EAT CHOCOLATE~~~ It sounds stupid, but it WILL help with the urges to drink. Usually we tell that to newcomers, and even tho you've got 8 mos. sober, it might help you too. It replaces the sugar that we're used to gettiing from the booze. Alcohol has LOADS of sugar in it, and when we quit drinking, we're not getting that sugar anymore -- so EAT CHOCOLATE and it really DOES help!! Brother, I ate a LOAD of chocolate when i first got sober, and it sure helped me!!! It made the cravings much easier to bear. MUCH easier.

And YES it gets better as long as you stay busy and take your mind off it. Stick with the winners too. Do things with other AA members outside of AA. If you have time, see other AA members socially. Go out for coffee, or watch movies together, or whatever. AA isn't JUST meetings. Members DO get together and do stuff.

But please don't throw this all away -- tell your therapist about ALL your emotions, and exactly how you're feeling. Also, do you have a SPONSOR in AA?? If you don't GET ONE. Find a person who has QUALITY sobriety, not necessarily quantity sobriety. Just cause someone has 25yrs doesn't mean they'll be a good sponsor. Make sure they're working the steps, and are walking the walk. If they're a mean, nasty dry-drunk, you sure don't want HIM as a sponsor. Find someone who seems to have some serenity, who has a few years under his belt, and is working the steps in his life.

You've got a GREAT START ON A NEW LIFE -- and you're going to MAKE IT. Stay with us, cause it only gets better! God bless and keep posting. We're with you 100%. Hugs, Lee