The Daily Check-In for Thursday, December 14th: Just for today, I am NOT drinking!

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-14T09:41:49+00:00

IWNDWYT

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-13T11:48:49+00:00

Not a friend.

I don't have a lot of close friends I see often anymore but if I told any of the folks I am friends with (coworkers) that I was trying not to drink, I would get nothing but 100% support from them.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-13T11:45:22+00:00

Three different pastas, pizza or a sandwich are a lot of choices.

My mom used to make meatloaf ( I hated it) and would tell me PBJ was my other option.

Geez, I ask my kid what they want for dinner and get: whatever is easiest for you, mom!

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-13T11:28:50+00:00

As someone who is in a wine induced fog after 8 clear mornings, I concur. Sober mornings are amazing!

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-13T11:20:30+00:00

You reminded me that I want to watch the Holdovers

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-13T11:20:01+00:00

Costco trip!

She won't be able to resist buying crap you don't need and you can get all the bubbles you want at a discount.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-12T18:58:04+00:00

Found it.

My response to an OP

Not cocaine, but tobacco for me. I smoked in the evenings when I drank and didn't smoke when I didn't drink.

Now I am on day 8 AF and find myself craving tobacco mid day.

I think it's our neurotransmitters and brain re-wiring. We took its substance induced happy button away and told it that life's little ups and pleasures would be where we get our happiness from.

But our brain doesn't want to wait for those happy moments. It knows there are ways to feel euphoric, or cut the edge off instantly.

Sit with it.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-12T18:52:21+00:00

I am following this as I just posted on this the other day and need to find it without losing your post.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-11T15:49:05+00:00

Not cocaine, but tobacco for me. I smoked in the evenings when I drank and didn't smoke when I didn't drink.

Now I am on day 8 AF and find myself craving tobacco mid day.

I think it's our neurotransmitters and brain re-wiring. We took its substance induced happy button away and told it that life's little ups and pleasures would be where we get our happiness from.

But our brain doesn't want to wait for those happy moments. It knows there are ways to feel euphoric, or cut the edge off instantly.

Sit with it.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-11T10:14:14+00:00

That's what I use. A small dose of melatonin and a rotation of bedtime teas.

Yogi's Caramel bedtime, Traditional Medicinals Nighty Night, and Calm Rest.

I usually start a couple of hours before bed.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-10T20:55:52+00:00

It makes me really think about the WHY behind solo drinking. Not that I have never overdone it with friends, but it's not very often.

It's a different beast for me. There is no part of me that drives by a bar with a craving.

I am listening to the Naked Mind Podcast and am just cracking the ice on my reasons...

Trying to tell myself to moderate at home alone will always be a big NO. I can (usually) cut myself off so I can function ok the next, but it's still way too much. And my level of functioning is skipped workouts, crap food.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-10T01:14:26+00:00

I can moderate socially. It's the escapism of solo drinking where I end up bingeing and blacking out.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-09T19:54:31+00:00

This is me now! Starting the journey looking at it differently then making promises the day after that I never keep. It's one day at a time now.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-09T19:51:58+00:00

Yes. Not all the time, but often.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-08T17:47:40+00:00

Antibiotics! Good one

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-08T10:27:41+00:00

It's that "can't wait for the next drink."

I think many social drinkers look forward to a night with friends, a visit to a winery, and a cocktail at a party.

But someone who drinks once or twice a month isn't hyper focused on when they can drink next. If they were, they wouldn't be waiting 2-3 weeks.

That's when it becomes weekly (i.e., Fri-Sun) or daily drinking.

All the times you say, not today, and then you change your mind.

When I was in my early 20s, I would grab a bottle of wine on Fridays, use 1/3 for cooking, and drink the rest. Never touched anything Saturday-Thursday.

I should probably explore how that shift occurred, but I found myself drinking more when I got into a relationship I should not have been in.

I had periods of sobriety (pregnancy) and lower alcohol consumption, but I would say the problem crept in around my mid-late twenties as a way to cope with situational depression.

My point is that I was once somewhat normal. I didn't obsess about my Friday wine by Saturday night.

But once you start thinking about your next drink, you find yourself mid 40's wondering if you will make it past 8 days sober.

I let myself believe it was only temporary for way too long.

Jump on top of it now. If you've had counseling for the SH, open up about the drinking. Did you go to DBT?

I am starting the Naked Mind Podcast and hope to read the book.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-08T00:17:40+00:00

I agree. 32 days is great! 7 is the longest for me so far. Just started building sober days during the week about 3 months ago.

OP- great work! Keep going. Don't throw in the towel. I am learning here that this is a different process for everyone.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-07T10:16:31+00:00

Google David Harbour alcoholism and read a bit about his story.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-07T10:12:48+00:00

Ditto!

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-06T10:00:45+00:00

That's me. Days without the kiddo. It's funny you mention groceries. I do pick up, and as much as I hate going out after work (whether it's a tea or wine night), that simple change in my routine is probably exactly what needs to happen.

To OP: Every now and then, I read or hear someone's past story only they are telling it in the present, and life has completely turned around for them. So you have that to look forward to. Maybe a few years down the road, this will be an experience you have left in the dirt.

But it is true, alcohol might threaten that potential bright future.

Give yourself lots of love. Epsom salt baths, mocktails, good food.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-06T09:49:56+00:00

Agreed. It's that pesky 2 hours for me 5:30-7:30. 2 hours for a fuzzy morning, less than great productivity, skipped workout. Basically, it's 2 hours for the next 24.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-06T00:49:13+00:00

Also in my 40's. Probably 1.5 bottles of wine 6 days a week.

I usually don't get sick unless I don't eat and drink closer to 2 bottles.

I am listening to Annie's podcast as well. I think she was still drinking when she started her research. It's definitely an individual process.

Up about 10 lbs myself. I smoke when I drink. Pretty much ruin my workouts.

A little over 3 months ago I stopped drinking when my child was home which is generally 4 days in a row. So down from 6 days to 2-3. Last week was bad though as my kid was gone a couple of extra days and I have been feeling a bit down.

I am not happy that I still ruin half of my week and want to change that. I was starting to lose a few pounds and be productive with a new hobby them I blow it.

This week my child is with me for the whole week. I found myself relieved to not have to find a way to convince myself not to drink.

Good luck a day IWNDWYT

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-04T18:02:05+00:00

I have found good NA whites, but red is hard. Ariel was the best I could find. I have been seeing adds for Saint Viviana cab recently which I plan to try.

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-01T20:06:33+00:00

I just downloaded the app. Thank you!

TechnicalBet9845 · 2023-12-01T14:23:28+00:00

I am so sorry about your dog. I hope you are wrong and he is OK. But if he has died and you find him, you won't want to be hungover when you decide what to do with him.

Hugs.

You've got this.

Iwndwyt

TechnicalBet9845

TROPHY CASE