Chrysalis7

I am very happy to be here. This is my first "real" attempt at recovery. Although I have been wanting to quit drinking for 17 years I have never been as serious as I am now. I am scared to death. I don't know how to succeed at this. I have now been sober for 18 days. I have been doing it all alone so far. I feel like no one understands. I am not even so sure I understand. I just know it is something I have to do. My biggest concern is that all of my relationships are based on drinking. Most of these friendships cannot be sustained sober. I have never been good at making friends. Alcohol has always assisted with that. I don't even know what a sober friendship would be like. I am a very social person and a lot of the activities that I do involve alcohol. It all seems too overwhelming and too difficult. I am forgetting why I am doing this and it is making me want to drink. I am forgetting about how 6 out of 7 days a week I was either drunk or hungover. I am forgetting about the financial debt that alcohol has contributed to. I am forgetting about the times I put my/others life/future at risk by getting behind the wheel of a car. I am forgetting about the way I ignored responsibilities in my life and never felt "on top of things". I am forgetting how alcohol was the number 1 priority and everything else didn't matter. I am forgetting about the hopelessness I would feel after a weekend of drinking - the worthlessness. Ahhhh yes... now I remember.

Ozarkcowboy

Hey , thanks for being here. Not so long ago I was having many of the exact same thoughts. You have come to a forum that can be very helpful in achieving your goal, a normal life without alcohol (well thats my goal). A lot of great advice on here and you will find you are not alone, ever.

Best wishs...

Mizzuno

Good for you. Remembering is essential on this road. Welcome to SR.
You can have an amazing life without Alcohol. Now that you are sober you might find out who your true friends are.
This forum had been a godsend in my life. I am supported here and i am sure that you will find the same. Keep posting. Congrats on your sober time. You are doing well. Keep on Keeping on!!

isinganyway

I lost a lot of friends also... getting back on the right path is not always easy, but you will be amazed at how strong and amazing you are when you have a little more time... hang in there! it gets better!

Bubovski

WElcome to the forum.
One way is finding friends at A.A. meetings, who share those feeling you raise and can help reinforce you in your recovery.
For many decades I tried, going it alone to recover; it is all but impossible IMO. aLSO STICK WITH THIS FORUM,I wish I had found it much sooner.

1newcreation

Hi Newbie,
Its good u're here & its not by accident but God led you here coz He has sooooo much to offer you while sober(for me He has). Share what's on u're heart & listen to the advice folks give you & you'll see a side of yourself you'd never dreamed of
Welcome!

hypochondriac

Welcome to SR Chrysalis

I know some things can seem harder at first but it is just a matter of adjustment. I always used socialising as an excuse for drinking so I would feel more relaxed but sober I realised that some of those people I just didn't really want to hang out with anyway. Real friendships will be able to survive you getting sober so don't worry too much about it x

sugarbear1

I found many others like me in AA.

Congrats on your 18 days!

Chrysalis7

Thank you all so much for your responses. I can't express how much better I feel just being able to let out my feelings in here and read what others have posted. I felt so uneasy and scared before but now I feel as though I have been caught in a net. Aside from AA, how else have some of you established new friendships through sobriety? Also, where have you turned for inspiration during moments of weakness?

hypochondriac

I make friends walking the dog SR is my support when I feel weak, it's always here x