking, there is always a sense of loss that goes with those memories, but when we realize how important it is , as you are now, to stay sober for our kids, it pays off in huge rewards in the future. So please keep it up, for you, and for your child. Is your son aware of your struggles with alcohol? Have you admitted to your son that you are an alcoholic? It really helps to keep us accountable to tell our family members , especially our kids, that we are quitting and why. The example that we set for them matters so much more than we know at the time. It would break your heart to know that your son could not get through a night without drinking as you were, 6 - 8 drinks a night, right? but although you may have shown him that you were having to drink (and kids are pretty smart, and pick up on things that we sometimes think that they don't, the amount may not have been noted by your son, but seeing mommy with a drink in her hand , often, is a message to him). you can now teach him that it's not a good idea. You can tell him why. The message is a powerful one, and would go a long way to help him to realize that you needed recovery, that drinking alcohol every day causes huge problems n a person's life.
Thankfully my own son, now 27, knows that if he had more than a few drinks a couple of times a week, it would cause a problem like his mom had. My pain and suffering , though a bad example at the time, helped him to drink responsibly. i think. We've talked about what happens at parties, and talked about not ever "trying" cocaine, and heroin. From my experience he knows that he most likely would be addicted his first "try" , so my experience underscored for him the dangers of experimenting. Unfortunately, he picked up the smoking habit. and i have to say that is because everyone in our family smoked, for generations. I know it affected me, when i was 12 and picked up the habit, and i know that my example was a terrible one for him. The more we talk to our kids about the dangers of ever trying an addictive substance, the less likely they are to pick up.
Be careful about going anywhere , where there is a bar. Although you did well not to have ordered a glass of wine, you put yourself in a position to pick one up by being near a bar. Maybe there is a bowling place, that you could go to that didn't have a bar. Again, if you talk to your son and let him know why you are considering changing places to bowl (it would be great if you made it habit to bring your son bowling, they grow up so fast, and he'll be off to college and his own life, lickety split) Again, you would be showing him the way to avoid trouble - like avoiding parties with school chums that are heavily drinking or doing hard drugs, (and it will come up in his life). Just a thought. I still don't' go to licensed establishments 16 years later.
You've said you have problems about 2 weeks into sobriety. I really think you need to get yourself to an AA meeting, and make that a priority over anything else. I know when we have kids, and a family that it can be hard to give yourself that time, but it is for your family that you would be going. It might be that with your husband still drinking and him not being to understand why you would need to gg, might be stifling you and affecting your resolve to take the time to go to meetings. I know you mentioned that you were shy, please know that at the meetings, with what you have in common with these folks, your shyness will resolve itself, and you'll be made to feel welcome in a closed meeting. It's easier to handle a closed meeting rather than an open one, or speaker meeting if you are shy. You'll be able to connect to people in a closed meeting , while in an open meeting, you might only really enjoy it if you know people (from the closed meeting), In a closed meeting,you can ask if there's anyone that goes to open meetings, and ask if you could join them when they do, and make it a nice night out with friends.
Congrats on your day 10 clean. Keep it up. But please please, get yourself to a meeting. You have a problem with day 14 remember.and you need to start to get support from somewhere to help you. Nothing changes if nothing changes. I'm praying for you during the next week or so, as you've said you rarely get by the 2nd week. Hugs to you Mom. Liz
Thankfully my own son, now 27, knows that if he had more than a few drinks a couple of times a week, it would cause a problem like his mom had. My pain and suffering , though a bad example at the time, helped him to drink responsibly. i think. We've talked about what happens at parties, and talked about not ever "trying" cocaine, and heroin. From my experience he knows that he most likely would be addicted his first "try" , so my experience underscored for him the dangers of experimenting. Unfortunately, he picked up the smoking habit. and i have to say that is because everyone in our family smoked, for generations. I know it affected me, when i was 12 and picked up the habit, and i know that my example was a terrible one for him. The more we talk to our kids about the dangers of ever trying an addictive substance, the less likely they are to pick up.
