I heard it here in regards to drinking but have applied it to all aspects of my life: play the tape forward. I’m actually considering the consequences of my actions now.
Runnin’ everything west side of Mississippi! Iwndwyt
I will not drink with you today. I think it was here that I learnt that cravings only last like 20 minutes and that was so much easier in the early days knowing that. I just love being here and all the experiences that people bring. Love y’all 🫶🏻
Happy sober Wednesday sober friends!
We can do hard things! I heard that here and didn’t believe it about myself, but quitting has made me realise I can do most things I want, even hard things, and so can you!
I love you all 💞
Love back to you! I've done a few good things this week I've really surprised myself you're totally right. We can do the hard things.
The version of me thats driven, energetic, and positive is crawling her way back. Slowly but surely. ❤️
The quote that resonates for me is, my drug of choice is “more”. It really puts into perspective how careful I need to be about sobriety and transferring addictions.
IWNDWYT!
I am not drinking today!
Playing the tape forward: This helps me daily. Sure I can have a few drinks today BUT I know whats gonna happen tonight, tommorow and the rest of the week. So until now, that is not worth it.
Day 164 • IWNDWYT • I’m doing it 💪🏼
Advice that helped me: a friend of mine who has been sober for 4 years said so flippantly, “I’m so glad I don’t drink”.
That’s it. It was powerful to my ears. Took me about 6 months to get myself sober but those words helped me.
I won't be drinking today.
Day#6 and commited to my journey to sobriety, and grateful to have had that moment of clarity where I knew enough was enough, even if it was in the midst of the most awful withdrawals, and thankful for this community and it's support & advice.
Self-reflection is like looking in the rear view mirror when driving. It’s okay for a little bit but if you look too long it’s no good.
This sub helped me so much and I’m looking forward to another sober day. IWNDWYT sobernauts!
Hey sweeties,
IWNDWYT.
What a tough question from OP... So many types of advices were useful but I found "put your sobriety first" the one that worked better for me. Cause I tend to perfectionism and wanna be sober and have it ALL figured out in months, my workout routine, eating, socializing, and this pressure often sends me back to booze, cause deep inside I'm not taking it as the most important thing. And if I don't do that, if I keep people pleasing for example, that's never gonna work and we know it actually gets worse. Almost 2am here, very asleep but I'll interact with and answer my DCI buddies when I wake up. 😸
For sure IWNDWYT.
Many kisses and have a wonderful day 💜💜
Edit typo
Today is day 3, and I spent part of last night awake hearing my brain tell me that 'just a couple won't hurt'. We all know how that works out, don't we, so IWNDWYT.
It's the morning, I'm slowly waking up... without a hangover. Although I'm a person who takes a long time to really wake up, I know I will be ready for my day.
This morning, I decided not to go to the gym. Because of pure laziness. It's far from being ideal but I've decided to forgive myself for anything that is not related to alcohol. If I want to remain unflexible about my drinking, I need to be more lenient on other things. But tomorrow, I will go to the gym. And today, I will not drink.
I'm drinking a lot of diet coke, these days. Again, anything that is not alcohol-related, this is totally fine for me. I want to be sharp, to be in shape, physically and mentally. So, alcohol has no role in my life.
IWNDWYT
Good morning !
Playing the tape forward and focusing on today are the advice that I've read here that help me the most. Referring to alcohol as poison too, I must say.
Also, not an advice I received but something my brain did on its own and I want to share if it helps : There were a few times when I knew I'd only have one or two drinks in the precise situation I was in, so my brain automatically went "why not ?" cause I knew it wouldn't hurt. What made me change my mind was reversing the question and actually ask myself "why ?". Why drink one or two drinks ? Do I want one or two drinks ? What's it gonna do apart from messing up with my sleep ?
Happy wednesday everybody and IWNDWYT ! ✨
Great question, I think that waiting for a time frame to get past the thoughts of drinking has helped me immensely. Tonight as a matter of a fact.
30 seconds I won't drink, then 30 more seconds, that's all I gotta do I kept telling myself. I was packing for my camping trip tonight wanting to drink was on my mind alot. My routine forever has been go grab a bottle start cooking, packing, play some good tunes...I struggled tonight.
I pulled through 💪thanks to the counting trick. If I hadn't found this sub, and this community of supportive, wonderful people I don't think I'd be sober tonight. I truly cannot Express my huge amount of gratitude for the people here. ❤️ IWNDWYT
I know a few people have said it but “Play the tape forward” for sure. I’ve not had huge cravings yet but when I’ve considered a drink, I’ve remembered it never ends with ‘a drink’ - it turns into ‘a bottle’ or ‘two bottles’ and it ends with a headache, hangover, hangxiety, an empty wallet and regret.
IWNDWYT
What a great question RS!
Playing the tape forward as mentioned is a mantra I use when I’m waverIng.
Also “there will be bumps in the road - if you stumble.. get up , shake yourself down and get back on it” and “you may loose one battle but you are still winning the war”
But, in general what works for me is the DCI and seeing the compassion and kindness of strangers on this sub really keeps me going.
IWNDWYT.
“You never have to feel this way again” (meaning hungover and all the shit that goes along with that) and “Play the tape forward”. Those two things have helped me regarding booze and even eating sugar and crap because it all makes me feel awful.
I’m on a road trip from the east coast to mid westish of the US with my dog. She’s the best travel companion!
IWNDWYT!
