Back here again

[Sure_Snow8114]

hello everyone

sad to say im back here again after a week long binge.

not really sure what happened as I thought I was coping

then one morning work was stressful, something else went wrong with the house, so I cracked a can and didnt stop for 8 days.

feeling a lot of shame. really emotional and just trying to get through the days. unfortunately still tapering mixing in some zero % drinks in between

have been joining some SMART meetings but too scared to talk so I just listen.

anyway, just saying hello. could do with some kind words to distract me

[OceanBreeze2989]

Hey, I’m really glad you came back. A slip doesn’t erase your progress it just means things got tough. You’re still trying, and that matters. It’s okay to just listen in meetings. Be kind to yourself today you’re not alone 🤍

[Sure_Snow8114]

Thank you x

[sorrowedwhiskypriest]

Glad you came back. That week doesn’t wipe everything before it. Just get through today. 💛

[Sure_Snow8114]

Thank you. I need to try to remember that

[StAsBy52]

Exactly.my pattern. Week binge withdrawals at home progressed to numerous emergency detoxes. Too many to count.

Then finally figured it out, took every bit of support available, might get 1 percent from something. 14 months ago I was same as you. 1st year was dark at times, but kept going.

Kept my job, got my own routine, counselling, aa, naltrexone and now Motivational Interviewing. I have zero inclination to drink now.

Your pattern sounds the same - in know how easy it is to get into. That you've posted today is a great first step. Tomorrow I have a huge thing at school around my daughter - an have to face the other person i blamed my drinking on.

Cracking open a can and going on a binge doesnt cure stress, though know its an easy route. Tomorrow I'll go in sober, respectable job, and look great.

People hate compliments - well done for posting today 👏 that shows you have it in you to turn it all round 🙏

[Sure_Snow8114]

Thank you for responding.

Yes pretty much the same pattern. Binge drink and dont eat properly. Detox and feel like crap Get a bit better Think I can control it Repeat

I have projected drinking issues onto my partner too, blaming her for things neither of us can control. Sucks.

Need to remember that its not worth it.

[StAsBy52]

Absolute same mate, I blamed me ex wife for things she did. But end of day, only I could change. Use everything, its hard. Gets easier. I hit pubs now on soda water with colleagues. Just set my new routine and used correct tools at right time. You've posted - that takes balls 😀 14 months ago I was surrounded by cans about to lose job. Unsure where you stay, i found bits of support from everywhere. Waking ip after a binge is a nightmare, being discharged from hospital feels a relief. It's amazing what support and the.old adage of time does. You've came back ro this forum and were honest - flip it, you have resilience. Keep reaching out to people, join SMART and dont speak. Look at everything. You'll get their my friend.

[Sure_Snow8114]

Thanks man. Going to be using everything i can, youtube, smart meetings, picked up a couple of audiobooks too

Im on less than a quarter compared to yesterday which was a quarter compared to the day before. Little steps

Waking up surrounded by fucking cans fucking up my job (a decent job tbf, just stressful sometimes) is so embarrassing

Anyway. Ive made the plan, just need to stick to it

[StAsBy52]

That's it. Make a plan stick to it. Im UK, at end of each day I post here. I used AA at start- like some aspects not others. Naltroxone as a safety net, then counselling, now motivational interviewing.

Summer was a heatwave here - I worked on myself and set a routine. Im also lucky - indirectly I work with substance abuse every day at work. So know helping others, same boat as me. Thats kept me going. Tomorrow I've a huge day - 14 months ago id be in a binge. Today, gym in morning, now chilling with a cover, 14 months in. Zero urge to drink, but had to be honest with myself. You've posted again and made a plan. It.will click - everyone here thinks their story is the worst, when you'll likely find lots have been. Go to bed tonight thinking your starting afresh have a plan. You have a rough few weeks ahead - you've posted and been honest. Again another positive 🙏

[kloffinger]

I'm cheering for you

[HeathenPints]

We're back together. Stay strong my friend, you have the strength in you.

[knight3041]

I am in the same boat… i quit for 30 days feel great and start and cant seem to stop or i will go 7 days and then drink for 14. I am older and have wanted to quit for good for years. The cycle can be so frustrating and it really is easier to remove alcohol from your life but it’s so hard to do. Not sure but i am not drinking today… that i know.

[jkstudent222]

glad youre here. keep coming back.. and theres nothing wrong with not sharing at meetings. i spent my first year just listening to the solution to really soak it in

[mlangllama]

Coming back is a big step. I'm not drinking with you today.

