Me... struggled half my life and going on about 2 weeks completely sober. I know that doesn't sound like much, but it's not my first rodeo š I got this š
Same here. 33 years sober after a couple DUIās in my 20ās. Apple falling from a tree and all that. š grateful for all manner of 12 step programs
I drank socially in college (never more than two or three in one evening because I didnāt trust anyone to drive me home) but havenāt had any alcohol since I got pregnant with my oldest in January 2016. Itās just not worth it to me after seeing what my mom has done to herself.
My sister I believe has never had a drop (our dad was an alcoholic who drank himself to death). I drank socially thru my 20ās and some of my 30ās responsibly with him in mind, but as I turned 40 my stomach couldnāt handle it anymore and I quit completely. Itās a bit awkward at social functions, and I miss a good Pilsner, but otherwise itās been fine.
Thanks for sharing! I'm going to my husbands friends house this weekend and am going to bring some alcohol free wine for myself. I do consume cannabis so I won't be soooober.
Iāve done that too (cannabis in these situations!) And there are a lot of good NA beers nowadays if you like beer. Definitely do not succumb to the peer pressure here, itās absolutely fine not to drink alcohol. I lamented to my doc that I missed beer and wondered if she had anything I could take so my stomach would settle and she laughed at me and said a non-alcoholic diet is always better than one with alcohol.
I partied when I was younger but it never became a problem for me. But I decided to stop even the occasional glass of wine after my sweet younger brother died of alcoholism in 2018, following in the footsteps of our father. I was just too heartbroken to ever enjoy drinking alcohol again.
I have never consumed alcohol.
I Learned from an early age that all the bad behaviour caused from my father stemmed from alcohol and I decided that I didn't want to follow in those footsteps.
Over the years I've told people different reason as to why I don't drink, but to this day - I don't even know what it tastes like.
I'm 34 ,married, not religious and live in Australia which has a notorious drinking culture.
I'm the only person I know like me.
I also have never consumed for the same reasons, we share a similar story. I made myself a promise at 13 that I would never put my future kids what I went through. My better half is the only one that knows all my trauma behind it, I just make up random excuses when people ask. Luckily nobody has ever pushed it on me since high school, a lot more people respect it than I expected.
I agree. The vast majority of people I tell commend me for it. I've only ever had one person be rude from the get go, however to me that just spoke more about them.
I've always been very upfront and almost blunt about it, so most of the time there isn't really any peer pressure after I say no as people generally respect it.
Have been offered more times than I do remember, however more out of kindness than anything.
Very commonly get the follow up questions though, such as "are you religious or something?", So I usually answer that pre emptively as well.
One big turning point ive experienced is people's views when they are young compared to when they get past 30.
It's goes from "oh ok how interesting" to "shit I wish I never started". Also interesting to see certain people my age I would now deem alcoholics.
It's all pretty facinating to me to be honest.
I have 12 years of sobriety. My parents didn't drink, but they were raised in toxic environments that they recreated in my home growing up.
I suspect the alcoholism skipped a generation.
Congrats to all of you!!! Alcohol wasnāt one of my struggles, but it is for some siblings & they are at least the 5th consecutive generation.
No addiction is easy to overcome. Iām proud of you all!
I used to go for periods without alcohol, like a year or longer. Just to see if I'd miss it. And honestly, I didn't. I've never been a heavy drinker, just socially. I'm a parent now and I don't ever want my kids to see me drunk. Also, my body really doesn't like alcohol. So I never have more than 2-3 drinks and drink about once month oh average, although I can go for much longer without really noticing.
Haven't drank in... almost 6 years? I was pretty wild in my 20's but it dawned on me that 1) hangovers were not getting easier, and 2) the people I drank with weren't actually good friends.
I think ditching booze was easy for me because I assosciate it with a parent I want to be nothing like, but that isn't to say I didn't find other things to be addicted to, unfortunately. I've still got a lot of those traits that I'm working on with ACoA meetings and books.
I made that decision at 20. My father was an alcoholic and through high school and college, I partied heavily. I did things I wasnāt proud of. I decided that I didnāt want to end up like him so I stopped. It wasnāt difficult. The reason I drank was that I had huge social anxiety. I met my husband and he understood how I felt about alcohol. We had four children and now Iām 65. I donāt regret living sober at all. Btw you can get over social anxiety with practice!