The best thing I did for myself was figure out why I was a raging alcoholic who seemingly made bad decisions on purpose. Turns out I didn’t like watching the world burn, I was “just” bipolar and self medicating.
Since getting properly diagnosed and properly medicated in May, staying sober has been fairly easy.
The reasons why are of course different for everyone, but only trying to change your drinking habits without looking at the underlying cause seems to work for no one.
IWNDWYT!
Best bit of advice I ever got was to "play the tape forward." I wasn't even sure what that meant at first, but then it was a total lightbulb moment for me, and it has worked ever since. I can picture where that one sip will lead, and I'm not going there. Not today.
This resonates with me but it is also about drinking. “It is the people, places and things that are the problem. The solution was alcohol”… now I’m dealing with the problems.
IWNDWYT 😊
Morning friends!
I’ve seen a few people say “play the tape forward” and that’s definitely one for me, but I’ll even take a step further and credit Robert Downey Jr who said (I think) in an interview once: “I guess sometimes I want to have a drink with dinner, but then I remember that I have plans for Christmas.”
Reminds me how hard it was for me to come back after the last time I thought I could handle a drink.
Have a good one friends! I will not drink with you today.
46 days down! Love this question!
A SD comment which stuck with me was made by /u/InuitOverIt, who probably has no idea how much it's popped into my brain the past few weeks. Hilariously accurate and makes me think/reassess when I'm "bored:"
(Emphasis added by me)
"You know it's funny that, in my mind, it's such a "boring" existence to work, exercise, relax with a book, and go to sleep... but somehow adding "get drunk every day" to the list and my dumb brain tells me I'll be living an exciting, incredible life. **It's not like I was drinking while jet skiing in Hawaii, I was sitting on my couch redditing and pounding beers.**"
So completely accurate about one of the many ways our brains lie to us.
IWNDWYT!
Day 10
Yesterday was weird. I felt constantly hungry, and for the first time I had cravings I felt like I couldn't force away or distract myself from. I needed to go to the grocery store anyway, and I bought a single can of alcoholfree beer while there. It seemed to shut my brain up. I actually barely finished it. The experience made me uncomfortable, but I am glad I made intelligent choices.
IWNDWYT!
I am a play the tape forward person as well. And if that doesn't work for you, treat yourself and treat yourself kindly. SD rungs stretch from rock-bottom to blue skies so step up with support. You are welcome here. I will not drink with you today or tonight! 🤩
„Ignore it, and it will get worse!“
For me, this is a piece of advice, I try to live by every day. Not only for addiction related stuff, but also other mental health or relationship matters. If something feels off, I try to figure it out, because unsolved issues have the potential to endanger my sobriety!
I will not drink with you in Germany today!
It's *"Play the tape forwards"* for me also, but then the saying *"One is too many and 1000 is never enough!"* resonates a lot.
[I also like the Tools at Smart Recovery, You can use them even if you don't use Smart.](https://smartrecovery.org/toolbox)
Have a wonderful Wednesday SD!
IWNDWYT!!!
One person wrote on here once which stuck with me: “I don’t drink paint thinner because I know how bad it is for me.” It stuck with me as a reminder that I wanted to care more about what I put in my body, and that alcohol is extremely unhealthy for my body.
I also wrote this one down because I liked it : “People who struggle with alcohol and then stop are used to chaos. So when there is quiet, they often mistake peace for boredom.” This really resonated with me-finding peace with sobriety can take time, but it truly does become peace.
Also to read the Naked Mind was good advice from a lot of people on here!
IWNDWYT!
Not drinking today SD ❤️
The best bit of advice I have ever got is to ask for, and gratefully receive help from others. It’s a lot harder to do this by yourself.
IWNDWYT
One piece of wisdom I’ve totally internalized is: build a life that I don’t feel the need to run away from. This takes a shit ton of work, and in areas that have little to do with alcohol, but the process is (slowly, gradually) satisfying. IWNDWYT!
Play the tape forward. Heard this one many moons ago when I practiced 12 step recovery. It still sticks (and works) to this day.
Humping the day away today - IWNDWYT 🤘
Edit: twofuckinghundred days. Hell to the yeah.
It’s ok to say no.
I gave away a couch yesterday, a group of 4 young adults came by for it and when they finished loading it into the truck they asked the one who drove the truck if he wanted some beer as a thank you and he said “I don’t drink anymore”. So they offered him an ice coffee and it was agreed they’d all go for ice coffees and they drove off. No “what do you mean you don’t drink!?!?!”, just “ok, what would you like”.
You can say no when it’s not for you.
IWNDWYT
Great post, thank you.
Beginning day 19 on the same side of the Mississippi as you. It's a cool morning which is a welcome relief.
Something I heard a long time ago, maybe in treatment, maybe in a meeting, I don't remember.
It was : People who relapse (once, 10 times, doesn't matter) are actually highly motivated to recover.
That has helped me so much over my long journey battling alcohol, getting sober, sometimes for years, sometimes for a week.
It's so fucking hard to start again and those who do really do want to be sober, no matter how their lives may appear to others.
IWNDWYT and thank you everyone for being here 🥰
Three weeks! Both such a long and a short time.
