What's your reminder(s) to NOT go back to the alcohol?
Being sober to me is like being brought back to life after being dead for years. It's like being free instead of being a slave to alcohol 24/7. It's all-encompassing and goes way beyond any individual reminder.
I am not better then the alcohol. Powerless once ingested......
It's the engine that gets me, not the caboose.
Benefits of sobriety
I know we have done these posts before, but I thought it would be good for the newcomers.
Biggest one for me. . .Not having alcohol consume so much of my thinking, which allows me to focus on important, lovely things. SOOO much time I spent worrying about having it, getting over it, and it ruining my life. That is gone.
Yours/
Biggest one for me. . .Not having alcohol consume so much of my thinking, which allows me to focus on important, lovely things. SOOO much time I spent worrying about having it, getting over it, and it ruining my life. That is gone.
Yours/
Being able to take care of my service dog. Having money to spend on treats for him and other goodies for myself. Not having to check my bank balance before i go to the liquor store. Remembering the night before.
My alcoholism progressed to the point of being a blackout drunk. I was not even able to meter my consumption to avoid this, I blacked out after only a few drinks during my last episode. When I came to I was in the middle of a pretty scary situation.
I know that if I pick up a drink, I will go right back to that same level of drinking, I have no idea what would happen, or what consequences I may face if I pick up. That is scary **** for me, no thanks.
I know that if I pick up a drink, I will go right back to that same level of drinking, I have no idea what would happen, or what consequences I may face if I pick up. That is scary **** for me, no thanks.
Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 1,042
xx
Don't need a reminder. It never occurs to me to drink, which is what is meant by the problem being removed.
When I was drinking there was plenty of fear and horrible memories, none of which was sufficient to keep me sober.
When I was drinking there was plenty of fear and horrible memories, none of which was sufficient to keep me sober.
Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Northeast WI
Posts: 163
There are so many.
Having the shakes and barely being able to write when I wasn't drinking.
The paranoia about my health, obsessively trying to evaluate if my skin looked yellow.
The money I spent.
The constant effort of trying to hide it, and thinking I was doing a good job (there's no way that I was, looking back).
Having the support of my family and friends, and knowing they're proud of how far I've come.
Being able to be present and available when someone needs me.
I can't imagine re-entering that hell.
Having the shakes and barely being able to write when I wasn't drinking.
The paranoia about my health, obsessively trying to evaluate if my skin looked yellow.
The money I spent.
The constant effort of trying to hide it, and thinking I was doing a good job (there's no way that I was, looking back).
Having the support of my family and friends, and knowing they're proud of how far I've come.
Being able to be present and available when someone needs me.
I can't imagine re-entering that hell.
Seeing the fortunate ones that come back after returning to the booze reminds me that there is still -- nothing good out there for me. Oh - yes, I fooled myself too many times into thinking that I could drink once again as a normal one would. I have been burned enough times and today I'm grateful to be sober once again.
I'm not sure how many chances I (we) get?
Today I will not test the waters.
Bob
I'm not sure how many chances I (we) get?
Today I will not test the waters.
Bob
Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 970
Seeing the fortunate ones that come back after returning to the booze reminds me that there is still -- nothing good out there for me. Oh - yes, I fooled myself too many times into thinking that I could drink once again as a normal one would. I have been burned enough times and today I'm grateful to be sober once again.
I'm not sure how many chances I (we) get?
I'm not sure how many chances I (we) get?
When your dogs give you the stink eye due to your drinking it may be time to slow down before the train wreck.
Mountainmanbob
Left the bottle behind 4/16/2015
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NC
Posts: 1,416
I see numerous other reminders in some of these posts but, sadly, all those things were present for me for many years, and spanned numerous quits and relapses. All of them were terribly unpleasant but it wasn't until I nearly lost everything, including my own life, the reality that I'd gone too far finally sank in. I hope I never forget all the carnage from that episode. I'm still paying for it.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Western US
Posts: 1,765
When I was drinking:
- I wasn't living life I was managing my drinking schedule, plans, inventory, etc.
- I became someone I and the people around me didn't like.
- I couldn't finish a project. Created more work than I accomplished.
- The time and energy I spent doing "damage control" after a long weekend of drinking.
- I wasn't living life I was managing my drinking schedule, plans, inventory, etc.
- I became someone I and the people around me didn't like.
- I couldn't finish a project. Created more work than I accomplished.
- The time and energy I spent doing "damage control" after a long weekend of drinking.
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