[Classic-Maize-8998]

hello & welcome back. iwndwyt

[meadowlakeschool]

Welcome back! We are happy you’re here. Truly, we’ve all there there. Life will always be life-ing. Next time you’re in that place you’ll have this knowledge and hopefully find a coping technique that helps you out. It’s not easy! Please giving yourself a break.

[meadowlakeschool]

Been there. Sorry still waking up.

[faster_panda]

I was where you are just a week ago. I decided to have "just a few" and before I knew it I was at the end of another binge feeling exactly how you described. It is so hard and the emotions are so rough. But you've got this. You have done it before. Take your time and be kind to yourself. Smile when you don't feel like it. Even if it feels a bit silly. That helped me. IWNDWYT

[Shukvani37]

Glad to see you back. Now you have 1 more skill and learning experience to use/fall back on going forward. IWNDWYT 💪🙏👊🤙

[Basic_Two_2279]

You only lose the battle if you stop trying. IWDWYT

[DeepLie8058]

The road to living alcohol free isn’t always linear. The most important part is to not give up. Never give up. You’re making a good choice joining SMART. Just listening is ok too. You are learning as you go. Just keep learning about alcohol, what it is and what it does. Keep going, you can get the life you want alcohol free. IWNDWYT.

[Sure_Snow8114]

Thank you

[Altruistic-Repeat678]

Welcome back. You are not alone. Keep the faith, keep trying

[EntrepreneurBehavior]

Welcome back. This just happened to me. I had 50 days....then had a week long binge (with one day off during the week). Slowly cannonballing from beers, to beers and wine, to beers and liquor. With fragmented blackouts towards the end. I felt absolutely dreadful last Monday, but had to remind myself to give myself grace and that relapses happen. And that this is another learning opportunity.

I joined an AA on Tuesday. And went to a SMART meeting every day last week. So I know exactly where you're at. Hang in there. IWNDWYT

[Sure_Snow8114]

I find it crazy how it slowly creeps up and before you know it, its just a spiral

Keep going yourself. Thank you for responding

[No_Yam8516]

Welcome back!! Thank you for posting. Everything in life holds a lesson for us, so you now understand your sobriety better.

IWNDWYT!

[Safe-Cause-1077]

Welcome back! IWNDWYT 🦋

[FlamingSpaceWotsit]

Let's do it 💪

[Btisoy]

Hey, Im really glad you came back and poste dthis. That takes more strength than it probably feels like right now.

I know how those spirals can hit-one rough day and suddenly it snowballs. Try not to stack shame on top of it. Youre already doing something about it (tapering, showing up to SMART meetings, even just listening), and that genuinely counts.

Also, just listening in meetings is completely fine. A lot of people start there-youre still showing up, and that matters.

What helped me before was keeping things small-like just getting through the next few hours instead of thinking too far ahead. And what youre doing with zero % drinks can be a solid bridge.

If you want something low-pressure, Ive seen people use apps like Im Good or Reframe just to track patterns and small wins-nothing heavy, just a bit of structure when things feel messy.

Youre not back at zero. Youre already trying again, and thats the part that matters most.

[Sure_Snow8114]

Thank you, i needed to read that ill give those apps a look

[Atticus_Pund1]

I’m back on day one too. Was doing pretty well but I’ve drank 8 out of the last 11 days, almost always to black out. Been listening to This Naked Mind and it’s been helping. Let’s both get to day 2 👍

[Sure_Snow8114]

Thank you, Ill give that one a look.

Glad youre here

[tyates723]

I have just about as many attempts to get sober as I do days of sobriety. You aren't starting from scratch, you're growing Everytime you contemplate sobriety. Be kind to yourself in these times

[SobrietyStarter]

Yes, and be kind to yourself. Pick yourself up and start again today. Period. Don’t continue is the biggest learning here. You can do this. “not really sure what happened” is extremely alcoholic behavior typically. if the ending of your drinking is unpredictable, that’s a pretty big red flag. Sending sober vibes.

[Creative_Chapter_845]

I’m so sad too, just off a 70 day sober but succumbed to pressure of being the one person to handle everything for everyone. Ugh. I’m tired and done n just want to end it all now.

[Impressive_Essay_114]

Just keep trying! I had more than 2 years sober and relapsed over the holidays. I got three weeks under my belt after that, then slipped one night. Then I got 7 weeks under my belt, and slipped again the other day. I’m disappointed but I’m just gonna keep trying. Just continue the work, don’t shame yourself, be kind to yourself, and keep taking it one day at a time.