Be careful about going anywhere , where there is a bar. Although you did well not to have ordered a glass of wine, you put yourself in a position to pick one up by being near a bar. Maybe there is a bowling place, that you could go to that didn't have a bar. Again, if you talk to your son and let him know why you are considering changing places to bowl (it would be great if you made it habit to bring your son bowling, they grow up so fast, and he'll be off to college and his own life, lickety split) Again, you would be showing him the way to avoid trouble - like avoiding parties with school chums that are heavily drinking or doing hard drugs, (and it will come up in his life). Just a thought. I still don't' go to licensed establishments 16 years later.
You've said you have problems about 2 weeks into sobriety. I really think you need to get yourself to an AA meeting, and make that a priority over anything else. I know when we have kids, and a family that it can be hard to give yourself that time, but it is for your family that you would be going. It might be that with your husband still drinking and him not being to understand why you would need to gg, might be stifling you and affecting your resolve to take the time to go to meetings. I know you mentioned that you were shy, please know that at the meetings, with what you have in common with these folks, your shyness will resolve itself, and you'll be made to feel welcome in a closed meeting. It's easier to handle a closed meeting rather than an open one, or speaker meeting if you are shy. You'll be able to connect to people in a closed meeting , while in an open meeting, you might only really enjoy it if you know people (from the closed meeting), In a closed meeting,you can ask if there's anyone that goes to open meetings, and ask if you could join them when they do, and make it a nice night out with friends.
Congrats on your day 10 clean. Keep it up. But please please, get yourself to a meeting. You have a problem with day 14 remember.and you need to start to get support from somewhere to help you. Nothing changes if nothing changes. I'm praying for you during the next week or so, as you've said you rarely get by the 2nd week. Hugs to you Mom. Liz
Hi Liz,
I can't thank you enough for your incredible support.
My son is 12 years old and my everything. I told him many times that I'm quitting but I never followed through. I feel absolutely horrible about it. The only thing I can do though at this point is to move forward and live up to my promise. We talked about my behavior when I'm drinking. He told me he will take the "boring mom" just drinking hot chocolate with him watching a tv show over the "over the top happy & crazy mom" that's drinking ANY DAY, EVERY DAY. It almost broke my heart. I thought I wasn't really hurting anyone until he told me it wasn't fun to be around two drunk parents. I will have regrets about all this for the rest of my life. I grew up around an alcoholic father and I swore to myself when I was my boy's age probably even younger that I would never drink alcohol in my life and look at where I'm at now. I love my son with all my heart, he's an incredible sweetheart and I will do everything in my power to never touch alcohol or any substance ever again so I can be the best mom for all the years that are ahead of us. I told him about the meetings I will go to.
I found a closed group that meets every Tuesday very close to my home. You're right, I didn't make it a priority but I'm now. Thanks to you. It's been 14 days today without alcohol. I'm so grateful.
Thank you for what you do. I can't express it enough. :-)
It's a pleasure to be your non drinking buddy honey , and you'll find some great folks that have the exact same thing in mind that i do, to reach out to newcomers like i was reached out to. You'll do the same in the months and years to come. I'm so glad that you are straightening out for your son. It' s not too late to save him from the harm that he's endured. It's important that we don't mince words about the harm we've caused, it's real. The reason why i think you can make it , is that I made it in my son's 13th year, just like you're doing now. And i KNOW that you can do it, and that you do have enough strength to do it for your son. He needs you to be the only sober parent he's got. It's not ideal that his dad is a drunk, it's a shame, really., but if you are sober, it's enough for him to be able to gravitate towards you being his primary parent. He'll trust that he can talk to you about his life, and his struggles in his own peer group. You couldn't have been able to have helped him if you were using. You mentioned that your dad was a drunk, but you didn't say your mom was. And you got to be an alcoholic yourself. The difference here is that you're dear mother, if she was sober, was not a "recovering alcoholic". In other words, she had no idea what a kid like you coming from a home with a parent who abused substances, was going to go through in their own lives Starting at your son's age. You are far better equipped to help your son navigate through addictions if you can just hang on......
