One Year! - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

coffeespoons · 07-28-2012, 08:13 AM

Hi guys, I haven't posted in a while but I wanted to jump back in to say thank you for all the support you've offered during this journey. As of yesterday, I have not had a drink in 1 year. I figured I'd post this in newcomers because I want people at 1 day, 3 days, 2 weeks to see that it can be done!

A few thoughts on the first year...
1) It gets easier!!! I still have moments (usually in social situations, or when the weather is perfect 'drinking weather'), but it's become alot easier to say "I don't drink anymore".
2) Anytime I was feeling down, or confused about the idea of sobriety, I would come here and read other peoples' stories and frustrations. I haven't posted in a while, but I've certainly read this forum at least 2 to three times a month to remind myself of why I'm doing this.
3) You don't have to apologize to anyone. If your mind is made up not to drink at that wedding, that work happy hour, that social event, don't stress about what people will say. I found that after a few drinks, nobody notices. Although at first, it was great to be able to hide behind "I'm not feeling well tonight" or "I'm taking a break," but now all my friends and family know I don't drink. They don't know that I identify as an alcoholic, but they know I'm not drinking, and they don't ask why anymore.
4) I was never a daily drinker. I only drank on the weekends, and not even every weekend. I think most people that know me in person would be shocked to hear I'm an alcoholic. However, my problem was the same one that many binge drinkers have - once I started drinking, I found it impossible to stop until I blacked out. Now, sometimes I could control it. Many times even. However, I couldn't ALWAYS control it, and it became a game of russian roulette with that one time that I would go overboard and black out. I know in my heart that it's inevitable, and that's why I stopped drinking.
5) I still haven't gone to an AA meeting, mainly because I have alot of support here and at home, but I am very open to it, and I may start going to meetings in the future.

6) The best part? A WHOLE YEAR WITHOUT HANGOVERS! Best thing ever.

Thanks again for all the support, hope, and help. This community is amazing.

justhadenough · 07-28-2012, 08:29 AM

Wow Coffeespoons-that is fabulous

Thanks for posting-it is a great help to me,and many others I'm sure

hrich1122 · 07-28-2012, 08:30 AM

Wow! Congrats!!!! Thank you for this! Your post is very encouraging for me! While I have no support, I'm hoping I can post this same thing in a year!

mecanix · 07-28-2012, 08:31 AM

Thanks coffeespoons this sounds a lot like me

Quote:

4) I was never a daily drinker. I only drank on the weekends, and not even every weekend. I think most people that know me in person would be shocked to hear I'm an alcoholic. However, my problem was the same one that many binge drinkers have - once I started drinking, I found it impossible to stop until I blacked out. Now, sometimes I could control it. Many times even. However, I couldn't ALWAYS control it, and it became a game of russian roulette with that one time that I would go overboard and black out. I know in my heart that it's inevitable, and that's why I stopped drinking.

I was able to stop for my stand-by week and therefore in some peoples eyes including my own warped perception i wasn't a "real" alcoholic .

thanks M

Jeni26 · 07-28-2012, 08:32 AM

That was a great post to read, Thankyou so much.
Congratulations on your year xx

sugarbear1 · 07-28-2012, 08:38 AM

Congratulations!!

losteverything · 07-28-2012, 08:41 AM

Congrats on a year...thank you for this post..

MetalChick · 07-28-2012, 09:06 AM

Thank you for the encouragement, it is so great to read a success story, and get some advice on how you did it.

Thanks, and congratulations!!!

NoFireWater · 07-28-2012, 10:54 AM

Coffeespoons-thank you so much for taking the time to come back to this area to post about your HUGE accomplishment! It definitely gives us hope that it is a reachable goal. Congratulations on all your hard work!

