Notices

Quitting is actually easier than drinking

Old 01-16-2017, 06:57 PM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Just a nerd
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 79
Quitting is actually easier than drinking

So, minus a new years fumble, I've spent an entire month not drinking, which is a first for me. I'm not a pro at this, and I'm making it up as I go.

I'm just going to share my thoughts on why not drinking is proving to be easier than drinking. Anybody can add more, if they'd like

                Drinking is actually a lot of upkeep, when you think about it. There's just so much planning, preparation and recovering involved that it steals so much of your time. Without it, you can just get on with your life, or improving it.
                DeathBox is offline  
                Old 01-16-2017, 07:16 PM
                  # 2 (permalink)  
                bona fido dog-lover
                 
                least's Avatar
                 
                Join Date: Mar 2008
                Location: SF Bay area, CA
                Posts: 99,673
                I too find my life so much simpler now that I'm sober. Simpler and more peaceful. No drama. No waking up feeling horrible and hating myself.

                If I had to pick one thing about being sober that I like the best, it would have to be, waking up feeling good.

                I must say, however, I found continuing to drink easier than quitting. It was easier to ignore my demons rather than face them head on.
                least is online now  
                Old 01-16-2017, 08:01 PM
                  # 3 (permalink)  
                Member
                 
                PhoenixJ's Avatar
                 
                Join Date: Jun 2016
                Location: Adelaide, Australia
                Posts: 28,517
                No more guilt, shame, secretive behaviour. No more lying. It is not hard to stop the action of drinking.
                That gives a level playing field to WHY I was drinking myself into a permanent grave.
                PhoenixJ is offline  
                Old 01-16-2017, 08:05 PM
                  # 4 (permalink)  
                Forum Leader
                 
                ScottFromWI's Avatar
                 
                Join Date: May 2012
                Location: Wisconsin, USA
                Posts: 16,945
                Great list and a great reminder. Drinking was a tremendous burden for me at the end as well and life is truly easier now.
                ScottFromWI is offline  
                Old 01-16-2017, 08:09 PM
                  # 5 (permalink)  
                Member
                 
                JeffreyAK's Avatar
                 
                Join Date: Jan 2015
                Posts: 1,183
                I found the same thing, at least after I'd stuck with it a while and got past the first few weeks. Maintaining a heavy drinking habit, especially coupled with strong denial and secretiveness, is a huge power drain, and life got a lot simpler - as well as a lot better in all ways - after I finally quit for good.
                JeffreyAK is offline  
                Old 01-17-2017, 04:16 AM
                  # 6 (permalink)  
                FBL
                non-drinker
                 
                FBL's Avatar
                 
                Join Date: Jul 2009
                Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
                Posts: 13,795
                Keep all of those things in your mind and chances are you'll never drink again.

                The best thing is, the longer you stay sober, the better all of it gets.
                FBL is offline  
                Old 01-17-2017, 05:07 AM
                  # 7 (permalink)  
                totfit
                 
                totfit's Avatar
                 
                Join Date: Jul 2007
                Location: Ft Collins, CO
                Posts: 1,273
                Well..........I am not a martyr. If drinking were the easier softer way that is likely what I would still be doing. For me, life is much easier and also much more fulfilling sober. I don't know how someone that is a drunk like I was continues to drink. It is hell. Guess they just do not know the secret that sobriety is much better.
                totfit is offline  
                Old 01-17-2017, 05:18 AM
                  # 8 (permalink)  
                Member
                 
                Join Date: Jun 2014
                Posts: 2,775
                I can't think of anything worse than just having a couple.

                Easier to simply avoid the first drink.
                Ken33xx is offline  
                Old 01-17-2017, 05:43 AM
                  # 9 (permalink)  
                zjw
                Member
                 
                Join Date: Jun 2012
                Posts: 5,229
                yeah i agree not drinking is incredibly easier then drinking. its just all our BS that gets in the way and confuses us into thinking well maybe just a couple wont hurt or tells us that its not easier somehow.

                reality is not doing something is so much easier then doing it regardless of what it is it takes effort to do a task it takes none to do nothing.
                zjw is offline  
                Old 01-17-2017, 08:32 AM
                  # 10 (permalink)  
                Member
                 
                Join Date: Feb 2015
                Location: MN
                Posts: 8,704
                I agree, its a lot of work. The work I do now is actually real work(productive), not working on how I'm going to get my drinking in, feel good the next day, etc....
                thomas11 is offline  
                Old 01-17-2017, 10:17 AM
                  # 11 (permalink)  
                Member
                 
                Join Date: Nov 2011
                Location: Vashon WA
                Posts: 1,035
                It's easier on a deep spiritual level. In the end my drinking felt like I was squandering the gifts that had been given to me. It was like leaving my race car out in the weather for the winter. I won't lie, it was really hard to not drink in the beginning but quitting was totally worth it.
                gaffo is offline  
                Old 01-25-2017, 10:53 PM
                  # 12 (permalink)  
                Member
                 
                columbus's Avatar
                 
                Join Date: Jan 2017
                Posts: 698
                "Quitting is actually easier than drinking"

                Oh, Hail Yes!
                columbus is offline  
                Old 01-26-2017, 04:04 AM
                  # 13 (permalink)  
                Sober-T- Dragon
                 
                STDragon's Avatar
                 
                Join Date: Oct 2016
                Location: Manitoba
                Posts: 8,750
                Along the lines of "worrying about being short for the party".

                Counting and re-counting your inventory - to be sure you have enough to "survive" until the next buy. (I can't believe I use to tell myself I needed alcohol just to survive)

                Planning the next buy - calculating the value of your returns and the change in your pocket. Scheming to get the stuff and get it in the house without being seen.
                STDragon is offline  
                Old 01-26-2017, 05:24 AM
                  # 14 (permalink)  
                Guest
                 
                Join Date: Jan 2016
                Location: Northwest
                Posts: 4,215
                No more internal debate!

                That constant yammering in my head about how many I had yesterday and how many will I have today and how early is too early and did I drink all that or did my husband drink some of it and how will I get through today with this hangover and do I have a problem and maybe I'll quit next week but (fill in holiday here) is coming and bla bla BLA BLA BLA BLA BLABLA!!!

                My head is a much more peaceful place now and it's such a relief.
                Ariesagain is offline  
                Old 01-26-2017, 06:28 AM
                  # 15 (permalink)  
                Member
                 
                Join Date: Sep 2013
                Posts: 1,095
                I agree with everything from the original post.

                One thing that is better for me is eating meals. Food taste so much better when I am sober.

                Another bad habit I had when I was drinking was to delay my meals. I always started drinking in the afternoon so I would want to get really buzzed before I ate because I knew that once I ate I would be too full to keep drinking or I would feel like passing out.

                I would cook dinner for my family (while I was pounding beers and/or shots) and then watch everyone else eat while I continued drinking. I would just leave some food out or warming in the oven until I had my fill of liquor.

                Of course this sometimes led to overcooked, dried out or cold food. But I was wasted and anything tasted edible then. Now I can enjoy a freshly cooked meal while sober.
                Doug39 is offline  

                Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
                 
                Posting Rules
                You may not post new threads
                You may not post replies
                You may not post attachments
                You may not edit your posts

                BB code is On
                Smilies are On
                [IMG] code is On
                HTML code is Off
                Trackbacks are On
                Pingbacks are On
                Refbacks are Off




                All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:11 AM.