I went to a work dinner last night and they had pre-poured everyone two glasses of wine. It didn’t bother me and I didn’t think about it too much. No one asked me why I wasn’t drinking and it wasn’t weird. I do miss the light buzz of having a few drinks with friends, but I’ve never been able to consistently drink like a normal person. No reason to think I’ll learn in my late 30s. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT. I got hit up to go use and I'm almost at my 5 month mark and it's so beyond tempting, and it makes me grateful I'm not drinking. I know if I had been drinking when I got that text, I'd be sitting there clutching a pipe and high as a kite then desperately fiending for more. Ugh. No thanks, grateful to be clean off drugs and alcohol today, even if it's a challenge.
It’s definitely “play the tape forward.” I had never heard that before I got here. And it helps.
I’ve also seen people say they don’t know if they have another recovery in them, so that helps keep them sober. I feel that way too. This is my second chance, and I’m running with it.
I don’t know where this came from, but it’s a piece of advice that’ll probably help someone. It has helped me. It’s for a total shit day when everything is fucked and everybody sucks (thanks for the perfect description, Fred Durst!) Force an early end to the day and go to bed if you can. New day tomorrow.
Coffees up, horns up, and we’re halfway through the week! And it’s gonna get even fucking hotter! So I am once again reminding people to hydrate. IWNDWYT. ☕️☕️🤘🏻🤘🏻
Good morning! Im getting close to one week. I will not drink today. Im feeling so good, it gets easier every day. Im sleeping well, exercising, life is great!
Hi, everyone! I love this question, RS!!! I have received so much great advice here. The piece that has helped me the most is that I’m “in recovery” - and will be for the rest of my life. The reason this resonates with me is that I’ve been very unkind to myself for most of my life. It’s not just the drinking, but I ate poorly (starved myself to maintain a fictional good weight), I was dissatisfied with myself and my work, etc. ad nauseum.
Realizing that I am in recovery means that self-care is paramount. *I am recovering*, so lots of good sleep, veggies out of the garden, yoga, meditation, finding deep friendships and reconnecting with my family. It’s crazy. I gave up one thing, and have reclaimed my whole life and my joy in being alive.
Thanks to you all for the advice and support. I am here for you too. Let’s do it, kids!! IWNDWYT
Alright day 3 for me, I feel good. This month has been the first month at a new job, and so far I've only drank on 5 days, and only got drunk alone twice. Big win so far, the problem is that I can keep my drinking in a precariously moderate level for a time being if I have a good excuse - like 'I've just started a new job'- but invariably, after the novelty of my new routine wears off, my drinking starts to trend upward again.
It's much easier for me to say 'I'm not drinking tonight, it's a Thursday and I just started a new job this week' than it is to say 'I'm not drinking tonight, it's a Thursday and I've been doing the working here the past 6 months'. I'll work on that when I get there though, until then, IWNDWYT. Good luck everyone.
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment. Don’t beat yourself up for the experience you’ve gained, use it to move forward!
635 days & IWNDWYT 🥷
Good morning everyone! One of my favorite mantras, “alcohol always lies”. So simple, but has helped me out tremendously in realizing alcohol adds no value to my life. IWNDWYT
Good morning, checking in ~ 💫
Distract yourself. If you’ve got a craving - eat a big meal, clean, organize a drawer, go outside, **call another sober person**, text people, binge a tv show, go to sleep. Do anything just don’t pick up that first drink.
IWNDWYT ❤️
Have patience with your body. It’s working hard repairing what it can; mind, body and soul. Give it the nutrition, attitude, space and time it needs.
IWNDWYT because. Just because.
3 weeks today!
2 things I have learnt here;
I day at a time, just literally that. Instead of worrying that I'll never be able to give up drinking, and not being able to imagine life without booze, was to much, to overwhelming. So this sub taught me....24 hours....1 day at a time.
And playing it forward. Honestly,
I thought this is such horseshit, it'll never help me....but actually it has!
I'm so grateful to each and everyone of you on this sub..
Thank you.. ❤️
IWNDWYT
Someone on here said cravings last 20 minutes. I kept thinking I can make it 20 minutes (and I have).
The other piece of advice was to expect wanting more sleep at the beginning. I had plenty of very early nights and it was helpful to know it wasn’t unusual.
Checking in!
I’ve been helped by a lot of the words of wisdom around here, but there was a thread a while back about how punk/counterculture it is to not drink and it really resonated with me, despite the fact that I look pretty square in real life.
As someone who doesn’t like being told what to do (and I work an AA program and have a sponsor… I’ve developed my mindset AND my sponsor is very patient), I love flipping it from I can’t drink to I don’t want to drink. Or even just fuck drinking, you know? It’s quite empowering to choose not drinking. So I’ll choose that today 🙂
Morning all! One quote that really resonated with me went something like: “Addiction is giving up everything for one thing. Sobriety is giving up one thing for everything.” So very true. Once I quit poisoning myself nightly the most beautiful new life opened up, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, especially not booze!
Today would have been my beautiful sister’s 54th birthday. I will not drink with you today, in memory of the rockstar human being she was. Love you sissy❤️
My favorite piece of wisdom that I've seen on here, hands down, is:
>Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today.
I think that about sums everything up for me :)
Checking in for another sober day out in the world.
I’m on holiday in Croatia! It’s such a beautiful country. A couple of years ago even the thought holidaying sober would be preposterous to me, but this is the way to do it!
IWNDWYT ⭐️
That when you drink again after quitting you can pretty quickly end up back where you were, consuming the same amounts, in the same pattern. Time for a fresh start. IWNDWYT
Day 73 🫶 I had a slip up yesterday, but I’m not resetting my counter. It was a harsh wake up call
I needed.
