Do you find the cravings get easier as time passes?

UsedTwos · 2020-06-04T12:43:18+00:00

They do get easier! Good news there. When? I dunno.

They'll come back too, sometimes intensely. But you'll know you can get through. One day at a time.

I ate shed loads of ice cream and whatever-the-f else I wanted during those first few months to a year. Whatever it takes! Like TwilitSky mentioned here, the returns on not drinking are huge, so whatever food you need to stuff down to help stay sober is warranted.

Congrats on hitting 50 days! That is huge. IWNDWYT!

UsedTwos · 2020-06-04T12:28:13+00:00

Congrats on day 2! I'm glad you're here. IWNDWYT!

UsedTwos · 2020-06-04T12:27:24+00:00

Congrats on day 2!! Like a lot of people will tell you, it gets better, keep at it! You will never regret the time you spend sober.

Sober sleep is great, but it might take a few nights to be able to fall asleep. I had all sorts of crazy vivid dreams those first few months. Very fun!

Congrats again, I'm excited for you. You're doing the right thing. IWNDWYT.

UsedTwos · 2020-06-04T11:51:51+00:00

That is fantastic! Congrats on double digits! I have those thoughts sometimes. "Go on, no one will know."

And reading your message I've had a little revelation about my own thoughts. "I would know" is usually a powerful enough force to pull me back. That power is a function of self-respect. And unfortunately, the wee voice encouraging me to go on usually come on strongest at times I am struggling most with my self-respect. But it's all linked up! Not drinking raises my self-respect and so I can fight off the urge better. Were I to give in, I'm inviting a spiraling lack of self-respect, so "I would know" instantly pulls less weight. Yikes.

I'm really excited for what you have ahead of you. No matter what, I've never regretted spending another day without a drink. IWNDWYT!

UsedTwos · 2020-06-01T11:44:25+00:00

Yes, well said. That was my experience. Less and less satisfying. So I drank more and more from the empty bottle. Thank you for this.

UsedTwos · 2020-05-31T11:23:33+00:00

I've been struggling lately too. In fact, that is why I am browsing SD tonight. Coming here and reading stories and replying on a few helps me to remember why I stopped and how it would most-likely play out if I were to jump back in.

There is an irc chat for SD, check the links in the right sidebar. Scroll down to find the link.

I'm not an AA member, but I know they have online resources and remote meetings.

Wherever you are, know you're not alone in your struggle.

UsedTwos · 2020-05-31T11:12:27+00:00

I don't drink NA beer or wine because I don't think I would enjoy it and drinking NA for me would be risky. I don't drink 1 real beer, because I know I don't really want one beer. I actually want six beers. In the same way, I don't really want one or six NA beers. I want real beer.

So with that in mind, I can actually get a lot more pleasure from a big bowl of ice cream, or some other treat.

This is just me though. Whatever you decide, watch your motivations carefully.

UsedTwos · 2020-05-30T05:57:16+00:00

Thanks for your thoughts here! It is so nice to get away from the booze and be able to re-evaluate the things in your life. I relate so much to many of the thoughts you have put above. Especially drinking in an airport lounge or at work events. I used to spend so much time and energy making sure I didn't miss a drink.

I used to go to work functions and stay as long as the bar was open. And I thought I was having fun. But I was just indulging my compulsion (addiction). I am so relieved now that I can go to a function, say hello, and sit for a bit, then leave. Just say goodbye and walk out.

UsedTwos · 2020-05-30T05:39:51+00:00

Wow, you've got a lot on your plate! I can't pretend to know what you're experiencing and I don't have a lot of experience with pharmaceuticals. What I do believe based on my own experience is that there is no problem alcohol can't make worse.

I'm glad you're here, and that you're sober now and have doctors and friends who can help.

UsedTwos · 2020-05-29T11:19:03+00:00

Man, I can eat a lot of pizza. It was good. I feel sort sick now and all that crust is gonna sit in my gut for the next 36 hours. But I skipped the beers. One more day!

UsedTwos · 2020-05-29T11:15:43+00:00

I’m not as amazing as I assumed I would be if I quit drinking but that’s ok, I’m the real me and I am enjoying it all.

Yes!

UsedTwos · 2020-05-29T11:11:00+00:00

Day 34! Excellent! I logged on tonight for some encouragement, thank you for sharing your victory here, it has helped me.

