I'm having a hard time because I am telling myself I am never ever going to drink alcohol again in my life. It seems such a hard thing to do.
Any advice?
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Don’t!!! It’s a daily reprieve . Your not going to drink alcohol today. You don’t know about tomorrow. Just live it one day at a time!
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Wow Gigi, I very often feel the same way. I am trying to focus on the positives of sobriety. When I feel that way, I remind myself that this morning I woke up and did not have to worry about what I did last night and don’t remember. I also remind myself that my hands weren’t shaking. I remind myself that yesterday I did not hurt my family. Have you determined your triggers and what tools you need to cope?
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I had a tough time with that as well. I was 24 years old when I first got sober, and I couldn’t imagine not drinking and getting high forever. I went to treatment to get help, not to quit and never drink/drug again. I’m 57 now. Forever doesn’t seem like forever anymore lol. I stayed sober from alcohol and weed until I was 51. The ODAAT concept seems a lot more doable at this age. That, and the fact that I smashed any and all ideas that I can control my drinking or weed smoking like a “normal” person. I wish I knew then what I know now. I can’t, but I can share my experiences with younger people in hopes they can avoid the pain and suffering I went thru from my relapse. You will be much happier if you can focus on today, rather than overthink the future 
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Yeah, for me steering away from absolutes helps. Saying to myself that I can’t do anything is a negative that the mind has a hard time processing. I don’t need to is easier.
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Just say I won’t drink today!
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I usually say take it in 5 minute blocks. "I won't leave to get booze until 11:38am". And then start that 5 minutes over. If you can make it 5 minutes, you can make it another 5 minutes. If you can make those two 5 minute stretches, then you can make another one, no matter what your brain and disease are telling you.
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Man, my mid twenties was when I started trying to sober up and stay sober and I know that feeling so well. Idk if it's the mid twenties or simply because I was just starting and hadn't matured to where I am now, yet, but man that period was brutal.
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Hi Gigi, it is hard. Try not to think too far ahead. For those of us who are analytical and tend toward existential angst, well, I think it’s best to focus on today. It doesn’t mean you can’t have a loose commitment for the future, but we only have this moment in time.
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It’s not that easy. Need a strong support system. It’s not an “I “ thing, it’s a “we” thing. Admitting you are powerless over alcohol, that it’s a physical addiction as well as a mental obsession.
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You got this!
Make a list of how alcohol has served you and how it has not.
Then make an informed decision on what you want more of in your life.
Here’s my list:
How it serves me:
Numbs my pain for the moment, Helps me pass out, squashes interim anxiety. Sometimes I experience a lot of laughter.
How it doesn’t serve me:
lack of quality sleep, endless shame and guilt, physical and mental health trashed, endless cycle of misery and missed opportunities, put my intimate relationships at risk, determines how I show up for life and all of its awesomeness (or don’t at all), and I am constantly chasing myself in manic anxious circles. Depression. It burns my f’n life down.
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I get like that too but by doing One Day At A Time I made it to 20 months so far. I can’t go past that because I get really down on myself so 24 hours sometimes 2 hour sometimes 2 minute. 
Who is the author please. Thank you
You don't have to worry about ever drinking again. Can you get hight yesterday? No. Can you get high tomorrow? No. You can only get high now and that's all you. Needto worry about
This kind of thinking I’ve learned is future f**king. Remember forever is just “One day at a time”
It’s human nature for us to struggle with not being able to do something or to limit ourselves. We want to be free and we want to do things our way. I think you should just look at it from a different perspective. “ I could drink anytime I want to because it’s my choice. However I’m just not going to today because I don’t want to.” This lets you know that it’s in your control and you can decide to do whatever you want. Now you don’t feel limited because truthfully you aren’t. If you want a drink right now then nobody can stop you. You just choose not to drink because deep down you know you feel better without it. Why do something if it doesn’t benefit you in the long run? We all feel good/relaxed drinking for a few hours. Then we wake up and regret it 100 percent and wish we didn’t drink because we feel like sh**. I stopped drinking when I asked my self “ what good has drinking done for me?” My answer was “absolutely nothing.”
I just reached one month yesterday, it feels like such an accomplishment but I also have those thoughts of “so I’ll NEVER drink again?!”. I remind myself of why I stopped drinking. I feel so much better mentally and physically the last couple of weeks & just that alone helps me a lot. I don’t want to go back to where I was. when I decided to get sober, I wasn’t drinking every day anymore, but it definitely wasn’t “normal” drinking when I did. I go to AA meetings on zoom every night. I found a young people’s group and it’s cool to know that there are other people around my age going through the same thing. I don’t have a sponsor or anything yet, but just seeing other people being successful with their sobriety and hearing their stories motivates me to follow that path. good luck, you’ve got this!! 30 days is huge!
I almost died. I turned yellow. My eyes turned yellow. My liver was shutting down. I couldn’t swallow. I was puking blood. The doctor’s were saying things like “we’re going to make him as comfortable as possible.”
I remember waking up in my delirium in the hospital detoxing and looking over at my dad crunched up asleep in a horribly uncomfortable hospital chair. He wouldn’t go home until I was cleared.
Somehow I lived, and I told myself I would never drink again after that week. Maybe I got lucky, but I needed a real reason to stop after twelve years of drinking almost a liter of whiskey a day, beers, seltzers, vodka, you name it. I needed a reason to stop.
I hope you can find a why for this how. Let me know if I can help.
I feel ya. It’s a weird thought to have, but like everyone is saying make the commitment that today you won’t drink. I found for myself that if I carry the thought I can’t drink anymore it feels like a death sentence and all most feel like I’m walking around like a dry drunk living in self pity because I can’t drink, but I know what alcohol has done to me and I can count more bad then good it has ever done for me and I don’t want that in my life anymore. You aren’t a Fortune teller. There might be a day that you might turn back to the bottle or whatever your drug of choice is (hope that doesn’t happen for anyone) but you can only be true to yourself in the present moment. Everyone who goes through recovery deals with this you are not alone. Good luck on your journey.
One day at a time! Drink water! And contact people! If you need sober support I am here and will always listen no matter the time of night 
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