[roads]

For me, it's good to stay in the present--not get ahead of myself. The 17th is a nice goal, but there're a lot of tomorrow's to get through between now and then ... which is why "one day at a time" is plenty for most of us!

I hear you, tokiwartooth ... give yourself every advantage. Don't push yourself in unhealthy ways.

[Cherry73]

Hi everyone. Things are going pretty well here. Went back to the surgeon for my post op follow up and he said I was doing great. I've lost 32pounds since the surgery which I think is great especially in only a months time. He gave me the all clear to leave for Maryland. My kids are so excited about the move which really makes things a lot easier. Starting tomorrow while kids are at school will be packing and cleaning because I can't seem to get much done when kids are home. I got information on licensure requirements in Maryland for dual diagnosis counselor and I only need three classes to get my license and I really think my BS in biopsychology will help when looking for a job. I signed up for a few of those job sites and there seems to be quite a few jobs available. I can't wait to have surgery and go back to work. I really want my kids to be proud of me and I don't want them to think that struggling on disability is how you are supposed to live. I want to take care of my family myself. Don't get me wrong when you need you need it but at this point in my life I think I could really handle working. I am definitely going to try. I don't want to let my mental illness keep me down any longer. I have two beautiful kids counting on me. Well thanks for listening. As always I'm blessed with another day clean and sober. For those of you who don't know my sobriety date is November 21, 2005 and I thank God each and every day for my sobriety. How is everyone else doing?

[madisgram]

Originally Posted by Cherry73

Hi everyone. Things are going pretty well here. Went back to the surgeon for my post op follow up and he said I was doing great. I've lost 32pounds since the surgery which I think is great especially in only a months time. He gave me the all clear to leave for Maryland. My kids are so excited about the move which really makes things a lot easier. Starting tomorrow while kids are at school will be packing and cleaning because I can't seem to get much done when kids are home. I got information on licensure requirements in Maryland for dual diagnosis counselor and I only need three classes to get my license and I really think my BS in biopsychology will help when looking for a job. I signed up for a few of those job sites and there seems to be quite a few jobs available. I can't wait to have surgery and go back to work. I really want my kids to be proud of me and I don't want them to think that struggling on disability is how you are supposed to live. I want to take care of my family myself. Don't get me wrong when you need you need it but at this point in my life I think I could really handle working. I am definitely going to try. I don't want to let my mental illness keep me down any longer. I have two beautiful kids counting on me. Well thanks for listening. As always I'm blessed with another day clean and sober. For those of you who don't know my sobriety date is November 21, 2005 and I thank God each and every day for my sobriety. How is everyone else doing?

your goal to go back to work was mine too cherry. i continued my therapy and kept going to AA regularly. i had to remember my program came first even tho i had time in the program already. i had to readjust my private life so i didn't place AA in second place. my sobriety is still the most important thing. (it assured me good things career wise too.) thus it continued to keep me sober and my career didn't suffer. matter of fact the tools i had learned in AA helped me when i returned to work. i am also dual diagnosed.
best wishes on returning to work. i'm sure your children are delighted with your progress. hope you'll keep us posted on how things are going.

[roads]

I've started back to meetings 2 or 3 times a week. Life is at that too-hard-to-cope place that spells danger for me, so it's time to get serious with AA firewall. No desire to drink now, but fifty years' experience promises it's just around the corner.

[notz]

(((((((Roadie))))))

always your friend with a bendable ear!

[gma45]

Hanging in clean and sober. Going to as many meetings as I can. Life is.....meetings, work, meetings , work. I am ok with it a the moment still wishing for something more....in the mean time I am teaching my self new things, learning to crochet, knit no more TV so I have to do something!

[Cherry73]

Oh my gosh gma I tried to learn to crochet and it was a disaster. I just couldn't do it and I would get so damn mad. I even went and took a class still didn't happen. Guess it just wAsnt for me but I am ok with that. Good luck to you.

[beauflow]

((Gma and Cherry))

It took me 2 years off and on before "getting crocheting" and actually it helped keep me busy at a time last year that I may had hitted a bottle due to stress but yet I was mad at a lot- and mad on why i could not understand such a thing as crocheting so I kept trying! and some how made a hat!

I like to paint when I am really stressed to- that has been a savoir with helping to stay sober

Sigh.. still smoking cigs though...... i don't know if i can let those goes.

[roads]

I'm so glad I returned to my AA meetings as a regular thing. Ive gained at least a full degree in strengthening sober coping skills, with daily attendance to step meetings--my PC friends are the impetous, while laughter energizers me (in short spurts, anyway).
Making it, inching along
Roadie

[shlump]

Feeling pretty positive today. Do have a few assignments, but my head seems to be clearing a bit and I did get some sleep. Looking forward to meeting with a dear friend this afternoon. Heck, looking forward to taking a shower.

Thanks PC. You've all meant so much to me and offere so much to me over the time I've been here. My struggles have been so much lighter because of your help.

Love everyone here. k-off to my assignments...

[Cherry73]

I finally gave up cigarettes about a year ago. What I like to do to occupy myself and pass the time is cook/bake. Especially when I give it to someone's else and they genuinely enjoy it. I have a question I have an iPhone is there an app I can download in order to participate in the chats and other things?

