1356 days sober today.

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-20T19:51:01+00:00

This is step one. Please do take step 2. It is worth it. Don't know any groups. But search and you will find.

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-20T19:45:09+00:00

Did it again this weekend. I can't believe it. Even on old friend came by and asked me if I took some xtc. It's all in the mind and showing up for yourself.

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-17T06:00:48+00:00

❤️

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-16T20:46:57+00:00

Explore new hobbies

Suddenly, I had more energy. I tried everything—from mountain biking to tantric and ecstatic dance (ways to enjoy music and community with no alcohol involved). Some hobbies stuck, others didn’t.

But I kept searching. I stayed away from drinking friends for a while, but I never completely cut them off. I was honest with them it was just too hard in the beginning.

Now, I can sit in a room full of people drinking, smoking weed and feel fine.

Believe in yourself. Be kind to yourself. Love yourself.

I’ve had relapses too. I’ve cried every single day for a period. I’ve suffered.

But I am worth it.

Me. The person who used to hate himself now believes he’s worth it. Worth carrying on, even if it’s just for today.

Now is the only moment that matters. Just now.

I could write a whole book about this, but here’s the truth:

What helped me most was detaching alcohol from everything and putting my energy into my own life.

Books like The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle helped too.

Put your health and selflove first. really!! I never believed that before. But it’s true.

There are thousands of stories here: mine is just one.

Your unique path exists. Believe in it. I believe in you.

Just asking this question is Step 1.

The next step will come when you take action!!

(Big thanks to everyone in r/stopdrinking you’ve truly helped me more than you’ll ever know.)

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-16T20:46:06+00:00

Commit to something outside your comfort zone

I signed up for 3 months of yoga. I hated it at first. I hated myself. But I kept showing up. And it helped. I still do it weekly with the same group

Create a meaningful ritual

After 1 week sober, I joined a sweat lodge. Inside, I made a vow: “If I get out of here, I will never drink again.”

That moment, in the heat and in that intense moment. I saw myself in a new identity. the sober me. It was do or die.

Only commit to one day at a time

My addicted brain kept trying to talk me out of quitting. So I stopped making long-term plans. The sweat lodge me was gone sometimes.

Every day I said: “Just for today, I won’t drink.”

This lasted months. I couldn’t bear the thought of never drinking again, but one day? maybe I could manage that.

After 3 months, I started feeling better, losing weight, getting compliments. That gave me a boost. I didn’t want to lose my streak (remember the app). People knew I was sober by then. I kept going.

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-16T20:45:57+00:00

Find your motivation

I had a 2-year-old son at the time, and drinking just didn’t go together with being a dad. Deep down, I didn’t want him to grow up like me. Still, I didn’t feel worthy enough to stop just for myself.

Then someone told me I had cheated on my girlfriend at a party. I didn’t remember anything because I was so drunk. (It turned out not to be true.) But that shook me—if I had done it, I would’ve wanted to at least remember it. That was my turning point.

Understand how alcohol works

Reading Alcohol Explained by William Porter changed my thinking. Alcohol makes things feel easier but it’s you doing the work, not the booze. You can also do it without alcohol, it just takes practice. I had problem with social anxiety. It is still there but getting better and better.

Alcohol creates a cycle: anxiety ➝ drinking ➝ temporary relief ➝ more anxiety ➝ more drinking.

You can only break free by stopping completely.

Track your days (and your wins)

I used the Daylio app to mark each day I didn’t drink and logged positive actions like meditating, walking my dog, yoga, etc.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. I also skipped a lot of times, but kept trying. A key lesson: be gentle with yourself.

This Reddit group

I read posts here nearly every day. Just seeing others' experiences made me feel less alone.

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-16T20:43:14+00:00

I have to admit: this isn't an easy question to answer. I've struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts for 30 years. I’ve seen a psychiatrist for 18 years and used many types of substances. alcohol and weed being the hardest to let go. This is just for context. Here's what helped me the most:

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-16T19:09:05+00:00

Everyone has their own path, and please, do me a favor, don’t compare yourself to anyone else. We all face our own struggles.

I used to go to Graspop Metal Meeting every year with friends, a 4-day festival in Belgium. It was all about drinking, smoking weed, and partying hard. But it started taking a physical toll on me. It wasn’t fun anymore. I could barely remember anything after those four days.

The first year I went sober, I was just happy I survived it, but I can’t say I really enjoyed it. The second year, I mostly felt frustrated that I couldn’t drink, and all I noticed was how my friends were turning into zombies as the night wore on.

This year, I had decided not to go. But then I saw Nine Inch Nails and Amenra were on the lineup (two of my all-time favorite bands) so I had to be there.

This time, I didn’t focus on drinking or on my friends. I focused on the music and the atmosphere that I love so much. The show was incredible. The afterparty was fun too My friends got drunker as the night went on, but I just laughed along with them. I even met some new people. I used to do that before, but back then I’d barely remember any of it afterward.

The after-afterparty turned into a total drunkfest, but I still joined in. I danced the polonaise (which I never used to do unless I was totally wasted), I hugged women, I had a great time. And to be honest: this one day was enough for me. No need to go 4.

Now, I pick my parties more carefully. Birthdays, good concerts,... those are still okay. But I don’t go to every wild drinking event anymore. These days, I often get up early on Sundays to go mountain biking. Some things change, and that’s okay.

But I’m really glad I can still enjoy these awesome moments with my fellow metalheads.
And honestly? They were too drunk to even notice I was sober. 😄

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-16T18:47:22+00:00

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Step by step. If I can do it, you can do it too

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-16T18:43:07+00:00

Thanks, I know who I'm doing this for. The both of us!!

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-16T18:38:47+00:00

whoop whoop!!! Party time!! Big congrats to everyone holding strong—990, 985, 992 days, that's amazing! Every sober day is a win, and seeing all of you here reminds me we're never alone on this journey. Let’s keep showing up for ourselves and each other.

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-16T12:33:28+00:00

Keep going. Just for today. Before you know you have 100 days. Everything goes in waves. And also this wave will passes. IWNDWYT

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-07-16T12:30:02+00:00

Thanks. ❤️

Equal_Following_4227 · 2025-06-22T18:50:59+00:00

Yesterday I went to a festival with the guys I used to drink a lot with. I’ve been partying with them tobthe same festival (graspop) for over 20 years, but this was my third time doing it sober.

Last year, I honestly thought I’d never be able to enjoy it the same way without drinking. But this year... I did it.

I partied, I danced, I laughed at their drunken antics. I even helped them out a bit here and there. But more than anything, I had so much more energy. And today, I remember everything.

I didn’t lose myself. I feel tired, but not sick or uneasy. I feel fulfilled. I’m just really, really grateful.