Ok - substitutions, I hear you. good idea, after all you have to do something with the time you used to spend drinking. The second treatment centre I was in spent lots of time on replacements for drinking.

I like the idea of walking your dog, exercise is always good, and especially now that summer is coming, being outside is always nice.

I know that when I first quit drinking I was so used to the idea of having a drink with the paper as soon as I got home, that I had to have another drink. I substituted club soda mixed with cranberry juice and had a huge glass. (I'm talking like 16 oz)

I don't know if you're into crafts at all, but crafts are sometimes a substitute for me (I knit, embroider etc) so I do that in evenings instead of drinking. Maybe now's a good time to learn a new hobby.

Of course the ultimate substitution for me is AA meetings, when I first quit I went to like 7 a week, now I'm down to about 3.

I also volunteer one evening a week on a telephone support line. So volunteering might be an option.

Be creative think about things you'd like to do instead of drinking and do them.

Good luck.

--splitimage