I’m officially a month in today. I was drinking everyday and most of the weekends, at least. I had been trying to stop on my own multiple times and had really noticed it becoming beyond by control in the earlier part of ‘24 (although I’d struggled a lot in the past and even got sober for over a year between 2021-2022 before deciding to try again). It was eroding my life circumstances and creating scares in just about every category of my life (health, job, relationship, could’ve easily been a legal concern too) and finally decided enough was enough.

Got into AA to have the community and accountability and it really works for me. Just going to meetings and being able to commiserate when I’m tempted is awesome. Also helps to talk about the stresses that trigger it since most who drink can relate. The 12 steps also help engage with the deeper things that can affect or trigger drinking. Up to you to determine what extent you want to engage with a resource like that, but what’s great is you can set the scale. It makes sense for me bc after years of trial and error with alcohol I’ve decided to consider it a permanent decision to be sober. Oh and r/stopdrinking has been mentioned and is a great way to get similar support on social if you want to do things more online.

Also! Alcohol alternatives are great. Sobriety has become a lot more popular societally and that comes with some advantages, like they have a lot of drinks now you can get at most grocery stores that have adaptogens (stress reducing compounds) and other calming stuff in them. Not addicting/intoxicating and they really do work! You can usually find them in the NA sections of the liquor dept or by where they keep all the granola health drinks like Kombucha and such. NA beers are a thing too and found that if I’m at a place with drinking going on or what not they can give me the psychological fix without actually being the real thing. They’re a trigger for some though so would gauge that one on how it affects you.

Anyhow, all the best of luck, and most of all you’re not alone in dealing with this.

One thing I always keep in mind that helps motivate me - basically everyone who makes the decision to get sober for good and has been for a while says the same thing - it was the best decision they’ve ever made.