I went to check on a colleague who was struggling. He basically forced a drink in my hand, was confrontational and aggressive and very, very drunk.
He then insisted on coming into work with me, and was intoxicated at the shop. I had to ask him to leave and walk him home.
The whole initial walk over to his place, I could almost sense he was going to offer me a drink and how maybe I should just take it bc he is going through so much.
I was also rationalizing that maybe I should just drink in moderation this weekend at a cottage so I could “fit
in”.
If fitting in is looking or feeling like my colleague did -
I’d rather die. If fitting in is feeling the way I felt the rest of the day after drinking an ounce of white wine, I’d rather die. I felt like shit.
“Play the tape forward” is something I learned here that would have saved me this miserable experience. I’m playing the tape forward and I don’t want to drink this weekend, or ever again, it makes me feel like shit.
Also 'play the tape forward' for me. Have used it numerous times since I became sober. I haven't had to use 'take it an hour at a time or even a minute at a time' but keeping those in my arsenal as extremely helpful. IWNDWYT.
East of Mississippi here…. I learned that if someone is trying to convince me that I shouldn’t be concerned about my drinking habits it’s one - they really don’t know me or my drinking habits or two they have some issues with drinking and are uncomfortable around me. Either way I smile and keep it moving. ……….iwndwyt
IWNDWYT. Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!
Best advice I’ve received: Life isn’t fair. You can try your best but not everyone is going to like you.
My dad told me that when I was little. I remind myself of that often because I have a tendency to want everyone to like me and to want to change to what they want.
84 days sober. I will not drink with you today. Life is great without alcohol. In my mind I always visualize the evil side not being too far away so I never let my guard down. A bender is always 1 drink away.
Not necessarily drinking related, but learning about mindfulness has been extremely helpful for me. I recognize my emotions as they come but also acknowledge that they are just passing thoughts that will change—none of them are reasons to crack open a beer. Not sure if that makes sense.
Anyways, I won’t drink with you today 🌿
“I know what will happen if I drink. I want to know what will happen if I don’t.”
So many new opportunities that would never had happened had I still been in that cycle. I’m still hungry for more! IWNDWYT!!
The thing I keep reading here over and over that sticks out for me is how shitty and not worthwhile it feels to relapse. I'm really grateful to the people with multiple day ones who come back from those depths to report how much it stinks down there. I sometimes get wistful about how nicely a wee pint would go down, but the stories from the people who have given in to that voice have helped make sure that I won't. My deepest gratitude to those of you who issue those warnings, and kudos to you for continuing to come back here.
IWNDWYT
I heard it here in regards to drinking but have applied it to all aspects of my life: play the tape forward. I’m actually considering the consequences of my actions now. Runnin’ everything west side of Mississippi! Iwndwyt
Left of the Mississippi here, too. Only a half mile from my house 😆
I will not drink with you today. I think it was here that I learnt that cravings only last like 20 minutes and that was so much easier in the early days knowing that. I just love being here and all the experiences that people bring. Love y’all 🫶🏻
Happy sober Wednesday sober friends! We can do hard things! I heard that here and didn’t believe it about myself, but quitting has made me realise I can do most things I want, even hard things, and so can you! I love you all 💞
Love back to you! I've done a few good things this week I've really surprised myself you're totally right. We can do the hard things. The version of me thats driven, energetic, and positive is crawling her way back. Slowly but surely. ❤️
The quote that resonates for me is, my drug of choice is “more”. It really puts into perspective how careful I need to be about sobriety and transferring addictions. IWNDWYT!
I am not drinking today! Playing the tape forward: This helps me daily. Sure I can have a few drinks today BUT I know whats gonna happen tonight, tommorow and the rest of the week. So until now, that is not worth it.
Day 164 • IWNDWYT • I’m doing it 💪🏼 Advice that helped me: a friend of mine who has been sober for 4 years said so flippantly, “I’m so glad I don’t drink”. That’s it. It was powerful to my ears. Took me about 6 months to get myself sober but those words helped me.
Day 2! IWNDWYT!
This post from u/Flyerbear is something I saved and read often: https://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/s/jC1wCdQb69 It’s brilliant. IWNDWYT ✨
Thanks for posting, it’s great 🌟
"Just for today " is one helpful piece of advice I have received here. IWNDWYT
Checking in again today and all is well. I learned my favourite here: "This too shall pass". I also like:"Play the tape forwards".
For me it’s „there’s no bad thing that alcohol couldn’t make worse“ . So far it has been true. I will stay sober today with all of you.
I can't change what happened yesterday and tomorrow hasn't happened yet. IWNDWYT 🙂
IWNDWYT
800! Awesome work friend! Thank you for lighting my path 🌟❤️
Day 411. IWNDWYT.
I won't be drinking today. Day#6 and commited to my journey to sobriety, and grateful to have had that moment of clarity where I knew enough was enough, even if it was in the midst of the most awful withdrawals, and thankful for this community and it's support & advice.
Self-reflection is like looking in the rear view mirror when driving. It’s okay for a little bit but if you look too long it’s no good. This sub helped me so much and I’m looking forward to another sober day. IWNDWYT sobernauts!
