I’m writing this in bed early this morning because everyone is still asleep and I don’t go back to work until next week. I continue to be so inspired by Sober Mummy who spoke on Radio 4 and 2 yesterday: if you haven’t already done so, check out her blog (Mummy was a secret drinker). I’ve beem blogging here on and off for a long time, but my story is very up and down, and I keep getting stuck at the obstacle course (again, see Sober Mummy’s blog), whereas she has pushed through and sounds so happy and confident: she’s amazing.
So, I am pleased to report that I am on Day 3 of Dry January. All went well yesterday and I consumed copious amounts of fizzy water and herbal teas, but that’s what I’ve got to do at the moment. I’m basically trying to push all thoughts of alcohol to the back of my mind; when I find myself thinking about it, I do something else. Sounds obvious, but I am inclined to dwell, and I’m trying not to dwell, to be more mechanical about it at the moment.
Having said that, if I do think about my drinking over the last year, I am astonished at how mindless it’s been, how I’ve let it rule me. I really had given up giving up, and it was rubbish.
This already feels so much better.
A Dappled Path 
It feels better for me too Annie. Let’s keep going x
Annie , you sound so much more confident than this time last year…
By the way I didn’t know ginger beer with ice could taste so good !
Hi Annie. Well done on making it to day 3! Look forward to reading your day 4 post. I don’t know if I have mentioned this before but have you looked into ‘The Alcohol Experiment’ run by a woman called Annie Grace? Its a really interesting programme with daily information about alcohol and alcohol addiction plus daily tasks to focus your mind. I really recommend having a look. Keep going! Love, Gemma x
Hello my friend! Lovely to see you back at it. I am
Back at it too, 27 days so far….the first 10-15 days were mental tourture. I reached out to some women I had met in AA and started going back to meetings. I have started accepting that drinking just doesn’t “work” for me right now. It’s been hard, at every meeting those first 2 weeks I shared how I wish the “voice” would just leave me alone. I likened it to a stalker that was just relentless. The more I shared and bitched and moaned and said I’m in a pissy mood, the less intense it became. I’ve tried to do this on my own and I can’t. Look into AA or some type of “real life” support! Please continue to blog– it helps me tremendously. ❤️❤️
I’m so happy for you! I found light fiction and easy computer games (okay, Minecraft) to be great distraction in the early days and I know binge-watching TV or Netflix or Amazon Prime is also good. I couldn’t get back to any of my hobbies till a couple weeks in — brain too wonky. Keep up the great work!
Is there any way to go walking outside for a few minutes a day, or are you in such bad weather that it would be miserable? I think walking has been the link to my sanity in early sobriety.
That’s great Annie, very well done. Just keep going, one hour, or even 5 minutes at a time. each time you have to make a decision NOT to drink, just do it. Don’t allow yourself to think about it, just say ‘NO, I don’t drink any more’ even if it is just ti yourself. I promise the early obsessive preoccupation with drink will fade, just keep building on your success, build on the three whole days you have managed 🙂 THIS IS GREAT well done XXX
I’m glad you are on day 4. Keep writing.
Anne
Happy Day 3 Annie, I’m still here and on Day 3 also, love seeing you back xx
So proud of you!!! Re-read your earlier posts over the past year or so and remember the feelings that came with them. Focus on what you want your life to be like and the happiness that is right here in front of you! You can do this! Take care of you and it will all fall into place 🙂 . Hugs!
Annie, you’re doing BRILLIANTLY! So proud of you!!!!
How’s it going??? I started on the 2nd January, so around the same time and I also was inspired by the sober diaries – it literally became my life, my bible and she became my mentor in a stalker kind of way!! Hope you’re still winning xx