James,

Can't offer anything new here other than you have both my best wishes and prayers for success.

--Bob

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
OP is active duty military, so inpatient may not be an option.

I know an active duty Airforce officer who was ordered to go to a 30 day inpatient. The military loves getting personnel sober.

This might be something to look into. The video is 7 years old, but The Sinclair Method from Dr. David Sinclair seems to be more known and accepted now. Can't hurt to look into it.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Dawn of a new day
When you think you've seen it all
It's Zen-bendable

quote:

I'll try something light tonight like the rower to maybe help facilitate sleep.

Dude my 15yo and I started P90X exactly 5 weeks ago. I'm getting my ass kicked 9 ways from Sunday, and I can't wait to get into bed.

I thought about having a beer tonight as a "recovery" drink, but drove to Meijer and got lactose-free chocolate milk instead. My god chocolate milk is so good.

Here's something else for you- you can borrow my time machine, but you have to know how to operate it.

Here's how it works- to drive it, you just have to project yourself into the future, say, 25 years years from now. You're 65 years old, and between there and here are two paths. One path, you stopped drinking and your relationships with your family are good. All is well, no need to bother further.

The other, you kept drinking, and you're alone and sad, but ah- you have a time machine, you see, so you dust it off and you go back to your 40th birthday, and having seen your fate because you kept drinking, you know what you need to do.

And here you are- right now, in the past, and you have the ability to alter the future.

Get it?

You can keep the machine as long as you like. I have more than one. Just don't put any Goddamned bumper stickers on it.

I'm telling you- this is good advice and it's a mental trick that can help you when you want to drink. Think about it.

^^^^^^
Stephen Covey does say “Begin with the end in mind”. Good advice, Para…

Work out, HARD, before bed at around the time you would start drinking. Replace bad habit with good habit to get the body tired.

Your sleep is going to be all haywire for a little while, as your serotonin and dopamine are all messed up. It will take months for them to get back to doing what they do in usual fashion.

Each day that goes by, you are one day closer to sleeping like a baby with no assistance from chemicals. Alcohol-induced sleep is not quality sleep by any means.

I can tell you this: Today, I cannot imagine a day with alcohol. The exact opposite of my outlook 11 years ago. Life is just so good.

Give up ONE thing and have access to EVERYTHING, OttoSig.

So today will be day 3, I’ve done good to keep my mind occupied. Reading a lot and busy at work and home with the kids.

Taking long showers to decompress after work rather than opening a beer is helping.

I’m still not 100% happy with my energy and motivation to work out but that’s a habit to build like many have said.

I appreciate all the emails and I’ll respond to them all eventually I promise. I read em more than once that’s for sure.

Congratulations and good luck. I'm 2 months with no drinking. The first week was rough, and then it started to get easier but it is a lifetime commitment. Take it day by day and get support from family and good friends.

quote:

Originally posted by VictimNoMore:
Your sleep is going to be all haywire for a little while, as your serotonin and dopamine are all messed up. It will take months for them to get back to doing what they do in usual fashion.
.
.
. <snip>

Would Melatonin help Otto's sleep?? Would it be recommended??

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
James,

Can't offer anything new here other than you have both my best wishes and prayers for success.

--Bob

Could not have said it any better. No judgement from me. I am only sending positive thoughts and prayers your way because I have come to realize the power they have.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
Would Melatonin help Otto's sleep?? Would it be recommended??

Self-medicating with anything that affects body chemistry aside from vitamins is not a good idea right now.

^^^^^^
Sounds very reasonable... [like button]

Waiting for my Marine buddy at the gym, took 3 mornings but I’m here early before work.

Tonight is the test, tonight will be tougher as the kids want to go out to dinner at Yardhouse. But I’ll be okay. Hopefully I’m too tired to even think about it later.

Pulling for you, James.

quote:

tonight will be tougher as the kids want to go out to dinner at Yardhouse.

It's ok to make things easier on you rather than harder with better choices. Sounds like your son would support a different choice, as would others likely.

Don't find pathways to excuses and exceptions. That's your lizard brain talking.....

I recommend attending aa meetings. I learned more in 2 weeks there than I did in 40 years of drinking.
It might make a big difference in your success.

quote:

So today will be day 3, I’ve done good to keep my mind occupied. Reading a lot and busy at work and home with the kids.

Taking long showers to decompress after work rather than opening a beer is helping.

Changing up things helps, not doing activities you normally would that involved drinking helps.

Found that modifying routines so that I was not in the place, act, position that was associated with having a scotch or cigar made it easier, since we typically associate specific behaviors in specific scenarios.

Those are what helps me modify behavior, best of luck to you, lean on whomever you need for help,