If you can just go towards the light, go towards the people that have got some long term sobriety and can keep you honest. Don't be afraid to hear what others have to say. Take it all with a grain of salt. There may be someone in the program that you don't care for the way that they talk to you. And that is absolutely okay. Walk away, and give somebody else a chance to talk to you and help you. In other words, don't let anyone take from you your role as Protector and Teacher of your dear boy. Otherwise, with all the drugs out there, I truly fear for him. I can't say where my boy would be if I hadn't of been there sober for him when he was your son's age. I can remember my life, although my father had quit drinking, there was abuse. My mother, although not herself abusive allowed it to happen. In other words, like your son having two drunks in the house, I had, and he would have NO ONE to help him navigate through what he must in these next 8 - 9 years until he's a young adult. My life was absolute hell coming from a home where i had to love from a parent. And love means being real to a kid. Being accessible and being able to put the kid first , all the time.
So while i don't envy you having your husband still drinking , i know you can get through this. Don't make his problem your problem Frankly, if you can stick him in the basement to drink, away from you and your son, that would be the best thing that could happen, so that neither of you had to sit an look at it. I'm sure he wouldn't mind, he's got to know that he's not being a good example, and if he isn't , you can tell him. Don' t be afraid to stand up for you and your boys needs, You have to have an environment that is booze free. Put him in the bedroom, and sleep in the living room if you must. Do whatever it takes, to get your life as your son's advocate, into as peaceful a place as you possibly can..
I'm here every step of the way. You know you can message me too , right? i'll check in every day. Peace to you sister, You Got This. And if you ever feel you don't , Get to where the sober people are, simple as that. Keep it Simple. right?
Love to you, talk to you soon.
Liz
If you can just go towards the light, go towards the people that have got some long term sobriety and can keep you honest. Don't be afraid to hear what others have to say. Take it all with a grain of salt. There may be someone in the program that you don't care for the way that they talk to you. And that is absolutely okay. Walk away, and give somebody else a chance to talk to you and help you. In other words, don't let anyone take from you your role as Protector and Teacher of your dear boy. Otherwise, with all the drugs out there, I truly fear for him. I can't say where my boy would be if I hadn't of been there sober for him when he was your son's age. I can remember my life, although my father had quit drinking, there was abuse. My mother, although not herself abusive allowed it to happen. In other words, like your son having two drunks in the house, I had, and he would have NO ONE to help him navigate through what he must in these next 8 - 9 years until he's a young adult. My life was absolute hell coming from a home where i had to love from a parent. And love means being real to a kid. Being accessible and being able to put the kid first , all the time.
So while i don't envy you having your husband still drinking , i know you can get through this. Don't make his problem your problem Frankly, if you can stick him in the basement to drink, away from you and your son, that would be the best thing that could happen, so that neither of you had to sit an look at it. I'm sure he wouldn't mind, he's got to know that he's not being a good example, and if he isn't , you can tell him. Don' t be afraid to stand up for you and your boys needs, You have to have an environment that is booze free. Put him in the bedroom, and sleep in the living room if you must. Do whatever it takes, to get your life as your son's advocate, into as peaceful a place as you possibly can..
I'm here every step of the way. You know you can message me too , right? i'll check in every day. Peace to you sister, You Got This. And if you ever feel you don't , Get to where the sober people are, simple as that. Keep it Simple. right?
Love to you, talk to you soon.
Liz
Hi! I'm an ex alcoholic, Yuric. Alcohol doesn't give us anything good. Nothing at all. I understand it well now, after 7 years of being sober. I've been happy especially for the last 4 years. I'm a free man now. If I have managed, than anyone can. Don't doubt.
