Hello, one week sober, first post

[Honest Injun]

Hello. This is my first post. I had my last drink May 26th, 2008. It's been a hard difficult week. I haven't gone this long sober in years. A friend told me about this site last Thursday. I cannot begin to say what an immense help it has been reading everybody's comments. I had a hard frustrating time not being able to register the past couple of days. Well, anyway, I am here. I am humbled to be in such amazing company. I have found so much inspiration and strength here. I have quit alcohol for a week now. When will this get less hard? When will my Addictive Voice start to quiet down? When will the end of the day anxiety attacks lessen? To be honest, today was a bit better.

[Jackalope]

Hey Honest, Welcome! Good move starting a journal.

Regarding the questions: When will this get less hard? When will my Addictive Voice start to quiet down? When will the end of the day anxiety attacks lessen? -- I think the answers depend a lot on you. On how much you were drinking before and on how you're taking care of yourself now. Whether you are getting enough water and fluids and if you're participating in things that are calming or things that are stressful, etc. So please tell us more and you will be able to get more feedback.

You mention that today was a bit easier and that's great. If I'm counting correctly, you will have one week tomorrow, right? The first week is often the hardest for anyone so the worst may be behind you now. Congratulations!

[Honest Injun]

Thanks. I hope the worst is behind me. The last couple of months when I was trying desperately trying to drink "moderately" I was drinking at least a full bottle of wine per day during the week and on the weekend meaning Friday, Saturday, Sunday more. At least 2 full bottles on Sunday. My last treacherous hangover was just a couple months ago. I used to be heavily addicted to marijuana, cigarettes, and alcohol for several years. I quit cigarettes almost six years ago. Marijuana pretty much about the same time as the cigarettes with a few exceptions. I never want to smoke that again because for me that ALWAYS triggered a wild desire for me to drink. Today I was able to get in a workout and maybe that helped.

[crazy]

Hi there,
Nice to meet you...each day you get under your belt will help you feel stronger. Great job on one week already!! Have you found any non alcoholic drinks you can substitute/look forward to? Many of us also have found ice cream or peanut butter to help with cravings. I look forward to my ice cream almost every night!

Tell us more about you...there are some great people here, and so much advice to be had. I'm glad you found the site.

[Rich]

I always tell everyone it takes a month to feel normal. It does get better everyday though

[shelle]

Hi! And gratz on a week. This site is great! Tomorrow will be 3 weeks for me and every day it just gets better and better. I would say I only think about it once or twice a week now. But its not like it was at first. The first week or so walking down the aisle where the beer is in the grocery store was kinda hard so I'd avoid it all together. Now its no biggie I just walked right past it (sometimes don't even notice it at all) I do still think about it but I don't get that antsy feeling I did when I first quit. Now it just pops up in my head at the weirdest times and I just say to myself I've gone this far and I'm feeling better saving tons of money its just not worth it. I always try and just think about how miserable I was when I finally decided to quit and how much self hate I had. I don't ever want to feel that way again and the temporary numbness alcohol brings isn't worth it.
I've babbled long enough. Welcome again!!! Look forward to hearing more from you

[Vietvet]

Hey Honest Injun, welcome to WQD, and i think you'll find this place a real help. I know I had been drinking for about thirty-five years, and nothing ever helped me to stop drinking until I found this place. The first week is the worst, at least it was for me. The second and third can be tricky too, and you really have to watch out for the old "AV", or addictive voice as they call it around here. That voice can come right out of nowhere, making you want to drink when you know you shouldn't. You have to be ready for it, and talk it down. You have to remind yourself,"this is only temporary, and it will go away." Then just take it day by day. I've only been sober a relatively short time compared to the real "vets" around here, but I've gotten to the point where, I don't care to drink any more. If you quit smoking, I know you can quit drinking. I quit smoking about three weeks after the booze, and I think the smoking was even more difficult in some ways...Vitamins and good nutrition helped me a lot too, especially the "B" complex vitamins. I'd suggest you take one of those every day. Milk Thistle is great for restoring an overworked liver..Keep plenty of non-alcohol drinks around. For me, apple juice works great, but you might prefer something else. As long as it's not booze, it's all good.

Anyway, welcome aboard. I think you'll find plenty of support and strong shoulders to lean on around here. I know I did..

[Lil]

Hi! I first want to say that it is awesome you have been sober for a week! I have been sober 29 days. Tomorrow is my 30 days!! The first week was hard for me too. I had a ton of anxiety and irritable!!! I would drink wine during the week after work and more on the weekends. Physically I feel better. I sleep really well! Almost too much it seems like. I have also been attending a couple AA meetings each week. I do not talk but I listen and it is very helpful for me. I am looking forward to hearing more and want you to know that this site has helped me more than ANYTHING! You can come to it any hour, any minute of the day. Good luck and bless you!!:D

[Honest Injun]

Thank you so much guys for your super welcome and advice. :D I have started my own diary thread in the diary section.

[pathtohealth]

Welcome Honest!!

[jingo74]

Injun: I'm also in my first week. I have six days sober. I had 72 days last year, and I've been reminding myself how much better I felt then. I had motivation, cared about my appearance, and didn't have dry mouth and a pounding headache as my first experiences when I awoke. I'm starting to remember how good that felt.

Hang in there!!

[Rich]

Way to go Jingo. I am not lieing when I say, I love the sober life