When did you 1st feel free from booze? like ya turned the corner on the struggle?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 33
When did you 1st feel free from booze? like ya turned the corner on the struggle?
I know sober is a life long series of decision to not use alcohol
however, 8 yrs sober a couple of days ago- ~ 4-5 yrs ago my Mother was in ICU for 30 days and could have died any day - it was horribly stressful - when she woke up it was even worse, I had fatigue from grieving and praying and when she woke she was needy for company and I was burned out from the bedside vigil already
sometime during that period when friends or family reminded me to stay strong and stay sober, I recall a laugh- I didn't even consider getting drunk during any of that time - and a major life stressor had been a huge fear of mine previously
I felt I had achieved some sense of a genuine new me - not just a me behaving differently -maybe those are not the best words to use,but I felt a normal without beer/whiskey in my mind at all during the worst days of my life when they used to be my security blanket?,I mentally felt I turned the corner in the struggle,or gave myself some credit for staying sober unconsciously maybe?
however, 8 yrs sober a couple of days ago- ~ 4-5 yrs ago my Mother was in ICU for 30 days and could have died any day - it was horribly stressful - when she woke up it was even worse, I had fatigue from grieving and praying and when she woke she was needy for company and I was burned out from the bedside vigil already
sometime during that period when friends or family reminded me to stay strong and stay sober, I recall a laugh- I didn't even consider getting drunk during any of that time - and a major life stressor had been a huge fear of mine previously
I felt I had achieved some sense of a genuine new me - not just a me behaving differently -maybe those are not the best words to use,but I felt a normal without beer/whiskey in my mind at all during the worst days of my life when they used to be my security blanket?,I mentally felt I turned the corner in the struggle,or gave myself some credit for staying sober unconsciously maybe?
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 65
Headly, thanks for the post, and congrats on 8 years...that is amazing! I have not had to go through anything close to what you described yet in sobriety. However, spending Christmas Eve with my family was the first time I truly felt free from booze. For the past ten years or so, I've associated Christmas Eve with partying and drinking, and it was my favorite day of the year. The night ended up being great. I spent time catching up with family, and I was shocked that drinking didn't even cross my mind. From that moment on, I felt some sort of relief, that life without alcohol did exist, and that I could be happy without it (prior to this I was convinced soberity was going to be a boring, sad life.)
Anyway, your story is an inspiration to me. Thanks again for your post!
Anyway, your story is an inspiration to me. Thanks again for your post!
The New Me starting 1/11/09
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: California
Posts: 678
H - Congrats on 8 years as well.
My answer would be:
1st felt free - after 6 months of sobriety when I finally admitted that I was powerless over alcohol
Next important date - when I finished the 12 steps and had to work with my first alcoholic
Next important date --- NEVER. I will never be completely free. I have very few cravings today, but I still have them in indirect ways (usually those little voices whispering to me), and so I never want to get complacent.
My answer would be:
1st felt free - after 6 months of sobriety when I finally admitted that I was powerless over alcohol
Next important date - when I finished the 12 steps and had to work with my first alcoholic
Next important date --- NEVER. I will never be completely free. I have very few cravings today, but I still have them in indirect ways (usually those little voices whispering to me), and so I never want to get complacent.
...than never
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Coast USA
Posts: 152
I'm only on day 41, but this last weekend I spent some time in casinos in Nevada. Almost everyone around me was drinking or serving alcohol and I saw many very drunk people. Bars were every ten steps, but I had no desire to join in the "fun". The next morning I woke up feeling good in my motel which would not have happened if I had been drinking alcohol like everyone else. I also learned that casinos are pretty boring places without the alcohol goggles to make them seem interesting. I think I'll stay out of casinos from now on.
