StandFast

Hi all.

I was wondering at what point did you feel the benefits of abstanance. I felt thay my drinkig contirubed to my failures in life, mainly due to bad decsions and lost time. At what point do you feel differnt. I do however figure I saved several hunderd dollars by not drinking.

But I have no found suitabl hobbies or acivies as if you.

Thanks for being there.

"when in doubt - Stay out"

bugsworth

Hey Standfast!

My experience was that I felt better immediately! Within days my mind was clearing and my body started to heal. Some of the benefits you can't see right away, but I assure you your liver thanks you! lol

As far as hobbies, anything is possible...I read alot, I have started taking private lessons with my old Sensei (Karate), I have finished all the old blankets that I started to crochet years ago. I am especially looking forward to the spring as I have an acre of property that is one big flower bed....the spring and summer becomes me against the weeds!!!

Take a trip to your local library...browse thru the magazines...look up anything that interests you and there will be more resourses than you can imagine. Your brain will thank you...I know mine did!

AND exercise is key...it takes up time and will benefit your overall health!

Good luck!

lostmdboy

After a week or two the physical withdrawls began to o away, but then I was left with a person who used to drown there feeling in a bottle of vodka. Dealing with him, and all the emotions that go along with life was a harder matter. For me I started going to AA meetings, and got a sponcer. He began to work me through the steps. After a year I am a lot better. Have an understanding of why I drank, even though more is reveiled dayly. I am just learning to live life on lifes terms. As I look back life began to get better the moment I decided I could not live with alcohol in my life. Some times this is better seen in retrospect.

gravity

Well, I've been pretty much feeling better with each passing day (negative days are getting further apart). The first week was hellish but I'd say by day 10, most of the physical stuff was gone. After about a month, I started to experience the real positives of sobriety (kind of like the dark cloud went away, thinking better). I work on my recovery every day and, in general, I'm a pretty happy guy (day 49 today). In my case, AA & SR have been the backbone of my recovery - keeps me focused, busy (I'm not bored!) and I am learning so much about alcoholism & myself.

I find that there are many things that keep me busy but I do need time to just relax. It's a bit of a balancing act - too much to do would lead to anxiety, not enough to do would lead to boredom - neither is good for my sobriety.

CAPTAINZING2000

not having depression from drinking !!!!!

Something few of us understand how much of a depressant alcohol has on the body

Rimmy

you may be feeling better physically already, but to feel better mentally, you need to work at it. If you used to make the effort to run to the store for your drink, but now you are just bored... take that effort you used to put towards your drink and go to some stores and look around. You'll find something, even if it's painting a birdhouse that you hang outside your window. Make a car model or get on a health kick and go for walks.

There's so much to do, but until you start something, you'll be wondering what to do. Pick something and if you don't like it, move on to something else. The more you experience sober, the more you won't think about drinking and the more of life you will get to enjoy.

I hope ya find something satisfying.

CarolD

By my 3rd month of sobriety...
I was back in balance mentally and physically.


What to do instead of drinking...
this was compiled by SR members several years ago.


150 Things To Do Instead of Drinking

1. Read a book
2. Take a walk
3. Play a musical instrument
4. Knit
5. Clean your closets
6. Research your genealogy
7. Cook a gourmet dinner
8. Write an article for your local newspaper
9. Go take some pictures
10. Clean the mildew in your bathroom
11. Start writing that book you've been planning
12. Plan a garden
13. Plant a garden
14. Play with a pet
15. Read to a child
16. Visit someone in an old folks' home
17. Watch a news special on TV
18. Set up a family budget
19. Make a web site
20. Take up archery
21. Exercise
22. Go to an online recovery meeting
23. Surf the internet
24. Call your mom
25. Learn a foreign language
26. Write a poem
27. Play golf
28. Take a bubble bath
29. Draw
30. Teach a parakeet to whistle
31. Take a nap
32. Listen to music
33. Paint
34. Clean your desk
35. Start a stamp collection
36. Go window shopping
37. Browse in a book store
38. Go to an art gallery
39. Go for a drive
40. Paint a room
41. Watch the clouds go by
42. Play darts
43. Do target shooting
44. Do home repairs
45. Clean your garage
46. Sort your photographs
47. Make a scrapbook
48. Climb a tree
49. Plant a tree
50. Make marmalade
51. Make a list of things to do
52. Write a letter to the editor
53. Volunteer somewhere
54. Take a hike
55. Take a college class
56. Try yoga
57. Meditate
58. Get a massage
59. Make fruit smoothies
60. Bake cookies
61. Do a crossword puzzle
62. Go to the gym
63. Plant a color bowl
64. Sharpen your pruning tools
65. Change your engine oil
66. Sew
67. Groom your dog
68. Go see a play
69. Write a sonnet
70. Sort your recipes
71. Play solitaire
72. Go bird watching
73. Write a letter to a friend
74. Read a poetry book
75. Repot your houseplants
76. Go to a movie
77. Mow your lawn
78. Put up (or take down) your Christmas lights
79. Make pickles
80. Go jogging
81. Watch sitcoms
82. Plan menus for a diet
83. Do a jigsaw puzzle
84. Play chess
85. Write a country-western song
86. Watch a video
87. Go for a bike ride
88. Plant an herb garden
89. Start an online journal
90. Dye your hair
91. Go to a restaurant
92. Lift weights
93. Bake some bread
94. Learn a martial art
95. Polish the furniture
96. Make a flower arrangement
97. Read the newspaper
98. Start some seeds
99. Sort your magazines
100. Do some laundry.
111. Take a nature walk
112. Play with your kids
113. Volunteer at a homeless shelter
114. Volunteer at a school
115. Pick up garbage in a park
116. Tickle your kids
117. Play basketball
118. Volunteer at an animal shelter
119. Read to a child or pet
120. Sign up for obedience training with your dog
121. Take a walk and pick up litter you see on the way
122. Spend time at the library
123. Sort all your digital photos and make an album to print for holiday gifts to family.
124. Help your kid organize his closet.
125. Figure out the melody and chords to your current favorite tune on the piano.
126. Practice your holiday cookie recipes
127. Make crackers from scratch (that one didn't go so well).
128. Make tortillas from scratch (better).
129. Reread a book you haven't read for years.
130. Tango
131. Learn about someone else’s religion.
132. Reread one of your college textbooks.
133. Key out a wildflower.
134. Do your nails.
135. Do word puzzles.
136. Play a board game.
137. Burn CD’s of some of your favorite music for a friend.
138. Plant a bonsai.
139. Play Mad Libs.
140. Speak only in heroic couplets for an hour.
141. Read poetry online.
142. Ride a stationary bicycle.
143. Set up a domino topple.
144. Play backgammon.
145. Build a house of cards
146. Make an entry in Wikipedia.
147. Read a world almanac.
148. Publish a family newsletter.
149. Throw cards at a hat.
150. Go to bed.

lostmdboy

151. go to a meeting
152. call anaother alcoholic

reed

153. mountain biking

154. Go skiing

155. Rollerblade

156. Skydive

157. Rock climbing

158. Shuffleboard

159. Sit in a mall where people are often walking by and drop a nickel or penny on the floor as folks pass. Pretend you didn't do it. Watch people's reactions as they might think they have dropped something. Some might pick the change up, others look and move on and some don't care. Provides hours of cheap entertainment.

lostmdboy

Hey I got a better one. Super glue a couple of quarters to the ground, and watch people try to get them up.