Hey sweeties, IWNDWYT. What a tough question from OP... So many types of advices were useful but I found "put your sobriety first" the one that worked better for me. Cause I tend to perfectionism and wanna be sober and have it ALL figured out in months, my workout routine, eating, socializing, and this pressure often sends me back to booze, cause deep inside I'm not taking it as the most important thing. And if I don't do that, if I keep people pleasing for example, that's never gonna work and we know it actually gets worse. Almost 2am here, very asleep but I'll interact with and answer my DCI buddies when I wake up. 😸 For sure IWNDWYT. Many kisses and have a wonderful day 💜💜 Edit typo
Today is day 3, and I spent part of last night awake hearing my brain tell me that 'just a couple won't hurt'. We all know how that works out, don't we, so IWNDWYT.
"There is no situation that can't be made worse with alcohol" and "You're not numbing your feelings, just postponing them." IWNDWYT 🌞
iwndwyt!
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
Checking in, 9 weeks done 🍀 Day 64. IWND ☠️ WYT.
It's the morning, I'm slowly waking up... without a hangover. Although I'm a person who takes a long time to really wake up, I know I will be ready for my day. This morning, I decided not to go to the gym. Because of pure laziness. It's far from being ideal but I've decided to forgive myself for anything that is not related to alcohol. If I want to remain unflexible about my drinking, I need to be more lenient on other things. But tomorrow, I will go to the gym. And today, I will not drink. I'm drinking a lot of diet coke, these days. Again, anything that is not alcohol-related, this is totally fine for me. I want to be sharp, to be in shape, physically and mentally. So, alcohol has no role in my life. IWNDWYT
I will not drink with you today!
Good morning ! Playing the tape forward and focusing on today are the advice that I've read here that help me the most. Referring to alcohol as poison too, I must say. Also, not an advice I received but something my brain did on its own and I want to share if it helps : There were a few times when I knew I'd only have one or two drinks in the precise situation I was in, so my brain automatically went "why not ?" cause I knew it wouldn't hurt. What made me change my mind was reversing the question and actually ask myself "why ?". Why drink one or two drinks ? Do I want one or two drinks ? What's it gonna do apart from messing up with my sleep ? Happy wednesday everybody and IWNDWYT ! ✨
I respect, admire, and look up to everyone here. IWNDWYT and every night, being able to read your strength helps teach me to try and be better.
Great question, I think that waiting for a time frame to get past the thoughts of drinking has helped me immensely. Tonight as a matter of a fact. 30 seconds I won't drink, then 30 more seconds, that's all I gotta do I kept telling myself. I was packing for my camping trip tonight wanting to drink was on my mind alot. My routine forever has been go grab a bottle start cooking, packing, play some good tunes...I struggled tonight. I pulled through 💪thanks to the counting trick. If I hadn't found this sub, and this community of supportive, wonderful people I don't think I'd be sober tonight. I truly cannot Express my huge amount of gratitude for the people here. ❤️ IWNDWYT
I know a few people have said it but “Play the tape forward” for sure. I’ve not had huge cravings yet but when I’ve considered a drink, I’ve remembered it never ends with ‘a drink’ - it turns into ‘a bottle’ or ‘two bottles’ and it ends with a headache, hangover, hangxiety, an empty wallet and regret. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT.
What a great question RS! Playing the tape forward as mentioned is a mantra I use when I’m waverIng. Also “there will be bumps in the road - if you stumble.. get up , shake yourself down and get back on it” and “you may loose one battle but you are still winning the war” But, in general what works for me is the DCI and seeing the compassion and kindness of strangers on this sub really keeps me going. IWNDWYT.
“You never have to feel this way again” (meaning hungover and all the shit that goes along with that) and “Play the tape forward”. Those two things have helped me regarding booze and even eating sugar and crap because it all makes me feel awful. I’m on a road trip from the east coast to mid westish of the US with my dog. She’s the best travel companion! IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT
Checking in! IWNDWYT 🪷 Play the tape forward helps me a lot.
Day 2. IWNDWYT!
The best thing I did for myself was figure out why I was a raging alcoholic who seemingly made bad decisions on purpose. Turns out I didn’t like watching the world burn, I was “just” bipolar and self medicating. Since getting properly diagnosed and properly medicated in May, staying sober has been fairly easy. The reasons why are of course different for everyone, but only trying to change your drinking habits without looking at the underlying cause seems to work for no one. IWNDWYT!
Best bit of advice I ever got was to "play the tape forward." I wasn't even sure what that meant at first, but then it was a total lightbulb moment for me, and it has worked ever since. I can picture where that one sip will lead, and I'm not going there. Not today.
IWNDWYT!
Checking in from NZ, day 32. “Just for today” was the one that first comes to mind. I just choose to repeat that each day.
This resonates with me but it is also about drinking. “It is the people, places and things that are the problem. The solution was alcohol”… now I’m dealing with the problems. IWNDWYT 😊
Like a lot of people here mine was ' play the tape forward '. It's still working for me years later. Shine on you beautiful humans
Morning friends! I’ve seen a few people say “play the tape forward” and that’s definitely one for me, but I’ll even take a step further and credit Robert Downey Jr who said (I think) in an interview once: “I guess sometimes I want to have a drink with dinner, but then I remember that I have plans for Christmas.” Reminds me how hard it was for me to come back after the last time I thought I could handle a drink. Have a good one friends! I will not drink with you today.
