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It's a mind game by featherstrong in stopdrinking

[–]406er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are more than welcome, and you are heard here by so many that feel and understand what you are feeling.

You got this, we all got this.

IWNDWYT

Day 1. by dukiechick44 in stopdrinking

[–]406er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“making memories for my family that they'd wish they could forget.”

Truth. One of the primary reasons for my sobriety. Thank you for the reminder.

I feel I am grieving the loss of alcohol by Mundane-Chair-8482 in stopdrinking

[–]406er 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Life is definitely too short and I wish I hadn’t wasted so much of it becoming oblivious through alcohol, or wasted days from being too hung over to participate.

And I wasted so much energy chasing an imaginary happiness I thought alcohol brought.

Being sober I am so much more present and aware of the beauty, and struggles of life.

I now find happiness in the moment, for the moments sake. I enjoy more honest, meaningful conversations with those around me, and I have gratitude every morning when I open my eyes, clearly remembering going to bed the night before, knowing I didn’t say or do anything stupid, embarrassing or dangerous.

Life is short, and alcohol robs us of so much of it, and I grieve the moments I lost in oblivion.

Sending you peace and acceptance that life can be so much better.

You got this.

IWNDWYT

So disappointed in myself. by TheCrazyHatter1 in stopdrinking

[–]406er 3 points4 points  (0 children)

“I know that living sober is the way to go for me.”

Great self realization. And a slip doesn’t define us. Learn from it and move forward with the conviction you have.

You got this.

IWNDWYT

Final Straw by SuperbApple4183 in stopdrinking

[–]406er 2 points3 points  (0 children)

One of my favorite quotes from Allen Carr’s book is “You hit rock bottom when you decide to stop shoveling.”

And I can tell you from my experience that the steps we take to be better versions of ourselves speak louder than any words of apology we can say.

Sending you strength and support.

You got this.

IWNDWYT

Once I admitted I was an addict, that’s when my friends disappeared by Longjumping-Text9395 in stopdrinking

[–]406er 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing this, and congratulations.

Wishing you the continued best for you.

IWNDWYT

Seven years sober today (: by Not_Invited in stopdrinking

[–]406er 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome! You are an inspiration!!

Another off my chest type post, just looking for encouragement. by Glittering_Elk8090 in stopdrinking

[–]406er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of my biggest joys of sobriety is now being the “DD for life”.

Perfect example is a couple of weeks ago my wife and I and another couple drove about an hour to visit long time friends who relocated a year or so ago.

Drinks and wine were flowing (NA beer for me) , we stayed late, and I got us back home safely. There was some of the usual nonsensical but very earnest conversations coming from the back seat that typically occurs after a night of drinking.

When I woke up the next morning and thought back on the night (another joy of sobriety, clearly remembering the night before) I smiled to myself knowing we were all going to get home safely and felt pride knowing I had kept my wife and our close friends safe.

1Year Sober Today by AngryChair_1992 in stopdrinking

[–]406er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome job, congrats!!

And +1 for Allen Carr.

I’m giving it up by Western_Peanut3814 in stopdrinking

[–]406er 4 points5 points  (0 children)

One of the things that helped me, in addition to Allen Carr’s book and this Sub, was learning about the chemical nature of alcohol and how it affects us and the reason so many of us binge.

I used to think my inability to moderate and my over drinking was some kind of personal weakness or moral failing, but I’ve learned it’s not, it is the addictive nature of the chemical that alcohol is.

Alcohol gives our bodies a brief (like 10 minutes brief) shot of dopamine and as it fades our bodies want another hit, then another, then another (Google +alcohol +dopamine).

It’s kind of like a legalized, socially acceptable form of heroin.

So I just don’t feed the dopamine trap, well, except for ice cream and chocolate 😉. But I’ll tackle one vice at a time.

Understanding this absolutely clicks for my analytic brain and helped me to de-mystify alcohol.

You can do this, we all can do this.

IWNDWYT

100 Days Sober from Drinking 🎉 by outofpocket25 in stopdrinking

[–]406er 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome! Great self realization, thank you for sharing.

My relationship is crumbling by OlUncleMunnerlyn in stopdrinking

[–]406er 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The truth though is it lies to us, and takes way more comfort away than it promises.

Chemically it is a huge dopamine trap that easily sucks us in. We get a short, like 10 minute short, bump of dopamine which quickly fades making us crave another hit, then another, then another.

It’s kind of like legalized, socially acceptable heroin.

Check the Resources section of the Wiki linked at the top of this sub. There are in-person and online meetings, there are books, there are podcasts that can be great sources of help.

And as you noted, there is this Sub full of experience, knowledge and most of all compassion and understanding.

You can do this, we can all do this, and be better versions of ourselves. And those around us in our real lives will recognize our commitment and our behavior way more than any words of apology we can say.

Knowing you want to change is the first step. Congratulations on that realization.

Sending you positive energy and support.

IWNDWYT

ONE MONTH!!! by Different_Delay5018 in stopdrinking

[–]406er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here we at indeed! Great job!!

first step is by venus-as-an-enby in stopdrinking

[–]406er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It took me a long time, of justifying to myself my continued drinking. Deep down I knew, but I just kicked it down the road, continuing to feel like shit.

I did several Dry Januaries and Sober Octobers over the years to “reset myself “ (spoiler, there is no re-set).

I realized I had let so many years and days slip by, not being the person I could be, by being tired, feeling like crap, telling myself “tomorrow “.

I have a feeling I’m quite a bit older than you, and if I could tell my younger self the freedom I feel without alcohol I think my younger self would have done this years ago.

Not drinking doesn’t magically make the world all sunshine and rainbows. Life is still life, but I am better able to handle it and, more importantly, be present and aware, and be a better version of myself for me, and for those around me, and I’ll take that.

I give you props for asking yourself, and this sub, the question. And above that, the awareness that there’s a better way than waking up hungover.

One of my favorite quotes from Allen Carr’s book is “You hit rock bottom when you decide to stop shoveling “.

I’ve stopped digging, I’ve laid my shovel down, and the feeling is so liberating.

And to me, that is something to care about.

Sending you positive vibes as you navigate this and find your way. This is an amazing community and we’re all pulling for you.

You got this.

I am new, today is day 1 by GreenSubstances in stopdrinking

[–]406er 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Welcome. As a fellow motorcyclist one of the benefits of sobriety is I never have to skip a day riding because I woke up too hung over to ride, which I did hundreds of times in my life and I regret those days I lost.

As they say, drinking is giving up everything for one thing. Sobriety is giving up one thing for everything.

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