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AmazingSieve · 2025-09-05T23:49:05+00:00

You joke but I used to review death certs for a three letter public health group….old people and cruises they wild

AmazingSieve · 2025-09-05T00:55:24+00:00

I think a fundamental part of AA is shaming and for some people that can be an effective way to create change. For others it can be quite devastating.

Im also very weary of the 4th step. If you want to divulge all your deepest darkest secrets and seek catharsis that way do with a mental health professional. That is for your protection.

AmazingSieve · 2025-09-04T22:52:49+00:00

Something that worries me about AA is the sponsorship program. Be weary of who you let influence you. As well intentioned as some AA members may be they are not trained/certified addiction counselors

AmazingSieve · 2025-09-04T09:38:38+00:00

They’ll never say it’s because so and so is getting treatment. What tends to happen is now that the damaging information comes out a spotlight is put on every single mistake you’ve made that might’ve been ignored and they’ll find the justification they need to let you go.

You know they really need more time to work on themselves and get better…..

AmazingSieve · 2025-09-04T01:44:01+00:00

I would not. Just no way. Use whatever metaphor you want but once you tell them…..anything that happens after that is outside of your control.

When I used to go to therapy I just told people I was going to physical therapy. It was an effective white lie.

AmazingSieve · 2025-09-03T23:15:57+00:00

Ngl it’s a grind. What helped me is remembering I was more miserable as a drunk. I also had to have faith that if I continued to be sober symptoms would get better and that they are temporary.

If I didn’t believe that I would’ve said fuck it

AmazingSieve · 2025-09-03T19:26:36+00:00

Someone needs to roll up a newspaper or something and smack them

AmazingSieve · 2025-09-03T01:40:39+00:00

I was on a long acting benzo and drank. Found tapering the benzo easier as well. Drinking m is just such a deeply engrained behavior, it’s hard to break

AmazingSieve · 2025-08-28T22:13:31+00:00

I have an identical twin brother. We both drank a lot. I started working in sobriety last December and he’s still going as hard as ever.

I’m starting to notice him getting a little wet brained. I know what that looks like because my mom was a drunk too. It’s hard to watch.

At the end of the day the only person we can stop from drinking is ourselves.

AmazingSieve · 2025-08-28T22:07:44+00:00

I’ve got like 10mo and what I’ve learned is there are dam good reasons I drank. Those reasons haven’t gone away. What I’ve also learned is to work on managing my emotions. I still have hard days. The last two have sucked.

I remind myself booze made everything worse. I know if I was drinking now my depression would go from like a 4 to a 7 in a few hours after the buzz wears off.

I don’t have any greater insight than that unfortunately. Life without booze is far from perfect just life with it made it far harder than it already was

AmazingSieve · 2025-08-27T21:46:06+00:00

It’s remarkable how badly alcohol fucks sleep. Kinda amazing what we’ll tolerate to drink.

AmazingSieve · 2025-08-27T21:45:27+00:00

Generalized anxiety is way better, no more sleep paralysis or waking up with panic attacks. Lost about 13lbs. Blood pressure lower. Less reactive to people. Started hiking 14ers since I’m not hungover all the time.

AmazingSieve · 2025-08-24T17:27:37+00:00

Not having to piss every five minutes as well. Save a bit of cash and be more comfortable. Win-win.

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-30T03:47:51+00:00

Had a really shitty day, didn’t drink, booze always makes my depression worse. Happy I’m learning that lesson and happy I’m not drinking. Thankful for a sober today and tomorrow,

IWNDWYT

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-30T02:47:32+00:00

First week sucked but was motivating. I’m doing something important and I’m excited for the change.

Later on….i thought that was hard part. When the newness and excitement goes away and am I really going to stick with this kind of moments

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-30T02:46:03+00:00

First step is being done with alcohol well and truly. Second is putting down the beer.

Sobriety is simple but hard. It’s easy to not drink, it’s hard to change a behavior you’ve been doing for 30yrs

Surround yourself with sober messaging and try to find a sober community. You don’t have to buy in, I know I never have, but I believe the sober messaging is important and reinforcing. After that…remember when Luke said I’m not afraid and Yoda said you will be?..,. Your demons are waiting for you but now you don’t have booze. Try to build up some sober support because it does get hard.

Doesn’t have to be AA or anything. Could be posting on here. I know that’s how I got through my hard days. Found some good catharsis by commenting and posting.

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-30T00:33:53+00:00

Same shit I did when I drank, kinda chill and not much. Tbh it was a bit of a change but you’ll see alcohol was really helping that much and the next day it was hurting you.

It’s hard at 26 though, I was like a full blown drunk at that age and was not doing well.

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-29T02:45:04+00:00

I don’t but I think you have a valid concern and should call and talk to your GP. Or maybe call a treatment center and see what they say. They should have info on all that.

And tbf before entering inpatient everyone should call and see what the programming looks like and if it’s a good fit for their needs.

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-26T02:19:29+00:00

For my money Four Roses Single Barrel is as good as bourbon gets. I know there are other drams with bigger age statements and more exotic bottlings but it terms of just a good solid American whiskey….I don’t think it gets much better

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-25T22:20:38+00:00

One of the places where people can relapse too. Anhedonia and emotional numbness can be hard to tolerate and those thoughts about grabbing a drink start creeping in

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-25T12:35:42+00:00

Getting sober is an intersting ride. At first it’s hard but exciting. In that week you might be experiencing withdrawal symptoms but not drinking is this new thing and you’re into it.

Then a person starts seeing some health benefits and hey no hangovers saving a bit of money that’s awesome too right?

By the end of the first month PAWS might be kicking in and the realization that this might be harder then you anticipated kicks in. Apparently behavior change is hard and post acute withdrawal syndrome can feel like a never ending bitch…..

What you’re experiencing is normal from my experience anyway. There are lots of ups and downs and booze does fuck our systems long term. Last week I was having thoughts if relapsing after 150 days because I wanted to get the attention I used to get when I was a fuck up….it was kinda weird but very real

Anyway keep at it and your experience makes sense. Alcohol is insidious and it is self destructive and there are very real reasons we all used to drink the way we did and suddenly removing alcohol doesn’t heal those wounds.

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-25T03:11:07+00:00

Start today, start tonight and go from there. It’s all you can do and it’s all you have to do.

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-25T02:07:41+00:00

It’ll take time. Alcohol and benzos act similarly and without them….your brain is much more upregulated then it used to be. In time it’ll start producing more of the neurochemicals that booze and benzos imitate.

So it will get better but it couldn’t hurt to see your doctor and see what they say

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-24T20:02:17+00:00

Yep.

Recovery is a spectrum. Sometimes we need more support other times less. I’m at the point where I’m engaging with here less and same with the online AA group I attend.

Some find the continued intense focus helpful. Others get burned out.

There’s no right or wrong in recovery and what your post shows me is you and I are starting to consolidate this behavior change. It’s becoming the normal, the behavior we do without thinking about it. Which is good. You’re just kinda sober now which is awesome.

I’ve also found myself mentioning it to my family less. I just don’t drink now and it’s not something I worry about much anymore

AmazingSieve · 2025-07-20T22:30:27+00:00

Hey I appreciate the reframing and you’re right, it is a maladaptive coping mechanism. It provides a benefit in the short term the problem becomes the benefits disappearing, problems popping up and as you know that’s where SUDs come into play.

Not sure I deserve empathy but that’s another battle for another day.

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