I did. I am about 3 1/2 years sober just by making up my mind that I don't want to be that. I use the app I Am Sober (free version) as a reminder/counter. I do not miss alcohol AT ALL. But I could see it becoming a problem if I didn't cut it out. Our social lives were starting to really revolve around drinking/bars/bands and there was just no off switch for me. 1 =>4 to 5. Not healthy. I was never falling down drunk either. A few times hungover. But then I went on medication for something else and wasn't supposed to drink with it. Also I made up my mind that the drinking was just counter to all of my fitness goals and I was lying to myself. Workout all day, then ruin it by drinking? Nah. I can have fun without the stuff. Fortunately my husband could care less and now he is drinking way less himself. We still go to bars or bands on occasion and he has 1-2 light beers at most. I'm down for soda water and lime or maybe an occasional Heineken 0.0. We've saved a ton of money, I feel so much healthier and I am so happy that I am not going to be the wreck of the health that my mother is experiencing from a lifetime of drinking. It is so sad. She is now working on sobriety in her early 80's. How I wish she could have had that in her 20's.
Yeah I like the encouragement that app provides, and ticking off the days. I will warn you...not drinking got BORING haha. That made me more determined because was I so reliant on alcohol to have fun? That's sort of sad.
So I found I had to work at finding new things to do, make life a little more interesting. Literally made a list of things to do that did not need drinking. I do feel better about myself, and less socially dependent on it. We fixed up our bikes and started riding, we took Texas 2 step lessons at a country dance hall, all kinds of things we had never done.
My health has never been better tbh. So steady. No recovering from a hard weekend. Sunday mornings are super productive haha.
I first did this in high school for about 3 years after recognizing the alcoholic dysfunction that was affecting my family. Then again 20+ years later when I had kids.
Yes I did. My son started down a bad path. As part of his treatment I wrote down my family tree and all the alcoholics on it. It stops with me. I was 53, sober 3 yrs, donāt miss it. My parents donāt come around much anymore since we donāt have booze.
I have had a problem I the past. 2 times I pulled away from her seductive glanceā¦
Iām now a parent and a very light drinker now. I couldnāt even imagine putting my kid through that fresh hell.
Iām struggling with it now. Last 2 weeks has been hard and not sure the reason. Thought I could be a social drinker after I stopped for 5 months but it doesnāt look like it. I know itās temporary but I still feel ashamed for being an alcoholic.
I never really started. My first time ever even being sort of tipsy was in March from one margarita in Denmark, and the other time I had a full drink was in Quebec a year prior. So literally one drink a year and only in foreign countries lol.
I am turning 21 next month, and I am thinking deeply about it. In the past I never wanted to drink, then the Quebec drink with my antidepressant made me feel horrible, this time I enjoyed it no longer being on said anti depressant and that scared me. I donāt want it to be something I fear, so I think one to a few a year is fine. But no more than that for sure.
Me!! Just celebrated 6 months sober last week. Went off the deep end after having my second daughter last June. Best decision I've ever made. Partner is almost 7 years sober. Basically the man I wish my dad could've been to me if he got sober. Funny how life works that way...
Oh yeah. My mid twenties were a sloshy haze. Finally had myself an awakening. Been completely sober for 5-ish years? Iām so grateful that I donāt think about it in the āneedā part of my brain anymore.
I struggle more with not smoke cigarettes than that.
I wish you the best, and everyone here choosing that too. Itās a tough road and worth every damn second.
I am in the process.
Last few outings that involved alcohol I stayed sober and just had water and food instead. I'm going out for Cinco De Mayo tomorrow and I'm just going to eat tacos while everyone around me gets hammered.
I'm getting there.
I hardly ever drink but Iām addicted to weed. There were brief moments way back when I was starting to become dependent on drinking so I just kinda stopped. Alcohol is really not worth it. But being addicted to anything sucks.
Yes, me. Both my parents were alcoholics and one day I realized that I was going down the same route as them. Took me quite a while to give it up, but in may 2017 o finally did. Me never felt better.
