I based my IWNDWYT in lifting and eating healthier, and for a few months it worked, but around a month ago some things happened that made it impossible… And I’ve been failing since. Not drinking was just part of the package, so it’s completely tied with those things that I still can’t do, but I don’t know, it feels like it wasn’t that hard to stop and suddenly it is. And it’s not like I’m a horrible person when I drink… But I should do better, be better… I don’t know, maybe I’m just a hypocrite, talking to myself, typing to the void of the internet while having a beer and thinking that I shouldn’t… but I whish I didn’t like drinking and wasn’t doing it right now…
One of the best tool I got from therapy was learning HALT. Hungry Angry Lonely Tired. These are all triggers and being in one or more of these states is often at the root of wanting to drink. For me, StopDrinking was a good way to head off the Lonely part of that lovely barber shop quartet. Just having the knowledge that HALT is a thing and stopping for a little introspection to see if I was under any of those states went a long way to helping me in the first year of my sobriety.
Hope this helps. You can do this. IWNDWYT.
Wow, first time I hear about that but I can see how those things can trigger it, and TBH today I was all four. I’m gonna keep an eye at it for a few days, and then I’ll try again even if I can’t do anything about the other things going on. Maybe this time, when I’m sober again, I’ll find the way once more. Thanks!
Will power is an expendable resource. It’s hard enough to give up one thing, let alone everything.
If you quit once, you can do it again. I found when I first quit it was really helpful to do the daily check in and post about whatever I was thinking. It’s not the void of the internet if there are people listening: it’s a community.
and I meant to say, saying sober a few months is a great success! If you are driving from New York to LA and get a flat tire in Chicago, you don’t start back at the beginning. You fix the flat and continue on your journey!
Maybe try one commitment at a time and then add one in every few weeks? Stopping drinking WILL make lifting and eating healthier easier, but it will start making you healthier NOW. :)
I’ve read several quit lit books and the one that spoke to me the most was This Naked Mind. It helped a lot to understand what alcohol does to the chemicals in your brain and help break that cycle.
I can second that book. First book I’ve read where I started to cry as it hit home so hard.
I just ordered it. Not a big fan of this kind of book TBH but I’ll give it a go, and if it helps even a bit it’ll be worth it.
Take care. You’ve quit before, so you can do it again. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Exercising is a good stress reliever as well and over time you will get stronger and healthier.IWNDWYT.
