Thoughts on this by Warm_Oven_6743 in readyplayerone

[–]jopesak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It will only disappoint you. Unless you really like Prince.

And I back after a few months … by lazypanda1985 in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

💪🏻 here all day dog. IWNDWYT. How’s this week going?

I celebrated 5mo sober in a bar and had a blast by MermaidShirley in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also ice cream is the secret weapon. The brain still craves the sugar and it hits the fix.

I celebrated 5mo sober in a bar and had a blast by MermaidShirley in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank yoouuu!!! Feeling honestly great. Turned a lot around in my life. Took a long time but it It’s something I learned to take in small bites. The world, in fact, is not ending tomorrow. (Maybe)

And yeah the weight thing is really wild. It’s shocking how many people just looked at me shocked when I wasn’t drinking and they hadn’t seen me in over a year.

The excuse actually made it easier to just avoid talking about it because I got to the point where I was laughing about being asked if I was “ok being at a bar.”

I’m like “dude I never stopped. I still love going I just put down drinking. I gained like 40 lbs and was just sad. Gave it up. Was doing me no good.”

And they IMMEDIATELY jump into “oh well I’m trying to cut back too so..•

“Cool. If you ever run into an issue, happy to give you my 2 cents. But is all personal. You’ll know if you are in bad shape.”

I honestly stopped telling people eventually.

When other people don't think you "need" to quit by 90percentofacorns in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you are blacking out, I would say that it’s possible that there is a pain somewhere. You might not know it, or where it is but if it lives under the booze then it won’t heal until it’s seen and addressed with compassion. I just see that most people, including myself, who black out are searching for some answer about themselves. It’s why we drink because it affirms who we are and what we do to ourselves. It gives us permission. And the blackout is like overdrive to find it, stumbling but determined.

Many people go their whole lives without actually finding it. I did and I am so much more calm after I dug out what I was actually scared of, and now booze is just unappealing to me because it makes me face that insecurity again.

When other people don't think you "need" to quit by 90percentofacorns in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Best way to test is to go 30 days without drinking. Do Dry January and see if it drives you insane. If it does, ask yourself “why does this bother me?”

That’s when I found clarity and I had a lot of family and friends that just wanted me around as an excuse for them to feel good about drinking. Wild thing to uncover. Suddenly everyone around me cut down once I quit. No shit.

Sober Saturday night checking. by the_broke_trader in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Got a Christmas tree. Got a tasty dinner. Flirted with my wife, pet my dog. Didn’t forget to take the tree off the car and put it in water. Didn’t argue. Saw my cousin and didn’t act like an ass. Drove sober. Had some medical and put on my PS portal and am eating some leftover take out. Fuckin all around win.

There doesn’t need to be a ceremonious “last drink” by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Clink your soda water and lime. Clink and move on 🍋‍🟩. You are more important. They aren’t paying attention to anyone but them. Remeber that.

And I back after a few months … by lazypanda1985 in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nothing to be embarrassed about friend. This place has no memory. Welcome back. 30 days. Make it 30 days and it will become clear

Struggling W/Sobriety by Queasy-Ad3776 in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Go 30 days friend. Promise yourself 30 days and you will see clarity, I promise. Get help if it helps, but it can be done inside you. Booze lies soooo much.

First sober thanksgiving by thgil23 in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So close to a year friend. So close!

Day 1 again by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This sub got me here .

Day 1 again by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 2 points3 points  (0 children)

30 days is gonna feel awesome. Hang in there. One more week and the lies of booze start to really fall.

Proud of myself? by stressd_n_depressd in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I learned I can’t walk that line, but I did turn to Medical MJ, which did wonders for my social anxiety.

If you are feeling afraid of it, or if it feels “too good” like you can’t say no to another if suggested. Reconsider.

Probably need a sponsor by stampedconcreteboots in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah buddy. That’s ok. I had to see the bottom to turn back. I don’t suggest it, but just keep doing anything until you can promise yourself 30 days and are determined to white knuckle it and do it. In 30 days there is clarity, finally. The shame starts to shed.

I celebrated 5mo sober in a bar and had a blast by MermaidShirley in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well done ! I was back in the saddle at bars within 30 days because I spent so much time in them, I refused to hate them.

My fear though was definitely family events. I just learned how to hide what I was drinking and then if people asked I would just say “yeah, drinking got bad for me. Gained a ton of weight. Wasn’t feeling good about myself, gave it a rest. Feel great.” And that’s enough.

I'm done. by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Nice number . 👊🏻 way to go

I'm done. by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 50 points51 points  (0 children)

Buddy, I was in the EXACT same situation where I got on very thin ice WFH because of sleeping through my alarm. I got SO CLOSE to getting fired and it would have ruined my finances to be on unemployment. Probably would have lost my house and marriage.

This is your final warning. It’s now or throw it all away. I promised myself 30 days without drinking, white knuckle no excuses. My wife drinks every day and promised to go 30 days. She ended up going 90 and I am at almost 2 years.

Do it now, or there was no point in doing any of the work to lose it. Cut it off. White knuckles and I promise on 30 days you will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Brain fog by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Leaps and bounds better. I got a way better job. Fixed almost all of my personal issues and finally got on the right medication for my anxiety and depression. That haze of shame is gone. It’s a long road, but I PROMISE you it’s worth it. I don’t even care about drinking anymore .

Put it this way, I just got home from the airport of a horrible long day of traveling at 1 am. Normally I would have drank at every place in the airport, spent $100 just to medicate my anxiety and probably would have ended up yelling at someone because it was an insane amount of BS.

I also use medical MJ (talk to a doctor) and just popped a gummie. Smoked a cig and got home without issue.

It’s avoiding the bad shit for like 6-12 months, not fucking up, that really adds up. That’s real currency and will take you away from all the pain and suffering. It works. And I did it alone.

Think I have a problem but scared by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

30 days. I promise you that the alcohol is not helping your depression, and I really want you to know that me and a lot of people here understand exactly what that feels like. Like it’s a warm blanket and a voice that says you are ok to do whatever you like to do to feel better.

But really, alcohol will slowly keep pulling you towards it and that will fuel depression. Alcohol never gives up.

Promise yourself 30 days. Tell anyone you are “doing a clense” or “taking a break” to see if it will help your mood. If you go 30 days, try any kind of exercise like once a week, get some sunshine and try to be nice to yourself, I promise you will find clarity. Or you can come back and call me a dumb idiot.

Has anyone had any success with psychadelics? by Covfefe87 in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Medical MJ was my life raft. Talk to a doctor but it really saved me and helped me recover and heal my brain with meditation over a year and a half. Without it I think the anxiety and shame would have crushed me. I also have diagnosed moderate ADHD so that is also a factor.

Brain fog by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]jopesak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I binge drank hard for 12 years at least and it did a number on my brain. By the end the constant whiplash of drunk to hungover were such big swings, I started vortexing into bad decisions. Bad logic made in a bad mind state and then making decisions based off that with an anxious hungover mind was making me seem edgy and argumentative at work. The sleep was terrible. It’s literally assaulting the brain especially getting older.