8 months and change
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 314
8 months and change
I passed my 8 month mark whilst on vacation this weekend. Wow, a lot has changed! For example there was a good amount of drinking (for others) on my vacation but I abstained easily. Only a couple moments I wished things were different; the crazy, non-stop, white-knuckle cravings have been gone for quite a while.
Every month I get behind me, I feel a little more secure in my decision and commitment. I'm still waiting for the time I find alcohol revolting, but I'm 100% less romantic about it then I was. I'm just not sure anyone can be totally comfortable with quitting in the 1st year, I definitely dont mean it's not worth it, but it really is uncomfortable a lot of the time. There are a lot of firsts: telling people you've stopped drinking or aren't drinking, holidays, birthdays, celebrations, feelings, identifying triggers, seeing your coping mechanisms in technicolor, PAWS, finding support, and finally asking for support. It's not easy, but it's worth it!
Thanks for being there, SR and you guys are an essential part of my success!
Every month I get behind me, I feel a little more secure in my decision and commitment. I'm still waiting for the time I find alcohol revolting, but I'm 100% less romantic about it then I was. I'm just not sure anyone can be totally comfortable with quitting in the 1st year, I definitely dont mean it's not worth it, but it really is uncomfortable a lot of the time. There are a lot of firsts: telling people you've stopped drinking or aren't drinking, holidays, birthdays, celebrations, feelings, identifying triggers, seeing your coping mechanisms in technicolor, PAWS, finding support, and finally asking for support. It's not easy, but it's worth it!
Thanks for being there, SR and you guys are an essential part of my success!
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,805
Congrats, Sonoma and I agree with your post entirely. I will be nine months sober at the end of this month and I just feel what is difficult about sobriety has changed, kind of like parenthood. When my kids were little it was physically draining, now that they are teenagers it is more mentally challenging. In the beginning of sobriety is was really hard to just not drink, but now it is more about not getting complacent, and bored. The "firsts" are the hardest thing I have experienced (holidays, girls' weekends, vacation) so I will be happy when they are all over with this year. As hard as it is, I have no desire to "go back to the way it was," as sobriety is like getting my authentic self back and really getting to know her.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 314
Authentic self, yes!! That is probably one of the best gifts of sobriety. No chemically induced ups and down, just life and our relationship to it. I don't think I've ever worked so hard on something that's just for me, and about me.
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 306
Congratulations to you and thank you for your post. I haven't even made it one month, yet am completely inspired by you.
It helps to read this to understand that I just simply have to get through it and it will get better.
Thanks for reminding me that it is worth it.
It helps to read this to understand that I just simply have to get through it and it will get better.
Thanks for reminding me that it is worth it.
And it will still keep on getting better 
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Strailya
Posts: 8,025
Well done Sonoma girl ! I am only a little bit ahead of you but still within my first year. I am not sure that I find alcohol revolting or will find it revolting. Rather I find myself being indifferent to alcohol (which is my objective). I am coming to the belief that there is simply no point in drinking. I dont get any benefit from it. Keep rocking !!
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