
Originally Posted by
Natalya
Of course you can do it. I did it. And while going to AA meetings isn't a bad idea, you don't need them. I did what you did, as often and as much as you, for twice as long at least. You don't have to live your life as a "recovering alcoholic" and create a new identity around all that. I enjoy a glass of wine or two a few times a year and never crave more nor ever worry about becoming an alcoholic again. Quitting alcohol "forever" is an extreme behavior in and of itself ... nevermind that it's intimidating. Nothing is forever.
Start eating healthy. Workout. Stretch. Smoke ganja for awhile. Avoid any anti anxiety meds.
When you drink your liver over expands...it's just like a when you get fat and get stretch marks (scars) except in the liver's case those stretch marks (scars) are cirrhosis. When you don't drink, your expanded liver begins to contract with a vengeance...along with all of your other organs, especially the kidneys. The contraction/tightening is what makes you feel like shit and makes you want to drink again. This -very real- physical contraction is what causes withdrawal symptoms. You need to stay expanded to avoid the anxiety/withdrawal. How?
Have ALOT of liquids...not soda or any of that shit. Water, water with lemon, mineral water, tea with honey, soda water mixed with fruit concentrate, coconut water. Eat ALOT of fruit (whole). Use vinegar on your foods. Eat ALOT of salad. Eat ALOT of pickle (rinse the salt off first!). Eat raw foods, nuts, seeds, nut butters, oils (olive) and mildly sweet tasting foods like carrots and carrot juice, brown rice, sweet brown rice. Eat some spicy and pungent foods like curry, cumin, mustard, ginger, garlic, horseradish, wasabi. Eat these foods before a shift or when you get anxious at night.
AVOID excess salt and nearly ALL meat, except for white meat fish. AVOID like the plague all crunchy and baked things like potato chips, pretzels, cookies, crackers. These will further contract you and make your cravings worse. Always go for sweet, raw, soft, mild foods.
As for working sober, it's no problem, you just have to get used to it. Your money will increase. Its a good idea to avoid all the foods I mentioned above before a shift (salt, meat, crunchy, etc) so you stay relaxed...eating the other foods I recommend (salads, liquids, rice, fruit, oil, vinegar, nuts, seeds, etc.) will keep you relaxed further still.
Hope this helps!
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