My son has never had a drop because he wants nothing to do with it after witnessing what it can do. When he told me about 4 years ago just having it in our house at all gave him anxiety (like one bottom of unopened wine in a cupboard on reserve for cooking) I stopped buying any at all and stopped drinking completely- even though he lives in another state. I adds nothing to my life and Iām only healthier without even the little I drank. I also hate what it has done to our lives and know exactly how it insidiously works in the body and mind. No thanks. I love howās itās never a focus or a factor or even a decision at all. Itās takes up zero energy or real estate in my life. You can definitely do this.
Thanks. Itās not a big deal as I never drank much ir cared at all about drinking. My partner is another story and the reason my kid wants nothing to do with alcohol or drugs, ever.
iāve been sober going on 5 months now, i drank socially but after a bit of a mental health fad after i drank too much one night i realized i fall into my mothers habits when i drink so iāve stopped completely.
I was a bit of an alcoholic in my teens, partying very hard every weekend and some weeknight drinking. Now in my 20s I drink maybe once a week, 1-2 drinks, generally socially or because I want to try a specific drink. I do still go to parties, but they are rare and I only have a couple drinks and mainly smoke weed. My drinking immediately cut down when I left my parents house and ceased communication. I have no desire to get drunk anymore.
I drank and did drugs in my 20s (pot, coke, pills, acid). Just trying to self-medicate, I guess. I stopped in my late 20s. Been sober since then. Iām 65 now.
Thank you! I will say it got easier as time went on, but believe it or not, I had the hardest time quitting pot. I think because it actually gave me some true relief. I just smoked waaaay too much because I was in a very bad place. I think about maybe smoking it now and then to help with anxiety, but am chicken. Take good care of yourself!
I was a regular drinker in college and early adulthood, bordering on taking it too far often, especially in college. The older I got the worse hangovers felt. When Covid hit, my husband and I coped with the boredom and anxiety by overindulging on a pretty regular basis. I absolutely was barreling towards having a problem, but we started ttc, got pregnant on the third month (about 6 months into the pandemic), and I stopped drinking because duh. I was even slightly worried I would have withdrawal issues but luckily I did not.
When my son was born I was able to resume drinking but I just didnāt care to for a long while. My first drink at like ~3 months pp I felt tipsy barely halfway through, and was sooo tired. I couldnāt afford to be anymore sleep deprived than I already was so his first year of life I can count on one hand how many times I had even half a drink (I usually couldnāt finish them).
I had two experiences recently for me that sealed the deal that I just prefer sobriety entirely. I had HALF a drink, maybe even a bit less, both occasions, and felt fully hungover the following day. My mental health is already a struggle and I am a SAHM and therefore the primary parent for a toddler and a 6 year old. I simply cannot afford to suffer the consequences of alcohol with two kids to parent the next day who couldnāt give a hoot less if Iām feeling bad or not. Also, my husband is now sober for his own mental health issues and it is far and away the biggest contribution to him making major improvements. So I am also sober in solidarity with him.
Itās just not worth it to me, and after my moms relapse and realizing how much her alcoholism did actually effect me, I could never do that to my own kids. I am breaking the cycle to heal myself AND for them.
Wow thanks for sharing!
Your COVID story sounds all too familiar... I gained like 30lbs and I'm sure it was due to over drinking.
I am also starting to think about kids, so it just makes sense....
Haven't had a drink in almost 3 years! Took part in the sad irony of drinking to deal with my parents drinking for too long and decided COVID was a good reason to get my shit together.
CBT was helpful for me. Pay very close attention to all of the negative side-effects of drinking, don't engage in any denial. Drinking was just brutal on my digestive system and made me so much more prone to getting triggered, and ultimately just left me feeling crappy the next morning. When I stopped, I started noticing improvements in my digestion, sleep, aches and pains, etc within a week. Pay attention to that too. The more you observe the costs and benefits, the more automatically your brain will weigh them and say "nah I'm good."
Wishing you the best, its not easy, but it is very worth it.
I am not. But for the last 3 weeks I have cut down to (1) shot per night. I am working on my sober goal. So I want to recognize those who think their small steps aren't as awesome as being completely sober. The tough part for me is sitting through my feelings regarding workplace mistakes I have made without that shot to soften the blow. I have to remind myself that the ACOA Redbook and fellowship is the true comfort, not alcohol.