**Dee74** · 07-28-2012, 02:39 PM

congratulations coffeespoons

D

MrsKing · 07-28-2012, 04:45 PM

Wooohooo

congratulations - so pleased for you. I hope you're doing something today to treat yourself. You deserve it! Can't wait to get there myself

IndaMiricale · 07-28-2012, 05:01 PM

Good stuff Congrats

Keep growing in your journey and remain teachable.

Stay on the beam.

***Anna*** · 07-28-2012, 06:14 PM

Be very proud of yourself.

**Impurrfect** · 07-28-2012, 06:16 PM

Congratulations (((Coffeespoons)))!

Hugs and prayers,

Amy

faceitandfixit · 07-28-2012, 06:28 PM

Awesome post CS!!! Thanks for sharing, and big hugs and congrats on your 1 year!!!

CarolD · 07-28-2012, 08:05 PM

Super....

Scolova · 07-28-2012, 08:12 PM

Congrats on the year! & great post.

Jakeysnakey · 07-28-2012, 09:21 PM

Wow, thanks coffeespoons!

I am also not a daily drinker and I don't even drink all that often, but when i do it's blackout and I'll drive drunk and I'll pre-drink before I go to meet up with friends, I'll drink a bottle of wine if I'm home alone on a friday night. My behaviour has become worse since I gave up my food addiction (my primary issue).

Thanks for your sharing because it reminds me that I do belong.

And congratulations

foodie1 · 07-29-2012, 09:11 AM

Congratulations on your year!

coffeespoons · 07-29-2012, 10:01 AM

Thank you everyone!!! I'm glad some people find this hopeful; I remember reading somebody's "one year" post when I first joined, and it gave me hope then.

07-28-2012, 08:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
coffeespoons Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 47	One Year! Hi guys, I haven't posted in a while but I wanted to jump back in to say thank you for all the support you've offered during this journey. As of yesterday, I have not had a drink in 1 year. I figured I'd post this in newcomers because I want people at 1 day, 3 days, 2 weeks to see that it can be done! A few thoughts on the first year... 1) It gets easier!!! I still have moments (usually in social situations, or when the weather is perfect 'drinking weather'), but it's become alot easier to say "I don't drink anymore". 2) Anytime I was feeling down, or confused about the idea of sobriety, I would come here and read other peoples' stories and frustrations. I haven't posted in a while, but I've certainly read this forum at least 2 to three times a month to remind myself of why I'm doing this. 3) You don't have to apologize to anyone. If your mind is made up not to drink at that wedding, that work happy hour, that social event, don't stress about what people will say. I found that after a few drinks, nobody notices. Although at first, it was great to be able to hide behind "I'm not feeling well tonight" or "I'm taking a break," but now all my friends and family know I don't drink. They don't know that I identify as an alcoholic, but they know I'm not drinking, and they don't ask why anymore. 4) I was never a daily drinker. I only drank on the weekends, and not even every weekend. I think most people that know me in person would be shocked to hear I'm an alcoholic. However, my problem was the same one that many binge drinkers have - once I started drinking, I found it impossible to stop until I blacked out. Now, sometimes I could control it. Many times even. However, I couldn't ALWAYS control it, and it became a game of russian roulette with that one time that I would go overboard and black out. I know in my heart that it's inevitable, and that's why I stopped drinking. 5) I still haven't gone to an AA meeting, mainly because I have alot of support here and at home, but I am very open to it, and I may start going to meetings in the future. 6) The best part? A WHOLE YEAR WITHOUT HANGOVERS! Best thing ever. Thanks again for all the support, hope, and help. This community is amazing.

