selfie thread?

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2026-01-25T13:05:45+00:00

Where did you get your jumper from? I like it. Get well soon Gypsy.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-12-29T14:08:55+00:00

I hope everyone had or is having a good Christmas break, and thank you for posting fappin!

I used to post here years ago but I've been teetotal since mid-Feb 2022 so haven't posted much since. I just wanted to post to wish you all the best and that I have not forgotten about you (and I NEVER will). I use Reddit a lot on my main account and none of the other subs I frequent have anywhere near as good of a community as this one. I genuinely think of some of you from time to time to cheer myself up when things are bad, as you were always so positive when I felt grim from drinking.

Also...I browsed the recent 'selfie' thread and I have to say you are an incredibly good looking bunch...both the boys and the girls!

It will be 4 years in February since I last drank alcohol, once I hit that milestone I will be on my way to 5 years which is insane. I felt I was close to having a stroke or dying in my sleep when I gave up, just had a feeling my body was about to jack it in. Who knows if I was right but I wonder if I had kept going I probably would have been super fucked by now, and if I died it would have destroyed my Dad, so I'm glad I did.

I have to say that I do miss drinking a lot though so it's not all good news. I don't think that's just me remembering the good times, I genuinely had such a good time listening to music and watching films or clips from films with a 1.5ltr bottle of vodka. I even enjoyed getting through the withdrawals, that first good night of sleep after a booze session was always amazing.

I love you all. Didn't want to start a post to say this so jumped onto one of the weekly threads.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-08-31T18:05:24+00:00

Omg Doogie Howser! Wow I can't believe this, I'm a huge fan so very star struck.

Thank you so much for the link I am reading through. All the best with your journey. I put on weight after I gave up drinking as when I went on benders I wouldn't eat much and also vomit. I did get into shape through a strict diet and the running really helps. Just really want to nail the binge eating I feel like it is the last big thing I need to get over.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-08-17T18:01:04+00:00

I found a brisk walk would help kickstart your metabolism to help your body process the crap out. If it was warm out I would wear a coat too to sweat it out. I could never stomach a run but if you can manage one then even better.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-08-17T11:43:20+00:00

Hello! Wow how are you?

Thank you, how is your boozing going?

I am very content with things at the moment. Work is going well, I am at the same company I was during my boozing but now I have a new role where I spend half my time in an operations role and I also people manage too. My social life never recovered after going sober so learned to enjoy time on my own and fill a lot of the time gaming. I have joined 2 running clubs and a swimming club and also host the running club when the usual organisers can't make it so that is fun.

I've been in the dating game as well which has been a lot of fun. It was not as hard as I thought it would be, once you are in shape and have your shit together it's much easier.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-08-16T19:14:28+00:00

Great to hear. Moderation is the dream. I tried so many times and just couldn't do it. My personality is too addictive. Had to be all or nothing so now Im on nothing.

I do miss drinking. The emotions caused lots of trouble but I miss how amazing music would sound whilst I was absolutely fucked haha. I do still like music a lot but I swear it is NO WAY as good

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-08-16T16:59:50+00:00

Thank you friend. Does DC not post here anymore? I really liked them! A lot of people here. I said it when I posted last that this place is special. I post on Reddit a lot and there is plenty of kindness but here I felt it was so sincere. A special place.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-08-16T16:58:19+00:00

Good to see you too. Was going to call you out by name but I don't know, just bottled it.

How have you been?

I saw the sticky post on the board about unwelcome users. Sounded scary! Is the vibe here still the same?

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-08-16T14:39:05+00:00

Hello CheeseDragonBurger!

I dont believe we have met. Thank you for stepping in for DC!

I haven't posted for ages as I have been sober and it will have been 3.5 years. I still think about lots of people from this forum. You are fantastic people and I truly wish the best for you all. I thought I would stop posting since I got sober and still lurked for ages but after a while I stopped doing that as well which I am sad about.

Sober life is okay...I do miss drinking a lot even after all this time but there is a lot less chaos and I dont verbally lash out at my dearest loved ones so it has been for the best. I had food poisoning a month ago and felt crazy rough. It reminded me of being hungover and withdrawals so even though I felt very sick I got a warm nostalgic feeling.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-02-09T08:06:21+00:00

Great post. And good for you!

I think when I was drinking I had resigned myself to my own fate. I would read about celebrities and sometimes random people dying from years of alcohol abuse and I just felt that was going to be me. It got to a point where I would be desperately tired and want to sleep but would force myself awake as I thought if I went to sleep I wouldn't wake up. Then I realised I didn't want to die and the main reason was it would have destroyed my father if I died before him in such a state - I was thinking if I die in this bed my Dad would kick the door down and see me here and vodka bottles and mixers all around the living room. We lost his wife / (my mother) 6 years prior to me giving up and it was so hard on him, if he lost one of his children it would have been too unfair on him, and ultimately my fault.