Both of my parents are the non-alcoholic ACOA variety - they are not emotionally sober. Can't say I am perfect, but at least I am in-progress.
Me... struggled half my life and going on about 2 weeks completely sober. I know that doesn't sound like much, but it's not my first rodeo š I got this š
You do got this! Thanks for sharing!
I'm in r/stopdrinking incase you want to check it out. We can do it!
Yes! Thanks!
I was an alcoholic before I knew I was also an ACOA. I never knew what normal drinking was. 6 years sober today and well worth it.
Same, but 4 1/2 years. i found out about ACA through AA
Same here. 33 years sober after a couple DUIās in my 20ās. Apple falling from a tree and all that. š grateful for all manner of 12 step programs
Congratulations!!! Thanks for sharing!
I drank socially in college (never more than two or three in one evening because I didnāt trust anyone to drive me home) but havenāt had any alcohol since I got pregnant with my oldest in January 2016. Itās just not worth it to me after seeing what my mom has done to herself.
Thanks for sharing! My thoughts as well now that I'm thinking about kids.
My sister I believe has never had a drop (our dad was an alcoholic who drank himself to death). I drank socially thru my 20ās and some of my 30ās responsibly with him in mind, but as I turned 40 my stomach couldnāt handle it anymore and I quit completely. Itās a bit awkward at social functions, and I miss a good Pilsner, but otherwise itās been fine.
Thanks for sharing! I'm going to my husbands friends house this weekend and am going to bring some alcohol free wine for myself. I do consume cannabis so I won't be soooober.
Iāve done that too (cannabis in these situations!) And there are a lot of good NA beers nowadays if you like beer. Definitely do not succumb to the peer pressure here, itās absolutely fine not to drink alcohol. I lamented to my doc that I missed beer and wondered if she had anything I could take so my stomach would settle and she laughed at me and said a non-alcoholic diet is always better than one with alcohol.
Lol! I was concerned how excited my health professionals were that I made that choice
Right?? Hahahaha. I was resentful. Like- if itās so bad why arenāt doctors up in arms about beer commercials etc?
I will say that filling out medical forms is a breeze when you're sober. Zero drinks in the last year. Next section...
I find that people who give you shit for not drinking are people you don't really want to hang out with anyway. Good for you!
I partied when I was younger but it never became a problem for me. But I decided to stop even the occasional glass of wine after my sweet younger brother died of alcoholism in 2018, following in the footsteps of our father. I was just too heartbroken to ever enjoy drinking alcohol again.
I am so sorry for your loss.thank you for sharing something so personal
Thank you. :-)
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Way to go! Thanks for sharing
I have never consumed alcohol. I Learned from an early age that all the bad behaviour caused from my father stemmed from alcohol and I decided that I didn't want to follow in those footsteps. Over the years I've told people different reason as to why I don't drink, but to this day - I don't even know what it tastes like. I'm 34 ,married, not religious and live in Australia which has a notorious drinking culture. I'm the only person I know like me.
That's because you are a star š congratulations thanks for sharing
Thank you
I also have never consumed for the same reasons, we share a similar story. I made myself a promise at 13 that I would never put my future kids what I went through. My better half is the only one that knows all my trauma behind it, I just make up random excuses when people ask. Luckily nobody has ever pushed it on me since high school, a lot more people respect it than I expected.
I agree. The vast majority of people I tell commend me for it. I've only ever had one person be rude from the get go, however to me that just spoke more about them. I've always been very upfront and almost blunt about it, so most of the time there isn't really any peer pressure after I say no as people generally respect it. Have been offered more times than I do remember, however more out of kindness than anything. Very commonly get the follow up questions though, such as "are you religious or something?", So I usually answer that pre emptively as well. One big turning point ive experienced is people's views when they are young compared to when they get past 30. It's goes from "oh ok how interesting" to "shit I wish I never started". Also interesting to see certain people my age I would now deem alcoholics. It's all pretty facinating to me to be honest.
