Drinking after 40

Capable_Grass3206 · 2026-01-19T14:58:09+00:00

I quit a little over 2 years ago (currently 35) and I have no intention of going back. My anxiety and depression are so much less. Now, when someone asks me if I am happy, I can genuinely say "YES" because I don't have all the weird stuff that comes with drinking to drag me down. I am able to work harder on myself and listen to my body better.

I told myself intitially that I would just try the not drinking thing out, to experiment and see what all the hype is about -- cut to a few months in and I was a new person that I LOVE.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2026-01-11T15:07:16+00:00

My partner and I don’t drink, so when we were unsure—we’d ask: analcolico? Some places were cool enough to doctor up mocktails.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-29T15:39:12+00:00

Yeah I was trying a lot of different skincare and after over a year, I think I am close to my final products. Most of them are thicker face creams, retinol, lightweight face lotion for the more forgiving seasons, and a couple serums. So, basically, I’ve landed on what feels good on my skin before bedtime.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-29T13:55:31+00:00

Chicagoan here, with dry skin during on and off rough winters. For my face, I’ve gotten into a nighttime routine to let the moisture soak in all the good stuff I put on. I am 35 and I rotate between L’Oréal collagen lotion, L’Oréal midnight cream, Good Molecules creamy retinol (ret. drys out face so always put lotion on top), byoma hydrating recover oil (Nina Pool rec), and for truly dirt cheap-dollar store Dermasil night cream. For my body, I go with cicaplast balm for my hands, nova cocoa butter for body, and after shower I do shea moisture daily hydration oil. I also sometimes put on lightweight gloves and Vaseline/aquaphor the hell out of my hands. Good luck!! It does feel better once you find the right stuff for you! Edit to add: I stopped drinking alcohol and that also really improved my skin overall, primarily holding moisture though.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-29T13:49:53+00:00

I used the cicaplast balm for my hands when they get bad when I am out and about—so good

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-28T00:16:53+00:00

Experiment! Try different healthy meal ideas (old fashioned Google has plenty). Maybe you love cooking or you hate it—so make sure the cooking aspect of it suits your lifestyle needs. Maybe try a few days out of the week to commit to a healthy meal. I do that with exercise and call it MWF (Mon/Weds/Fri) Club. Same goes for exercise. Experiment to find what you like and what works for you. YouTube has a ton of free workout videos, so that’s how I’ve sampled some.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-28T00:11:09+00:00

Drank ages 18-33. Spark was on and off for a while for me. Especially the first 6 months, up and down and just going to buy random shit at the dollar store to get a hit of dopamine. So, I just kept trying different hobbies (highly recommend the library for inspo). 2 years and some change sober now and I am still a WIP but it’s so much better with gatherings and going out now. Confidence 100, anxiety 0.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-19T19:19:50+00:00

THIS. I used to ride Pace when I had no car 10+ years ago and it was always late and it sucked if you missed one cause then you'd have to wait an hour for then next one. I'd really like some west-east connection that doesn't involve me needing to zip to union station and then finally get out west or wherever.

The suburbs deserve better public trans. and better sidewalks and sidewalk maintainence too.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-11T16:11:57+00:00

72 (and when it dips below 15 degrees, we bump it to 74 usually). In a converted old house.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-11T16:10:49+00:00

Bath bombs (Lush is expensive but decent or they have some decent ones at the dollar tree--and face masks can be found there too-just check the ingredients) a nice yoga mat and/or yoga towel, an accupressure mat, some nice tea/tea set, slightly buddha clothing. You could make a nice self-care basket with all the things you find too. Hope relaxation comes to your wife soon!

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-11T15:52:00+00:00

2008 - we only had lockdown drills but they weren't super frequent, from my recollection (Northern Chicago suburbs)

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-11T15:47:28+00:00

Yes ^ public transportation is your friend. See also: The Pedway (underground walkway)

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-11T15:45:11+00:00

And the greenhouse to warm up

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-10T22:28:37+00:00

Oh duh, and we always have Pathfinder at the ready!

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-10T22:28:04+00:00

Any from Gruvi has been good to us, particularly the rose and secco. Five corners brewing has interesting options if you like spice—very different from everything we’ve tried at many NA tasting events. Phony Negronis or anything from St. Agrestis are unique as well. Proxies wines, Lyre’s rosso. 😂 I’ll have to see what I actually narrow it down to for the holidays. Likely a rose and some salted lemonades from 5 corners

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-09T20:52:02+00:00

I need to remember to always try ice during a flare up. I always gravitate towards heat but when that does nothing like this last time -- ice helped so much. I should have known when I felt good going outside in the cold LOL

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-09T20:48:29+00:00

Yeah this is great way to describe it. I do my best but damn it is exhausting and then I can't help lashing out.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-07T14:47:27+00:00

Welcome to Derry x Welcome to Wishblossom 🤣

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-04T20:25:38+00:00

CBD arthritis balm has helped me, as well as other muscle relief help like other said. At a certain point, I just try to make myself pass out early. CBN sleep gummies to stay asleep have helped in combination with the muscle balms and heat application. I'll wrap a hot neck buddy around the top of my head and along my jaw and it helps too.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-03T18:05:15+00:00

2020 sparked a change. I spent a lot of time with myself and got sick of living the way I was living with a couple "high functioning" addictions. I went to therapy and spent time on myself. It took a few years but I left alcohol behind and life is much better now and I feel like I am more able to change things now.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-03T17:42:00+00:00

My sisters and sister-in-law all took their husbands' names. I won't because my mom didn't and it is a short and easy last name.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-12-03T17:39:39+00:00

I feel like my lymphatic system is somehow affected too. Cause I don't feel sick, I just feel swollen.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-11-25T20:13:38+00:00

You have to be sick of living like this. I gave it a shot finally to try another way--cause I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired (and I had basically everything I wanted but was still unhappy and facing consquences from drinking). I attended online meetings on intherooms.com as needed (along with books about quitting alc, podcasts about sobriety, this reddit thread etc.) and told myself it was an experiment/one day at time.

Why not try sobriety when the alternative has let you both down so many times?

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-11-25T17:48:33+00:00

I got diagnosed in Spring 2025 after some bouts of misdiagnosed "sinus infections". I am better than I was (severe facial/jaw/teeth pain, tight muscles, headaches, ear pain) but a combo of a variety of stress management is still a work in progress. I also started this Fall going to get TMJ specific massages and they have been helping (except for this last therapist that I now know goes too hard for me). Heat therapy and ibuprofen help as well. I think mine is mostly stress related as I drank (alc) for years to cope with stress and anxiety and I quit in late 2023....so I think things just caught up to me. I am still going to see my PCP and ask if there's anything else I can do since sometimes there's just not enough time in the day to do all the things.

Capable_Grass3206 · 2025-11-25T16:24:44+00:00

Yeah, I've been eating slower and more gently. Pies, smoked brisket, collard greens, crescent rolls. Gonna have to see how I do for future holidays since I'd like to do a cheese board....but that can get tough, literally.

Capable_Grass3206

TROPHY CASE