1 Year Today
 

Hard to belive I have 1 year of sobriety today. Last summer the binge drinking was getting out of control. The amount I was drinking is not relevent. I'd start as soon asI got home from work around 2:30PM and drink until late into the night our until I "fell asleep" in front of the computer. Weekends started around 11:00AM. I am fortunate, no arrests, fights, or job losses due to drinking. Very lucky indeed.

A back injury and a perscription for pain killers with Tylenol was the trigger I needed to stop. Tylenol and alcohol can be a deadly mix.

My AV was in charge during my drinking but the rational part of my brain knew I was drinking too much. As I would lean against the refridgerator pouring my 7th or 8th glass of wine for the night another voice would say " what benefit are you getting from this?" and "this needs to stop soon".

The stress and triggers in my life are still threre but I can deal with then better than when I was drinking. Physically I am better, back still hurts a bit and I need to loose some weight. No longer puffy and bloated. Memory and self confidence has improved.

I chose not the go to AA, and instead used SR and a few books to learn what I needed to do to stop. Encouragement from members Dee and Sober Wolf and other SR members helped a lot too.

A few months I told a friend that I stopped drinking. I know he used to drink and has been sober for years. He said congratulations but don't pat yourself on the back too hard for not doing something you shouldn't be doing anyway.

I used to count the days sober, now looking forward to counting the years.

Thanks to all here, many have played a par in my sobriety. For those starting out, it can be tough at times but so all all good things in lfe.

A great milestone and encouraged you used an alternate method and had success, I feel the same way about that.

Oh I'm sooo Happy for you Jake Congrats 1 whole Year Wonderful !!:You_Rock_

Congratulations on your year of sobriety, first of many I hope!

Jake, thanks for your post!

Thanks, please excuse the few typos in first post, still trying to get used to a screen keyboard on a tablet.

The AV still pops in once in a while, but I am done drinking. I was a good excuse maker to justify my drinking-wife nagged too much or was the drama queen over a minor problem, too much work stress, needed to drink to overcome shyness, blah, blah, blah; all lies from my AV to poison myself.

Maybe the AV tries to kill the rational part of the brain so it can live in self-indulgent pleasure without dealing with the consequences?

Read a post a while ago that said something like "I have yet to find a problem that alcohol can't make worse." That is very true.

Congrats Jake:hb6

AWESOME for you!!
Congratulations :D

congratulations, Jake.

Well done!

Glad you found a solution that works for you - That's what it's all about!!! :c011:

Congratulations Jake. One year is great.

Congratulations Jake :You_Rock_

This is a positively inspiring post!! I can't wait to start counting the years!

:scoregood :tyou :c011:

Huge Congrats on 1 year Jake, that's a very big accomplishment. The entire first year is filled with "firsts"....First Christmas without alcohol, first summer without....etc. Now you have experience with the full cycle so things will be easier to deal with the second time around.

Well done Jake.

1 Year is fantastic Jake!! :You_Rock_

Ding, ding, ding - we have a winner!

Congratulations, Jake! Thanks for sharing this milestone.

Congratulations Jake :)

D

well done

Congrats on the first of many sober years! :scoregood