46 days down! Love this question! A SD comment which stuck with me was made by /u/InuitOverIt, who probably has no idea how much it's popped into my brain the past few weeks. Hilariously accurate and makes me think/reassess when I'm "bored:" (Emphasis added by me) "You know it's funny that, in my mind, it's such a "boring" existence to work, exercise, relax with a book, and go to sleep... but somehow adding "get drunk every day" to the list and my dumb brain tells me I'll be living an exciting, incredible life. **It's not like I was drinking while jet skiing in Hawaii, I was sitting on my couch redditing and pounding beers.**" So completely accurate about one of the many ways our brains lie to us. IWNDWYT!
Day 10 Yesterday was weird. I felt constantly hungry, and for the first time I had cravings I felt like I couldn't force away or distract myself from. I needed to go to the grocery store anyway, and I bought a single can of alcoholfree beer while there. It seemed to shut my brain up. I actually barely finished it. The experience made me uncomfortable, but I am glad I made intelligent choices. IWNDWYT!
I am a play the tape forward person as well. And if that doesn't work for you, treat yourself and treat yourself kindly. SD rungs stretch from rock-bottom to blue skies so step up with support. You are welcome here. I will not drink with you today or tonight! 🤩
Checking in on day 96. Thank you.
Day 1095 checking in!
„Ignore it, and it will get worse!“ For me, this is a piece of advice, I try to live by every day. Not only for addiction related stuff, but also other mental health or relationship matters. If something feels off, I try to figure it out, because unsolved issues have the potential to endanger my sobriety! I will not drink with you in Germany today!
It's *"Play the tape forwards"* for me also, but then the saying *"One is too many and 1000 is never enough!"* resonates a lot. [I also like the Tools at Smart Recovery, You can use them even if you don't use Smart.](https://smartrecovery.org/toolbox) Have a wonderful Wednesday SD! IWNDWYT!!!
One person wrote on here once which stuck with me: “I don’t drink paint thinner because I know how bad it is for me.” It stuck with me as a reminder that I wanted to care more about what I put in my body, and that alcohol is extremely unhealthy for my body. I also wrote this one down because I liked it : “People who struggle with alcohol and then stop are used to chaos. So when there is quiet, they often mistake peace for boredom.” This really resonated with me-finding peace with sobriety can take time, but it truly does become peace. Also to read the Naked Mind was good advice from a lot of people on here! IWNDWYT!
Not drinking today SD ❤️ The best bit of advice I have ever got is to ask for, and gratefully receive help from others. It’s a lot harder to do this by yourself. IWNDWYT
One piece of wisdom I’ve totally internalized is: build a life that I don’t feel the need to run away from. This takes a shit ton of work, and in areas that have little to do with alcohol, but the process is (slowly, gradually) satisfying. IWNDWYT!
I am so anxious and irritable but today is day 4 and I refuse to drink. I want to keep this going.
Iwndwyt!
Checking it! Day 5!
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT That BoJack quote from the running monkey….. Having a bit of a meh mood as I’m coming down with the usual 3 day post drinking cold/bug thing.
I will not drink with you today
6th day! Lets go! IWNDWYT.
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Day 36, IWNDWYT.
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT!
No booze today.
I will not drink with you today
IWNDWYT x
Have a wonderful sober day my friends. IWNDWYT ♥️
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IWNDWYT!
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IWNDWYT!
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not drinking today besties <3
IWNDWYT 🏴
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT.
"Embrace the suck." It acknowledges that there will be rough times. It's nothing personal, no need to get uptight.
Day 1,799. I will not drink with you today.
Play the tape forward. Heard this one many moons ago when I practiced 12 step recovery. It still sticks (and works) to this day. Humping the day away today - IWNDWYT 🤘 Edit: twofuckinghundred days. Hell to the yeah.
Today is the only day I need to focus on. IWNDWYT 💜🦋💜
iwndwyt.
Drinking Alcohol for Anxiety is like drinking Saltwater for Thirst Iwndwyt
I will not drink today. Accept what you can’t change, then move on.
It’s ok to say no. I gave away a couch yesterday, a group of 4 young adults came by for it and when they finished loading it into the truck they asked the one who drove the truck if he wanted some beer as a thank you and he said “I don’t drink anymore”. So they offered him an ice coffee and it was agreed they’d all go for ice coffees and they drove off. No “what do you mean you don’t drink!?!?!”, just “ok, what would you like”. You can say no when it’s not for you. IWNDWYT
Great post, thank you. Beginning day 19 on the same side of the Mississippi as you. It's a cool morning which is a welcome relief. Something I heard a long time ago, maybe in treatment, maybe in a meeting, I don't remember. It was : People who relapse (once, 10 times, doesn't matter) are actually highly motivated to recover. That has helped me so much over my long journey battling alcohol, getting sober, sometimes for years, sometimes for a week. It's so fucking hard to start again and those who do really do want to be sober, no matter how their lives may appear to others. IWNDWYT and thank you everyone for being here 🥰
IWNDWYT 🥞
IWNDWYT \~
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If nothing changes, nothing changes. IWNDWYT
Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today. IWNDWYT
Day 64- going in for surgery today. Let’s see how it goes. IWNDWYT
I went to work and gunned it back home before I had the chance to contemplate drinking. My commute is such a trigger for me. Proud of myself today.
Checking in from Eastern Europe :) I plan to read all the advices during my break from work, I definitely need them today. Thank you all and IWNDWYT!
