Trying again after being out for years

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Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by escape from berlin » Wed Dec 28, 2011 5:12 pm

the anxiety you are feeling is very normal...part of detox...it will pass...im sober 21yrs..had a bad slip with pills...what ever pills you are on...please be very careful..they too can become a problem...addicts will always look at it like ...the less of all evil...i did with weed...i thought as long as its not white powder or in a bottle, its not that bad...and it wasnt..for a while..but before you no it..its all you have & it becomes every thing you got..once you get threw your detox, and get your self off the ground...let them go....but please put some thing in its place...something you always wanted to DO..i chose flowers...i no sounds crazy..but it worked..remember, you spent alot of time and energy getting high, too much time on your hands is very dangerous...so is boardom...i'm sure you have forgotten what its like to throw a ball..listen to music..walk in a park etc...as a sober person...set it up...you will see the beauty of this simple act with new eyes...always have a plan of action..of what you will do when desire walks in the door, because it will..and running to get high is just a natural response for us (addicts)...PLEASE DONT SET YOURSELF UP . change is hard..addiction is always in disguise...it can fool you...then before you no it..your back in that black hole again...crawling back out becomes harder each time...protect your sobriety at all times...even when you think your safe...this is a life long disease...it never goes away, just waits for you to let your guard down, then it will grab u by your throat & shake you around with no mercy...this forum is a great way to help & get help...stay strong...but dont forget meetings. the ROOMS are still around for a reason...they work...good luck & god bless..you are stronger then you know.

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by solsingr » Mon Dec 05, 2011 2:14 pm

dont know what to say, except, i am trying myself, and we all need friends when things get hard good luck and hope we can help each other

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by escape from berlin » Thu Dec 01, 2011 10:25 am

what you r feeling is normal...just ride it out..please dont go 4 pills or weed, thinking its the lesser of all evils..cause you will make that an every day thing too, then the drink come in 2 join the party..i have been sober for 21 yrs..made the mistake i mentioned..and had 2 go around that fing mountain again.. keep doing your best, u no u want it or u wont be on this site, concrats for taking the jump...always take the road less traveled...look up your fav music..the songs on bing clean & sober...make c.d for your car..cant hear songs from those who made it or atleast trying to..& run 4 your shit..need help with tunes..i got plenty 2 share.. ask $ u shall recieve...look & u will find, most important...look in mirror..like what u see ? if not change it ! many have walked this wire be 4 u, and made it ! you will too..1 day at a time...some times it 1 min at a time...you r stronger then u even know...one day u will be very proud of yourself..change is hard...being wasted is much harder...JUMP

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by Sasha13 » Sun Nov 20, 2011 9:38 pm

Congrats on 90 days, Hopes to be there in 90 days.

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by Vaya » Sat Nov 19, 2011 1:05 am

"Hey everybody, hope you are all doing well. Today is 90 days sober for me! I'm feeling a lot better, fighting with a cold though but doing great nonetheless. Making meetings has really helped me fight depression and anxiety, and see that I am not alone in this. I was asked to speak at a meeting tonight and i'm pretty nervous about it. I'm just gonna pray about it and share from the heart. It's also been 2 1/2 weeks without a cigarette. Just gonna keep doin it one day at time."

Congratulations on your three months!!! It's amazing, when three days seemed an impossibility, isn't it?? That's amazing... AND you're quitting cigs... that's really, really impressive.

IMO you got it right - speak from the heart and don't do what I catch myself doing a ton, which is rehearsing what I want to say before I say it. Because, for me, it comes out as gobbledy-gook and kinda the opposite of 'from the heart'!

Good luck.... share with us how it went!

~ vaya

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by Vaya » Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:36 am

Congratulations on your time sober, my friend :mrgreen:
Each day is a blessing when every prior day has been marred by addiction.

I'm returning to sobriety after three years out in the open. Terrible times, as I knew they would be. I had three years, slipped for three years, and am 13 days sober today. I am 25 years old, so not too far from you. I have also worked at, and been a patient at, several treatment facilities.