If anybody wants to listn or talk about my story, my skype is: yuricgor
If anybody wants to listn or talk about my story, my skype is: yuricgor
Hi
I had counselling for alcohol addiction and with no pressure, no criticism from the Counsellor etc - ll he kept reiterating is that 'You have a CHOICE whether you have a drink or not'.
Kept telling myself that everytime I wanted a drink and it worked and kept me on the straight and narrow.
I had counselling for alcohol addiction and with no pressure, no criticism from the Counsellor etc - ll he kept reiterating is that 'You have a CHOICE whether you have a drink or not'.
Kept telling myself that everytime I wanted a drink and it worked and kept me on the straight and narrow.
Thank you, will do and apply. Choosing not to pick up that drink. 26 days sober.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Keep it going Rose!We've all been where you're at!And we're here for you!:)
Good on ya!
I have not had a drink for 8 weeks now and felt blody awful - but these past couple of days I have felt really good - not as tired and not thinking as much about booze.
My next challenge is next week when I attend a family wedding anniversary where there will be a bar...hoping the way around any temptation is that I have agreed to do the driving!!
I have not had a drink for 8 weeks now and felt blody awful - but these past couple of days I have felt really good - not as tired and not thinking as much about booze.
My next challenge is next week when I attend a family wedding anniversary where there will be a bar...hoping the way around any temptation is that I have agreed to do the driving!!
I'm still feeling lousy. Waiting for that one day when you get up and feel amazing but so far it's been on and off. A lot of fatigue, some headaches, annoying sweet tooth:-).. just pushing through it. At least it's not as horrible as the first few days after quitting. I fear the holidays.. Hang in there!!
COMMUNITY LEADER
What u are going thru is normal.Imagine that your brain is a giant sponge!All the cells/tissue have absorbed the alcohol u've consumed.When u stop drinking,its like the sponge is wringing itself out.....S-L-O-W-L-Y!I've felt what you're feeling and i know it stinks but it passes.Ah yes,THAT sweet tooth!Too much caffeine,and too much sweet can cause the blood sugar to peak...then crash...so lots of water,juices,fresh fruits,vegetables and moderate amounts of lean protein do help.Who is your support system?Are u still attending the closed group u mentioned?
Exactly as I have felt - but things are now improving. Headaches are less frequent and I am not as tired.
I have joined a gym and that takes my mind off things - got a personal trainer and following a training plan helps - and I have a goal - to run a half marathon for charity. Already signed up with the charity so no going back!
I have joined a gym and that takes my mind off things - got a personal trainer and following a training plan helps - and I have a goal - to run a half marathon for charity. Already signed up with the charity so no going back!
Don't fear anything, not the holidays, not birthdays, nothin'
What you're doing is God's work, with the spirit world so close to you now,
you have the strength to walk by what was and behold what is..
You are stronger now than you've been in quite sometime,
though you of course feel weakness, in the whole of things you have already handled the hardest part and holiday drinking is now no longer your concern, you have much bigger things to sustain you, your bond with your child, in the past our kids have been waiting,
but not know, no longer do they need to "wait and see"
they are beginning to trust you, that young soul, and you can't let him down, you won't let him down.........
You've mentioned something very important to discuss right now. What often becomes the next stage of addiction, FOOD addiction. It comes on as a "sweet tooth" and if you're not really vigilant can turn into something very ugly and just as dangerous as alcoholism and fatty liver. It often turns into a river of spiking blood sugars that taxes your liver and your pancreas where insulin is produced and put out into your blood stream. This act is a silent development that we often let go in sobriety. Folks that go to Rehab centres are notorious for gaining 20 + lbs and many laugh at it. Family are just so happy to see that their loved ones are being nourished, that many don't recognize a shift into a food addiction. This is happening in many rehabs - while you're seeing an Addiction's Therapist for a month during your stay, often even the Rehab Counselors say nothing about what is obviously a switch from drugs/alcohol to food.