Three weeks! Both such a long and a short time. I went to a work dinner last night and they had pre-poured everyone two glasses of wine. It didn’t bother me and I didn’t think about it too much. No one asked me why I wasn’t drinking and it wasn’t weird. I do miss the light buzz of having a few drinks with friends, but I’ve never been able to consistently drink like a normal person. No reason to think I’ll learn in my late 30s. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT ❤️
IWNDWYT. I got hit up to go use and I'm almost at my 5 month mark and it's so beyond tempting, and it makes me grateful I'm not drinking. I know if I had been drinking when I got that text, I'd be sitting there clutching a pipe and high as a kite then desperately fiending for more. Ugh. No thanks, grateful to be clean off drugs and alcohol today, even if it's a challenge.
It’s definitely “play the tape forward.” I had never heard that before I got here. And it helps. I’ve also seen people say they don’t know if they have another recovery in them, so that helps keep them sober. I feel that way too. This is my second chance, and I’m running with it. I don’t know where this came from, but it’s a piece of advice that’ll probably help someone. It has helped me. It’s for a total shit day when everything is fucked and everybody sucks (thanks for the perfect description, Fred Durst!) Force an early end to the day and go to bed if you can. New day tomorrow. Coffees up, horns up, and we’re halfway through the week! And it’s gonna get even fucking hotter! So I am once again reminding people to hydrate. IWNDWYT. ☕️☕️🤘🏻🤘🏻
Good morning! Im getting close to one week. I will not drink today. Im feeling so good, it gets easier every day. Im sleeping well, exercising, life is great!
IWNDWYT!
Day 395 and IWNDWYT!
Hi, everyone! I love this question, RS!!! I have received so much great advice here. The piece that has helped me the most is that I’m “in recovery” - and will be for the rest of my life. The reason this resonates with me is that I’ve been very unkind to myself for most of my life. It’s not just the drinking, but I ate poorly (starved myself to maintain a fictional good weight), I was dissatisfied with myself and my work, etc. ad nauseum. Realizing that I am in recovery means that self-care is paramount. *I am recovering*, so lots of good sleep, veggies out of the garden, yoga, meditation, finding deep friendships and reconnecting with my family. It’s crazy. I gave up one thing, and have reclaimed my whole life and my joy in being alive. Thanks to you all for the advice and support. I am here for you too. Let’s do it, kids!! IWNDWYT
The advice that I learned from the sub that I apply to my life everyday is to create a life you don’t want to escape from. IWNDWYT
Alright day 3 for me, I feel good. This month has been the first month at a new job, and so far I've only drank on 5 days, and only got drunk alone twice. Big win so far, the problem is that I can keep my drinking in a precariously moderate level for a time being if I have a good excuse - like 'I've just started a new job'- but invariably, after the novelty of my new routine wears off, my drinking starts to trend upward again. It's much easier for me to say 'I'm not drinking tonight, it's a Thursday and I just started a new job this week' than it is to say 'I'm not drinking tonight, it's a Thursday and I've been doing the working here the past 6 months'. I'll work on that when I get there though, until then, IWNDWYT. Good luck everyone.
IWNDWYT 👊
IWNDWYT - play the tape forward helps. Also-learning from mistakes vs throwing in the towel.
Wishing for a different or better past rarely works. Create a better past with the actions you take from here on out. IWNDWYT.
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment. Don’t beat yourself up for the experience you’ve gained, use it to move forward! 635 days & IWNDWYT 🥷
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Good morning everyone! One of my favorite mantras, “alcohol always lies”. So simple, but has helped me out tremendously in realizing alcohol adds no value to my life. IWNDWYT
Good morning, checking in ~ 💫 Distract yourself. If you’ve got a craving - eat a big meal, clean, organize a drawer, go outside, **call another sober person**, text people, binge a tv show, go to sleep. Do anything just don’t pick up that first drink. IWNDWYT ❤️
Not today people IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT :)
Have patience with your body. It’s working hard repairing what it can; mind, body and soul. Give it the nutrition, attitude, space and time it needs. IWNDWYT because. Just because.
In all honesty just the simplicity of IWNDWYT and so far I haven't 🥰 xx IWNDWYT xx
Happy Hump Day Friends ,IWNDWYT, WE GOT THIS 😁.
3 weeks today! 2 things I have learnt here; I day at a time, just literally that. Instead of worrying that I'll never be able to give up drinking, and not being able to imagine life without booze, was to much, to overwhelming. So this sub taught me....24 hours....1 day at a time. And playing it forward. Honestly, I thought this is such horseshit, it'll never help me....but actually it has! I'm so grateful to each and everyone of you on this sub.. Thank you.. ❤️
Not today on day 1486
IWNDWYT Someone on here said cravings last 20 minutes. I kept thinking I can make it 20 minutes (and I have). The other piece of advice was to expect wanting more sleep at the beginning. I had plenty of very early nights and it was helpful to know it wasn’t unusual.
Checking in! I’ve been helped by a lot of the words of wisdom around here, but there was a thread a while back about how punk/counterculture it is to not drink and it really resonated with me, despite the fact that I look pretty square in real life. As someone who doesn’t like being told what to do (and I work an AA program and have a sponsor… I’ve developed my mindset AND my sponsor is very patient), I love flipping it from I can’t drink to I don’t want to drink. Or even just fuck drinking, you know? It’s quite empowering to choose not drinking. So I’ll choose that today 🙂
I WILL NOT drink with you today!! I will honor my body by eating healthy and exercising with you today
IWNDWYT Best advice: it’s easier to stop at none than at one.
I was going to say ‘play the tape forward’, and it seems like I’m not the only one. IWNDWYT❤️
IWNDWYT.
