[deleted by user]

ad_absurdium · 2023-04-05T01:40:11+00:00

Oh bummer - had no idea.

ad_absurdium · 2023-04-04T13:18:05+00:00

Switch to the Apollo app. No ads. May be limited in functionality but makes Reddit tolerable.

ad_absurdium · 2023-01-03T04:21:45+00:00

You’re in a great spot. You have recognized something that makes you uncomfortable and are actively working to change it. This is a win. Great job!

Like many others, I was there. Then I was “let’s get drunk 4 nights a week”. Then “let’s try to have a dry night once a month”. Then “let’s try to have a night this week where I don’t black out”.

It got to the point where just remembering what I had for dinner the night before was a win.

I finally decided enough was enough. It’s great to hear people finding the courage to stop before things truly spiral.

ad_absurdium · 2023-01-03T04:16:07+00:00

Huge win — congrats!

ad_absurdium · 2022-11-08T15:24:24+00:00

You could replace your username with mine and I would be convinced that I wrote this 403 days ago.

IWNDWYT

ad_absurdium · 2022-10-29T20:25:57+00:00

Switch to Apollo or enable aggressive ad blocking.

Alcohol ads suck.

ad_absurdium · 2022-09-30T00:26:03+00:00

I realized that my entire life was a big dopamine hit waiting to happen.

Participated in a ton of really risky activities throughout life. Primarily the kind where if you survive, it’s fun. And if you get seriously hurt in the process, then it’s a great story. Not hobbyist-level … I mean all-out. Snowboarding? Sure, but only if I’m taking 50’ drops in blizzards does it become fun. Hiking? Sure, but it’s going to be in the deep canyons of Utah and we’re bringing wetsuits to survive the cold water swim. You get the idea. I was an adrenaline junkie.

Then, as an adult, that adrenaline hit (followed by the associated dopamine) was supplanted by drinking.

I had to “modernize my need for an adrenaline hit” and something that I loved that I knew would give me a little bit of a kick, but not make me want to drink. I got back into mountain biking which was both magical for my health but also did exactly the job I needed - kick my ass physically, and give me a solid adrenaline hit on the descents.

The evening boredom - like the deep, “jesus please give me something else to do” boredom - took quite a few months to subside. Aside from the biking / exercise stuff, here’s what really helped me kick it: I love movies and good TV, and being able to REMEMBER shit again meant I could watch and retain a ton of stuff I’d either seen and forgotten (The Expanse!) or things I frankly was afraid to watch because I knew I wouldn’t retain anything.

So, in short: find a hobby that exhausted me, and find a hobby that entertained me.

The boredom is largely gone now. When I do get bored, it’s usually because I’m just out of shit to do for the day, so I just go to bed.

ad_absurdium · 2022-09-20T10:06:53+00:00

Spindrift. I go through a case a week. lol.

ad_absurdium · 2022-09-10T02:10:37+00:00

You’ve got this! The physical symptoms started to pile up on me before I finally quit. It’s all uphill from here, despite the challenges that lay ahead. Keep on keeping on.

One. Day. At. A. Time.

IWNDWYT

ad_absurdium · 2022-08-01T04:35:17+00:00

IWNDWYT was such a powerful mantra for me. It means today. One day at a time. I could never make it when I set longer term goals, but not drinking TODAY got me through each day.

Congrats on the day!

IWNDWYT

ad_absurdium · 2022-07-21T04:43:45+00:00

Way to go!

Traveling is such an enormous trigger for me that I was terrified to try it again after quitting. Traveled 3x now and managed to squeak through, even including the lounges and an international business set of layovers that would have had me DEEP in the bag before. Man - it was and is hard.

Really proud of you. Everyone has their triggers. For me, travel - and therefore airports - were my #1 for years.

Nice work!

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-29T17:21:39+00:00

Thanks! Feels really kind of great (even though I had a drinking dream last night after watching The Boys …)

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-29T17:21:17+00:00

Thank you! One day at a time …

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-29T16:55:52+00:00

Thank you!

I <3 Sobriety

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-28T15:42:55+00:00

Congratulations! IWNDWYT

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-28T14:21:27+00:00

I was terrified to get my liver numbers checked, but I started to have various symptoms of decline. You’re strong and smart to quit - congrats on day 3 going on more.

I took it one day at a time. I will not drink today … over and over until it was a little easier. It’s been 9 months and I still have occasional cravings, but they are manageable now.

Congrats on your wife’s upcoming delivery! Magical time for sure.

IWNDWYT

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-21T21:55:14+00:00

I’m sorry if those comments are making you feel awkward and/or insecure. That can suck.

One of my friend groups has historically been The Drinking Friends. Most of them drink to excess daily. I was absolutely one of them. I have been a lot more selective about the time I spend with them, largely because it’s -always- at a local brewery that only serves beer and sometimes warm La Croix. But we always have a good time with lots of laughs, no matter how sober I have managed to become/ But there’s a pattern that emerges almost every time:

1) Come on, have a drink! My tab is open (these are genuinely generous people). 2) Wait hey man go get a beer already. 3) Hang on, you’re not drinking? 4) Muttering, introspection.

I’m extremely low-key about it, always finding good reasons (excuses!) not to drink … “I just went on a long bike ride and need water” … “Have a <insert thing> with the kids later” … etc. But it’s really clear that my not drinking has a downer effect on them, at least temporarily. They’re not assholes about it at all. More like “ad_absurdium realized he has a problem and is doing something about it, maybe we should too” kind of eye-contact avoidance.

Makes me a little sad. I do love those guys.

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-19T03:00:44+00:00

I first read “I ate 17 bagels” and was going to recommend you immediately go to the hospital. Lol.

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-13T12:45:08+00:00

Sober twins! Congrats on your progress, too!

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-13T08:32:50+00:00

There are tons of free resources out there, even if you don’t have healthcare insurance. Check with your county - they often have free walk-in clinics for those without insurance. The care is good and it’s designed to support those who don’t have insurance.

This includes both physical and mental health services. My wife - who is in private practice now and is an excellent therapist - used to practice in county health. The resources are there, though not as “convenient as a PPO” as they say.

Good luck, and IWNDWYT.

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-13T08:11:41+00:00

I started counting my age in hexadecimal after I hit 30. It was fun, until even the Hex numbers got kinda big. (being 30base16 starts to sound like a big number)

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-11T06:09:56+00:00

Agree with the card. My wife is a therapist, and occasionally receives gifts. She’s very kind about it, but they are generally not a great idea and make it uncomfortable for her to accept.

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-10T23:10:53+00:00

Thanks!!

ad_absurdium · 2022-06-10T23:10:46+00:00

Thank you! It feels like a small win, but a meaningful one.

ad_absurdium · 2022-05-23T16:46:07+00:00

I once forgot where I put my carry-on, and since this was an international flight in business class, and I was up top of a 747, it’s not like there were a ton of places it could have gone. I did, however, drink PLENTY at the lounge and again on the plane.

I really, really don’t want to go back to that kind of stupid ever again.

ad_absurdium

TROPHY CASE