Rough night last evening

[bif]

Some old friends are in town and they're spending a couple nights with us. Last night they and my wife were really hooking into the booze and it drove me crazy. I managed not to drink, but it sure brought back memories of getting drunk together. I ended up heading upstairs to my lair about 10 to watch a movie and treat myself to a bowl of ice cream. Yikes! One more evening and I'll be out of the woods!

[cilla4progress]

1. I am amazed by your strength!

🙏

[SheltieLover]

2. Hang in there! You can do it!

[Hope22]

3. Oh wow, that was hard!

I’m sorry you had to deal with it! Hope you were able to out wait them on the cleanup detail! May tonight be easier but either way hang tough! It’s so not worth the pain. Love to you!💗🙏🏼

[Moostache]

4. I applaud your strength and abhor the behavior of your 'friends'...

True friends understand that when one of their own is hurting, and in need of support, that habits detrimental to that person are secondary and should be what's sacrificed temporarily. Otherwise, its patently selfish to say "fuck you and your problems, I'M GETTING HAMMERED anyway". We all make choices about out behaviors and also make choices of how that effects those in our friend groups and social circles...

When I quit smoking many years ago (2008), I was forced to abandon an entire set of former friends because they were unwilling to simply not smoke in front of me or while I was in the group. It was not a decision I wanted, but it was one that was given to me instead - stay with the group of people purporting to be my friends and resume smoking, or make a new group of friends amennable to my health concerns. A side-effect of this was that I pretty much quit drinking as well, though my addiction was the nicotine and behavioral reinforcements of being in pool halls and bars that encouraged both (at the time there was no public prohibitions at all).

I wish you continued strength and best wishes for your sobriety.

[rzemanfl]

5. Is your wife not supportive of your sobriety?

I am sure the situation is awkward for her. Having these people stay with you was probably not the best idea. You only have to make it through one more day and night. You can do it.

[MiHale]

6. That's a hard part...congrats to you...

A few years into my quit I was able to sit back and enjoy their drunkenness. It was kinda fun. Then I had a nice morning fixing breakfast and chatting with hungover friends, much to their dismay.

Congratulations again for keeping your sobriety.
I had great support I must admit.

[MuseRider]

7. Gods that must be hard.

Good for you. Every time you do that I hope you celebrate yourself for your strength. Been through it with a few others, I am one of the lucky people who can drink or drug and get crazy messed up (back in the olden days of youth) and just sleep it off and go another year or two before even wanting it again. My mother and one of my brothers were bad with drinking. Both dead far too young.

[magicarpet]

8. Being haunted by their temptations is just not very fair.

At least you have the strength and sense to weather the storm.

[bif]

9. They're really dear old friends.

We've had good times with them. We go back to my high school days. And my wife has been friends with them since college, back in the mid 1970s. We even went on vacation together (to England) in the early 80s. My wife is totally supportive. They moved to Texas about a dozen years ago and hardly ever come back to Michigan. It was easier than you'd think.

[marked50]

10. Best Wishes to You on this tough road. There are great things ahead on that road.-n/t

[Figarosmom]

11. You'll be fine

I think you realize it's just not something worth your time any longer.

When you get the urge do just what you did last night. Go off by yourself and enjoy something good for you that you love.

[cate94]

12. You can do this

I’ve managed to do this since the first days after rehab. I’ve found myself sometimes jealous but chocolate gets me through it. A plan for leaving when it gets difficult is your best bet and exactly what you did by going upstairs to watch a movie. Bravo to you!

I hate vodka, so I would ask friends to drink that or wine. Whiskey was hard for me to ignore at first, but it is getting easier. And I actually like being sober now! Again, leaving when it gets difficult is your best defense. Eventually you won’t miss it.

[LoisB]

13. Stay strong.

[RainCaster]

14. Good for you! 24 hours at a time...

You got this Bif

[Clouds Passing]

15. Way to go bif 👍🏼

[applegrove]

16. You did good.

[bif]

17. A repeat last night

The wine was flowing freely. I ducked out around 9ish and my wife said I needed some "me time." I wan't tempted to drink, but after a while, the conversations just get kind of boring.

[Maninacan]

18. Been there.

My SO is very supportive. She only drinks occasionally an an event or dinner. You should go somewhere ,Treat Yourself to a movie or something.

[bif]

19. My reward is

A bowl of ice cream.

[LizVerite]

20. That must have been hard.

I'm a recovering alcoholic, so I sympathize. I've had cravings lately, but I tell myself that what I crave is an escape from pain.

Alcohol never worked for that.