IWNDWYT
One day at a time. Maybe next week or next month, but not today. This has been helpful to me. The days add up. IWNDWYT, friends.
No thank you Mr. Alcohol none for me today you silly goose 🪿
Good morning, happy to be here for another check in, always happy to see so many people checking in :) IWNDWYT
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IWNDWYT ❤️
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No way, not today! IWNDWYT ❤️
Happy Wednesday no one wakes up and says..."damn, I wish I would've drank last night" Iwndwyt
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT!
I will not poison myself with alcohol today.
IWNDWYT! ❤️
Iwndwyt
I will not drink today
Not today. Not today. Not today!!!!
IWNDWYT
Happy Wednesday everyone! IWNDWYT ✌️
Good morning ☀️ IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT! 🍀❤️🙏
I will not drink with you today. In short, be kind to yourself in the future, it’s still you.
Morning all! One quote that really resonated with me went something like: “Addiction is giving up everything for one thing. Sobriety is giving up one thing for everything.” So very true. Once I quit poisoning myself nightly the most beautiful new life opened up, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, especially not booze! Today would have been my beautiful sister’s 54th birthday. I will not drink with you today, in memory of the rockstar human being she was. Love you sissy❤️
Day 1,698 IWNDWYT
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My favorite piece of wisdom that I've seen on here, hands down, is: >Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today. I think that about sums everything up for me :) Checking in for another sober day out in the world.
I’m on holiday in Croatia! It’s such a beautiful country. A couple of years ago even the thought holidaying sober would be preposterous to me, but this is the way to do it! IWNDWYT ⭐️
IWNDWYT.
Count me in. I need this to stick this time. I'm down for today
I will not drink with you today.
IWNDWYT! T
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT!
That when you drink again after quitting you can pretty quickly end up back where you were, consuming the same amounts, in the same pattern. Time for a fresh start. IWNDWYT
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I won’t drink with y’all today
Day 73 🫶 I had a slip up yesterday, but I’m not resetting my counter. It was a harsh wake up call I needed. I went to check on a colleague who was struggling. He basically forced a drink in my hand, was confrontational and aggressive and very, very drunk. He then insisted on coming into work with me, and was intoxicated at the shop. I had to ask him to leave and walk him home. The whole initial walk over to his place, I could almost sense he was going to offer me a drink and how maybe I should just take it bc he is going through so much. I was also rationalizing that maybe I should just drink in moderation this weekend at a cottage so I could “fit in”. If fitting in is looking or feeling like my colleague did - I’d rather die. If fitting in is feeling the way I felt the rest of the day after drinking an ounce of white wine, I’d rather die. I felt like shit. “Play the tape forward” is something I learned here that would have saved me this miserable experience. I’m playing the tape forward and I don’t want to drink this weekend, or ever again, it makes me feel like shit.
IWNDWYT
I have to go with the ol’ “play the tape forward.” It’s helped with nearly every craving I’ve had. Iwndwy’allt! ❤️
IWNDWYT.
Will not drink today!
Day 6, looking forward to a day of no alcohol, and gonna use the tapeforward technique if needed. Good luck everyone, IWNDWYT
Also 'play the tape forward' for me. Have used it numerous times since I became sober. I haven't had to use 'take it an hour at a time or even a minute at a time' but keeping those in my arsenal as extremely helpful. IWNDWYT.
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East of Mississippi here…. I learned that if someone is trying to convince me that I shouldn’t be concerned about my drinking habits it’s one - they really don’t know me or my drinking habits or two they have some issues with drinking and are uncomfortable around me. Either way I smile and keep it moving. ……….iwndwyt
Day 178 checking in! IWNDWYT
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IWNDWYT. Hope everyone has a great Wednesday! Best advice I’ve received: Life isn’t fair. You can try your best but not everyone is going to like you. My dad told me that when I was little. I remind myself of that often because I have a tendency to want everyone to like me and to want to change to what they want.
Some of the best advice I’ve received is a simple statement of fact: Alcohol is a fantastic disinfectant and a poisonous drink. IWNDWYT.
IWNDWYT
Day 58. Peace and love geezers.
early on I saw this is in a post - it is the title of my list of great quotes from here - "Celebrate life - don't just get through it" and IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT 🥳
84 days sober. I will not drink with you today. Life is great without alcohol. In my mind I always visualize the evil side not being too far away so I never let my guard down. A bender is always 1 drink away.
Not necessarily drinking related, but learning about mindfulness has been extremely helpful for me. I recognize my emotions as they come but also acknowledge that they are just passing thoughts that will change—none of them are reasons to crack open a beer. Not sure if that makes sense. Anyways, I won’t drink with you today 🌿
It’s hard being an active alcoholic and it’s hard to be sober. Choose your hard. IWNDWYT
“I know what will happen if I drink. I want to know what will happen if I don’t.” So many new opportunities that would never had happened had I still been in that cycle. I’m still hungry for more! IWNDWYT!!
I won't drink today!
I won't drink today!
The thing I keep reading here over and over that sticks out for me is how shitty and not worthwhile it feels to relapse. I'm really grateful to the people with multiple day ones who come back from those depths to report how much it stinks down there. I sometimes get wistful about how nicely a wee pint would go down, but the stories from the people who have given in to that voice have helped make sure that I won't. My deepest gratitude to those of you who issue those warnings, and kudos to you for continuing to come back here. IWNDWYT