A jump into health right now is an incredibly good suggestion. For the reasons above. To work off any "extras" we tell ourselves (now) that we have earned (by our sobriety). When we were drinking, if was often a priority over eating, and all of a sudden we start to enjoy food ; appreciate food, more than before when we were drinking. For many, it becomes a huge problem (it was for myself.) .
So i'll share some of what i'm learning about diet from a book called The End of Diabetes.
"Fasting also has a powerful effect on improving liver function. This benefit is not limited to the fasting period but continues after the fast. Medical studies have tested the ability of the therapeutic fast to improve conditions such as alcoholic liver injury, damage from fatty liver, and drug induced liver injury. Dramatic improvements were consistently reported. 1. Fasting is a very valuable treatment for psychological disorders. There are hundreds of journal articles in the medical literature documenting the value of fasting in improving the function of the entire body including the brain. Fasting has been repeatedly observed to alleviate neurosis, anxiety and depression.
When the beneficial effects of the therapeutic fast were investigated with various research parameters measuring organ function, it was found repeatedly that substantial improvements are seen in the autonomic nervous system; endocrine system, and adrenal function after the fast.
So GO YOUR OWN WAY, and don't look at others that are doing their own thing, with over indulging in whatever it might be, and believe me, i thoroughly understand how hard it is for you to watch your husband still drink to excess. It's AMAZING that you have found the path that will lead you away from others that are harming themselves. Your strength will hold you above peer pressure and bad examples. You can call this strength and find this strength by holding on to the 12 step program and meetings and hopefully some specific people that you can relate to.
I'm not necessarily challenging you to a fast ; but with the results of the studies that are out there, i'm challenging you to know the facts about your physiology. That in itself will be like a built in reminder how to handle your addictive nature when it comes to food. I think that in order to help quit the drinking, it would actually help to look right now at the big picture of your health, as well as your habits. I've always said that an alcoholic without alcohol polluting their minds, that are coming out of the fog and seeing clearly for the first time, are the perfect candidates to go back to school , learn so much more obviously than they would have had they still been polluting their bodies and their minds.
I know that learning about physiology and becoming hyper aware of what's going in our bodies, ut fuels a natural progression into incorporating a nutrition and exercise program that will completely changes our position, from what was weakness to what will appear to be superhuman strength. And it will all come from within. It's all free to take.
Sounds a heap better than sitting on our hands, and watching with wanting, those that over drink and over eat on the holidays.
Please get to your meeting Tuesday night, try to reach out and find yourself a friend or friends that have very high octane programs for living. If they're into group exercise meetings, better yet. If not, maybe you'll be the one arranging for friends to meet and walk around an art crawl happening in your city. The world is your oyster AugustRose.
You are at the beginning of what will be the best years of your life , as a human being, and as a mother. I promise you this. Just stay tough friend. Never give in. Never go back. Never surrender.
If you're willing to read a bit, once you do, and set yourself up not just to lose something (drinking) but to gain superior health nutritionally and physically, you will literally be feeling sorry for those pathetic souls that are wasting their time, and their alcoholic livers. Once you begin to GAIN good habits, and not just be a person losing a bad habit, you will have made a shift to permanent long term health and strength.
What you're doing is God's work, with the spirit world so close to you now,
you have the strength to walk by what was and behold what is..
You are stronger now than you've been in quite sometime,
though you of course feel weakness, in the whole of things you have already handled the hardest part and holiday drinking is now no longer your concern, you have much bigger things to sustain you, your bond with your child, in the past our kids have been waiting,
but not know, no longer do they need to "wait and see"
they are beginning to trust you, that young soul, and you can't let him down, you won't let him down.........
You've mentioned something very important to discuss right now. What often becomes the next stage of addiction, FOOD addiction. It comes on as a "sweet tooth" and if you're not really vigilant can turn into something very ugly and just as dangerous as alcoholism and fatty liver. It often turns into a river of spiking blood sugars that taxes your liver and your pancreas where insulin is produced and put out into your blood stream. This act is a silent development that we often let go in sobriety. Folks that go to Rehab centres are notorious for gaining 20 + lbs and many laugh at it. Family are just so happy to see that their loved ones are being nourished, that many don't recognize a shift into a food addiction. This is happening in many rehabs - while you're seeing an Addiction's Therapist for a month during your stay, often even the Rehab Counselors say nothing about what is obviously a switch from drugs/alcohol to food.
