[henrydavidtherobot]

Hello, I'm newly sober and now dealing with all the bad thoughts. I have to go to Michigan soon to see sick family and still have to go to school. Any suggestions?

[Moogieotter]

Hi,

Welcome to PC addictions forum! Early recovery is very difficult. Pat yourself on the back for each hour you make it. Pamper yourself if you have means - maybe a pedicure.

I highly recommend 12 step programs. PM me if you need. In the end, it's worth it!

moogs

[splitimage]

Congratulations on being sober. Having anxiety in early sobriety is totally normal. Just take it an hour at a time if you need to. If you're visiting family, it's good to have a plan about what to say / do if they offer you alcohol or start drinking around you.

I second the suggestion on 12 step groups, or if you're female Women for Sobriety, which is the program I follow. They can be a great source of support.

splitimage

[henrydavidtherobot]

Originally Posted by Moogieotter

Hi,

Welcome to PC addictions forum! Early recovery is very difficult. Pat yourself on the back for each hour you make it. Pamper yourself if you have means - maybe a pedicure.

I highly recommend 12 step programs. PM me if you need. In the end, it's worth it!

moogs

I'm in the young people program. I'm trying to meet new people. Idk how to do so without booze.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Just came across this thread and wondering how you're doing. I quit an addiction three months ago and I'm STILL dealing with the mental anguish along with random withdrawal symptoms that could hit at any time...even still! You're in for a long battle so I suggest you find support. Here is a great place to start. Many times, an addiction effects our brain chemistry so when we quit that substance, we have sort of a mental withdrawal. The worst was when I quit stimulant abuse and I got so bad I had to be put on an antidepressant which is not always smart when you're bipolar but I was desperate. Different substances effect different chemicals. Hang in there. I won't lie, you're in for a ride so seek help from a pdoc and therapist if needed.

[SilentMelodee]

Congratulations on being sober!!! You can do this! Oh RxQueen.... I'd like to read more about your journey. I will look through older posts. But congratulations on THREE MONTHS sober!!!!

[CloserToTheMid]

You might be doing a lot better than you think. You're reaching out! You are properly afraid of alcohol now. This is good! I strongly encourage you to find an AA meeting and get a sponsor. It's so much easy that way than doing it on your own. I am craving free now after years of alcohol abuse. You can do this!

[Misssy2]

hi..my suggestion is...stay sober and everything gets better...the anxiety especially...I need to do the same thing...there is nothing other than "TIME" that will help us feel the best.

They call TIME the four letter word of sobriety.

[leejosepho]

Originally Posted by Misssy2

...stay sober and everything gets better...

They call TIME the four letter word of sobriety.

If everything gets better while staying sober, then how could "TIME" be "the four-letter-word of sobriety"? In my own experience, "S.O.B.E.R." = "Son Of a Buck, Everything is Real", and my misery while sober is what always drove me back to drinking.

Have you (or has anyone else) ever wondered why "Don't drink" is not suggested anywhere in the A.A. Big Book? Today's AA might be great for people who are able to "Don't drink", but the original A.A. is for people who finally realize bottles are mere symbols -- alcohol is not the problem --and being sober does not resolve chronic alcoholism. Personally, I tried "Don't drink, one-day-at-a-time" before I even knew I was alcoholic and had ever even heard of A.A., then someone suggested A.A. after telling me there is where something could be done about the fact that I could not "Don't drink" for more than two or three days at a time. Since then I have seen many people "Don't drink, one-day-at-a-time"until they again end up drunk, and then again "Don't drink, one-day-at-a-time"until they again end up drink...rinse-and-repeat until dead.

I do understand why most people want nothing to do with the original A.A. -- "Trust in God and clean house." -- but I refuse to stop trying to help others become aware of a permanent solution for chronic alcoholism. In my own case, I had to stop trying to stop drinking and then take the Steps to have my problems with sobriety removed.

For the record: I staunchly defend anyone's and everyone's right to believe and to do only as they wish.

[Misssy2]

lee..it was in AA that I learned TIME is the four letter word to sobriety.
Everything takes time...time for the family to come back
Time for all the reckage to either resolve it itself or for something to be done about it...
Time for healing all your inner pain.
Time for the job reputation to get better.

And with that time...it is suggested to only live One Day at a Time and not to worry about all those "things" that time will bring..but only require of myself one day to not drink and that is today (which is always today One Day at a Time).

[leejosepho]

Originally Posted by Misssy2

lee..it was in AA that I learned TIME is the four letter word to sobriety.

I understand. There are many things in today's AA that cannot be squared with the original A.A., and I am not meaning to take you to task about any of that. I just want people to know there truly is a permanent solution for real alcoholics still dying one-drunk-at-a-time in today's AA.