[Cherry73]

I have been trying to pack and get ready for our move which is almost two weeks away, and it seems every time I pack up something the kids unpack or destroy what I have done. At this rate, I will never finish and I told them if they keep doing that them I'm not taking their stuff. I have been very overwhelmed. I was so upset earlier I was in tears. I actually broke down and took two of my klonopin. Most of the time I really enjoy being single and not having to compromise and doing everything my way but when it comes to something like this I really wish I had some help especially because I'm outnumbered

[roads]

Originally Posted by Cherry73

I finally gave up cigarettes about a year ago. What I like to do to occupy myself and pass the time is cook/bake. Especially when I give it to someone's else and they genuinely enjoy it. I have a question I have an iPhone is there an app I can download in order to participate in the chats and other things?

PsychCentral chats? Several folks use this with great success ==> Tapatalk 2 for iPhone by Quoord Systems https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tapatalk-2-for-iphone/id585178888?mt=8.

Roadie

[roads]

They're bullyIng you, it seeks to me. Whatever your parenting style is, it's not working. There are self-help. Groups, like "parents without Partners," that gan help teach you tough-love-parenting style. If you can get parenting classes or counseling for this, do it!

Start by not fighting the kids any more. Take a break while you regroup,,and announce that there's a "new regime moving in ... You're finding yourself a parenting coach, and things and going to chance some. Ank them to thing about changes they thing need to happen to make this a real home again, and tell them you.ll talk about it in ____ weeks. (Two ought to work)"

Then with a therapist of a group backing you, make a plans and, slowly, make needed changes.

[gma45]

Just checking in today. I am doing alright still need to find work that pays enough so I can survive. I am not giving up! Just know that I am thinking of you all often even though I may not be here as much. I am here daily in my thoughts, without this place I would not be as positive as I am today. That is a fact! I am trying to work on my fear which runs deep in every aspect of my life. Clean and sober one day at a time.

[Cherry73]

I found out what has been bothering my daughter. She told me she is scared about the move and afraid that her grandparents, who she has only met atwice, will not like her and be mean to her. I explained to her that they love her very much and are very excited that she is coming and will show her nothing but love. We talked for a whole

[Cherry73]

Whoops. We talked for quite a while and I explained everything and did my best to set her mind at ease. Hopefully behavior will now improve. In fact, we had a wonderful evening and her and her brother earned stickers for their behavior charts tonight. Things are looking up.

[thickntired]

Daily Check in - Today TnT is pot free

[roads]

Yea TnT!! Very proud of you!

PT has taken a step back for me, because of the arthritic neck issue that's squeezing my spinal cord. I don't have sufficient strength in my neck to support the strengthening exercises we're beginning for the rotator cuff. We tried all yesterday's session to find a work-around without real success, and the headache that resulted ebbs with ice the roars back when I take the ice away.

I'm going to meetings and that's keeping me going back to PT. I want to quit, because now I'm just exchanging Pandora's-Medical-Issue-A for Pandora's-Medical-Issue-B. It's that kind of absurd juggling that could eventually have me off buying a couple of bottles. Oh, yes ... I'm way past thinking about a drink.

[madisgram]

just checking in. going to pick up my medallion this week. it's hard to believe i've been in AA for such a long time. it was my life saver and now i try to pay it forward. i know it is always a possibility that that monkey on my back can lead me to a drink tho i haven't thought about drinking for many years. just making sure on a daily basis and always vigilant as AA teaches.
roadie i hope you feel better real soon. sounds like you have serious challenges health wise right now.
..today i am happy,joyous and free! "the promises" found in the big book do come true!

[roads]

I'm loosing grown fast in PT and find that so depressing after so much really hard work. Getting neck to where it was took several years of acupuncture and massage, and even if I were willing to state again massage therapist hast retired. I'm just withdrawn in corner of noon AA meeting, can't talk. Will be sobbing in no time if I quit writing.
Okay. Sponsor's making me shut this off.

[roads]

I'm talking about my anger in meetings every day. I'll keep going and keep talking till it passes. I still haven't accepted that it's happened and irreversible ... I know I haven't.

[madisgram]

roadie i reread your post re your health. your description mimicked mine including my spinal cord fluid being cut off at C-3. is it possible surgery can help you? when the neurosurgeon got in there he found bone spurs as well and fixed that situ as well as spinal fusion in my case for the spinal cord issue. my outcome was miraculous. i had had severe, chronic pain for 20 years. the reason i got help finally was my right side was going numb. muscle tone was fading. i was scared but got it fixed. now i'm the bionic woman/titanium plate/spurs removed and feel better than ever before. no pain at all anymore.
i don't know if this even applies to you but thought i'd share my experience.

I am hanging in there, no booze or benzos for 9 days now.

[roads]

another night that I'm not able to sleep because of neck pain and headache ...
would so love to drink myself to oblivion but unless I could manager to make that into oblivion & never wake up, it would accomplish nothing ...
so, so tired of coping & even more tired of talking about it
Roadie