Sobriety.... One year later... Please Read.

Congrats!

 

Congrat!

hope you’re over the flu soon

 

thats great! Do it one day at a time

 

Awesome job,keep going.I managed to put 10 years together on the 31st as well.

 

Wanted to chime in. At some point in November/December my wife asked me why I was so angry. Not all the time, but I didn't seem happy to her. And I thought I had it nailed. Things were good with the family and my job plus I was drinking as much as I wanted. I decided that I would drink through the holidays and dry out in January. I would never black out and would rarely ever say I was drunk, but buzzed for long periods of time, mostly everyday. I thought that was really true freedom. Hold down my job, try and be a good dad and husband, stay fit and drink how I liked. I would wake up at 3am with a headache realizing I couldn't keep doing this but by 11am the next day, weekday or weekend, I would be over the guilt and ready for alcohol once again.

After my wife said this to me, it kind of crystallized in my brain. I had been having really negative thoughts at night and starting to realize I couldn't really stop drinking. I decided I did need a life change but really thought a dry January would sort it out and I had no intention of really stopping drinking long term. Then I read Allen Carr's book, the Easy Way to Control Your Drinking. Then I read the Naked Mind by Annie Grace and a bunch of other quit lit books. I realized I had been totally addicted to drinking, that alcohol is super addictive drug and really a poison at that. I realized alcohol was a complete lie for me, didn't make me happy, more courageous, more out going, social. It was like a huge light bulb went on and from other books/podcasts, daily Bible reading, I think I am on a path to an alcohol free life. I am currently 43 days sober and have no intention of slowing down. I feel great and look forward to a life without being tied to a bottle. I never really said this all in one place before and wanted to get it out. If you read any of this, thanks. If anyone has any questions, hit me up. Peace

 

Congratulations on 43 days! Thanks for sharing your story, hang in there!

 

Congrats on 43 days! Thank you for sharing

 

Good job on staying strong and moving forward. One day at a time is my motto
Even after 19months, I still live one day at a time, and thank God every day for another chance to live alcohol free.
Thankyou for sharing

 

Good on you, Matt. Yeah, that’s the sad ‘n crazy thing about alcoholism. Only disease I know of that tells you that you don’t have it. For many, their the last ones to know.

 

Yeah! Paul Churchill does a Ted Talk on being duped by alcohol. All these other drugs are demonized and alcohol gets kind of a pass in our society. Where alcohol is basically portrayed as this fun social thing to drink and everybody does it. I know I ultimately have no one to blame but myself, but alcohol use is touted as normal and not too dangerous as long as you don't drive drunk and end up on Skid Row. Then you increase your dosage as you continue using it and it's a slippery slope until giving it up creates a huge fear inside you. I literally remember thinking that I didn't trust people who didn't drink. That is freaking ridiculous to me at this point. I could go on, but I'll chill, haha. It's just crazy.

 

I am very proud of all of the people in this thread, willing to take back control over their life when they recognized that their life became uncontrollable. Just to let everyone know that I am a licensed Psychologist specializing in Substance Use Disorders and if anyone needs an ear, might be on the edge and struggling to keep it together or needs to figure out a way to get back on track, please feel free to PM me. My services have always been free to all TW members.

 

Alcohol is one of the most dangerous legal drugs sold today. If you can have a few drinks and just enjoy it great! I did that for a very long time. But the issue is, if you start to use it as a crutch (like I did) to escape your problems, that's when it becomes a huge issue. It became a bandaid approach for me and eventually that bandaid was going to fall off. And it did...

I don't miss it and I don't even think about it anymore. It's become a non issue for me. But I also understand that it is an everyday struggle for some. I'm long past the desire to drink or go to a bar. It just doesn't appeal or interest me in the least. I still have my bad days but that just goes with the territory with what I suffer from. But the thought of drinking to numb the pain? It didn't work the first time and I'm not willing to give it a second chance. I'd rather feel the pain than not remember what I did last night or make a fool of myself again because of a legal substance in my body.

 

Congrats! Thank you for sharing!

 

It gets easier, it really does! I really enjoy having a clear head and my wits about me. I realize some people will struggle with the desire to drink the rest of their life, but as time moves on, it does get easier.

 

Awesome job 43 friken day's that's huge MAN! Alcohol-cunning ,baffling,powerful.Made me do things I would normally never do,it's just crazy.Every time I drank it was like lighting the fuse on a stick of Dynamite it would explode every time,I'd kid myself thinking this time I'll be mellow,keep control of myself,just have a few,but no, something is triggered in my head,more,more,more I could no longer drink like a gentleman.I needed help,I got it and thank GOD I did .I'm a better person because of it,happily climbing up the ladder of life,believe me I've been to Hell and back.Anyway I'm just one Grateful recovering Alcoholic that drives the best kind of truck on earth and my name is Steve.Thank you all for letting me share a little bit,goodnight.

 

A sad article in USAToday about our young people: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...sease-rates-soar-among-millennials/4802917002

 

I always tell the newcomer, keep doing it and one of two things..maybe both..will happen.

Either it will get better.

Even if it doesn't, you'll handle it better without a head full of booze.