Just One Victory - Coping With Substance Abuse Problems

[Jamas]

Thank you very much, RG and Splitimage.

My physiatrist prescribed me Motrin, so I'm hoping that will help. I still do need the narcotic pain medicine too, but hopefully I won't need it long-term for my pain.

I'm considering taking a medical leave of absence next semester...

[*X*]

Today I drank some juice in the garden with music. Even a few weeks ago I would have been adding some of the vodka i've got upstairs. Small victory for today.

[Jamas]

Hey, congratulations *X*! Good for you! Every day sober is a victory.

[childofchaos831]

Congrats *X*! I've got a year and a month and a few days sober now!

~coffee

[Spidey]

Have some disco dancing cows, folks

I really need to take a second (or eight hundreth look) at my alcohol consumption

[Jamas]

Thank you for the dancing cows, Gaball Screen! And good for you, for taking another look at alcohol consumption. You know -- it's never too late. Sometimes, the 800th time is the charm. I met one person in recovery who said, "No matter how many times I go around the wheel of relapse and recovery, if I can be sober by the time my life is over, I will have won." Sometimes, just thinking critically and looking objectively at one's situation is all that is needed.

Congratulations to you, coffee on your year and a month and a few days sober! Good for you!!!

All the best to everyone,

Jamas

[childofchaos831]

Thanks Jamas!!!

[StarChild]

God willing, I will be celebrating 18 months clean and sober in about a month. This is by far the longest sobriety I've had. I really have to thank the 12 Step programs and my counselors, but probably most of all my Higher Power (who I lovingly call HP). And of course my awesome parents

I don't have any time off SI right now, but at least I am drug and alcohol free.

[childofchaos831]

Congratz loki! God willing, I will have 18 mos on the 27th!!! We are litter mates! Keep it going!

Coffee

[StarChild]

Congrats Coffee! That is fantastic 18 months is big!

My friend M gave me a peace lily for my 1 year celebration. His name is Herbert the Second. Maybe I'll get another plant for my 18 months...even if M doesn't give me one, I might buy one myself. I can't have pets in my new place, so plants will have to suffice. Plus, Herbert needs company!

I just think it would be cool to kind of build a recovery garden. A plant for every year. And that way, when I inevitably forget to water one and it dies, maybe the others will survive.

[Jamas]

Congratulations to both of you on your 18 months!

[Spidey]

Congrats on 18 months!

[Jamas]

Took some muscle relaxer medicine last night, because I was having lower-body spasms... today I feel like $%&*. And I got into a fight with my sweetie because I was feeling so crappy, which lasted for several hours. Now I feel more like @#$%.

[Spidey]

Jamas, do you think it was because of the meds, or the just feeling crappy?

[Jamas]

Probably both...

Thanks, GS

[Jamas]

My Next Drink
Words & Music by Bob Franke
© 2009 Robert J. Franke

Come give your kind attention, and while I can clearly think,
I'll sing a little song for you, I call it “My Next Drink.”

Not today, dear God, not today. 

A handle of Glenlivet, or a magnum of champagne,
The leavings from three bottles that my wife poured down the drain,
Not today, dear God, not today.

The rush of sweet oblivion goes running down my tongue,
Forever, for a moment, I am witty, proud and young,
Not today, dear God, not today.

Then stupid, old and shameful, I attempt another day,
My children and my wife all do their best to stay away,
Not today, dear God, not today.

The ones I once loved dearly all recoiling from my breath,
The nightmares, and the shaking, on my slow return to death,
Not today, dear God, not today.

I made myself a promise when the sun came up today,
The gift of my sobriety, I will not throw away,
Not today, dear God, not today.

Not today, dear God, not today.

© 2009 Robert J. Franke

[Jamas]

Sorry for the *REL*... I drank & got stupid last night, then came across this song & it seemed fitting. My husband made a margarita, drank about 1/4 of it, then offered it to me and said I could either drink it or throw it away... So I drank it, but I had already had some pain medicine for my back... Stupid of me... And I got kind of crabby and groused at my husband because he didn't want to talk about the bills that night. I feel bad about it now...

[Jamas]

My husband's started drinking again and sleeping through his days, too doped up on pain medication to even walk the dog. He's discovered the giant jugs of premixed margarita from Costco and started drinking them straight, no ice or salt or anything. What's worse for me is the half-empty cups left around the house -- it's a temptation to just feel bad about my situation and to want to get drunk too. I've told him it's really hard for me to be around alcohol, but he's never cared about that.

Ah, well... I can't change him, I can't control him, so I shouldn't care. (<-- how I feel)

[Spidey]

Do you or DH attend any kind of support meetings to help abstain from alcohol, like SMART Recovery, LifeRing, Save Our Sobriety or AA? All the groups I mentioned most likely have online meetings if you are not comfortable with face-to-face interaction right now...

[Jamas]

Thanks, GS. I've actually stayed away from alcohol since that last post, so the abstinence is going OK. Finished off my last muscle relaxer pill, too, so... one challenge at a time.

Thank you for your support,

Jamas