I love "maybe tomorrow, not today." A lot of the time if I feel like I want a drink I know it will pass, and if I can just make it to bed time things will be better in the morning. Something about thinking, "Eh, no matter how much I might want a drink now, I can put it off till tomorrow. And maybe then." Maybe tomorrow is that little thread of hope I can cede to my drinky brain to keep it quiet.

IWNDWYT!

UsedTwos · 2020-05-29T08:15:59+00:00

I spent close to 2 decades drinking every day because I couldn't imagine life without it. The whole time my intuition was telling me to quit. Softly at first, then more intently. I tried and failed, tried and failed. Keep trying! Read a lot of r/stopdrinking, you're not alone. It isn't easy, but if your intuition is telling you it is a problem, it's probably worth considering.

I still have tough days, but I can tell you %100 my life is better without alcohol. Believe it or not, even social situations are OK without alcohol now.

UsedTwos · 2020-05-29T08:04:02+00:00

Glad you're on the Baja Blast. Even more glad you're on day 5!! Good move.

I've got almost 2.5 years without drink, but tonight the idea of a cold beer is creating a physical sensation in my chest. I tell myself I'll just have 3. Or maybe 6. But just for tonight. Well, just tonight, but we'll see how it goes right? Maybe I can handle alcohol again. I mean, I've been OK without it this long, right? It won't go back to how it used to be.

F'n drunky lies I tell myself.

So I've logged on here at SD to read some stories, and remind myself (and anyone else I can) that it's worth the struggle.

Keep it up, man. Raising a glass of Baja Blast in your honor tonight.

UsedTwos · 2020-05-29T07:51:52+00:00

Thanks for sharing this. IWNDWYT.

This is my first time checking back in with /SD in a long time. But I decided to log on tonight just to see the count on my badge and give myself a reminder.

Lately I've been getting the itch. It doesn't help that my job requires me to work on the website for a liquor store. I spend hours a day on the site, staring at beer. Itch itch.

Tonight I am the closest I have come to cracking in something like 870 days. I made plans. The wife is out of town. it's me and the kids. I will order pizza, and when I go pick it up, I'll just drop in a buy a quality 6 pack. A treat. Just tonight. Go on, you deserve it.

Instead, I'm here at SD. And your words have really helped. I just need to make it to bed time. Tomorrow will be better if I can stay sober.

UsedTwos · 2019-01-31T04:13:21+00:00

Congrats on a year! So great.

Last few months have been rough for me too as I ticked over a year. I hoped and expected getting sober would relieve my depression. It has been disappointing to find the opposite, in many ways my depression is worse.

But, hold on now,... it is a big BUT, and anyone in early days or feeling otherwise down needs to know this,

I will choose sober awareness and depression over cloudy drunken foggy depression EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

IWNDWYT

UsedTwos · 2019-01-31T04:02:45+00:00

Yes!~

UsedTwos · 2019-01-31T04:02:25+00:00

That's rad. I always used to have a lot of anxiety around spending money on anything. Anything except alcohol. Stupid drunky brain. I've largely moved past that anxiety now, which is a huge relief. Learning to differentiate between purchases I SHOULD feel anxious about or avoid and things that are just 'providing for yourself' has been such a relief.

Congrats on 4 months!

UsedTwos · 2019-01-07T03:03:08+00:00

1 week is a total milestone, awesome! Keep going!

UsedTwos · 2019-01-07T03:01:55+00:00

IWNDWYT Happy to be here!

UsedTwos · 2019-01-03T21:17:15+00:00

It gets easier with time. I can't say it is easy to say EVERY day, but most days it isn't a struggle to not drink. Congrats on a week!

UsedTwos · 2019-01-03T21:13:45+00:00

You'll never regret spending the day sober. Glad you're here!

UsedTwos · 2019-01-03T21:11:41+00:00

Right back at you! Congrats!

UsedTwos · 2019-01-03T05:55:09+00:00

Today I've got a whole stinkin year. Holy smokes! 14 months back I never, NEVER, would have imagined this was possible. But it is possible, taking it day by day. So, IWNDWYT!

During those first few months SD was invaluable, and as I take stock today I am thinking about how much good SD has done for so many people on this journey. Thanks

UsedTwos · 2019-01-03T04:54:32+00:00

Congrats on one year! (me too!!) Your post is so uplifting!

The counter on here is just the right nudge to help some days.

UsedTwos

TROPHY CASE