Mental Illness and Alcohol

Some people can't control their drinking; we call them (or us, I'm one) addicts. Some people can control their drinking; we call them normies. Well, we addicts call them normies

I don't think there is a secret to self-control. It's just that some people don't suffer from the illness of addiction, and those people find it easy to go condescending on those who do. "Of course you can stop after two drinks" -- well, some of us can't stop once they started. It is way easier for me not to pick up at all than to have one and not continue. That's my self-control.

Day 2 completely sober! Stayed in the hospital for the past couple days to detox and today is my first full day home. I feel great besides the lingering headache. But my mind and thought process seems to have boosted full tilt since detoxing. My willpower is stronger then ever and I know I will abstain from alcohol for the long run. I have a great team behind me being my psychologist, addictions counselor and lovely wife who have supported me all along this journey. The things I want to do are now set in stone and I feel I can actually accomplish them now that alcohol isn't controlling me.
Luckily detoxing for me wasn't so bad. Besides feeling like crap and all that I had no DT's or seizures at all. Wasn't pleasant but at the same time wasn't horrible as I knew this would be one of my greatest accomplishments ever.
And holy....my hands aren't shaky anymore!

Congratulations colburt91! Mark this post somewhere and go back to it if you get a craving. Look at your shake-free hands. Call people instead of picking a drink. Call your counselor, psychologist, wife, whoever else is available and talk to them instead of drinking. If you decide to join AA, you'll find many people willing to help you along the way and exchange numbers with you.

You can do this. Will you post updates every now and then?

Oh for sure I will be posting updates. Actually this afternoon I started to have full body shakes and tremors along with anxiety to the max. I immediately looked it up and it was a sign of possible DT's so I did as the doctor told me and popped a clonezapam. It seized the tremors and anxiety and it has yet to return but if it does I will have to make another visit to the hospital.
But thinking positive! there will be bumps along the way bump their small compared to what I did the past few days.

One week sober and loving it. Also meet with my addictions counselor and we still haven't quite finished my assessment due to my lengthy substance abuse since my teen years. All in all so far only a few times I craved it but the cravings subsided pretty fast.

Still sober and cravings are so minimal I barely notice them. Joining a mma club here as I always wanted to and know that I am sober I can focus on getting back in shape and training.

Oh man, I am SO jealous. I would absolutely love to join a MMA club -- wrecked my knee six years ago though. PERHAPS I could consider boxing but that's all. That's a fantastic reward to yourself for being sober. I noticed that my lifting has improved a lot since I quit drinking -- I just suddenly discovered I have much more strength and endurance. It really showed me how much evil I was doing to my body.

Big hugs from a 10-month-clean Oliveira (whose record previously used to be 11 days).

still doing extremely well. Been seeing an addictions counselor and now deciding to move in the spring and start fresh in a new city I think. Boxing is fun, used to box years ago and loved it.

Sober still! no cravings this week at all

Over 50 days and still sober. Haven't done any self help groups and stopped therapy with my addictions counselor and feel great. Been having more "smaller" cravings like a tv ad for beer would come on and I'd think of the taste but to even my surprise my willpower is very strong and overcomes these small cravings really quick.