LibertyorDeath

In the two weeks I have enjoyed sobriety, I have lost a LOT! Among other things, I've lost:

-The need to guzzle alka-seltzer first thing in the morning
-Weight
-Insatiable thirst
-The bags under my eyes (Where did THEY go???)
-The need to hide bottles of vodka where my family would not find them
-A craving for nicotine (only smoked when drunk)
-Fear of having anyone look me directly in the my hungover “piss-holes in the snow” eyes
-Fear of mirrors
-A desire to call in sick
-Feeling of shame, guilt, and hopelessness
-Cravings for sweets
-Stomach pain
-Aversion to bright lights and sunshine
-Bouts with amnesia



Thanks for letting me reflect on all I've lost since I stopped drinking! Please chime in about what you've lost...or found!

Liberty~

caraway

Thanks for the post LibertyorDeath, cheers me up just reading it!

Surlyredhead

Great post!!!!

CAPTAINZING2000

Keep doing what you're doing

ROFL

Yes Liberty, you're an inspiration.

CarolD

And the best is yet to come...
Keep in focus...you too can win over addiction.

LosingmyMisery

As my username suggests, losing my misery.

CarolD

We have another interesting thread next door...

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-not-list.html

FYI

chip

Yup, this is a good post.

Since getting sober, I lost:
- Feelings of impending doom
- Fear of police cars
- Fear of losing my job
- Feeling like vomiting every morning
- Worry that my mint gum won't mask the smell of booze
- Fear that people "find me out" as a fake
- Feelings that I am a REAL loser
- chronic bouts of diarreah
- Daily self loathing and self hatred
- The need to "build myself up" to compensate for my lack of self worth
- Isolation and alienation
- Serious thoughts about suicide
- shame and guilt about my drinking
- financial problems because I spend too much on substance abuse
- Anxiety about "running out"
- a dirty, stinky draft beer fridge in my garage
- the need to "hide" my lifestyle from others
- the need to sleep on the cement floor of my garage.
- Random facial injuries of unknown orgin
- the ability to pass out in weird places
- the occasional "accident" in my pants (#1 and #2 on occasion)
- chest pains
- daily gut aches
- an ashy grey complexion
- confusion and hoplessness about how to "fix" my life up
- the obsession and compulsion to drink/do drugs
- drug depts
- vomiting/defacating blood
- Dry heaves in the morning
- beer bottles beside my bed
- marijuanna "roaches" (butts) beside my bed
- red, bloodshot eyes
- hallucinations
- weekly, and sometimes daily blackouts
- late nights drinking when there is something important for me to do the next day
- daily hangovers

chip

miss communicat

in sobriety I have found:

-who I really am
-my values
-how to love myself and others
-how to live responsibly
-joy in service
-health
-laughter
-real connection with real friends
-community
-honesty

In sobriety I have lost:

-fear of almost every kind
-delusions of grandeur
-old baggage
-depressions
-anxieties
-insomnia
-destructive relationships

Tazman53

Great topic and great shares!

beingjenagain

The number one thing I lost was:

The ability to have hour long phone conversations with family and friends that I don't remember!!

fallingdown

BeingJenAgain-Oh I know what you're saying there, I would be appalled every morning wondering what on earth I had said to my family/friends and worrying that I slurred my words too much. Sheesh. I've lost that constant feeling of impending doom, I have lost the desire to stop living, I have lost the constant feelings of shame and worthlessness, my clothes fit better, and my skin looks a lot better. I've started exercising more. The only thing is...I actually crave sweets now and I rarely ever did while drinking. Wish I could lose that too but I'll take what I can get. Thank you Liberty or Death for starting this thread.

beach101

Great thread!

Things I've gained -
* My skin is still healthy after the weekend
* Money - I don't have to search my purse and hope I have my bankcard or find random receipts in my pockets for shots I don't remember taking
* Sleeping in my own bed because I couldn't drive home
* Self-respect
* Memories
* Hydration!!!

Things I've lost -
* Waking up wondering what happened and trying to put the pieces together
* Worrying about if "I'm ok" to drive home
* Headaches in the morning
* Having to cancel get-togethers because I feel like crap, embarrassed, or ashamed
* Checking my phone in the morning to see who I talked to the night before, then wondering what I said
* Random bruises or scratches

More will come I'm sure!

beach101

I am no expert and can only speak for myself, but I really think it depends on what kind of drinker you were (please correct me if I'm wrong!!). I was a Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, sometimes Sunday drinker (not necessarily in one week, it just depended). And my drinking was mostly binge drinking, so I didn't have a physical dependency (just adversion, apparently) and when I quit I didn't have withdrawals, etc.

So to answer your question - mine was pretty immediate for the most part, but I think, again depending on the type of drinker, it could take much longer. Now, for feelings of guilt and shame, I'll have to get back to you on that one.

LibertyorDeath

I've been sober 16 days now. The advantages are having a snowball effect.

I have prayed to God to help me experience the life He meant for me and I know this is only the beginning. There is so much I know I can do now. One of the most important things I have lost is fear.

Congrats on your 36 (or more) days!

Tazman53

Steam for me the guilt, the shame, the fears, the less than feelings dissappeared as I worked the steps, I was sober over 2 months before I started working the steps and I lived on an emotional roller coaster ride until I got into the steps. So I would say I was about 8 months sober before I could say I was a lot better, I have 20 months and am still working on my character flaws, but I am happier today then I have been in over 30 years, not drinking and having worked the steps and helping other alcoholics has made a world of difference for me.

tennis71

I have given up the large bar tabs that over drafted my account many times over.

ps Congrats all on your periods sobriety - keep moving forward!

psyk0

What I lost:

-agoraphobia (fear of going outside)
-nervous jitters/shakes
-throwing up blood/defecating blood
-fear of other people
-fantasizing about another life
-feelings of dread and doom
-an overall feeling of not giving a rat's ass about anything or anyone


What I gained:
-freedom!
-plans for the future
-a nice job
-getting to know myself
-feelings of self-worth
-being relatively happy (I never, EVER thought I would say that!)