If you are in the beginning stages of your life without alcohol, Congratulations!

I too have been in that stage MANY times before.

I was always looking forward to getting that 1st month under my belt again, as a month seemed pretty significant. After cruising along through week 1 and gaining momentum through week 2, what do you know… another failure.

WATCH OUT for WEEK 3!

Why did this keep happening? As I have mentioned previously, I am basically not a doctor, and to add to that, I am also pretty much not a scientist. But I have a theory.

When you start out, there is a heightened focus and determination to succeed. You are ready to prove to yourself and everyone that this time you are quitting for real. You can picture the money saved, the pride and all the activities you will be involved with instead of being drunk.

Your body starts to feel better and your energy levels are rising. You’re in week 2 and begin to feel like you have it all under control this go round. This is easy, barely any cravings as you are half way to that 1st month milestone.

Then sometime around the 3rd week, that New Year’s Resolution-type of motivation starts to fade and the monotony of life settles in. Now you’re bored and enough time hasn’t gone by to have changed old habits.

Even without the physical cravings, your alcoholic mind creeps back in for the sequel.

Randomly and casually I would decide to drink. It wouldn’t be a big deal because I didn’t need it or even really want it.

Just going to have some drinks to see what all the fuss was about as it had been so long I could hardly recall. It would also be good to show myself how amazingly cured I am and how I can easily drink 1 time then go back to not drinking. Even if I do it every month, 1 day of drinking per month? That’s only 12 days a year.

I did it, I drank 1 day then didn’t drink the next. Didn’t even really enjoy it, wrote myself a note while I was drunk saying it’s not worth it. I knew I could do it. With that type of power, no reason I can’t just drink 1 day a week. That’s only 4 days a month.

I had to get the bigger bottle because they were out of what I wanted. It’s fine, I’ll either dump some out or save the rest for next week. I’m so under control, like a normal non-addict casual drinker. Yay me!

Had a bit too much last night so just a “hair of the dog” day. Even if I drink every weekend that’s only 2 days a week. Compared to 7, that’s really good. I’m so awesome for getting my drinking under control.

The weekend is really like 3 days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If I drink the full weekend, that’s just 3 days a week. That’s less than half of what I was doing. I would be cutting my dinking by more than half. Crushing it.

It’s so cool how I can just drink on weekends and special occasions. Kind of want to have a drink in between now… it was almost kind of stressful at work. I told myself I wouldn’t, but what is 1 week with an extra day of drinking going to do? At the end of the month I still have more sober than drunk days.

Maybe I’ll alternate, something like drink for 1 month then not the next or a bi-weekly type of thing.

Ok, so it’s been everyday for a couple months now, but I’ve really cut back on how many I drink per day. Most days. For the most part. Fuck.

If this isn’t your first attempt to quit, you already know that one drink is too many and a thousand is never enough.

For some alcoholic reason, we ignore past experiences and wholeheartedly convince ourselves that THIS time it will be different.

We think we are wiser and have more self-control, when in fact we are dumber and less in control.

After all, how hard-headed does one have to be to keep falling for the same set-up time after time?

I believe in your ability to stop drinking. I do NOT believe in your ability to become a casual, moderate or light drinker for an extended period of time. We are not wired for moderation. Eventually, you end up right back where you started.

Aside from the physical addiction, alcohol is also part of your daily routine. It is a habit formed over the duration of your time drinking, and old habits die hard.

When the excitement of a new adventure starts to fade and things level closer to normal everyday life, you may find yourself nonchalantly thinking about grabbing a drink.

In these moments it is imperative that you remember the reasons you stopped and how your progress will begin to unravel with just 1 drink. You are creating new habits that don’t include fermented failures that lead to regrets.

Stay proud, not disappointed.

Think of your progress and how it will feel to side step another attack on your way to completing your first of many full months sober.

If you slip up, correct the course and continue ahead. Keep trying and you will get there.

Nobody Likes a Drunk. Don’t be that person.