A jump into health right now is an incredibly good suggestion. For the reasons above. To work off any "extras" we tell ourselves (now) that we have earned (by our sobriety). When we were drinking, if was often a priority over eating, and all of a sudden we start to enjoy food ; appreciate food, more than before when we were drinking. For many, it becomes a huge problem (it was for myself.) .
So i'll share some of what i'm learning about diet from a book called The End of Diabetes.
"Fasting also has a powerful effect on improving liver function. This benefit is not limited to the fasting period but continues after the fast. Medical studies have tested the ability of the therapeutic fast to improve conditions such as alcoholic liver injury, damage from fatty liver, and drug induced liver injury. Dramatic improvements were consistently reported. 1. Fasting is a very valuable treatment for psychological disorders. There are hundreds of journal articles in the medical literature documenting the value of fasting in improving the function of the entire body including the brain. Fasting has been repeatedly observed to alleviate neurosis, anxiety and depression.
When the beneficial effects of the therapeutic fast were investigated with various research parameters measuring organ function, it was found repeatedly that substantial improvements are seen in the autonomic nervous system; endocrine system, and adrenal function after the fast.
So GO YOUR OWN WAY, and don't look at others that are doing their own thing, with over indulging in whatever it might be, and believe me, i thoroughly understand how hard it is for you to watch your husband still drink to excess. It's AMAZING that you have found the path that will lead you away from others that are harming themselves. Your strength will hold you above peer pressure and bad examples. You can call this strength and find this strength by holding on to the 12 step program and meetings and hopefully some specific people that you can relate to.
I'm not necessarily challenging you to a fast ; but with the results of the studies that are out there, i'm challenging you to know the facts about your physiology. That in itself will be like a built in reminder how to handle your addictive nature when it comes to food. I think that in order to help quit the drinking, it would actually help to look right now at the big picture of your health, as well as your habits. I've always said that an alcoholic without alcohol polluting their minds, that are coming out of the fog and seeing clearly for the first time, are the perfect candidates to go back to school , learn so much more obviously than they would have had they still been polluting their bodies and their minds.
I know that learning about physiology and becoming hyper aware of what's going in our bodies, ut fuels a natural progression into incorporating a nutrition and exercise program that will completely changes our position, from what was weakness to what will appear to be superhuman strength. And it will all come from within. It's all free to take.
Sounds a heap better than sitting on our hands, and watching with wanting, those that over drink and over eat on the holidays.
Please get to your meeting Tuesday night, try to reach out and find yourself a friend or friends that have very high octane programs for living. If they're into group exercise meetings, better yet. If not, maybe you'll be the one arranging for friends to meet and walk around an art crawl happening in your city. The world is your oyster AugustRose.
You are at the beginning of what will be the best years of your life , as a human being, and as a mother. I promise you this. Just stay tough friend. Never give in. Never go back. Never surrender.
If you're willing to read a bit, once you do, and set yourself up not just to lose something (drinking) but to gain superior health nutritionally and physically, you will literally be feeling sorry for those pathetic souls that are wasting their time, and their alcoholic livers. Once you begin to GAIN good habits, and not just be a person losing a bad habit, you will have made a shift to permanent long term health and strength.
PS i'm not suggesting that you are overweight i'm just saying a natural shift into your physiology being a priority (IF it isn't already) could be the thing that fulfuls all your needs and wants. You've gained your life back from quitting drinking, and by letting your true health become the offspring of that; , by getting into superior fitness and nutrition right now, you;ll be engaging your body and your mind, and you won't have a lot of time to even consider what your missing or yearn for any part of what is your past.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Alcoholism Community
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
