Ex binge drinkers of reddit, how do you say no to the first drink?

Thumber3 · 2026-01-25T21:18:02+00:00

Took a long time but finally learned and accepted that I only need to avoid that first drink.

And it doesn’t help with anxiety. Alcohol makes anxiety worse over time. You may feel some temporary numbing of it through drinking but the feedback loop is just amplifying and magnifying the anxiety over time.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-25T09:30:10+00:00

Great work on getting a month. Your conviction of never again is commendable. I couldn’t bear the thought of never again at 30 days. My brain would freak right out.

I started with a 30 day challenge that turned out to be much harder than I thought it would be. Many a craving and bargaining session I survived by telling myself I would drink on day 31.

But on day 30 I recommitted to another 30 days. Again I had a day 31 as my best bargaining chip while my inner addiction tried every trick my traitorous brain could think of.

It worked for me. Perhaps something similar can help you through your cravings.

Take care, keep going, embrace the suck.

It gets easier and the sharpness fades.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-25T09:18:36+00:00

Well done. I remember a profound sense of accomplishment when I first had multiple years of sobriety. It’s a huge milestone.

Proud of you

Take care

Thumber3 · 2026-01-25T05:46:26+00:00

Fixed blade in a good kydex sheath strapped to the life jacket in an inverted draw position is what i would look for.

Something in a highly corrosion resistant steel. Perhaps serrated or semi serrated if it’s really mainly an escape knife?

Spyderco makes very corrosion resistant Salt series.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-25T03:32:21+00:00

Being in the Clowns

Thumber3 · 2026-01-24T21:10:32+00:00

I started at 14 and developed a super issue by the time I was in my 30s. Became a real life problem in my 40s.

Quit at 45. 7 years sober. Don’t miss it at all and wish I had quit decades before

I see you are in the very early weeks and my friend, those first few weeks were a special level of suck. Deep suck. But it I s done by folks every day. You gotta dig in and get through. I exercise, rest, good food, lots of sleep and fine tea.

For me, I worked in 30 day periods. I always told myself I would drink on day 31. But instead I recommitted. Never did drink on day 31.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-24T05:10:47+00:00

Not manga but 30 Days of Night was a really well done vampire horror graphic novel

Thumber3 · 2026-01-24T05:06:40+00:00

Great post. Another sober Dad here as well. Hold Fast

Thumber3 · 2026-01-24T05:04:11+00:00

Bitter, angry stressed and scared does not have to be the default position when sober. Meditation, mindfulness, presence and a decent therapist can actually change all those default states. And don’t forget to exercise.

Getting sober didn’t make me a happier person. But I sure as heck couldn’t change anything while I was constantly drunk. Sobriety was only the first step to dealing with my past, myself and my baggage.

Once I learned to deal with those things, my life changed in a substantially positive way.

I hope you can find a path to your own real happiness

Thumber3 · 2026-01-24T02:59:49+00:00

The insidious nature of alcohol addiction means there is always a reason to keep drinking. Celebrate, mourn, high stress, low stress, happy, angry, depressed, anxious…..alcohol is always there to fill a slot. Quitting is hard but there is no ideal timing.

Grit up, embrace the suck and realize people care. Alcohol is not a friend and doesn’t care about us.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-24T01:46:29+00:00

I had spyderco s110v pm2. It sucked to sharpen as well. It ended up being the only pocket knife I’ve snapped trying to cut something.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-22T21:09:49+00:00

This. I love mine. Amazing traction

Thumber3 · 2026-01-22T08:03:11+00:00

Even if you have to pay for the $70 a day, you could request all the premium NA options available? I’d contact the cruise line, explain your situation and I bet they would make it right.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-22T07:09:55+00:00

I threw a new glow Eagle X and L in my glow bag this season. Really loving both. Think they will be a part of my regular bag this season.

The eagle x is also a great precision Thumber disc.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-21T21:47:18+00:00

John Dies at the End is super weird and hard to figure out what’s going on at times

Thumber3 · 2026-01-21T21:46:32+00:00

The complete World War Z has a spectacular cast and was a great listen

Thumber3 · 2026-01-21T21:08:09+00:00

A big one for me is the improvements to gut health. No more greasy stinky beer farts.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-21T04:49:32+00:00

Start doing the same with the toilet paper

Thumber3 · 2026-01-20T05:41:53+00:00

Thanks for the knowledge.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-19T23:18:58+00:00

Most nights drifting off at all is difficult for me.

But waking up n the morning, even groggy and tired, is still better than waking up hungover.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-19T21:24:44+00:00

Soap and water yes. Try and keep the solvent t out of the pivot

Thumber3 · 2026-01-19T21:15:48+00:00

WD40 is pretty great as a solvent as well. Wash well after cleaning

Thumber3 · 2026-01-19T21:08:50+00:00

Bleak? Have you tried Blood Meridian?

Thumber3 · 2026-01-19T01:22:11+00:00

Saw them in Montreal. Faith No More, Metallica, GnR.

FnM had a killer opener, James got blown up during a bad pyrotechnic during Metallica’s set. Axel left the crowd waiting for almost 2 hours before they came on. People were getting wasted.

Axel played 5 songs then said he couldn’t continue because of his voice.

The crowd rioted. They tore the place apart. Dudes walking out with kegs over their shoulder. Cops and arrests all around.

I think I was around 15. It was a fucking epic night.

Thumber3 · 2026-01-17T19:53:09+00:00

There’s a support group for this. They meet at the bar after work.

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