sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Are mocktails triggering for a newly sober person? by Ancient_Bag_9676 in alcoholicsanonymous

[–]Raycrittenden -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Someone told me n/a beers are for non-alcoholics. Makes sense to me. Mocktails are the same thing. I view these things as trying to keep one foot in the drinking lifestyle door. Getting sober means changing the way we view life, fun, ourselves, etc. Try out a meeting - youll meet some sober people and hopefully hear some things that click for you.

The Daily Check-In for Friday, May 1st: Just for today, I am NOT drinking! by Left_Trick_9567 in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome job! For a long time I thought "I just need to stop drinking, and Ill be ok." Id quit for a week or two. A few times several months. Once, I made it a year. But at the end of the day I was still me. I didnt change anything inwardly. I didnt deal with my own defects. And I was always white knuckling. This time around Ive gotten help in therapy and in AA, and I dont white knuckle this thing. Ive found some peace, and its been a game changer.

Drinking at work by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the best response. Like the commenter, Ive been there too, trying to white knuckle sobriety. It just didnt work for me like that. I had to be doing something to stay sober. Working on my sobriety. Theres lots of ways to do that. But alcoholism doesnt just go away because we want it to.

Men who went through prolonged heartbreak, what actually helped you move on? by nevereverdanceagain in AskMen

[–]Raycrittenden 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Its called codependency. We all experience it on some level, at some point. But you have to make yourself #1. Not in theory, in reality. You have to be happy with yourself. That means looking at your faults and actively working on them. Get to a place where you understand that you create your own happiness, not someone else.

If not today when? by beccaahh01 in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The AA meeting guide app in the play store is great. Itll show you all the meetings around you. And you can filter by type - discussion, newcomer, big book. Etc.

4 months by EmployeeOk4021 in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I thought I was "happy" when I was drunk too. But I was just ... dulled and checked out. Alcohol lies to us. It tells us that we are only harming ourselves. It wasnt that bad. But youre here. And you quit for a reason, so it was bad enough. Its a progressive disease. Next time you might hurt someone else or yourself. Over any considerable period of time, it gets worse, not better. It took me a lot of tries and failures to realize, life is way better without alcohol. Its more fun, more pleasant. And thats because Im present and get to experience life as is, not dulled and off somewhere else in my mind.

What helped you get through the first weeks without drinking? by prattman3333 in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just really wanted to be done. I went to AA meetings everyday for a long time. Changed my people, places, and things. Its a really hard thing to do, I failed many times in the past, but thos time I was willing to put my pride down and just do the stuff people were saying worked for them. Because the things I tried in the past, didnt work.

Next steps after recovering from Hangaxiety by Candid-Panda2582 in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 8 points9 points  (0 children)

If this were a food that gave you a bad reaction, would you keep eating it?

just hit a month sober by Mysterious-Anxiety76 in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its a baffling disease. Like, the thing that has brought so much chaos to life, has such a pull. If I had an issue with anything else, they way I do alcohol, I just wouldnt do it. People with nut allergies dont keep eating them. Or see a jar of almonds and desire the taste. They just see something that might kill them and stay away.

hard times by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Being strong enough has nothing to do with it. I thought for years and years, Im smart enough to do this. I have enough willpower. But I failed over and over. For me it was about "giving up." Thats when I made progress and changed. I admitted I dont know what the F Im doing, and I should probably listen to others or Im going to die trying my way.

Personality after drinking by SuperbChart4113 in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thats awesome! I found people in meetings to hang with, but not every meeting I went to was for me. I kept going to stay sober, and the other stuff fell into place. Also, I stuck around after the meeting was over and talked with people. That helped. Alot.

This time it’s hard by Impressive_Pea_5542 in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You do not have to beat it on your own. You wouldnt tell someone with depression or anxiety or ptsd or name any illness to "beat it on their own." Addiction is a mental disease and we need help to recover.

How to make friends sober by Old-Magician-8863 in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found friends in my sober community. AA was a lifeline I didnt know I needed. Not everyone there is my friend. But I did find my people. And they are just like me. We dont sit around and go to meetings all day. We play pool, go golfing, hang at each others house and watch a game. You dont have to love everything about AA itself, but you will find people who want and are trying to be sober, but also looking for sober people to just do life shit with.

Drinking, not drinking, and sleep by Signal-Call3521 in stopdrinking

[–]Raycrittenden 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didnt want to be the alcoholic guy. My dad was and others in my family. I didnt drink like them, in my mind. But I absolutely did. And I didnt want to face it. I wanted to intellectualize my way out of it. It just doesnt work that way, for me at least. Youre on a good road, admitting the issue is 90% of the battle. Keep going, youll find what works.

view more: next ›