looking back on last six months
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: uk
Posts: 57
looking back on last six months
I will be six months sober tomorrow and I thought I would pop in to say hello.
I decided to try life without alcohol back in January after it had played such a big part in everything I did the previous 23 years. I stayed in during the first 30 days and as I never really drank in the house much it went ok.
In Feb I did some socialising and went through the anxiety of going to parties and gatherings sober etc. My friends didn’t make, as much fuss as I expected them to but I think they thought it wouldn’t last which then made me more determined to carry on. Some asked why I stopped drinking once they started getting drunk but by then I was usually ready to go home.
I learnt quickly that not having the first drink was much easier than trying to control my drinking. Everyone’s first drink was the trickiest one for me to say no to as I could feel and sense the excitement of the beginning of the drinking journey. After 3rd or 4th drink I would be relieved and happy that I wasn’t drinking. I also learned that most people didn’t drink like me. It was so frustrating to watch them drink so slowly and not caring where the next drink was coming from. When I drank I was always looking forward to the next one rather than enjoy the one I had in my hand.
As the months went on I realised that I was not interested in a few drinks or a nice quiet night out drinking. I never was. It had always been to drink to blackout or to drink more than everyone else in the room even when I first drank at 16 years old.
My life hasn’t changes dramatically and I still feel tired or sad or irritable at times. I just know for certain that it isn’t because of alcohol and it will pass fairly quickly. I am usually happy and content and I enjoy spending time with my wife and 3 daughters more than I ever did when I was drinking. I still don’t feel comfortable about calling myself an alcoholic and I don’t know if I am one but that question is irrelevant to me at the moment as I don’t drink anymore.
I feel lonely at times regarding drinking as I don’t have anybody in my life I can talk to who used to drink but has decided to stop. My wife is very supportive and says all the right things but deep down I know she doesn’t understand why it has to be this way. She would like to share a drink with me during holidays etc but I know I would carry on drinking until I was drunk.
I have much more to share but this is long enough already!! I dreamt last night that I drank and I was really upset when I woke up this morning.
Thanks for reading
I’ve just read through this post and I must add that I’m really happy that I stopped drinking and wish I would have stopped years ago.
I decided to try life without alcohol back in January after it had played such a big part in everything I did the previous 23 years. I stayed in during the first 30 days and as I never really drank in the house much it went ok.
In Feb I did some socialising and went through the anxiety of going to parties and gatherings sober etc. My friends didn’t make, as much fuss as I expected them to but I think they thought it wouldn’t last which then made me more determined to carry on. Some asked why I stopped drinking once they started getting drunk but by then I was usually ready to go home.
I learnt quickly that not having the first drink was much easier than trying to control my drinking. Everyone’s first drink was the trickiest one for me to say no to as I could feel and sense the excitement of the beginning of the drinking journey. After 3rd or 4th drink I would be relieved and happy that I wasn’t drinking. I also learned that most people didn’t drink like me. It was so frustrating to watch them drink so slowly and not caring where the next drink was coming from. When I drank I was always looking forward to the next one rather than enjoy the one I had in my hand.
As the months went on I realised that I was not interested in a few drinks or a nice quiet night out drinking. I never was. It had always been to drink to blackout or to drink more than everyone else in the room even when I first drank at 16 years old.
My life hasn’t changes dramatically and I still feel tired or sad or irritable at times. I just know for certain that it isn’t because of alcohol and it will pass fairly quickly. I am usually happy and content and I enjoy spending time with my wife and 3 daughters more than I ever did when I was drinking. I still don’t feel comfortable about calling myself an alcoholic and I don’t know if I am one but that question is irrelevant to me at the moment as I don’t drink anymore.
I feel lonely at times regarding drinking as I don’t have anybody in my life I can talk to who used to drink but has decided to stop. My wife is very supportive and says all the right things but deep down I know she doesn’t understand why it has to be this way. She would like to share a drink with me during holidays etc but I know I would carry on drinking until I was drunk.
I have much more to share but this is long enough already!! I dreamt last night that I drank and I was really upset when I woke up this morning.
Thanks for reading
I’ve just read through this post and I must add that I’m really happy that I stopped drinking and wish I would have stopped years ago.
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London area
Posts: 98
ding ding. I am sober for seven months now and you sound a lot like me. I too now spend time with my husband and 3 daughters. Very few know that I used to drink and now don't. I too wish that I had stopped years ago - life is different, but better. It can be tedious at times but that it not because I don't drink it is because I still have some adjustments to make. I have said, at least once, on this site, that only boring people are bored - and I would say this about myself. If I am bored well I need to do something about it. Life will improve, I am sure.
Well done on your time without drinking.
Well done on your time without drinking.
Congrats!!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: uk
Posts: 57
I was so obsessed with my friends and spending time with them in the pub 6 months ago.
That way of thinking has changed so much and i never thought it would. I can do 2 hours max now but usually less. It has become such a small part of my life. I would try and get to the pub to see my friends all the time. That makes no sense to me now when I have a wife and 3 children to spend time with.
That way of thinking has changed so much and i never thought it would. I can do 2 hours max now but usually less. It has become such a small part of my life. I would try and get to the pub to see my friends all the time. That makes no sense to me now when I have a wife and 3 children to spend time with.
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lowcountry
Posts: 2,762
Originally Posted by dingding 
I will be six months sober tomorrow and I thought I would pop in to say hello.
I feel lonely at times regarding drinking as I don’t have anybody in my life I can talk to who used to drink but has decided to stop.
.
I feel lonely at times regarding drinking as I don’t have anybody in my life I can talk to who used to drink but has decided to stop.
.
Congrats on your 6 months; !!!
That's an important milestone.
I got sober in April 2010, and found posting in the April2010 thread really helpful, since we all were at the same point in recovery. I don't keep up with any other "class" threads, but you might find it helpful to pop in over in the
Jan. 2011.
Again, Congrats on the 6 months !
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: uk
Posts: 57
Thanks for all your comments.
my lonely comment was regarding that i cant speak to my friends about my view on drinking as it has changed so much and every one else is still the same. I dont envy them or pity them its just a bond that has gone between us.
18 of my friends are on a stag this weekend and i genuinley didnt want to go. It would be nice to be able to talk to them about it but i know they wouldnt get it. I don't blame them because i never thought i would think that a weekend of drinking would be such a waste of time because i used to love it!
my lonely comment was regarding that i cant speak to my friends about my view on drinking as it has changed so much and every one else is still the same. I dont envy them or pity them its just a bond that has gone between us.
18 of my friends are on a stag this weekend and i genuinley didnt want to go. It would be nice to be able to talk to them about it but i know they wouldnt get it. I don't blame them because i never thought i would think that a weekend of drinking would be such a waste of time because i used to love it!
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