quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
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.

This is so great.

I had to let people know that it made me uncomfortable to go out to restaurants,
Fortunately they understood, and I stayed home.

I was comfortable, they were comfortable .

A little distance from . . . . Stuff hurts no one.
Do what you gotta do.

But tell'em, don't bottle it up .

Update 2: Didn't drink last night at dinner, wasn't too hard but I was irritable all evening.

I ate WAY to much probably in compensation but I'll live with that.

Down 1.5 lbs this morning but it's a bit early to say that's anything other than normal daily fluctuation.

I do find myself VERY scatterbrained lately though. I can't ever find my keys or wallet. Normally I like to always leave stuff in the same place. Trying hard to focus on the little things but I would expect my focus to get a bit sharper...in time perhaps.

Have you thought about exercising your brain? I use the Sudoku.com app and make myself do the daily challenge everyday but I also have a crossword puzzle app that I use sometimes. I keep telling myself to find a good chess app but keep putting it off.

I find that doing a puzzle type game gets my mind running and focusing differently then reading does. I usually read in the evenings before going to bed.

Good work, keep it up! You're slowly building that routine one day at a time.

I've not struggled with alcohol (not because I wouldn't...I just never started drinking so I never had to quit), but I love food. I was like a human garbage disposal...I'd eat anything, and in quantity. When I was bored, I'd eat as a way to fill the time. If I had the desire, I indulged it...I had zero impulse control when it came to what and when I ate.


Two years ago I got diagnosed Type 1 Diabetic, and now I have to eat very specific things at very specific times, and had to give up a bunch of things that I love completely. I started running in the morning after breakfast before work. It sucks. I hate the effort it takes, especially when it's hot out, or freezing out, or raining, and I have to drag my butt out of bed at 4:30am every day to do it...but it's something I can tangibly do myself to fight this stupid autoimmune condition that is trying to kill me. The exercise helps flatten the blood sugar spike from breakfast, which I can actually measure, and psychologically I get the boost of starting my day by kicking this thing's butt, and that helps keep me on track for the rest of the day.

In the evening after dinner, I do pretty much the same thing, but instead of running I take a 2 or 3 mile walk with my wife and the dog. That provides some positive physiological benefits, but also gives me some time to talk with my wife and decompress from the day, and helps build that positive routine.

I realize that my specific routine isn't going to work for everybody, but if you can find something daily that works for you to fill your time and gives you some satisfaction that you're taking the fight to your struggle, it can help immensely.

Keep it up, you're doing good! It'll become more natural with time.

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
Have you thought about exercising your brain? I use the Sudoku.com app and make myself do the daily challenge everyday but I also have a crossword puzzle app that I use sometimes. I keep telling myself to find a good chess app but keep putting it off.

I find that doing a puzzle type game gets my mind running and focusing differently then reading does. I usually read in the evenings before going to bed.

There's an active Wordle group here on SF. Maybe you could try it.

I've never been a drinker or smoker, so I can't truly understand the challenges of quitting. I do, however, applaud your decision and pray for your success.

flashguy

Otto, how are you doing?

Today is day 6.

Little tough considering it’s Friday.

Planning to head down to the NRA museum tomorrow with a forum member so you guys are definitely looking out for me.

I started slow on the working out but put in two 2.5 mile runs yesterday and today after a decent hour long work out Wednesday. Time wasn’t great but it was also 95 degrees both days.

BLUF: Weekend is definitely harder but I’m gonna make it.

Looking forward to being able to say 1 week without a drink.

ETA: being truthful I’m horribly irritable and in a funk today…BUT, I will not drink tonight. Filling up my glass with water non stop.

Also, thank you for asking Spinzone.

You’re going to be irritable because your security blanket is gone. One day at a time sir. You want a drink? “Not today.”

What do the Navy Seals claim, "The only easy day was yesterday"?
As it gets harder before it gets better remember, a lot of us here are cheering you on.

When you are using Para's time machine, make a stop about 5 years down the road and see how what you are going through now, has become what inspires others to make their own start down the same path.

Update in OP

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
Today is day 6.

BLUF: Weekend is definitely harder but I’m gonna make it.

Looking forward to being able to say 1 week without a drink.

ETA: being truthful I’m horribly irritable and in a funk today…BUT, I will not drink tonight. Filling up my glass with water non stop.

Okay, you’re off to a decent start.
Question: Are you powerless over alcohol (and what it does to you), and is your life unmanageable (internally, externally, spiritually … any or all three)?

If so, then you need some form of Power.

The great thing is, you get to decide what that is.

Keep your feet moving, OttoSig.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
Update:

Late enough in the evening I can say 7 days without a drink, I can’t drink enough water to cure this headache though. Had it for 3 days now.
...

This worries me a little bit. Be very careful, because you can and will drink too much water and then have "water intoxication" resulting in hyponatremia (low sodium) that can cause brain swelling, leading to coma, and even death (if untreated). I once had a psych patient in ER who drank so much water that he ended up with exactly that, with a sodium level of something like 115 (normal range is from 135 to 145). He was comatose, but we were able to bring him back.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
Update:

Late enough in the evening I can say 7 days without a drink, I can’t drink enough water to cure this headache though. Had it for 3 days now.
...

This worries me a little bit. Be very careful, because you can and will drink too much water and then have "water intoxication" resulting in hyponatremia (low sodium) that can cause brain swelling, leading to coma, and even death (if untreated). I once had a psych patient in ER who drank so much water that he ended up with exactly that, with a sodium level of something like 115 (normal range is from 135 to 145). He was comatose, but we were able to bring him back.

Q,
Probably somewhere between 150-200 ounces a day, my recent running in 95 degree weather had me sweating quite a bit. I’ll keep it below 200 ounces a day.

quote:

Late enough in the evening I can say 7 days without a drink, I can’t drink enough water to cure this headache though. Had it for 3 days now.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Medical detox is a lot more pleasant and safer.

Nice job Otto

Outstanding!
Hang in there, you got this.

.

I had a headache for over a week the first time I quit soft drinks. No, not the same, but lots of people I’ve talked to have a long term headache when they quit injesting something that became a habit. As mentioned here, don’t hesitate to see a doctor if it becomes too much. Alcoholics can literally die if they try to quit cold turkey. You might not be at that level but there’s no reason to risk potential negative health consequences.

One Day at a time,
You've won 7 times

Keep it up!

For what it is worth…when I quit smoking cold turkey, the first month was the toughest. What really helped was when I could change from counting how many DAYS it had been since my last smoke to WEEKS. Once I crossed into MONTHS, whenever that urge for a cigarette creeped in I would yell at myself to not be a pussy and not wanting to start all over again. By that time too I could smell smoke on other people and realized just how terrible of an odor cigarette smoke has.

Tell yourself you DO NOT want to start at zero again, and find something about drinking or alcohol that you detest…visualize a sick liver, even if you are far from broke picture what living homeless would be like, and put that money you were spending on drinks in a jar or envelope. Set some milestones (1 month, 6 months, 1 year, etc) to spend that saved money on a reward…guns, ammo, shooting class, a hunt you’ve always wanted to go on…just something to help highlight how much better you feel and going back to zero is unfathomable!