The beginning of sober week 2. I am pleased that I’ve made it to Day 7 but today I have felt more like drinking than on any other day so far in the past week. Turn away now if you are wary of triggers, but I would seriously like to drink a cold glass of wine, and then finish the bottle. And I don’t really know why. The children go back to school this week, normal school week routine commences, so I guess that feels a bit flat after all the parties and festivities. A nice cold glass of wine (there it is again) would pep me up nicely. And it’s 4.45pm, so I’m heading towards that time when I usually start to investigate the fridge.
Right, so here’s what I am going to do: I am going to prepare the supper now, in advance. Then I am going to make a mocktail, run that bath and get in it and stay there until the craving passes. I may have to stay there until my husband comes home if necessary. If I try and do anything more challenging than that (and I’ve got heaps of things I need to do), I am worried that I might cave.
Yesterday I felt physically better. That’s dangerous; almost instantly, I started looking ahead to the possibility of drinking again now that my symptoms had disappeared. WHAT AM I THINKING? My poor body, desperately trying to heal, needs me to be responsible at this point. I need to push through these days of craving and sabotage, and get to the other side.
A Dappled Path 
Keep going! I remember all that ever so clearly BUT I CAN PROMISE SO MUCH PEACE “on the other side”. You will just love it. Freedom and Peace of Mind are the gifts waiting for you. Honestly!!!!!
Lisa
http://www.thecword-compassion.com
Promise to stay in the bath. Put oven gloves on in the kitchen so you can’t open wine. Remember how lost you’ve been lately.
Sends sober love.
And a fairy to take away any stray wine.
Keep going, it really does get better! I must admit though, I did giggle thinking of you staying in the bath for hours, and ending up like a wrinkly prune!! Don’t stay in too long 😉
Big Hugs x
Annie, you have been going so well! Get your mocktail fixed up in a nice big tall glass (small bucket!?) and get thee to a frothy, bubbly, delicious smelling warm bath and stay there until you remember how crappy a hangover would feel, and how great you feel right now (putting aside Wolfie growling in your ear). No glass of wine is worth the way you felt when you woke up clear headed this morning is it? And once the school routine starts, you’ll have a bit more structure – maybe that will help? But stay with us here and don’t throw away your entire week 1!
Hugs,
SR
It’s not worth it, you’ll just feel bad about it the whole time. And then afterwards as well. Instead of feeling frustrated for an hour and then emerging with a renewed sense of confidence and health. It always feels better not to.
Great plan Annie! I find the dinner prep a HUGE trigger. My mocktails have been getting me through. Don’t drink. We know how that goes, it’s never ONE. hugs!!!!!
Yes! Set yourself up for success – brilliant idea to get a mocktail, change your routine and have a bath 🙂
I hope by the time you read the replies you are feeling stronger. Some great advice and support. I use a visualisation technique a lot, imagine you could fast forward an hour or two – how would you feel if you’d had a drink? Disappointed, fed up, angry? Imagine those feelings, use them, really feel them, re-read your blog if you need to. Then fast forward how you’d feel if you don’t have a drink, elated, happy, proud, keep those feelings, hold them close and compare the two. You know which feeling you want and what you need to do.
I’m home alone tonight, it would be so easy for me to pour a glass, no one would know, it would be my secret, but I know in a couple of hours time I would regret opening the bottle.
Let us know how you get on, thinking of you. Let’s stay strong together xx
You can do it Annie. We all can as hard as it is.
Imagine your nicely healing insides being poisoned again. Think realistically about your waking thoughts will be if you have that bottle of wine. And everything you’ll still have to do, but with a hangover! Good luck x
Stay with it! I think you’re stronger this time around, you’re thinking before just grabbing the bottle. The bath is great!
Mary 💗💗
Excellent plan. Stay in the bath.
You should seriously rid the house of alcohol. Having a safe zone was vital to me.
The cravings are addiciton. That is wolfie trying to convince you that you dont need to do this. Don’t let him lead you astray.
You can do it.
Anne
You can do this! Stay in the bath all evening, if you must. Orrrr. each time you feel this way, jump back in! When I quit my love, I would answer out loud when craving: ” I don’t —— anymore, I drink hot tea instead. Find whatever it is you want to substitute and stay strong. “I’m a non smoker, I would say to myself. 😀
I had a hard time with cooking at first too, because I also liked to sip a glass of wine while doing it. For a while, I had to substitute a mocktail, but now, after 4 months, I don’t even think about it anymore. Same goes for my 9pm cup of herbal tea habit I started on day 1. For the first 6 or 8 weeks, I clung to that ritual for dear life. Now sometimes I don’t even think about that. You’re doing the right things by developing ways to head off that craving. That’s one of the tools you need to stay sober. The more you use your tools, the more automatic it will be, at least that’s been my experience. Be kind to yourself and give your body what it needs. Good food, rest and nice hot baths. 🙂