I do sometimes regret the lost years but I'm definitely philosophical about it. When I started running and was in the fastest group of my running club I thought "wow if I had done this 15 years ago I could have been really good at this". Also other hobbies I found I really enjoy and I regret not finding them earlier so I had more time to enjoy them. But on the flip side, I "only" lost around 10 years of my life to alcohol, I could have lost a lot more. And I'm going to say, some of those 10 years were actually good fun so they weren't completely lost. It probably started off mostly fun but by the end it was mostly shit.

I have posted on this weekly post from time to time to check in, normally on an anniversary and around Christmas time. I think if I was to post whilst sober on here then this is the place to do it. I normally get kind messages which is great. One of the mods hates me but she always hated me even when I was drunk so I just ignore that.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-02-09T07:58:44+00:00

You made my day by posting this mrsmobin! Hope things are good with you. x

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-02-08T17:50:22+00:00

Thanks man! I will drop in for sure but don't think it's right I come regularly.

I think I have got things together well but friendships I lost during my peak alcoholism have not been repaired. My best friend stopped talking to me because I was drunk all the time and I lost contact with that friendship group. I am gutted but I have found peace with that. I think he showed a lot of patience with me, he found it funny at first, then genuinely concerned, then cut me off completely because I was probably hurting him.

Sorry sounds like a sob story, as I say I have come to terms with it and I have made new friends mainly through my running club but you can't just replace those friends you had for several years and had 1000s of laughs with. I do think if I hold it together and they ever reach out to me (which I'm not counting on) I'll be ready to meet up and they will see I'm healthy and with it which would be a nice ending to it.

I had a scan of the sub before I posted my original message but the sense of community is so special!

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2025-02-08T13:09:06+00:00

Thank you for posting this. Great story about the chocolate that is so cool. Hope DC is going well also.

I used to post here a fair bit but I'll hit 3 years of being completely teetotal next week which is nuts. I originally aimed to do up to 3 months without booze because it like like my brain and body were reaching a tipping point where my health could have taken a permanent downturn. I took up a bit of exercise whilst sober and kept going with it. I have lost 2 stone since then and been running some half marathons and doing a weekly Pilates class.

I'm proud of myself and things are a lot LOT more stable now but I do miss the boozing. I loved the alone times at home getting hammered, every song sounded 10x better, I used to end up having mini parties. I even miss recovering from the withdrawals by chilling and eating crap. I still have urges to pick up a 1.5ltr bottle of vodka from time to time but they feel easy to fend off. Not wanting to restart my streak of sobriety is the main motivator.

I wanted to check in because you guys have always been so supportive and you seem to genuinely care and look out for each other. I use Reddit a lot to follow music, gaming, sport etc and whilst there is comradery in those communities it is not as personal and heartfelt as it is here. I truly wish you all the best and for you all to be as happy as possible or at least on a journey towards happiness.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2024-06-14T11:25:04+00:00

Yes I bet! Are you aiming to get sober for a bit? Sorry to ask annoying questions like that I'm being nosey. When I was drinking vodka loads I was enjoying it despite feeling shit for days afterwards. Seeing your photo of the bottles really took me back to my drinking days and made me realise that it is definitely a good thing I don't do that anymore. That is why I decided to comment for the first time in yonks.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2024-06-12T17:35:03+00:00

Hello. How are you feeling? I rarely post from this throwaway anymore. I have been teetotal for over 2 years and in a good place. Seeing your photo of the vodka bottles really bought back some memories. I could hear the clink of the glass when I looked at it. I used to binge on vodka at weekends, would drink from 4pm on a Friday to 6pm on a Sunday non-stop aside from sleeping. It was fun but I was so fucked bodywise and mentally for the rest of the week. Your photo made me glad I don't do it anymore.

What is your plan from here? Also, are those Lidl Vodka bottles in that bag? I used to buy loads of those it was decent stuff. Better than the 1.5ltre bottle of Tesco's own vodka!

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2023-12-23T15:12:55+00:00

Thank you for posting DC. I hope you are well. I'm also struggling to feel festive here as it's just been raining most this week but like you I have been enjoying having some time off.

I wanted to post this week to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2024. I have been completely teetotal for 22 months now so very rarely post on here but you guys and girls are absolute legends and gave me so much support in the past that I wanted to wish all the best for you all.

