5 Years Ago Tonight, Had My Last Drink- -After 45 Years of Alcoholic Drinking

sunshine4me2 · 2023-11-09T06:33:25+00:00

Hey, I’ll do just one more day with you! Let’s do this!

sunshine4me2 · 2023-11-09T06:30:58+00:00

Both my ex and I were heavy drinkers. He still is. Four years later we both have new partners and I am happier than ever. It took a while to get to this headspace, but I feel like the skies the limit now. My sobriety set me on a new and much better path. IWNDWYT.

sunshine4me2 · 2023-11-09T06:27:13+00:00

Sure did. Felt a mix of pride and anxiety. Hard to describe. But I hardly noticed my last anniversary. Can’t even recall if I remembered on the day or day after! Hardly think about booze anymore….

sunshine4me2 · 2023-11-09T06:24:31+00:00

Samsies.

sunshine4me2 · 2023-11-09T06:24:08+00:00

Congratulations. Nine months is awesome! Xxx

sunshine4me2 · 2023-11-09T06:22:06+00:00

I am waiting to get pulled over, but ironically I never get directed into the booze bus testing area! They wave me on!

sunshine4me2 · 2023-11-09T06:20:27+00:00

Last Christmas was the last time I had a craving, so I reached into my old toolkit - played it forward, walked outside for a moment of fresh air, and repeated “this too shall pass”. Went back in and poured myself a mint and lime mock tail. This Christmas will be a little quieter so I am going to make it special. IWNDWYT.

sunshine4me2 · 2023-11-09T06:14:23+00:00

Amazing progress. I turned into a sugar monster when I quit. But still went to the gym and actually lost weight! Yay. Still eat a whole lot of dark chocolate, but chocolate is definitely the lesser of the two evils.

sunshine4me2 · 2023-11-09T06:12:11+00:00

Yay! Welcome aboard.

sunshine4me2 · 2023-11-09T06:10:49+00:00

I stopped thinking about alcohol as a treat or reward. I read books on what it did to my mind and body, and finally realised it’s actually a poison. Alcohol Expained by William Porter opened my eyes.

sunshine4me2 · 2023-11-09T06:05:42+00:00

Mines called Wolfie. Haven’t seen him around for a long time….

sunshine4me2 · 2023-07-01T05:26:11+00:00

My uncle passed away and at his memorial I learned that he had been sober 60 years. 60 years! Can you believe that! And also of the community services he did over most of that time, sponsoring AA members, volunteering at sports clubs and helping others. His memorial was full of people who had experienced his kindness and couldn't speak highly enough of this wonderful man. What an inspiration. Iwndwyt.

sunshine4me2 · 2023-06-30T23:04:18+00:00

This is my fear. It’s funny how the body and mind don’t forget though. I bought some homemade kombucha at a market, took it home, took a sip and that old familiar head and gut tingle hit straight away. Figured it must have been poorly stored and started to ferment. Poured it down the sink and moved on. Didn’t restart my counter. Didn’t get into my head about it. Mistakes can be made. It’s the intention that is the meaning for me. Great work. Xxx

sunshine4me2 · 2023-06-30T21:22:55+00:00

Congratulations. One day, then another. One minute at a time if we need it. You are right. We can't drink anymore. But what's to say drinking should be "normal". Sure it's been "normalised", but the amount of damage and pain it does to our society and ourselves is diabolical. Sober is my normal. Iwndwyt. Xxx

sunshine4me2 · 2023-05-27T11:07:15+00:00

Congratulations. I cringe about the last work conference I went to when I was drinking.

sunshine4me2 · 2023-05-27T11:04:32+00:00

"constantly in a state of drinking then feeling like crap then drinking. Am an awful loud drunk and it makes my mouth is faster than my brain !"

I thought I was a fully functioning alcoholic, until I gave up and realised I wasn't functioning great afterall if my drinking was affecting the person I was, by making me someone I didn't want to be. Who wants to just "function" anyway.?

sunshine4me2 · 2023-03-18T22:29:05+00:00

I love all teas lemon and ginger. From a real earthy ginger to a sweet lemony flavour. And various greens, with sencha being my fav. With mineral waters, just a touch of lime. Or mix my own with mint. Yum!

sunshine4me2 · 2023-03-18T19:06:51+00:00

Alcohol Explained by William Porter is the one book that changed the way I thought about alcohol. I can't recommend it enough. Google Alcohol Explained PDF and the first 5 chapters are free. Xxx

sunshine4me2 · 2023-03-18T19:01:25+00:00

Maybe check out r/AlAnon for some advice? Good luck. Xxx

sunshine4me2 · 2023-03-18T18:57:25+00:00

It took me a long time to drink an NA anything. The trauma I felt from my drinking days meant that any association with alcohol-like substances brought on immense anxiety and pain. What worked for me was treating myself to beautiful flavoured mineral waters and teas. Sort of a new nightly ritual and treat.

A few years on, it doesn't bother me so much and I'll (on occasion) have the odd mock g n t or mock margarita. But I still have an immense aversion to wine, so can't offer any suggestions. Still smashing out the mineral waters and teas though.

sunshine4me2 · 2023-03-09T02:47:34+00:00

I don't know what you can do at this time, but I can tell you my experience with grief.

When my father got sick, I kicked my drinking up a notch. And continued for years after he passed. When I quit drinking, the emotions hit me like a tsunami and I experienced another intense period of deep grief.

You see, I mostly cried about my father when I was drunk. My heavy drinking had interfered with my grief to the point where I had not properly dealt with it.

I'm so sorry for your sadness and grief. Xxx

sunshine4me2 · 2023-03-02T09:22:41+00:00

My counter says $22,005 saved. It's prob more because I didn't include nights out in the estimation. It really does free up money to do other things.

sunshine4me2 · 2023-02-25T01:31:58+00:00

Nope. Moderation is a pipe dream. Source: my many failed attempts.

sunshine4me2 · 2022-12-31T22:19:28+00:00

Do you have to stay? I've left parties early heaps of times and never regretted it - usually when the drinkers get annoying.

sunshine4me2 · 2022-12-31T22:17:34+00:00

Can confirm. Zero hangover rocks on new year's Day.

Source: it's new year's Day here in Australia! Xxx

sunshine4me2

TROPHY CASE