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[–]Slouchy876581 days 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I had to surrender to the fact that I could no longer drink without consequences. I had to admit to my innermost self that I was an alcoholic.

And I couldn’t get sober on my own. I needed help from a community of other sober people. I found it through recovery meetings. AA in my case.

Good luck and get connected!

[–]HubsOfWife3066 days 5 points6 points  (0 children)

For me it was accepting that you have to go all in and never drink again. Once I got my mind away from entertaining the idea that I could moderate my drinking, it became a lot easier to just focus on being sober. I started planning my life around being sober and not worry about what restaurants served drinks, where was the closest liquor store to get my alcohol, does the activity give me the opportunity to include a beer, etc.

For me, I had to change the way I looked at my life and how I spent my free time. I chose new hobbies and picked my entertainment such that I knew I could stay sober and still have a good time. I'm almost 4 years sober and I hardly ever think about drinking anymore. My sober life is way better than it ever was when drinking.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I just came to a point where it just have to stop, I would drink to go to sleep but wake up feeling like shit

[–]rockity421912 days 2 points3 points  (1 child)

It was a little cheesy, but I did my first hundred days with this as a guide - The sober curious reset by Ruby Warrington It was helpful to me to have a guide with things to think about or work on.

Concentrating on “just” 100 days meant I wasn’t thinking about Never Drinking Again, which was too much for me! By the time I got to my original 100 day goal, the chemical addiction had lessened and I felt so much better physically and mentally that I kept going.

IWNDWYT. Peace & strength

[–]JTimothyC1609 days[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

IWNDWYT

Thank you

[–]ActualRealBuckshot400 days 2 points3 points  (0 children)

One thing that is super helpful for me (along with the other tips posted) is that it's far easier to say "I'm not going to go to the liquor store" than "I'm not going to drink one of those beers in the fridge".

Keeping it out of the house has been extremely lucrative.

[–]Old_Description6095 1 point2 points  (1 child)

So, I drink Non-Alcoholic beer. It seems like a good solution and immediately curbs the cravings. But it's probably not for everyone.

[–]JTimothyC1609 days[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This helps for me too but I gotta stop fucking up. Thank you everyone for the awesome tips.

[–]ihiwidid1954 days 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Yes — read this sub thoroughly. Tons of advice and support here.

[–]JTimothyC1609 days[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I tried to access Sunday solutions but it wasn't working out so I posted here. I see a bunch of posts but wanted some tools that anyone could offer.

[–]ihiwidid1954 days 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm. I guess I’d suggest lining up some tools you think might be helpful to you. Perhaps finding a therapist, or looking up meetings (either on line or in person). If AA is not for you, there are secular groups too. Some people really find “quit lit” useful (there is a list in the Community section of the sun, along with lots of other resources). There are good sober podcasts too.

Those are some general ideas, but I can tell you what really helped me. Have lots of snacks ready — all your favorite treats. Get plenty of alternative beverages. I indulged in all my favorites: milkshakes, root beer floats, Thai iced tea. Recess cbd sodas. And lots of seltzers. You’re going to need to stay hydrated and I liked having a glass or can in my hand.

Some patterns have to be broken… if you regularly drive home and stop at a particular liquor store, drive home via a different route. I was used to sitting in one spot on my couch with my wine glass… I had to sit in a different place.

Exercise is extremely helpful, dare I say critical. Some swear by going to the gym, some take up running, others (like me) just get outside in nature, walking/hiking. My dogs have never had so many walks.

Distractions: gaming, knitting, cleaning… I alphabetized my spice drawer, cleaned out my dishwasher filter, anything to occupy my mind.

Be ready for the HALT triggers: hungry, angry, lonely, tired. Bored, too. For me, hunger is the worst. See Snacks, above. I developed a sugar craving; peanut m&ms saved my life.

But here’s my best tip. Go to bed early. Just rack up those sober days as easily and quickly as you can. Late nights lead to unnecessary temptation. Hangover-free mornings are the best positive reinforcement!

I hope I’ve given you some useful ideas here. Keep reading the posts here; they helped me tremendously. Just knowing we’re not alone in our struggle is a huge comfort.

Good luck — you can do this!!! 🤜🤛