One month (roughly)

Still sober, have not touched a drop.

I have been around people drinking a handfull of times, including last night and not really even getting the cravings any more. Sure I still feel like a beer a times, but I know I cant have one and it seems easy to control now.

I would like to be the type of person that could just have one drink (or even a couple once or twice a week) but I still know I am not that type of person and I'll be stuffed if I am going to try and see if I can be. I think alcohol just has to become something that will stay in my past.

Even though it is early days (relatively speaking) life is good, I enjoy doing all the things I used to do now, but I just dont drink whilst doing it. Well, the time spent at any club or pub has been signifigantly reduced, but hey, you got to expect that when you stop drinking. I dont gamble as a rule so even the poker machines hold little interest for me. I have done well at not replacing one vice for another so I'll keep it that way;)

I have however maintained my nicotine addiction through this (Doctors orders, believe it or not) and have enjoyed smoking quite a bit more than I used too. It has been nice sitting back of an evening with my packet of Marlboro (which I switched to after week 1 for some reason) and a selection of nice tobaccos for my pipe (yes, I smoke a pipe at times. And the tobaccos are Borkum riff Vanilla & Cherry cavandash. Amphora Full Aroma along with the rather expensive Davidhoff Blue Mixture incase you are curious). This however is another part of my own Self Destruction and another thing I will be stopping shortly. May as well post about that one here too. The only reason I wont stop it straight away is that I am enjoying being mentally balanced again from where the booze was destroying it and dont want to subject my mind and body to another withdrawal phase in such a short period of time.

The longer I have been sober, the more I realise that it was the grog aggravating the stress related anxiety more than anything else. We all get stressed and we all deal with it in different ways. (No points for guessing how I used to deal with it). Sure, there are still quite a few times where I would rather bury my head in the sand or have a drink, but have found that the best way to deal with any problems is to tackle them head on. It is the quickest way to get rid of them. Talk to people about them if need be (even though I only seen a psych twice so far, it definately helped). It doesnt have to be a pshych, it can be a good freind, a counsellor or even the people that are causing the stress. Either way, dealing with it rather than using any form of escapism is the best method I have found so far. And you get a feeling of accomplishment at the end of it, which a great reward in its self.

I think I will have a follow up with my psych for a bit of closure, hopefully his thoughts will be the same as mine and see no further counselling due for alcohol and anxiety. But please, do not take my experience as a guide for yourself. Every body has different personalities and needs and therefore need different levels of support and care through tough times. Talk to someone about your problems for as long as you (or them) think you need too.

If you feel you have no one to talk to or would even like to chat just out of curiosity feel free to contact me any time, the comments here are moderated by me, so you can send your question and email address through the comments and I wont publish it unless you want me too. Naturally I will delete any personal details. (not sure if I have email enabled here at the moment). Believe it or not although not a professional in any counselling field I have helped quite a few people kick habits in my time and counselled a lot of freinds through difficult break ups with their partners. Strangers on the internet are no exception to this rule. Just remember I am not a professional, all I can share is my advice based on experience from various addictions, moods, divorce along with lessons learnt from observing how others have coped with their own troubles in difficult times.

I may not be posting here as frequently about my alcoholism, but rest assured I still check it daily to see if there are any comments to publish. Looking forward, I think my future posts will be more about giving up smoking and that nasty thought of getting fit again like I have promised myself so many times I would do;) I thought once I kicked the booze I would be that bored I would distract myself by getting fit. Sneaky me, chose movies and work instead.

Take care of yourselves for me,

Mr Addictive