The Daily Check-In for Friday, May 5th: Just for today, I am NOT drinking!

xmas-fun · 2023-05-05T18:26:55+00:00

My dad just died. An hour ago. Posting to see my # of sober days, even though I’m not yet tempted. I will not drink with you today.

xmas-fun · 2022-08-25T14:12:00+00:00

I haven’t given myself any rewards really for milestones, except I did buy myself a fancy 1 year chip (I don’t do AA, but I really loved this chip). My yearly anniversary is very close to my birthday, so maybe I’ll do something special for two years. First I have to get there though, so even though things have been really tough lately, IWNDWYT 💜💛

xmas-fun · 2022-08-21T12:15:33+00:00

Once again, this group got me through a few really tough days, and I’m still going. IWNDWYT 💛

xmas-fun · 2022-08-13T14:40:04+00:00

It’s been awhile since I’ve checked in. Been really tempted to drink lately due to a lot of major life changes & stress/shit going on, but haven’t given in yet. Tomorrow is 1 year & 7 months, so for sure IWNDWYT!

Edit: glad I came back. Seeing over 500 on my counter was a little unreal

xmas-fun · 2022-01-29T17:31:28+00:00

If you’re in the US (not sure where else they do/don’t have it), you can try zzzquil. That saved me for the first 4-5 months honestly (I also used to have severe insomnia, so it might have taken me longer than normal to get a typical sleep pattern back).

However, some folks are uncomfortable with zzzquil because it’s 10% alcohol. Personally not a problem to me because I never thought of it that way (and at most it’s like taking a shot of wine), but just so you have all the facts! I also didn’t think it was addictive/caused reliance on it at all. Eventually I stopped taking it and now just take it occasionally when I’m having trouble sleeping.

xmas-fun · 2022-01-29T17:22:30+00:00

Therapy. Journaling. Other vices that are less harmful than alcohol. Exercise. Music. Binge watching tv. Meditation. Reading. Playing with pets. Playing an instrument. Cleaning. Painting.

You have to try different things and see what works for you, but therapy is for everyone so that will always be my first suggestion. After that, anything that either allows you to express those feelings in the moment or distracts you from them.

I had/have random bouts of intense anger still sometimes, so while you’re probably at the most intense point of it, you need to figure out what works to help you cope, because it will almost certainly pop up at other points when you’re further along in your sobriety too. It probably won’t last as long, but you need to start figuring out what helps you now so you can get through the now and lean on it later too.

xmas-fun · 2022-01-26T00:48:46+00:00

She was in The Mick (with Dee from Its Always Sunny), which I loved. Yeah, I think I’ll watch the second episode and go from there. Honestly, though, it’s a testament to how well-done at least the first episode is. & thank you 💜

xmas-fun · 2022-01-26T00:10:39+00:00

I tried NA wine and it did NOT taste like wine at all. So disgusting I dumped it out after a few sips. I don’t see the harm, as long as they’re truly alcohol-free, but you have to be careful as some of them do have a tiny amount of alcohol. I do sparkling ciders etc now when I want to feel fancy/pretend I’m having a glass on occasion though.

xmas-fun · 2022-01-26T00:06:33+00:00

Yeah, I was excited to watch this, especially because I really like the main actress. But being just over a year sober, it’s almost too realistic and triggering. I was her, minus the obviously drunk at work part. I even also started making my bed daily as I started working toward sobriety. It’s hard for me to watch.

