Is their hope???

[Optimistica]

Hi! I am new here and not quite sure how this all works so I am just winging it... I have to stop drinking, now, today... I hit rock bottom last night and I have nowhere to go but up lest I lose everything I have worked for and cherish in my life. I don't know where to start or who to turn to. This in and of itself is a very big step for me because I tend to be very closed and private. Is there any help for a girl like me???:confused::confused::confused:

[Brooke]

Yes, there is hope! I am very new here too and am trying to quit drinking after a very bad incident of binge drinking last Wednesday. Like you I am a private person but I wanted to find some online support. The people here have been extremely kind and helpful and there is a lot of good information on here. I am still figuring out how the site works but as another newbie I wanted to say hello and welcome. There is hope and you can do this!

[philo237]

There are lots of people here who have been exactly where you are. And there is a lot of really good advice and support here. Poke around a bit and make yourself welcome.

[Optimistica]

Thank you Brooke. It is nice to know someone out there can relate. If you have any quick suggestions fro working my way around this site let me know. I could really use help getting help:)

[Optimistica]

Thank you for the warm reception. I haven't felt all that "warm' for some time.

[Brooke]

I still have a lot to learn about the site but one great suggestion I received was to check out the Diaries and Journals section where you can start your own journal. You can read about other people's experiences which I find very helpful and use your journal to write down your own thoughts and experiences. http://wqd.netwarriors.org/forumdisplay.php?f=5

[mondo]

Hi Optimistica,

Agree with Brooke, if you start a journal perhaps you can give some more details about what you're going through right now (such as the bottom you mentioned). The more details, the more people can respond with help. That diaries section is a little more "private" since only registered members can see it.

Welcome :)

[functional drunk]

Hi Optimistica,

hello and nice to meet you. Make sure you've got plenty of non alcoholic drinks to hand. Drink 'em. Eat food. Good food (not junk - the more wholesome the better, snack on wholemeal crackers and cheese, peanut butter, nuts dried fruit). Exercise is a big help to you to keep calm in the early stage of the quit ( later too) but in the first week your body has some reactions. Get all of the sleep you can. Take it slowly, just aim to get through the day without drinking. Then repeat. There is a lot of help around. There are a lot of great people here who will happily advise you and support you. Don't forget the big drinking triggers.. HALT.. Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. Be on your guard about your normally start drinking time ( the witching hour or 'drink o'clock'). Make sure you are not hungry, Not thirsty. Not tired at drink o'clock.

You've made a great decision. Well done!

[Optimistica]

Will do. Check back later this evening.

[Hilikus]

It's like the old saying; If there's a will, there's a way.

If you really want to quit drinking, you can do this. You have to be strong, I won't lie and say it is easy. It was tough at times when I first quit and going against the majority of people who would be drinking. It does get easier though.

[jm8]

there is always hope. this place helped me tremendously as far as getting direct advice from others in response to my posts amd/or journal entries as well as seeing replies to other peoples' posts. just alot of good info and advice to be found here all the way around. alot of helpful people too.

you might want to check out the rational recovery website and/or book. that's another good tip i picked up here.

make a plan now for sobriety and stick to your guns no matter what.

[Happy]

Thank you for the warm reception. I haven't felt all that "warm' for some time.

Its a nice feeling eh? Welcome! :)

[indigoiis]

If you are here, there is hope! Welcome to wqd.

Indy

[Kay]

Welcome Optimistica!:D

[Lia~~]

Optimistica,
I came here after a night/week/life that you describe. This place works.

I hope you start a diary and hang around. :)

[greengirl32]

Hi, there, even if you are private, this is a good place. You only have to say as much as you want. Welcome!

[Charlie]

Hi Optimistica,

Start a diary in the diaries and journals section. Visit it, and write in it daily. You don't have to be an open book, but as much as we hid out when we were drinking. Taking baby steps towards being more open and honest will help combat this cycle.

As for practical advice eat, drink water and other non-alcoholic beverages, stock up on your vitamins, read, read, read, and rediscover things that you previously enjoyed doing.

Charlie

[Nico]

Welcome optimistica! Lots of good advice from everyone; just keep at it.

[Optimistica]

Welllll, it is day 2. So far so good. Going to bake Christmas cookies with my kids. It is really nice to see them excited to do something so very "normal" with me. to tell the truth, I'm very excited too. Funny how that happens.

[Kay]

Isn't it amazing that something simple like baking cookies can be exciting rather than a drudgery or chore like when you were drinking?Welcome to Day 2.
Wishing you a super, sober day!:D
P.S. have you started your diary yet?