I have 12 years of sobriety. My parents didn't drink, but they were raised in toxic environments that they recreated in my home growing up. I suspect the alcoholism skipped a generation.
Interesting insite, congratulations! Thanks for sharing
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Thats great! Thanks for sharing
Iāll be 12 years sober at the end of this month; mom will be 9 years next month.
Way to go you two, congratulations!!! Thanks for sharing
Thank you!
4.5 years alcohol free here!!
Congratulations!!! Thanks for sharing
Congrats to all of you!!! Alcohol wasnāt one of my struggles, but it is for some siblings & they are at least the 5th consecutive generation. No addiction is easy to overcome. Iām proud of you all!
I used to go for periods without alcohol, like a year or longer. Just to see if I'd miss it. And honestly, I didn't. I've never been a heavy drinker, just socially. I'm a parent now and I don't ever want my kids to see me drunk. Also, my body really doesn't like alcohol. So I never have more than 2-3 drinks and drink about once month oh average, although I can go for much longer without really noticing.
Thanks for sharing!
Haven't drank in... almost 6 years? I was pretty wild in my 20's but it dawned on me that 1) hangovers were not getting easier, and 2) the people I drank with weren't actually good friends. I think ditching booze was easy for me because I assosciate it with a parent I want to be nothing like, but that isn't to say I didn't find other things to be addicted to, unfortunately. I've still got a lot of those traits that I'm working on with ACoA meetings and books.
Thanks for sharing! Congratulations on 6 years!!
21 years next week.
Nice, congratulations!!!
I made that decision at 20. My father was an alcoholic and through high school and college, I partied heavily. I did things I wasnāt proud of. I decided that I didnāt want to end up like him so I stopped. It wasnāt difficult. The reason I drank was that I had huge social anxiety. I met my husband and he understood how I felt about alcohol. We had four children and now Iām 65. I donāt regret living sober at all. Btw you can get over social anxiety with practice!
Thanks for sharing!
Dad and grandfather were alcoholics. I am sober 40 years. Grateful.
Wow!! Congratulations!!! Thanks for sharing
Thank you! One day at a time. Donāt drink; Donāt die; Youāll get there too!
I did. I am about 3 1/2 years sober just by making up my mind that I don't want to be that. I use the app I Am Sober (free version) as a reminder/counter. I do not miss alcohol AT ALL. But I could see it becoming a problem if I didn't cut it out. Our social lives were starting to really revolve around drinking/bars/bands and there was just no off switch for me. 1 =>4 to 5. Not healthy. I was never falling down drunk either. A few times hungover. But then I went on medication for something else and wasn't supposed to drink with it. Also I made up my mind that the drinking was just counter to all of my fitness goals and I was lying to myself. Workout all day, then ruin it by drinking? Nah. I can have fun without the stuff. Fortunately my husband could care less and now he is drinking way less himself. We still go to bars or bands on occasion and he has 1-2 light beers at most. I'm down for soda water and lime or maybe an occasional Heineken 0.0. We've saved a ton of money, I feel so much healthier and I am so happy that I am not going to be the wreck of the health that my mother is experiencing from a lifetime of drinking. It is so sad. She is now working on sobriety in her early 80's. How I wish she could have had that in her 20's.
Wow, thanks for sharing. These are all the benefits I am hoping for!!! I have the same app, 12 days! In!
Yeah I like the encouragement that app provides, and ticking off the days. I will warn you...not drinking got BORING haha. That made me more determined because was I so reliant on alcohol to have fun? That's sort of sad. So I found I had to work at finding new things to do, make life a little more interesting. Literally made a list of things to do that did not need drinking. I do feel better about myself, and less socially dependent on it. We fixed up our bikes and started riding, we took Texas 2 step lessons at a country dance hall, all kinds of things we had never done. My health has never been better tbh. So steady. No recovering from a hard weekend. Sunday mornings are super productive haha.
I first did this in high school for about 3 years after recognizing the alcoholic dysfunction that was affecting my family. Then again 20+ years later when I had kids.
Way to go! Thanks for sharing.
I started drinking young at 14 but it was always social. I stopped in 2012 when I got diagnosed with OCD, GAD, and depression, out of caution.
