e3625, I agree with everything you say, here is my problem: my trigger is cooking. It is one of my very favorite things to do, and also I sort of have to do it because I have two kids at home. Cooking to me SCREAMS pour a glass of wine at the end of the day when I am making dinner. All I can think is to either white knuckle through about the two hour period when the bottle is screaming at me and I am cooking OR to make a cocktail, which helps sometimes but not always. Any other suggestions, anyone? I have seen a lot of posts here that tell me I am not alone in the habit of pouring a drink in order to enjoy making a meal. Newlife

Newlife,

I wish I had an answer. My issue isn't with the routine of cooking as much of it is the routine of drinking at night. Have you tried a herbal tea blend or valerian root to help calm you, using the tea in between drinks? That bottle is always going to be there, so I really think you need to keep doing what you are doing and the rest will follow (at least that is what the book says).

Maybe the goal shouldn't be not drinking with cooking, but drinking less with cook? Just a thought.


Jaba

@newlife: Another idea, going along with the idea of changing up the routine, would be the next time you really want to work in an AF day, rather than cooking dinner just order a pizza or something for yourself and the kids. That way you aren't in the kitchen with the temptation and also you're indulging on greasy, unhealthy food which for me can sometimes be a partial substitute for indulging on alcohol. It's obviously not something you'd want to do all of the time, but it could help to get an occasional AF day here and there.

I have not been enjoying cooking the way I usually do. Maybe it is the fact that I am delaying my drinking and it is not as much fun without the wine. I thought it might be the nal. Is that possible?

I think that is possible Deena, for nal. is supposed to take away or dull the enjoyment of life. But is it the lack of wine or the nal.? Do you enjoy cooking with nal. out of your system on an af day?

Jaba

Je,

I like the idea of staying out of the kitchen.

I know when I was trying to be sober I could not go to the grocery alone (that bottle would end up in my cart magically). Sometimes I would tell the kids I just don't trust myself and if you want to come with me fine, if not then either deal with having no food and eat peanut butter and jelly.

Jaba

I think just in general I have not been that interested in food.

Jaba - I find after 5 consecutive days on Nal that I definitely feel it ! I am to the point now that I have to have at least one AF day after that many with Nal in my system - or is it with that many days drinking ? I am not sure.

Hugs, Maggie x

Maggie, what do you mean by you "feel it" after five days on nal? A lack of enjoyment of things?

Maggie and Dee,

I know what you mean about feeling it and I think it is the nal. The nal will make you feel kinda blah and when you are off it that kinda blah feeling goes away. It isn't really a depressed feeling, it is more like it has been rainy for a week or so, or snow bound. The nal. is blocking are "feel good" receptors, and if cooking makes you feel good then it is probably the nal taking away that enjoyment.

Jaba