07-28-2012, 08:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
sugarbear1 ~sb Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: MD Posts: 9,865	Congratulations!! __________________ Someday everything will all make sense. For now, laugh at confusion, smile through tears, & remind yourself that everything happens for a reason. All Big Book quotes are from the first edition. Linked with the permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

07-28-2012, 09:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
MetalChick I looked like that holdin beer Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 627	Thank you for the encouragement, it is so great to read a success story, and get some advice on how you did it. Thanks, and congratulations!!! __________________ If I could start again a million miles away I would keep myself I would find a way... (Trent)

07-28-2012, 02:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dee74 SR Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Seas Posts: 67,005	congratulations coffeespoons D __________________

07-28-2012, 05:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
IndaMiricale Powerless over Alcohol Join Date: May 2011 Location: Trudging the Road to Happy Destiny! Posts: 4,020	Good stuff Congrats Keep growing in your journey and remain teachable. Stay on the beam. __________________ "The only real thing in life are dreams, which nature cant touch with decay." Bob Dylan "Each day,somewhere in the world ,recovery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic , sharing experience,strength and hope."

07-28-2012, 08:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
justhadenough Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,179	Wow Coffeespoons-that is fabulous Thanks for posting-it is a great help to me,and many others I'm sure

07-28-2012, 08:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
hrich1122 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Spanaway,wa Posts: 101	Wow! Congrats!!!! Thank you for this! Your post is very encouraging for me! While I have no support, I'm hoping I can post this same thing in a year!

07-28-2012, 08:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jeni26 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: South East England Posts: 4,144	That was a great post to read, Thankyou so much. Congratulations on your year xx

07-28-2012, 08:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
losteverything Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: British columbia Posts: 247	Congrats on a year...thank you for this post..

07-28-2012, 10:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
NoFireWater Clear Eyes Full Heart Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: New England Posts: 604	Coffeespoons-thank you so much for taking the time to come back to this area to post about your HUGE accomplishment! It definitely gives us hope that it is a reachable goal. Congratulations on all your hard work!

07-28-2012, 04:45 PM	#11 (permalink)
MrsKing Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: UK Posts: 1,142	Wooohooo congratulations - so pleased for you. I hope you're doing something today to treat yourself. You deserve it! Can't wait to get there myself

07-28-2012, 06:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
*Anna* Administrator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dancing in the Light Posts: 28,147	Be very proud of yourself. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Marianne Willianson

07-28-2012, 06:16 PM	#14 (permalink)
Impurrfect Social Network Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 25,506	Congratulations (((Coffeespoons)))! Hugs and prayers, Amy __________________ "I'm not where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be" - Joyce Meyer "You got what it takes you can win, today is your day to begin. - Shania Twain (Tinker, Elvis [RIP], Patches and Mots - Mouth Of The South)

07-28-2012, 06:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
faceitandfixit God's work in progress Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Northeast US Posts: 410	Awesome post CS!!! Thanks for sharing, and big hugs and congrats on your 1 year!!! __________________ *The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.* Robert Cushing

07-28-2012, 08:05 PM	#16 (permalink)
CarolD Forward we go...side by side Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Serene In Dixie Posts: 37,601	Super.... __________________ Each Day Sober Is A Victory!! Joy In AA Recovery!

07-28-2012, 08:12 PM	#17 (permalink)
Scolova dude in recovery Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Gulf Coast, TX Posts: 1,506 Blog Entries: 2	Congrats on the year! & great post. __________________ ScotA "I've never seen anyone drink themselves smart, successful or happy. Most end up broke, bitter and alone. <anonymous>

07-28-2012, 09:21 PM	#18 (permalink)
Jakeysnakey Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 35	Wow, thanks coffeespoons! I am also not a daily drinker and I don't even drink all that often, but when i do it's blackout and I'll drive drunk and I'll pre-drink before I go to meet up with friends, I'll drink a bottle of wine if I'm home alone on a friday night. My behaviour has become worse since I gave up my food addiction (my primary issue). Thanks for your sharing because it reminds me that I do belong. And congratulations

07-29-2012, 09:11 AM	#19 (permalink)
foodie1 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 825 Blog Entries: 28	Congratulations on your year!

07-29-2012, 10:01 AM	#20 (permalink)
coffeespoons Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 47	Thank you everyone!!! I'm glad some people find this hopeful; I remember reading somebody's "one year" post when I first joined, and it gave me hope then.

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)