I agree with the posters above who recommend going to a meeting. You don't need to use the rooms or its occupants as your "higher power," as some choose to do. you just need to be around people, and to take it one step further, people who you can relate to (and vice versa). Realizing that one is *not alone* is -->so<-- utterly important in the recovery process.

When I feel alone, I isolate; for me, isolation is like a water-logged tire in the summertime. As the tire will no doubt breed mosquitos, so, too, will isolation breed depression and self-manipulative thinking. My advice is to surround yourself with those who care, whether it be digitally (i.e. via this forum) or in-person at meetings (preferable first choice IMO/IME!!)

Good luck to you, sir.

~ Vaya

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by abclimo » Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:57 am

Freeradical and Luckymon: Hi and welcome! Lucky: You can get past day 3, I know you can do it! Tell yourself you can do it, and keep telling yourself you can do it. It's a struggle to maintain clean/sober time because we're people with the disease of addiction and it sucks! We can all do this together. When you feel the need to drink, do something to distract yourself, go for a walk, write, watch television, or call someone. If you haven't yet, try going to meetings, but don't just go to one and decide it's not for you. I can tell you from personal experience that not all meetings are the same. Some are so warm and friendly and others are definitely not. When you find one you are comfortable at, keep going and start sharing how you are feeling. Most people at the meetings have been there, done that and nothing you can say will be much different than what they have experienced in their addiction and recovery. Find a sponsor, someone you are very comfortable talking to and call them before you drink. This is a great journey you are beginning on and so many things will open up. Don't be discouraged if you hit a few speed bumps, just keep going and it'll work. Good luck and post to let us know how you are doing, because we do care.

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by Luckymon43 » Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:35 pm

Well if you can achieve 18days that is pretty darn good!

I cant get past day 3 with out my ego convincing me I need to drink and get drunk again!

Keep it going!

Im on Day 1.

I here drinking water helps!

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by FreeRadical » Sun Nov 13, 2011 6:00 pm

I'm a newbie to this site and this is my first post. Congratulations, OP -- it's wonderful to see such warmth and encouragement on this forum.

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by abclimo » Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:08 am

Congrats to all on your clean/sober time! You all deserve a big woo hoo. The anxiety and fear can be almost overwhelming sometimes. It's funny, once you are clean/sober and can think clearly, you can realize so many things about your using. For me, it was looking back and seeing that I was covering anxiety and not wanting to deal with feelings. Hang on everyone, it does get better, the most important thing is NOT to use/or pick up that first drink. Do anything you can to avoid it, go for a walk, read, watch television, post here, call someone, but do it all before you give in to your impulses. We can all do this together, one day at a time. I know in the beginning for me to think about not using for a large block of time was overwhelming, but breaking it down into an hour, 15 minutes, or even a minute at a time, was very helpful. Congrats to all on your journeys, it's amazing where it will take you.

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by il cortile » Sun Nov 13, 2011 3:46 am

congratulations, ive been sober6 days and on my 3rd day sober i had a panic attack in the middle of the nite. thought i was having a heart attact. i was anxious and scared for days after my last binge. i feel better now and i hope u do
..

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by sober on spruce » Sat Nov 12, 2011 7:30 pm

What a miracle to have 18 days!!! I had severe anxiety, fear and panic attacks constantly in early recovery and was terrified that I would always feel that way. Hang on and take one day at a time. Go to as many meetings as possible, read AA literature, pray, talk to sober people and sponsor, make sure you eat and TRUST that you will get through this. Even if you do have an underlying anxiety disorder, there is no way to get help with it if you are not sober. It's been my experience that the feelings you are describing will gradually get better over time but one thing is for sure: If you drink/use that will make it worse...Much worse. Don't quit before the miracle happens. You're in my prayers.

Re: Trying again after being out for years

Post by abclimo » Sat Oct 22, 2011 9:25 pm

Ron: Welcome back! Congrats and Woo Hoo on your 60 day mark! That is a huge accomplishment, keep going, soon you'll be at 90! Way to go!

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