Anyone here observe Sober October?  I guess I have technically observed it by watching others abstain from booze in October. I then stood by and watched them dry out in January. 🤣

 

I read Allen Carr’s Easyway to stop Drinking.  It didn’t work like the Smoking one did.  That book plus the forum saved me. 
 

Here’s the rub: 

 

When I quit smoking- I did what we preach.  I took it off the table.  It was not an option. Period.  NOPE. Not One itty bitty teensy weensy Puff EVER!!! 
 

I knew when I stubbed out that last nasty butt- that was it.  No more. Ever.  Because I knew- from my reading & research- that the quieted neural pathways would be awakened. 

 

Why the hell isn’t this working for alcohol???

Answer: I have not accepted the truth.   I have to face alcohol like I did nicotine.  It has to be off the table & not an option ever again.  That’s the hard part. Never again.  I have a problem digesting that- never a glass of red with a perfect steak?   Or a neat bourbon by the fire?  Ever?  Is the addiction the same? 
 

I’ll get there.  For now,  it is sober October- even with my birthday & Halloween. 
 

Cheers! 🤜🤛

 

L4L

 

 

I've not heard of sober October and am surprised it would be in October seeing as there's October fest and Halloween plus your birthday,  that's a lot of triggers in your first month quit but hey if anyone can do it it's you! 

Did you not feel that way when you pledged N.O.P.E. with smoking? Life will never be the same 😢 Yet, I expect now you are perfectly happy with not having to light up when ever there might be a trigger to do so. The same would likely be true with alcohol I expect. Tough road to get there but you WOULD get there if you wanted it badly enough!

 

Quitting any addictive substance always has to be an individual decision. There are certain things in my life that I know aren't doing me any good health wise but I refuse to give up everything and just be miserable. These are all things only we can judge for ourselves. I hope you do what ever makes you the happiest in the long run!

 

We can all learn to live without things we think we have to have but with me, it's not worth living if you're without everything that gives you pleasure & comfort. We all have to make those decisions for ourselves. I think it's a balancing act for all of us.

20 years sober and 3 1/2 years smoke free here. It is 100% doable.

G’day 

In OZ we have Dry July. It’s firstly to raise money for the cancer council. The secound is a good time to reset your relationship with alcohol. You not giving up forever so it’s only a month. But in that month you get to not drink in those setting that you normally would. 
This year was particularly big as there were a few folk that drank their way through the COVID lockdowns. 
I did the dry july this year and it was a reset for me. Now that first beer was pretty good but I had only the one and that wasn’t for a few days into August. 
So it was a reset for me and I’ve certainly lost that attitude of bugger it that beer was good I’d better have 6. Creeps up on you. 
 

 

@Cbdave Exactly.  Reset.  I would like to have a glass of wine with dinner (preferably a medium rare steak) on occasion. Not every night and not the whole dang bottle!