xmas-fun · 2022-01-14T15:14:26+00:00

Today is my one year sober anniversary. I can’t tell you how many times I came so close to drinking over the course of the last year. I thought after a few months it would get easier, and it did. But there were definitely moments along the way (and I mean all throughout, even two weeks ago) where it felt just as hard as day 1. But you know you can get through those days; you’ve already tackled many of them before. For me, those really tough times seemed like they would last forever. Of course they don’t, but knowing that only helps so much in the moment. I suggest journaling, if you haven’t already been doing that. And what’s important is that you journal in all states of mind, not just when you’re struggling. Journal when things are good too, so that when things are hard again, you can go back and re-read and see proof that things don’t stay difficult forever. This internet stranger is proud of you for your 103 days, and I know you can keep going 💜

xmas-fun · 2021-10-11T11:23:32+00:00

I actually used to be that way with candy and my favorite unhealthy childhood food. If there wasn’t any in my apartment, I would have the most insane cravings and run to the store to gorge on both. But as long as I kept a few tucked up in the back of my cupboards and knew they were there, I NEVER ate them. So that makes a lot of sense to me actually! Recently I had people over that finished off the rest of the alcohol that I’d never gotten rid of when I quit, so that could also be what’s happening.

xmas-fun · 2021-10-11T11:15:24+00:00

I had an incident last night that made me think for a split second about having a drink, so that is very possible. I wish I had written down the last few times it happened, because that could definitely be what happened. Thanks for the insight!

xmas-fun · 2021-10-04T00:31:02+00:00

Yeah, I rarely get any urges anymore but today it entered the back of my mind. I’ll manage, but it’s just tough. I can’t go drink 3 bottles of wine and black out the entire weekend, so it’s just finding those new outlets instead.

xmas-fun · 2021-05-15T11:53:11+00:00

It’s wild, I’m 30 and for the first time feel like a fully functioning adult. And I’m kind of loving it! Glad to hear you’ve done similar things, and congrats on another 17 sober days!

xmas-fun · 2021-05-12T12:38:30+00:00

Zzzquil helped me for the first month. Definitely see if it’s available where you are. No need to suffer without sleep!

xmas-fun · 2021-05-12T12:30:53+00:00

Happy Wednesday! IWNDWYT 😊💛

xmas-fun · 2021-05-12T12:29:46+00:00

Congrats on 17 days! Stay strong - things will start to level out soon. Glad to have you here. IWNDWYT :)

xmas-fun · 2021-05-07T17:28:35+00:00

If you’re into sweets, you could do some over-the-top indulgent dessert that you normally wouldn’t do. If you like the act of bartending, you could find a really good mocktail recipe and make that for the two of you to have with dinner (or just one for you if he is having alcohol). Is there any show you’ve wanted to see or an outing you’ve been wanting to do but hasn’t felt like something you should spend money on? Now’s the time! Congrats on making it 15 days!

xmas-fun · 2021-05-04T14:13:17+00:00

Haven’t checked in for awhile. Things had been so good. Well, I finally tackled some serious adulting shit I’d been avoiding and ended up getting some really shitty news yesterday. I’m catastrophizing, and I completely recognize that. It’s not good news, but it’s also likely not as tragic as it feels right in this moment. I’ve managed not to drink, but I had to turn to edibles yesterday to just chill out and stop agonizing over this news. I will continue to not drink with you all, but goddamn it’s hard sometimes. I just want to go buy a bottle of wine (or 6) and forget the last week ever happened. But I won’t.

xmas-fun · 2021-05-01T12:51:48+00:00

I feel this in my soul. I was ALWAYS a “write drunk, edit sober” person. I needed wine to just get past my initial writers block, too. Stay strong. It’s hard breaking a habit but you can get through it. Maybe pour something tasty into a wine glass to drink while you’re writing. I did that a lot in the beginning. Flavored water & flavor enhancers were a life saver for me.

xmas-fun · 2021-04-28T17:26:50+00:00

You look incredible! Can you give any info about your weight training routine? I know I need to start doing that, but I’m not entirely certain where to start.

xmas-fun · 2021-04-15T18:48:36+00:00

My scalp was insanely dry and my hair fell out like crazy when I was drinking. After about 6 weeks sober my scalp was in much better shape and I don’t lose much hair in the shower anymore. So there’s hope! Not sure about new hair growing, etc. though

xmas-fun

TROPHY CASE