doing a LOT better
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 7
doing a LOT better
Just want to thank all of you for your posts over the last year. I recently passed the one year mark and I feel much better than I did when this journey started.
I am a better husband, a way better dad, a better worker... a better person without alcohol. The constant worry of causing the awful, chronic diseases that go along with alcohol abuse (liver disease, heart disease, cancer, brain dysfunction) has gone away.
For people who are struggling with the early days/weeks of sobriety, here is my main message: When I started sobriety I really craved alcohol, then I was angry/bitter that I was "deprived" of all the "wonderful" stuff that goes along with being a drinker (e.g. the excitement of knowing that a fishing trip or a bachelor party weekend was really going to be a group bender). Now I simply enjoy having my senses intact at all times.
More than a year after stopping drinking, I rarely perceive any desire to drink. When I have a twinge of envy of the drinkers I see, I instantly remind myself of three things: my wife, my daughter and my son. All of them want me around and healthy for a LONG time, and there is no way I will ruin that because of a chemical.
Like almost everyone here, I know that one drink will definitely lead to MANY more. I used to struggle with the concept of "never drinking again." I lot of SR people say that we shouldn't think about "ever" or "never," just today, and one day at a time. For me, it has been helpful to accept that I will never drink again. It allows me to ignore alcohol in restaurants, parties, airports and all the other places that were 100% drunk zones for me in the past.
Again, thanks to all of you for keeping me strong when I was getting a little weak. I don't post much but I read a LOT, and you are the best people I've never met!
I am a better husband, a way better dad, a better worker... a better person without alcohol. The constant worry of causing the awful, chronic diseases that go along with alcohol abuse (liver disease, heart disease, cancer, brain dysfunction) has gone away.
For people who are struggling with the early days/weeks of sobriety, here is my main message: When I started sobriety I really craved alcohol, then I was angry/bitter that I was "deprived" of all the "wonderful" stuff that goes along with being a drinker (e.g. the excitement of knowing that a fishing trip or a bachelor party weekend was really going to be a group bender). Now I simply enjoy having my senses intact at all times.
More than a year after stopping drinking, I rarely perceive any desire to drink. When I have a twinge of envy of the drinkers I see, I instantly remind myself of three things: my wife, my daughter and my son. All of them want me around and healthy for a LONG time, and there is no way I will ruin that because of a chemical.
Like almost everyone here, I know that one drink will definitely lead to MANY more. I used to struggle with the concept of "never drinking again." I lot of SR people say that we shouldn't think about "ever" or "never," just today, and one day at a time. For me, it has been helpful to accept that I will never drink again. It allows me to ignore alcohol in restaurants, parties, airports and all the other places that were 100% drunk zones for me in the past.
Again, thanks to all of you for keeping me strong when I was getting a little weak. I don't post much but I read a LOT, and you are the best people I've never met!
RIP Sweet Suki
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: In my sanctuary, my home
Posts: 39,910
Thanks for the update, and congratulations!! I'm glad we could help. You could probably be a good supporter of the newcomers, too. We all depend on others who understand our issue, so don't be afraid to lend a helping hand to others who come here for support. We all need each other.
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