Hi, I'm new

Hi, my name is George. I'm new to this community. I didn't know this sober community existed. I'm glad I found it. I've been trying to get sober for 4 years. I've been able to get as much as 6 months but in the past I have relapsed. I feel stronger this time. More determined. I have 15 days today and I am starting to feel better as far as my general mood. The first few weeks have always been the hardest for me regarding how I feel. Life is all about feelings. And I feel happy today. I feel hopeful. I feel blessed to be here again with another chance. Please pray for me that I will stay sober. And I will pray for you.

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Outstanding George!! Keep coming back my friend. :pray:

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Thanks John!

Hey George: Have you tried going to meetings? I've put together 4 years + by going to 12 Step meetings. It really works for me and doesn't cost hardly anything.

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Hey John, yes I have. I've been going to meetings for 20 years. I was able to get 6 years of sobriety which ended 5 years ago. I am trying to get sober again.

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Hi George - Thoughts lead to emotions; emotions lead to action. It’s all about our thoughts, which we can condition and control. Emotions are hard to control, but they do change. Once I got involved in a 12 step program, actually read the basic textbook and worked the 12 steps - my thoughts changed; I was restored to sanity and lost the desire to use. You can too. Way to go on 15 days! Do work to protect and grow your clean time. We all just have today

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Hello George and welcome to the funny farm. AA or any sober community is great but I couple that with education. For starters read Alcohol Explained by William Porter and listen to Gillian Tietz's podcast Sober Powered, she also has a website of the same name. They help me understand what's going on when my brain says pick up a drink. Best of luck, reach out anytime

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Welcome George! Welcome to Loosid. This community is blissfully beautiful! Congrats on 15 days! Keep coming back.
You are right about our feelings. I totally have to be aware of my feelings moment by moment. Once I lose that site of my feelings old me takes over and boom I’m angry and resentful. Then the anger and resentments become unbearable and uncomfortable for me to sit in so I decide to checkout. A drink starts to look like a solution. Then it becomes a problem. So today I have tools to help me live a joyous and free life.
I’ll pray for my friend. Have a blessed day. One day at a time

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Thanks for the positive message Thomas. I have a sponsor but I haven't called him yet. I last talked to him when I had a few days about a month ago. But I'll be calling him soon. He's guiding me through the steps. I'm currently on step four. Thank you for the positive information. I completely agree that the 12 steps will change my life and how I feel about myself and everybody else. Thank you so much for the welcome!

Hey Charlie, thank you for the welcome. I've never heard of that book or that podcast. I'll take a look at both. I believe that the basic text is the core of the program but it will be nice to read a different book on this topic.

Hi Kevin, you are so right about the feelings. And I agree with what Thomas B said. My thoughts influence how I feel and that influences my actions. It all starts with my thoughts. So like you, I'm always conscious of what I'm thinking. But it's funny because I don't catch it when I'm thinking it. I only catch it when I start feeling angry or annoyed. And then I realize that I'm thinking about something negative and I consciously change my thoughts. I use affirmations to change my thoughts and feelings. I say things like... I'm happy and in a good mood. I have a positive attitude. When I say things like that, I don't know why it works, but my mind set changes right away and the bad feelings go away. But I've learned that I have to catch it early, if I wait too long I almost don't want the bad feelings to go away. It's like I want to sit there and be angry. I've heard a lot of people say the same thing. I have to make sure I catch the feelings early before they get too large to handle.

I'm so glad I found this place. It's like an AA meeting in my phone. :slightly_smiling_face:

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Hello and welcome

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Thank you Robin

That’s awesome George. Sounds like with some practice this will become routine.
Are you also working the AA program?
I find AA very helpful for me. I’ve done all twelve steps and continue to work them through doing a daily reprieve. I also, enjoy sponsoring others.
I love positive affirmations. I’m constantly having those around me and sharing them as much as I can with others. I find that having God in my life and at the forefront of consciousness has helped me stay on the right path.
I’m here for you brother. Reach out if you want to chat.

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Good morning, George! Look at all the responses from people who care! In the beginning, I made 90 meetings in 90 days. I also made 90 phone calls in 90 days to my sponsor. Please reach out to your sponsor and get to know that person! Have a great day!

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Thanks for the welcome Chris B, I love that. Feel, heal and Deal. I’lI remember that. Gratitude is something that I really have to work on. I am going to start a gratitude list. I’ve heard people say this helps when trying to be grateful. Thank you for the welcome Chris.

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Thanks Kevin. I have been going to AA for 20 years. After nine years I managed to get sober for six years. But That ended five years ago. During my six sober years, and in my last period of sobriety, I worked the steps with my sponsor. I have a sponsor now and I will be calling him soon to continue our step work. Thanks for the offer to reach out. I may do that.

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You’re welcome George! I’m glad to hear you’re working the program and have a sponsor! Keep up the good work.

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Thanks Jahn for the encouragement. And the reminder. I will do that. Thanks man. I have been putting it off.

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