4 years sober today
I am McLovin'
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Posts: 144
4 years sober today
I had a rocky time getting into solid sobriety, as you can tell from my join date and early posts. But today I get to celebrate 4 years of continuous sobriety.
Prior to that I was desperate, scared, and uncertain. I though I had all the best intentions and good motivation, but I would continuously relapse. I was able to string together close to a year at one point, and a month here and there sporadically, but I couldn't get long-term sobriety to stick. And the relapses became worse and worse until my job put me on notice, my wife had enough and was going to leave me and take our newborn child, my health was failing, my hygiene was embarrassing, and my self worth was non-existent.
I checked into an IOP, took a medical leave of absence from my job, and began to really apply myself to recovery. One thing I changed was I was upfront with all my friends and family about my efforts to stay sober (I was selective who I told previously), I stopped going out with friends to places/events where alcohol was present (these days I've loosened that restriction, but you still won't find me at any raging parties). I put my own recovery as the first priority in my life and reshuffled my life accordingly. I put my nose to the ground, became active in multiple recovery programs (secular and non-secular), and just kept doing the next right thing, one day at a time. I stopped over-analyzing different programs, as if one was better than the other, and just applied all of them to myself as best I could. I started to take all kinds of suggestions from others, especially those with long-term sobriety. I began to develop close friendships with other people in recovery.
Today, I have a happy marriage, I'm a proud father to my son, and I have a new daughter in my life. I left my job and started my own business, doing something I love. I try to live every day to the fullest and I'm grateful every day I'm sober.
There are plenty of challenges, daily, my life is still uncertain. But I don't let things get to me anymore, I only worry about what is in front of me at the moment. I still plan for the future, but I no longer catastrophize , future-trip, or ruminate over things I have no control of. I no longer get upset over little things (or at least stay upset). And big things, like death, losing loved ones...I've learned how to celebrate the lives of those that have left in positive self-healing away that doesn't include alcohol or drugs.
That's a lot to traverse in 4 years, but the reality is 10 years...that 6 years of rocky in-and-out of recovery was valuable and instrumental in my long-term recovery. I'm so glad I didn't give up.
So to newcomers who are unsure, or scared, or desperate. Please don't give up hope, Use that fear as a healthy motivation to get your butt into recovery and toward a path of greener pastures. Being on the other side, I can say there is a better life for all of us that keep trudging on the road of recovery :-)
Prior to that I was desperate, scared, and uncertain. I though I had all the best intentions and good motivation, but I would continuously relapse. I was able to string together close to a year at one point, and a month here and there sporadically, but I couldn't get long-term sobriety to stick. And the relapses became worse and worse until my job put me on notice, my wife had enough and was going to leave me and take our newborn child, my health was failing, my hygiene was embarrassing, and my self worth was non-existent.
I checked into an IOP, took a medical leave of absence from my job, and began to really apply myself to recovery. One thing I changed was I was upfront with all my friends and family about my efforts to stay sober (I was selective who I told previously), I stopped going out with friends to places/events where alcohol was present (these days I've loosened that restriction, but you still won't find me at any raging parties). I put my own recovery as the first priority in my life and reshuffled my life accordingly. I put my nose to the ground, became active in multiple recovery programs (secular and non-secular), and just kept doing the next right thing, one day at a time. I stopped over-analyzing different programs, as if one was better than the other, and just applied all of them to myself as best I could. I started to take all kinds of suggestions from others, especially those with long-term sobriety. I began to develop close friendships with other people in recovery.
Today, I have a happy marriage, I'm a proud father to my son, and I have a new daughter in my life. I left my job and started my own business, doing something I love. I try to live every day to the fullest and I'm grateful every day I'm sober.
There are plenty of challenges, daily, my life is still uncertain. But I don't let things get to me anymore, I only worry about what is in front of me at the moment. I still plan for the future, but I no longer catastrophize , future-trip, or ruminate over things I have no control of. I no longer get upset over little things (or at least stay upset). And big things, like death, losing loved ones...I've learned how to celebrate the lives of those that have left in positive self-healing away that doesn't include alcohol or drugs.
That's a lot to traverse in 4 years, but the reality is 10 years...that 6 years of rocky in-and-out of recovery was valuable and instrumental in my long-term recovery. I'm so glad I didn't give up.
So to newcomers who are unsure, or scared, or desperate. Please don't give up hope, Use that fear as a healthy motivation to get your butt into recovery and toward a path of greener pastures. Being on the other side, I can say there is a better life for all of us that keep trudging on the road of recovery :-)
Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3,163
I loved your post.
I am a bit behind you -- not sure exactly how far as I don't even know the exact date I stopped.
I love the idea of doing the next right thing. Its my motto, harder some days than others. Not with drinking, I think/hope I got that, its the rest....
You should be proud.
I am a bit behind you -- not sure exactly how far as I don't even know the exact date I stopped.
I love the idea of doing the next right thing. Its my motto, harder some days than others. Not with drinking, I think/hope I got that, its the rest....
You should be proud.
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