counting days
24/01/12 • 1 Comment

I blogged about slipping and drinking one night last week. That ‘one drink’ turned into drinking 4 nights in a row. I have now started over and am at day 2. in AA, they encourage you to count days upto day 90 as that first period of soberity can be the hardest. Thanks to HSMers for expressing their support, documenting their struggles, celebrating their gains and encouraging others.The advice to log in here morning and night and to always have a cold drink in hand when socialising has been really helpful. I am also repeating an affirmation that Louise Hay recommends for alcoholism, “I live in the now. Each moment is new. I choose to see my self-worth. I love and approve of myself.” The clarity and confidence i was feeling in my previous 19 days of soberity is a million times better than the disorientation, headaches, anxiety and guilt [...]

Fell off the wagon
20/01/12 • 2 Comments

I am a bit disappointed in myself. i’d done 19 days of soberity and could say, “i haven’t drunk alcohol this year”, then I drank on thurs and fell off wagon. i had my last day at a job that i love and have worked for over 2 years. my bosses bought a bottle of champagne and poured me one for a toast. ‘just a sip’ i thought ‘to be polite and gracious’. well one sip turned in a glass turned into 3 glasses turned into me rummaging in my flat mates cupboard for more booze on my arrival home turned into drinking vodka turned into being hideously hungover the next day. I realise now that there’s no ‘safe’ amount of alcohol for me to drink. i was feeling complacent because i’ve made it through social occasions and 19 days sober but now realise i must always be vigilant and [...]

freaky friday
13/01/12 • 1 Comment

well day 13 and after a hard day at work i was craving a beverage. liked that an HSMer posted to remember that we can drink anything except something alcoholic. that gave me the inspiration for a coke spider! i bought a bottle of coke and a tub of ice cream en route home. it was great! suddenly doing lots of house work and having baths and have been downloading movies and enjoying them in bed! went to a friends house for dinner where i’d normally drink lots of wine but instead had ginger ale and lovely lavender and lemongrass tea and felt good. still had a boogie round the lounge room and managed not to fall asleep and to walk home (i normally nod off after a lot of red wine and struggle to get home). now 2 of my friends are considering a HSM too and are having [...]

First Friday
06/01/12 • 0 Comments

Well, it’s the first Friday in ages I haven’t had a drink. Felt a craving walking past the pub on a hot arvo after work but kept right on going to the shop and bought a bottle of Solo which hit the spot for something cold, sweet and refreshing! Hired a few DVD s so spending the night in watching them and drinking tea and solo! Day 6 today and have enjoyed a week without a hangover and have been up earlier and feeling bit better over all. Have planned activities for weekend so hopefully won’t be missing drinking or feeling bored, lonely etc. Really inspiring to read everyone’s posts. This has been the longest I’ve gone without a drink for about a year and hope when the cravings kick in, i can remember how good I’ve been feeling and how much better that it than getting into the booze-hungover-guilt [...]

Dining (not wine-ing)!
05/01/12 • 2 Comments

been great reading everyone’s blogs. had first test last night-a dinner party with friends I normally booze with. Brought mineral water to replace the wine and found once I’d said ‘no’ to the first glass of wine, I wasn’t asked any more as I didn’t have a wine glass to keep being topped up. In AA they say, “IF THERE’S NO FIRST DRINK, THERE CAN BE NO TENTH DRINK” and that seemed to be a good way to think about it. Me doing an HSM did raise a lot of discussion amongst my friends. ‘would they be able to do it?’ ‘how much do they drink?’ ‘when was the last/longest alcohol free period they had’. It was interesting and managed to be one of the last to leave, feeling like I had fun time where I didn’t get too drunk, too loud, too tired, forgetful or hungover. Feel proud of [...]