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Coast
Posts: 1,906
i think the first time was when i survived what was almost an impossible detox. i really think it was by the grace of God that i didn't have a stroke. that was the first turning point.
the second was this past week when my aunt died. i have a hair trigger when it comes to self destruction and this week, i just let the anger go and felt sad at my loss.
i don't know if i cried because i missed her or if it was out of relief that i didn't put my hand through a wall and drink a gallon of whiskey to make it okay.
i don't think i had felt genuine saddness in 20 years. it was an incredible release of emoition.
so, i prayed for my aunt who died... and for my mom who lost her twin that her suffering be eased. i'm grateful i got to know my aunt and that she's now resting with my creator...and i didn't drink. what a miracle.
the second was this past week when my aunt died. i have a hair trigger when it comes to self destruction and this week, i just let the anger go and felt sad at my loss.
i don't know if i cried because i missed her or if it was out of relief that i didn't put my hand through a wall and drink a gallon of whiskey to make it okay.
i don't think i had felt genuine saddness in 20 years. it was an incredible release of emoition.
so, i prayed for my aunt who died... and for my mom who lost her twin that her suffering be eased. i'm grateful i got to know my aunt and that she's now resting with my creator...and i didn't drink. what a miracle.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: KC MO
Posts: 980
9 months is where I turned the corner. That is when I started looking back at the end of the day,and realized I made it through stressful situations without thinking about drinking.
I have been going sunup to sundown since then,thanking the man upstairs every day for my new freedom.
Life sober is nothing but awesome.
Fred
I have been going sunup to sundown since then,thanking the man upstairs every day for my new freedom.
Life sober is nothing but awesome.
Fred
Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxnard (The Nard), CA, USA.
Posts: 13,947
Originally Posted by headly 
I felt I had achieved some sense of a genuine new me - not just a me behaving differently...
...I mentally felt I turned the corner in the struggle,or gave myself some credit for staying sober unconsciously maybe?
...I mentally felt I turned the corner in the struggle,or gave myself some credit for staying sober unconsciously maybe?
Well said headly.For me it is being transformed through learning new life skills that changed my whole reaction to life. I put in the necessary effort to relearn how to live life without harmful substances, I get the rewards of being happy, joyous and free.
Computer Surgeon
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 124
I’d just completed step 3 with my sponsor and I had to go out of town for my job the next week. I’d been sober about 2 months. Strangely enough I was to travel to the city where I was conceived. After driving most of Monday, I remember waking Tuesday, driving to the job site, then getting out of my car and walking through a park toward the office building that my customers occupied. As I walked, I felt the overwhelming presence of God, of goodness, and that I was going to be OK if I trusted in Him. I felt totally calm and at peace; that no matter what, as long as I trusted in God’s will for me, the struggle was over.
It was totally unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I’m not a religious person. In fact it feels a little odd to relate this because it sounds so contrived and corny, but it’s true. It happened. At that point I felt like I’d turned the corner. Trust in my higher power and it’s all good.
It was totally unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I’m not a religious person. In fact it feels a little odd to relate this because it sounds so contrived and corny, but it’s true. It happened. At that point I felt like I’d turned the corner. Trust in my higher power and it’s all good.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 4,682
Hmmm as far as i understand the steps are the same in Europe and US? Point is i know lots of people in the rooms that are free from alcohol and have freedom from the obsession of mind be it wanting to drink or fear of drink due to their spiritual awakaning...
Tha tis the AA program i worked/work and my sponsor worked 25 years ago, the AA program is freedom from the bondage of alcohol!
Just had to post that cos if i had read a couple of comments on this thread when i was drinking i would have thought why the hell would i go to AA and id probably be dead by now!
One more time the steps of AA, as read out at every single AA meeting and plastered clearly on the wall, are a path to complete freedom from the slavery of alcohol, i.e. the alcoholic truly recovers:-)
Tha tis the AA program i worked/work and my sponsor worked 25 years ago, the AA program is freedom from the bondage of alcohol!
Just had to post that cos if i had read a couple of comments on this thread when i was drinking i would have thought why the hell would i go to AA and id probably be dead by now!
One more time the steps of AA, as read out at every single AA meeting and plastered clearly on the wall, are a path to complete freedom from the slavery of alcohol, i.e. the alcoholic truly recovers:-)
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