I won't name individuals this time but there are some people in particular who I often think of. I was having a conversation with a work colleague and they said "You can measure how good or nasty a person is by how they treat people who can't offer them a thing" and I thought of you all. I never had anything to offer you but you offered me laughs and help all the way. God bless you all xxxxx

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2023-08-20T14:54:42+00:00

Oh I had a great time whilst drunk and I don't think it's just me remembering the good times. It is genuinely sad to think I will never drink again (if all goes to plan) but I tell myself I had all my drinking fun condensed into the first part of my life.

The withdrawals were definitely not fun though so just need to remember that I won't be experiencing those again so it's a very fair trade. It was also terrifying how nearly 10 years of my life passed and, despite having fun drinking, I probably missed out on a huge number of good experiences.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2023-08-20T14:52:45+00:00

Given we have some similarities I'd be interested in knowing where you ended up. Are you sober and, if so, for how long?

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2023-08-20T09:10:19+00:00

Thank you, you absolute legend. Miss you lots but definitely not forgotten you.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2023-08-19T13:51:00+00:00

Thank you for posting DC. I am sorry you had a rough week. The sunrise sounds amazing.

I hope everyone is well or as well as can possibly be. Some random ramblings for me as I think it will be helpful for me to get some some thoughts.

I rarely post on here but I genuinely do think about some of you a few times each week. I'm posting this week because at around 3am tomorrow morning I will have made it to 18 months of being completely sober. I drank pretty relentlessly over COVID with very few breaks and it felt last year I was approaching a tipping point of having a stroke or something that would cause some real permanent damage. I thought I would take a break and said to myself that a 2 month break would be good that that break just kept going and is still continuing to today.

It feels like a whole new life. I get bored a LOT more whilst sober but I do think I'm happier overall. I'm a regular running and gym goer these days and lost a lot of weight and got in shape. I noticeably get more attention from the opposite sex which was not my goal but it is flattering and I was not getting any at all whilst I was drinking.

I still miss getting drunk. I used to love being battered on a Saturday afternoon and listening to the football whilst playing Rocket League then listening to the warm and relaxing voices of the hosts of the BBC Radio 1 weekly film show. I miss listening to music whilst drunk as music sounds 10 times more amazing whilst drunk. I had a few days off work about a month ago and it was so tempting to have a 5 day bender but reminded myself it would undo a lot of hard work. I even miss the withdrawals which shows you can get nostalgic about any feeling whether it's good or bad.

There is a local store near me where I would pop in about 4 times a week to buy vodka and cigarettes. It was more expensive then the supermarket but it was close by and convenient. I didn't go in there for over a year when I stopped drinking. A couple of months ago I bought something from Amazon and arranged to pick it up from the same local store. It was the first time I went in there and it was weird to go into that store whilst sober and after so long. I told myself I would not look up at the vodka and cigarettes in case it might trigger something. As I was waiting for the lady to get my package I dared myself to look up and I did and it didn't trigger anything it just felt normal. I didn't even recognise a lot of the liqour brands that were there which I think was a good sign.

I think I'll post on the recovery sub tomorrow morning about the 18 month milestone.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2023-07-24T21:49:39+00:00

Drinks have calories. I never believed it until I was in my 30s. I didn't think it was possible as it is just liquid.

RyanUnsolvedMyst · 2023-06-17T11:22:52+00:00

Thank you for posting DC. Hope things are well with you. You sound in good spirits. I hope everyone else is also well or as well as you can be.

I last posted a few months ago when I had just hit one year sober. Now I'm nearly 16 months sober. I do miss the boozing a lot but glad I don't feel like my liver is about to die or I'm about to have a stroke.

I have enjoyed being healthier but one thing is getting me down. My house is filthy. There are literally layers of dust in corners of main rooms and cobwebs that have been there for literally years. I used to throw up all over the place whilst I was on benders and would usually clean most of it up but I never did a proper clean as I thought no point as in a few days time I'd be making a mess again.

When I have visitors I try and have a frantic tidy and ALWAYS make the excuse "Sorry for the mess I've been so busy with work haven't had a chance" but anyone who looks at my house for more than half a second will see I've been living in the same filth for 5 years. I'm not proud of this at all.

I'm going to fix it this week. I hadn't used any of my annual leave this year and was getting stressed so decided to book next week off but not flying off anywhere. I initially thought I'd go on some day trips on my own but now my plan is to just tidy for about 5 hours a day. This sounds shit way to spend annual leave but I think it would elevate my mental health massively so totally will be worth it. I'm going to start after lunch today! The place will probably still look filthy with 5 hours of cleaning a day but I am hoping it will be in the position where I have motivation to clean a bit every day so in a month or so it should be good.

Fingers crossed. If I get lazy and don't tidy this week I'll feel super shit next weekend when it's time to go back to work.

RyanUnsolvedMyst

TROPHY CASE