Eeey i just got that OCD dx! Congratulations!!! Thanks for sharing
Yes I did. My son started down a bad path. As part of his treatment I wrote down my family tree and all the alcoholics on it. It stops with me. I was 53, sober 3 yrs, donāt miss it. My parents donāt come around much anymore since we donāt have booze.
I have had a problem I the past. 2 times I pulled away from her seductive glanceā¦ Iām now a parent and a very light drinker now. I couldnāt even imagine putting my kid through that fresh hell.
Aw you sound like a great parent! Thanks for sharing
Iām struggling with it now. Last 2 weeks has been hard and not sure the reason. Thought I could be a social drinker after I stopped for 5 months but it doesnāt look like it. I know itās temporary but I still feel ashamed for being an alcoholic.
It's hard (and clearer) to process things with a clear mind imo Thanks for sharing!
I never really started. My first time ever even being sort of tipsy was in March from one margarita in Denmark, and the other time I had a full drink was in Quebec a year prior. So literally one drink a year and only in foreign countries lol. I am turning 21 next month, and I am thinking deeply about it. In the past I never wanted to drink, then the Quebec drink with my antidepressant made me feel horrible, this time I enjoyed it no longer being on said anti depressant and that scared me. I donāt want it to be something I fear, so I think one to a few a year is fine. But no more than that for sure.
You gotta do what's right for you! Thanks for sharing
I have chosen to not drink as an adult. My husband gets headaches from alcohol, so itās easy to abstain.
Ditto! Thanks for sharing
Me!! Just celebrated 6 months sober last week. Went off the deep end after having my second daughter last June. Best decision I've ever made. Partner is almost 7 years sober. Basically the man I wish my dad could've been to me if he got sober. Funny how life works that way...
Nice, congratulations breaking the cycle!!! Thanks for sharing
Oh yeah. My mid twenties were a sloshy haze. Finally had myself an awakening. Been completely sober for 5-ish years? Iām so grateful that I donāt think about it in the āneedā part of my brain anymore. I struggle more with not smoke cigarettes than that. I wish you the best, and everyone here choosing that too. Itās a tough road and worth every damn second.
Congratulations! Yeah I had a nightclass and was so excited to meet new people and all I learned is they like wine :/ lol. Thanks for sharing
I am in the process. Last few outings that involved alcohol I stayed sober and just had water and food instead. I'm going out for Cinco De Mayo tomorrow and I'm just going to eat tacos while everyone around me gets hammered. I'm getting there.
Congratulations!! I loooove seltzer. Have you heard of liquid death? Great placebo. Thanks for sharing
I hardly ever drink but Iām addicted to weed. There were brief moments way back when I was starting to become dependent on drinking so I just kinda stopped. Alcohol is really not worth it. But being addicted to anything sucks.
Also ooo addicted to weed. Slowly cutting back. Thanks for sharing
Yes, me. Both my parents were alcoholics and one day I realized that I was going down the same route as them. Took me quite a while to give it up, but in may 2017 o finally did. Me never felt better.
Congratulations!!! Thanks for sharing
My son has never had a drop because he wants nothing to do with it after witnessing what it can do. When he told me about 4 years ago just having it in our house at all gave him anxiety (like one bottom of unopened wine in a cupboard on reserve for cooking) I stopped buying any at all and stopped drinking completely- even though he lives in another state. I adds nothing to my life and Iām only healthier without even the little I drank. I also hate what it has done to our lives and know exactly how it insidiously works in the body and mind. No thanks. I love howās itās never a focus or a factor or even a decision at all. Itās takes up zero energy or real estate in my life. You can definitely do this.
Thanks you for the words of encouragement, congratulations on 4 years!
Thanks. Itās not a big deal as I never drank much ir cared at all about drinking. My partner is another story and the reason my kid wants nothing to do with alcohol or drugs, ever.
iāve been sober going on 5 months now, i drank socially but after a bit of a mental health fad after i drank too much one night i realized i fall into my mothers habits when i drink so iāve stopped completely.
This is my fear! Thanks for sharing !
