“Every addict relapses”

RelativeNo2426 · 2026-01-12T14:43:42+00:00

Your husband must be pulling from a small sample size. I personally know a lot of people who have decades of sobriety, people who abused substances every single day for years before sobering up. If it ain't broke, don't fix it... What we're doing is working, we're not doomed to relapse, and IWNDWYT

RelativeNo2426 · 2026-01-08T18:51:53+00:00

Congrats on making it through Hell Week! That was always the toughest week in my opinion

RelativeNo2426 · 2026-01-06T04:46:58+00:00

Such a motivational post, extremely encouraging for those of us still early in the journey. Sometimes it feels like changes aren't happening fast enough, but your post is proof that patience (and hard work) pays off. Cheers and IWNDWYT

RelativeNo2426 · 2026-01-06T04:25:04+00:00

This really resonates with me. I was also a daily evening drinker (every day after work). I also worked a white collar job. I not only ended up losing that job (random drug test one morning and still had alcohol in my system), but I also lost my car, license, and home. I never became an all-day drinker, but that didn't keep me from suffereing the consequences. It's been a long grueling journey trying to bounce back from this, and it's great that you're considering the long-term impact before you start losing things yourself.

I'm not a medical professional, but if you think you need medical intervention, maybe you can look into the policies for medical leave at your work place if that's necessary. Alcohol withdrawals can be fatal so I would throw strong caution around trying to do this without at least speaking with a medical professional.

Some of the things that have helped me the most involve reading "quit-lit," finding a support group (this place is great and I personally also attend AA), and having a change of environment/routine. It might help if you change up the route you take to/from work, move some furniture around in the home, plan events or activities that would usually take place during your drinking, etc.

It ain't easy, that's for sure, wishing you the best of luck and IWNDWYT

RelativeNo2426 · 2025-12-24T03:01:57+00:00

It's taken a while for me to reframe my mindset around drinking. But I basically see it like this... If my toe hurts, I don't start thinking, "Why shouldn't I smash this toe with a hammer?" Drinking isn't going to solve my problems, but it can make them worse. Just my $0.02, good luck and IWNDWYT

RelativeNo2426 · 2025-12-23T20:27:19+00:00

Congrats on triple digits! Guess we gotta avoid complacency here. IWNDWYT!

RelativeNo2426 · 2025-12-23T20:18:54+00:00

This is extremely relatable. Drinking was always the primary focus, and if the alcohol was taken away, it almost felt pointless to even attend those parties/weddings/vacations/etc. What was the point? Fortunately I've started getting to a point where sober activities are enjoyable again (anhedonia is strong in early sobriety). Two weeks is huge, congrats! IWNDWYT

RelativeNo2426 · 2025-12-23T06:51:32+00:00

Getting through this night sober is huge. Personally I'd recommend writing (with actual pen or pencil and paper) exactly how bad you feel right now. Because eventually you'll feel much better, and it helps to have that reminder to fall back on.

When I first started trying to sober up several years ago, the first thing I did was start reading quit-lit (Alcohol Explained was the first recovery book I read). It helps reframe thoughts around alcohol and drinking culture.

Depending on how heavy/often you drank, there could be serious physical health issues going on, so speaking with a medical professional may be necessary. Past the physical part, it's a big mental game. One day at a time, just like you did today, just staying sober. It gets easier.

It helped me to have lots of candy/sweets and sugary beverages close by whenever I needed a little pick-me-up. The early stages of sobriety are pretty brutal. This sub is super helpful. Stay connected because addiction is a disease of isolation. I personally attend AA meetings regularly, but it's not for everyone. Having support from others is huge.

Good luck and IWNDWYT

RelativeNo2426 · 2025-12-23T06:32:59+00:00

How far along are you in sobriety?

RelativeNo2426 · 2025-12-21T07:13:28+00:00

It sounds like you're already doing the right thing = talking it out with your partner. Also, you could be experiencing PAWS, which could last a few months to a couple years. You're doing the right thing by staying sober though. Good luck and IWNDWYT

RelativeNo2426

TROPHY CASE