attention whoring (what else is new?): one month sober.

[© Tweed the Younger]

I try not to count, but it's hard not to notice this one. it's been going as well as I could have hoped. cravings are down considerably, and I'm even able to function well in social environments where people are drinking (bars, restaurants, etc.) I did so last night and the thought of a drink barely even crossed a corner of my mind.

so now the challenge would be to 'stay quit'. not let apathy catch me in one of those 'strange mental blank spots' that the Big Book talks about.

as for my path, reading the Rational Recovery book helped a whole lot, as did the SMART Handbook and the one SMART meeting I went to. I haven't been to an AA meeting in more than three weeks, and don't really plan to go back, though if I get bored here and there I may drop in for the laughs. I have half a mind to go and ask for a one-month chip now (to help their statistics).

[ZuWo]

Congratulations!

[Vasall des Midas]

I'll drink to that. So you don't have to.

[I left.]

I'll drink to that. So you don't have to.

Prost.

[WalterMitty]

congrats tweed.

i am proof that even the worst drunks can get sober!

[opebo]

I knew that about Walter Mitty but not Tweed.

[oakvale]

Congratulations, Tweed. I can't offer more than the most obvious platitudes (AA and otherwise), but a month's great progress. I know this is incredibly obvious and cheesy, but addiction's a lifelong fight - take it one day at a time, and so on.

[Governor Scott]

I didn't know you had a drinking problem, but congratulations.

[© Tweed the Younger]

Congratulations, Tweed. I can't offer more than the most obvious platitudes (AA and otherwise), but a month's great progress. I know this is incredibly obvious and cheesy, but addiction's a lifelong fight - take it one day at a time, and so on.

'one day at a time' is an AA platitude.  thanks buddy.

[© Tweed the Younger]

I didn't know you had a drinking problem, but congratulations.

and yes, there was a time when at least 30-40% of my posts (and 4 out of every 5 infracted posts) were alcohol-infused.

[oakvale]

Congratulations, Tweed. I can't offer more than the most obvious platitudes (AA and otherwise), but a month's great progress. I know this is incredibly obvious and cheesy, but addiction's a lifelong fight - take it one day at a time, and so on.

'one day at a time' is an AA platitude.  thanks buddy.

I know, as I mentioned, I don't have much more to offer than said. Unfortunately. Glad to hear you're doing better, though, and best of luck in the months ahead.

[WalterMitty]

aa can be helpful.   i did not start attending regularly until i was 2 years sober.  i wish i would have done it sooner.

i dont really work 'the program'.  and i find the platitudes annoying.  but the fellowship is nice.  ive met a lot of interesting and smart (and even successful) people there.

there are some self righteous yahoos there.  i just tune those people out.  i think the demographics of aa scares a lot of young people away.  i will be 35 next month and at most meetings i attend i am either the youngest in attendance or among the top 3 youngest.  lots of old farts.

[ilikeverin]

Best of luck, Tweed! *hughughug*

[memphis]

Congrats. Crazy how individual brains differs. Mine is not at all impressed by alcohol. Ice cream, on the other hand....

[Ebowed]

Nice work.

[dead0man]

quitter

[opebo]

and yes, there was a time when at least 30-40% of my posts (and 4 out of every 5 infracted posts) were alcohol-infused.

What about back during the time of free speech? (I know there had to be such a time, because I remember the word 'simpleton' was at the close of nearly all of my posts then)

[© Tweed the Younger]

I posted this on a recovery message board I frequent.

I've seen a few people make some of these threads, so here goes.

first of all, allow me to tip my cap to AA partisans: I am an AA anti-partisan, this is fact, and have gone after you all on occasion. and I am drinking: feel free to consider this a small victory for your program and ideology, I am perfectly willing to play the necessary part.

depression had been getting me the last few days... I have not been sleeping well for some time now. everything seemed at best ok, but mostly bleak and uninteresting. I still hold self-defeating existential beliefs, despite flirtations with Christ, I just don't believe it. I'm an intellectual type. I believe that humanity is ultimately doomed, as is the universe. I'm a misanthrope. I find most people appalling, and can understand why others would feel the same about me.

so the idea popped into my head at 6pm and rapidly progressed, and I ultimately chose to do it. I am on my third beer now. my family does not know. I bought a twelve-pack, stashed six in a small cooler which sits in a draw in my dresser. I'm feeling good, the 'hit' is coming along well, my familiar friend is back.



comments and questions welcome.

[patrick1]

I posted this on a recovery message board I frequent.

I've seen a few people make some of these threads, so here goes.

first of all, allow me to tip my cap to AA partisans: I am an AA anti-partisan, this is fact, and have gone after you all on occasion. and I am drinking: feel free to consider this a small victory for your program and ideology, I am perfectly willing to play the necessary part.

depression had been getting me the last few days... I have not been sleeping well for some time now. everything seemed at best ok, but mostly bleak and uninteresting. I still hold self-defeating existential beliefs, despite flirtations with Christ, I just don't believe it. I'm an intellectual type. I believe that humanity is ultimately doomed, as is the universe. I'm a misanthrope. I find most people appalling, and can understand why others would feel the same about me.

so the idea popped into my head at 6pm and rapidly progressed, and I ultimately chose to do it. I am on my third beer now. my family does not know. I bought a twelve-pack, stashed six in a small cooler which sits in a draw in my dresser. I'm feeling good, the 'hit' is coming along well, my familiar friend is back.



comments and questions welcome.

So are you back on the sauce or was that an old post on that forum?

From long experience I can say that while hopping back on the boozer does provide a nice high and release from depression/boredom/anhedonia, the effects are temporary and to put it bluntly payback is a b!tch.  You tend to sink lower with each bout and it gets worse as you age. As stereotypical as it may be, Ive struggled with on and off alcohol abuse my whole adult life. Not an everyday drunk but some epic binges/blackouts that steamroll your physical and mental health. I was probably right around your age the first time I made a concerted effort to quit- I hope you are smarter than I have been.

Good luck.

[© Tweed the Younger]

I'm a month sober today (again).

[opebo]

Congratulations, Tweed.  I had two mugs of draft beer at sunset, and a rum-and-Coke around midnight, and I couldn't finish any of them.

[patrick1]

I'm a month sober today (again).

That is great Tweed.  I'm nearly 8 months now. Try to stay quit.  To reiterate the above post I made at around week 1, I wasted and lost a whole lot of time, money and ambition by not staying sober from around your age. I had some fun nights and some good stories but it certainly wasnt worth it.

[© Tweed the Younger]

I'm a month sober today (again).

That is great Tweed.  I'm nearly 8 months now. Try to stay quit.  To reiterate the above post I made at around week 1, I wasted and lost a whole lot of time, money and ambition by not staying sober from around your age. I had some fun nights and some good stories but it certainly wasnt worth it.

and there are fun nights and good stories that come on this side of the ledger, too.  one of the great lies the addiction tells us is that there can't be.

[patrick1]

I'm a month sober today (again).

That is great Tweed.  I'm nearly 8 months now. Try to stay quit.  To reiterate the above post I made at around week 1, I wasted and lost a whole lot of time, money and ambition by not staying sober from around your age. I had some fun nights and some good stories but it certainly wasnt worth it.

and there are fun nights and good stories that come on this side of the ledger, too.  one of the great lies the addiction tells us is that there can't be.

Very true, I have more fun now than I ever did.  I also remember the good times too and don't feel like a dirty diaper when I make up anymore.

[Peter the Lefty]

Congratulations!  There's a ton of alcoholism in my family, and I know full well from watching them how difficult it is to overcome.  Keep it up!