[roads]

You've always been there, ready to back me up. I hope it can be as helpful to you as it is always to me.
Gratefully,
Roadie

[notz]

madisgram,

I'm sorry to hear your sad news. I remember when you were taking care of him, so very hard on you. And there must be a ton of feelings flying all around you right now...I can only imagine.

You are a strong woman. You've braved the darkest of dark and come through to the other side. You remain dedicated to all who extend a hand and even those who don't. You shine when sometimes there is no light.

I hope PC shines for you right now, if you need. Hugs, many of them for you, my friend.

[madisgram]

good morning to all. i've been reading again posts. what a wonderful and inspiring group of ppl here!! I feel loads of gratitude to all of you. it gives me such joy. i feel like i know you like in irl. many (((hugs))) to all of you and i wish you a great sober day!

Hi, I'm new here. It has been 6 months no booze for me. 3 months no weed. 2 months no pills of any kind. 1 month no cigarettes. 2 weeks, no carbohydrates. It feels great not to be addicted to anything today. I feel like I am living for the first time. Step by step, breath by breath. I'm suffering. I'm healing. It's nice to be in the company of others who have overcome the same things that I am currently battling. Tomorrow is a new day. I will battle tomorrow as well. Nice to meet yall. Sincerely, Glinda Gail

[roads]

Welcome, Glinda Gail. I'm a bipolar alcoholic--while I can be happy for all your other victories, it's that six months without alcohol that I "feel" the most deeply about. I know for sure the battle that requires.
I'm glad you stopped by here. It's a good place to touch base.
Roadie

Thanks! I'll be back, baby!

[madisgram]

so glad you joined us, glinda and congrats on your 6 months sober. you're rounding the bend to a new way of life. a life worth keeping. we're always here for you.

Thank you so much. Substance abuse, alcoholism, it's like being institutionalized. When you've served your time fully, the warden hands you your walking papers, it's like you really can't believe it, your're actually free. When you take those first steps away from the penitentiary grounds, you keep looking back, as if armed guards are going to come rushing out saying it was all a big misunderstanding, you really have a life sentence. But the more steps you take, away from that lonely prison cell, a realization comes over you. I am actually free! There is no one keeping me in bondage any longer! I am free to go where ever I please. Free. The only way I will ever be in prison again, is if I make a choice to have my feet take me back there, and who in their right mind would ever want to live in that place again? The farther you go, you realize, your mind is just right enough to know the difference between freedom, and insanity. Blessed be the Name of the Lord. <3 Sincerely, Glinda Gail

[madisgram]

WOW you express yourself very well! i loved your analogy. i once was shackled by alcohol. it took away my hope. today it's restored. grateful, grateful for my freedom.

[madisgram]

i thought, should i post this in the other forum-kudos? this is more personal directed to all of you tho. thank you for your love and support. i'm doing much better...it's acceptance of what life brings to me. the lesson-cherish more the friends and family i have. my higher power sometimes offers me lessons of the utmost importance. i am so grateful to have you all in my life.

[roads]

madisgram:

i am so grateful to have you all in my life.

Right back at'cha, madisgram. We need each other,
and that's not such a bad way for things to be.
Roadie

[gma45]

I haven't posted here in a while, glad to see you all still here. I am with you Madisgram and Roadie So glad you are in my life too! You don't realize how much you have helped me and I will always hold a place for you in my heart. I just lost a dear friend SO I am feeling kinda friendless right now but still sober and clean! Life can really throw some curve balls some days but I am learning how to not drop the ball thanks to you all!

[beauflow]

[Edge11]

...Hi everyone...

...It's been a while since my last post...Hope your all doing well...

[roads]

Hey there, Edge11 ... good to hear from you & that you're still working the program. As another bipolar alcoholic, I know how difficult that can be, sometimes a minute-by-minute struggle for me. I'm so grateful you are finding the strength to continue, & I'm glad you stopped by!
Roadie

[johnf22881]

7 days of sobriety today, even if it is white nuckled for now. Other than that, I am patiently waiting to get into rehab and I'm barely holding it together mentally.

[roads]

Bless you, Johnf--know those shaky knuckles, every heartbeat and second of the seven days. They do go by sooo sloooow, huh? Been a lot of years now, but those things we never forget. Rehab was such a relief for me, so safe and reassuring ... I was so afraid I would die if I tried to stop on my own. I did end uo seizuring, so I was lucky to be in hospital by then.

It's a great life, Johnf ... still problems, but so much easier to solve sober.

Hope you can stay in touch, but if not come back after rehab, okay?

Roadie

Hang in there johnf, I did some white knuckle time...it...was...not...fun...heh. I understand what you're going through. It got better for me once I had help. Hope it happens for you soon. Best wishes

[optimize990h]

I don't know why the time went today. A late start in the morning always contributes to that fast time.

I wasted too much time on something I should have put aside. I wasted too much time on youtube.
I did organize some things that needed the organizing. Just enough to make it through the week.
The antidepressant is slowly working with less side effects happening so I know how to adjust my diet. Less mood swings with depressive periods, with more periods of anxiety that slowly try to get me interested and fixated on anxiety.

[roads]

Hang in, optimize. It's a crazy dance in the beginning, & it seems like you've got six legs. You've got your live, the addiction, the cravings, the meds, other people, plus memories of "the way things used to be."

Just keep hanging on. Things will quit spinning, time will become reliable, & you'll be glad you did this. Don't give up!

[johnf22881]

I feel like I'm alive again, more alive than I have been in my entire life! 9 days clean and sober, still white nuckling it though.

Just finished an application for a rehab, got the note from my doctor that I needed to (this rehab does not allow any psychotropic meds, so the doc had to give his ok in writing), getting it in the mail tomorrow, and then I am on a waiting list for up to 8 weeks.

[notz]

good luck...

[roads]

Good for you, johnf--another 2 days! White knuckles or whatever shade, the day-to-day connections are what count. Keep 'em coming.
Roadie

Originally Posted by Roadie

Good for you, johnf--another 2 days! White knuckles or whatever shade, the day-to-day connections are what count. Keep 'em coming.
Roadie

love your latest pictures Roadie...

it's not so much the pictures...it's what they mean...

dm

[optimize990h]

I had a busy today traveling and doing errands. Two appts. and 2 errands. The bird was unhappy about me being away and went on a hunger strike til I returned home. He needed a lot of encouragement to eat and made it clear that he was upset with me. This ....atiel is not very vocal. He does not complain verbally. I have to interpret his posture to figure out what he is trying to communicate.