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56 Days Sober (8 Weeks) So why did I want to get drunk tonight?

Posted by Sober Tony on April 11, 2017 10 Comments

8 weeks of sobriety, but today I was ripe for a relapse.

It started with not shaving, since I’ve been sober the simple act of shaving has been the cornerstone of my morning routine. It was my first intentional daily habit when I quit drinking, something to give structure and positive routine. This morning I just didn’t feel like it.

After that, I was watching my youngest 3 kids back at the old house. I suck at childcare and that was always an occasion for drinking before recovery. Lots of bad memories and guilt – I was always neglectful and sometimes a violent drunk.

The morning was too busy. Too much pressure, I was feeling trapped.

On top of that, I was cleaning out my clothes from the x-wife’s closet, symbolic that I’m not coming back. A visual reminder that I failed in my marriage.

But really, it began last night when I had some long distance drama with my girlfriend back in Haiti. Nothing was resolved, so today she was ignoring me until after dinner, then only texting to express how she was still upset.

Or maybe it was earlier yesterday afternoon, during my counseling session when I accepted that this divorce is really going to happen.

Wait, wait, maybe it was the stress of thinking ahead to Sunday, I’ll be visiting my old church to see my son’s baptism. That’s been on my mind a lot…

That’s all total bullshit.

It may have been the perfect storm of triggers, but the real problem came when I listened to the lying whispers of my addiciton. My recovery was in danger because of my internal struggle, not because life got too heavy. The stress made me weak, but it was my choice to open the door.

You’re worthless. Do everyone a favor and drink yourself to death.

There’s a reason all these people can’t love you – it’s you stupid.

Didn’t you used to smack that baby? Why are you not in jail?

If you lose the girlfriend, you’re totally alone. Except for alcohol, you can count on that to feel better.

You can’t handle the stress because you’re weak. You’re never going to stay sober, just give it up now.

Here’s the smoking gun.

Ask me, “Why didn’t you call your sponsor? Why not find a meeting?”

The reason is simple – I didn’t want them to talk me out of drinking. Drunk Tony was taking control and he wanted a damn bottle of wine. The gravity of addiction had me spinning closer with every minute. I started to make a plan, even decided what I would buy.

There was a struggle, sober brain saw the problem and reached out on Twitter with some vague calls for help.

For me, drinking was an act of self-hatred. Irrational, destructive, and very without mercy.

— Sober Tony (@sobertony) April 11, 2017

Let’s try coping strategies

  • 60 minutes of running & walking
  • Remember smart things from AA like, “It’s a lot of work to get drunk. Just ride the craving wave it’s going to pass.”
  • List all the reasons why I didn’t want to drink
  • Forget ODAAT – let’s just keep sober for the next hour

But the girlfriend drama kept coming. More long confusing arguments by text message, in a language that still trips me up. I’m really wrapped up in this girl, not always in a healthy way. Addiction loved every minute of the drama and I was sliding right into the trap.

Then I got desperate

What if I just fly back to Haiti in the morning? That will resolve the relationship issue. There’s nothing keeping me here and I can escape all these old triggers. I can stay sober tonight just getting myself packed.

I told her my plan and that ended the original argument (I still don’t know what about). We started a more grown-up conversation about my unfinished check list. Soon I was wondering through Walmart, trying to get my luggage in order for a 8AM flight.

Our messaging continued, she asked me to wait and finish my visit here the right way. Go to the baptism, keep the lawyer appointment, go back to the doctor for my results, and give the kids a proper goodbye.

I didn’t buy the ticket.

Two hours later, the travel plans were back on hold, and my brain returned to the question of alcohol. I opened Twitter again for one last dose of encouragement.

@yujachingu @sobertony @louise_milner Tony: make it till tomorrow and then fight another day. You'll likely be on a roller coaster for awhile.Body is making a lot of adjustments!

— HD (@hdbigjourney) April 11, 2017

That was a little after 9 PM and the cravings were almost gone, “Shit, what’s the point of drinking now. I’ll be asleep in a few hours.”

No alcohol was purchased. No alcohol was drank.

So, I’m going to bed sober. It was probably my worst day yet, but I survived and hope I learned a few things.

Here’s my action plan for tomorrow:

  1. No drama. No visits with the kids. No pressure. Just self-care
  2. AA meeting in the morning, speak up about the desire to drink
  3. Phone debrief with my sponsor
  4. Jogging
  5. Rethink the next few visits – everything is negotable except sobriety.
  6. Catching up on my reading
  7. Stay sober for one more day

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Filed Under: Featured, Getting Sober

About Sober Tony

Tony is the founder and editor of Daily Recovery Club. He is a widely respected authority (in his own mind).

This blog is not professional or medical advice, rather a support community for others suffering from alcoholism. We are all experts on failure, starting over, and trying to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Find him on Twitter @soberTony

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hearon (HD) says

    April 12, 2017 at 6:58 am

    I’ve had to tell myself this often: getting drunk will NOT help with these problems. In fact, tomorrow’s hangover will make them worse. Trite, but true.

    Reply
  2. Susanne Blumer says

    April 12, 2017 at 8:17 am

    So glad you made it through yesterday. Your plans for today are good. Drinking would only make everything more unmanageable. Hang in there! I’m rooting for you!

    Reply
    • Sober Tony says

      April 13, 2017 at 6:41 pm

      Thanks so much. I’m glad my Twitter friends were there to back me up!

      Reply
  3. mikeykjr says

    April 12, 2017 at 11:50 am

    Many people don’t realize a person is on the verge of picking up the drink way before the glass/bottle even touches his/her lips. Instead we reached out for help. You didn’t ACT on it – that is the point. I will be the first one to say I’m lazy. There are days I go to work (I’m a CNA – nursing assistant) without shaving but by the time I get there I’m in the men’s locker room with a cheap razor and shaving cream carefully trying not to cut myself. The point being, don’t beat yourself up about it. Just don’t make it a habit, then you get yourself in trouble. Are you calling your Sponsor and going to meetings on a regular basis? If so, next time don’t think, just do. Make the call and go to a meeting period! When we think gives our addiction time to convince us “everything is okay” when we know it’s not. The most important thing is to use your resources, don’t do it alone. Good plan for the next day ! Glad to see you sober another day!

    Reply
    • Sober Tony says

      April 13, 2017 at 6:42 pm

      Thanks for the encouragement. I’m moving on, but it was frightening. I don’t feel like I’m every going to move past the beautiful truth of step 1-3.

      Reply
  4. Untipsyteacher says

    April 12, 2017 at 7:37 pm

    Hi Tony,
    I am so glad you made it!
    There is NO way I want to go back to the drunk Wendy.
    She was not fun or pretty anymore!
    xo
    Wendy

    Reply
    • Sober Tony says

      April 13, 2017 at 6:40 pm

      I love it –

      I learned a lot from the experience. So much of my recovery has been easy but that was hard. I’m learning to scale back and just do the next right thing.

      Reply
  5. Tate Gunning says

    April 16, 2017 at 1:14 pm

    Wow, I needed this today; real life recovery, thank you! All the right measures where taken, hats off for fighting through a struggle – not easy, very motivating – that’s something to be proud of!

    Reply
    • Sober Tony says

      April 16, 2017 at 1:32 pm

      Thank you. It was the hardest few hours I’ve had so far. Must have been something outside me pulling me through b/c I was feeling very lost. But that’s the promise, we fight for recovery and trust for the higher power to make it work.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Lessons from my third almost-relapse – Sober Tony says:
    April 30, 2017 at 1:52 pm

    […] At 8 weeks sober – I really wanted to drink […]

    Reply

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