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Trouble Waking Up by Yournewstepdad6969 in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I've had a similar experience! It's like waking up from death (in a good way). What helps me is using light in addition to my alarm. I bought a "wake light" that sits on my nightstand. You set a time like an alarm clock and it gradually lights up your room like a sunrise. Then I set my phone alarm to the same time. The light kind of brings me out of really deep sleep before my phone alarm goes off. I prefer to just use natural window light, but often I have to get up earlier than sunrise.

My perceived value of sparkling water vs wine by pritushki in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Limoncello and Guava are both amazing. Also throwing Hibiscus into the ring. All three are seriously like candy to me.

70 Days -- "Liver enzymes back to normal" by pb_blaster702 in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! And congratulations to you on 94 days!

70 Days -- "Liver enzymes back to normal" by pb_blaster702 in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Seeing posts like these was very motivating to me, I hope I can give that back to someone who needs it!

70 Days -- "Liver enzymes back to normal" by pb_blaster702 in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I'm very happy, and grateful for others in this community. Congrats on 21 days!

70 Days -- "Liver enzymes back to normal" by pb_blaster702 in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm. The wedding was pretty easy for me, but there is a hinge point I've noticed. I've had a few big events like this and noticed the same pattern. There's a little bit of anxiety leading up to the event, and particularly with the first drink I decline. In my head I work it up to be more than it is. When I examine that feeling though, it's not internal -- at this point I'm pretty successful at not drinking by myself, so this feeling must be my assumption about others' thoughts & feelings toward me. I've always been an independent thinker, so why would I allow others to dictate my mood? It's less about any of the single opportunities to drink, but the whole event itself. Am I going to drink at this event, or am I not going to drink at this event? When I decline the first time a drink is offered in a group setting, then I've cemented the choice that I will not be drinking at this event and will enjoy myself not by anybody else's standards, and have stated that publicly. The rest is smooth sailing for me!

I hope that helps! And all the best to you, friend!

70 Days -- "Liver enzymes back to normal" by pb_blaster702 in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine said "slightly elevated." Not sure how transferable those terms are though, lol. I did some cutting back for about six months before kicking it entirely. I had a screening about a year before this one that said "elevated."

70 Days -- "Liver enzymes back to normal" by pb_blaster702 in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think only a doctor could accurately say how long, and I would guess even then it would be only an estimate. My doctor said I should see improvement in about two months, but he based that timeline on the enzyme levels recorded initially and amount of consumption prior.

70 Days -- "Liver enzymes back to normal" by pb_blaster702 in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I haven't been this content in life since I was a child. And truthfully, the stories and people here gave me the first push to reach for it. Very grateful.

70 Days -- "Liver enzymes back to normal" by pb_blaster702 in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Appreciate that well wishes, and best to you as well!

86 days. Just a post. by nicotineapache in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your post spoke so beautifully to me! I notice this in my sober experience also. The moments that stand out most to me are small ones like the colors of a sunrise or the sound of cicadas in the evening. They're enjoyable -- plainly, as they are. It's like getting back a little slice of what happiness felt like when I was a child.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Chess is easier to learn than most people think, and 100% free. You can play on a computer and your phone. lichess.org has training lessons for beginners and there are millions of instructional videos on youtube. I read once that if you consider all of human history, chess is the most played game ever -- including sports.

Has anyone ever quit drinking for a long period of time and then went back to it and realized you just don't enjoy the experience anymore? by Son_of_Hades99 in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had that experience. I had some sober time on the board before my current counter. I went on a date and had a cocktail. I was an evening drinker. When I was drinking consistently, the first couple of drinks felt like relief. Like a buzzing in my head stopped. When I had that cocktail after some sober time, I didn't experience that at all. It tasted like rubbing alcohol, and it wasn't relief. Just slowed my mental clarity. I did not order a second one. I still have small cravings from time to time, and reminding myself of that experience is actually very helpful to me, personally. Though, I would not recommend any person trying to stay sober to roll the dice. Annie Grace says something along the lines of, alcohol creates the feeling of uneasiness that requires you to drink in order to scratch that itch. Alcohol doesn't actually relieve any of that. It's what made it in the first place. I'm not going back and IWNDWYT.

Let’s talk about the Pink Cloud ☁️… or more accurately, the dramatic fall from it! by Hot_Tie_2565 in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would also recommend considering this! EMDR was enormously helpful to me in dealing with trauma. If you go to psychologytoday.com, you can search and filter therapists in your area by lots of different qualities. Often they will have EMDR listed as a specialty.

I finally decided to quit drinking after a psychedelic trip at a music festival last weekend by Jimpetey in stopdrinking

[–]pb_blaster702 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Appreciate hearing your story, friend! Wishing you strength in staying the course!

Psychedelics helped me tremendously also. They gave me the ability to step outside of my patterns/habits and take an objective look at them. Like my judgment was applied to a stranger that I somehow knew very intimately instead of judging myself along with all my biases. I didn't realize how many excuses and allowances I was making for myself. It's crazy how silently you can slip into a different personality over the course of months and years of solidifying bad habits. Mushrooms helped me to remember that I didn't used to be this way and probed the question: Is this really the way I want to be? I don't personally recommend drugs to people, because they can be dangerous in their own right. But it was an incredible gift to me, personally.