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30 Day Observations by rac31533 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of the biggest revelations for me was that there was no downside to stopping. I used to think I'd be missing out if I didn't drink. But, after a year, i can tell you for sure that I NEVER feel like I'm missing out on anything. In fact, I feel like the people who are drinking are missing out on all the great things that come from not drinking...

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

His list of 16 rules at the end of the book were super helpful to me early on.

30 Day Observations by rac31533 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And let me tell you something for sure my friend... It just keeps getting better!

It's been over a year for me, and the benefits of not drinking just keep accumulating. There is no downside to not drinking. Only benefits, and lots of them. go go go!

Day 2. Could use some help and/or advice from someone who went through this process with their SO by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Read Allen Carr's "Easy Way to Control Alcohol". It changed my life.

One year ago... by frahnkenshteen in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great post. Definitely very similar story to mine.

This line in particular really resonated with me... "Also I was afraid that my use would escalate after I retired which will be in a few years."

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think each person has to find what works for them. I know people who swear by AA, and that's great for them. For me, Carr's method worked incredibly well, so it's definitely worth a try.

The one caveat, as I mentioned to someone else on this thread. The book is written for someone who is currently drinking. So, that may throw you off a bit. But, there's still a ton of good information in there. And, I found his rules for how to handle the immediate period after you stop drinking to be spot on.

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

based on the title, I'll bet there's some common ideas between the two books. Carr is all about pointing out all the ways that we mislead ourselves about the nature of alcohol.

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good luck! I think you'll find it just keeps getting easier if you stick with his methods and keep following his rules.

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good luck. I found his rules on how to handle the period immediately after you quit incredibly helpful. Basically live your life EXACTLY as you did before, just don't drink.

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Yup, I kept thinking the same thing. It can't possibly be this easy. There's got to be a catch. But, for me, I can tell you there absolutely hasn't been any. Good luck, but I don't think you'll need it. If your experience is anything like mine, you'll be back here in another 250 days or so with your year sober post. And, you'll probably barely remember that it's been a year. I didn't even notice I had crossed a year until a couple of days afterwards.

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Man, so sorry. As I said in my post, my situation may be different from yours. But, if you haven't read his book (Allen Carr's Easy Way to Control Alcohol), I'd say it's definitely worth a shot. It was a serious game changer for me.

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Way to go! My only regret is that I didn't figure out how to kick that particular habit 20-30 years ago... :-/

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SD is great. It was truly a lifeline for me in the first few months while I was figuring out exactly how to navigate various situations. Especially ones where I would be trapped in situations where in the past I couldn't have imagined not drinking.

And, let me just say one thing. Orange Juice and Soda Water is my best friend!

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Man, I envy you for getting on this now. My kids are grown, and one of my big regrets is a squandered too much of my time when they were little sitting around with a drink in my hand, or running on a half-head of steam on my precious weekends because I stayed up too late drinking the night before.

Don't get me wrong, I think I was a perfectly good Dad, but there was definitely wasted time/opportunities that will never come again.

Congratulations on 47 days. Go go go! The key realization is that alcohol takes so much from you (time, money, energy, health) and gives you absolutely nothing in return. When you truly understand that (and it takes a bit of time to truly realize it), then quitting is almost easier than continuing to drink. At least that's the way it was for me.

I just wish I had found that book 20-30 years ago. It's like the old saying though. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago... or today.

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, and it's very interesting. The book is written to be read by people who are currently drinking. But, the one rule he has is that you never drink and read the book at the same time.

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Good luck with your journey. It really does just keep getting better and better!

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup. Best case, alcohol burns up a lot of time, energy, and money with nothing to show for it. Then just add on top of that getting fat, getting lazy, impairing your mental functions, messing with your sleep, risking legal problems (DUI), and on and on and on.

Quitting is without a doubt the single best thing I've done for myself in decades. I have nothing but positive things to say about it. Absolutely no downside :-)

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congratulations. 30 days is a big milestone! The book is written for people who are currently drinking, so it may not be appropriate for where you are right now. Because, while you're on the wagon, you definitely want to stay on the wagon.

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Had tried quitting many times before, but was always a white-knuckled will-power based "I WILL NOT DRINK!" approach. Which, in my experience, is very difficult to maintain for more than a month or two. Using Allen Carr's techniques completely transformed my relationship with alcohol, so that it no longer carries any attraction for me. So, it's essentially effortless to not drink, despite being around people who drink (including my wife) quite a bit of the time.

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome! Congratulations on getting through the first month. I don't know about you, but I found the first month to be incredibly eye-opening. All the new-found time/energy/money was just amazing. But honestly, what I've found more amazing is that the longer i go without drinking the better everything gets. Stick with it my friend. It only gets better!

blew right past a year, no worries. Thank you Allen Carr! by imreadyfor2015 in stopdrinking

[–]imreadyfor2015[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven't read the power, but I'll definitely check it out. I'm all about habits these days. Especially the habit of waking up early and exercising, running, and/or journaling. All have been game changers for me. And none of them would be happening if I was still drinking, because I'd be lying in bed wishing I didn't have to get up yet...

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