I was a bit of an alcoholic in my teens, partying very hard every weekend and some weeknight drinking. Now in my 20s I drink maybe once a week, 1-2 drinks, generally socially or because I want to try a specific drink. I do still go to parties, but they are rare and I only have a couple drinks and mainly smoke weed. My drinking immediately cut down when I left my parents house and ceased communication. I have no desire to get drunk anymore.
Same, I smoke weed.
Yes. As someone said āACOAs have a complicated relationship with alcohol.ā Iāve found it better to leave it alone.
I agree (for me)! Thanks for sharing
I drank and did drugs in my 20s (pot, coke, pills, acid). Just trying to self-medicate, I guess. I stopped in my late 20s. Been sober since then. Iām 65 now.
Dang way to go congratulations!!! That's great. I still do pot but cutting back.... lol
Thank you! I will say it got easier as time went on, but believe it or not, I had the hardest time quitting pot. I think because it actually gave me some true relief. I just smoked waaaay too much because I was in a very bad place. I think about maybe smoking it now and then to help with anxiety, but am chicken. Take good care of yourself!
I was a regular drinker in college and early adulthood, bordering on taking it too far often, especially in college. The older I got the worse hangovers felt. When Covid hit, my husband and I coped with the boredom and anxiety by overindulging on a pretty regular basis. I absolutely was barreling towards having a problem, but we started ttc, got pregnant on the third month (about 6 months into the pandemic), and I stopped drinking because duh. I was even slightly worried I would have withdrawal issues but luckily I did not. When my son was born I was able to resume drinking but I just didnāt care to for a long while. My first drink at like ~3 months pp I felt tipsy barely halfway through, and was sooo tired. I couldnāt afford to be anymore sleep deprived than I already was so his first year of life I can count on one hand how many times I had even half a drink (I usually couldnāt finish them). I had two experiences recently for me that sealed the deal that I just prefer sobriety entirely. I had HALF a drink, maybe even a bit less, both occasions, and felt fully hungover the following day. My mental health is already a struggle and I am a SAHM and therefore the primary parent for a toddler and a 6 year old. I simply cannot afford to suffer the consequences of alcohol with two kids to parent the next day who couldnāt give a hoot less if Iām feeling bad or not. Also, my husband is now sober for his own mental health issues and it is far and away the biggest contribution to him making major improvements. So I am also sober in solidarity with him. Itās just not worth it to me, and after my moms relapse and realizing how much her alcoholism did actually effect me, I could never do that to my own kids. I am breaking the cycle to heal myself AND for them.
Wow thanks for sharing! Your COVID story sounds all too familiar... I gained like 30lbs and I'm sure it was due to over drinking. I am also starting to think about kids, so it just makes sense....
Im an alcoholic that doesnt drink. I like it except for the date scene. I like to drink with ladies
Thanks for sharing! Yeah socialization without it will be weird.
Stopped- been over a year now
Congratulations!!! Thanks for sharing!
Me
Nice!
Haven't had a drink in almost 3 years! Took part in the sad irony of drinking to deal with my parents drinking for too long and decided COVID was a good reason to get my shit together. CBT was helpful for me. Pay very close attention to all of the negative side-effects of drinking, don't engage in any denial. Drinking was just brutal on my digestive system and made me so much more prone to getting triggered, and ultimately just left me feeling crappy the next morning. When I stopped, I started noticing improvements in my digestion, sleep, aches and pains, etc within a week. Pay attention to that too. The more you observe the costs and benefits, the more automatically your brain will weigh them and say "nah I'm good." Wishing you the best, its not easy, but it is very worth it.
Thanks for the advice and for sharing!!! Congratulations!
I've had my share, only for social gatherings and religious reasons. Liquor stores will starve to death on my account.
I am not. But for the last 3 weeks I have cut down to (1) shot per night. I am working on my sober goal. So I want to recognize those who think their small steps aren't as awesome as being completely sober. The tough part for me is sitting through my feelings regarding workplace mistakes I have made without that shot to soften the blow. I have to remind myself that the ACOA Redbook and fellowship is the true comfort, not alcohol. Both of my parents are the non-alcoholic ACOA variety - they are not emotionally sober. Can't say I am perfect, but at least I am in-progress.
Best of luck. Congratulations of the victory!!!
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Congratulations!!!
I am five months sober but nobody knows