Number of years drinking?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 144
Number of years drinking?
Another reason I feel worried about quitting is that I've been drinking for 30 years -- more than half my life! I've stopped for a year or so at a time, several times, but it's pretty much been a constant.
Someone close to me just decided to get sober after drinking less than a year! I feel jealous, and I feel like such a loser -- as in, "Why didn't I have the sense to stop 29 years ago?!" I feel like it's going to be much harder for me, but I don't know that for a fact.
I guess I would love to hear that someone else drank for 30 years, then quit. (I'm latching onto every bit of encouragement I can find!)
Thanks!!!
Someone close to me just decided to get sober after drinking less than a year! I feel jealous, and I feel like such a loser -- as in, "Why didn't I have the sense to stop 29 years ago?!" I feel like it's going to be much harder for me, but I don't know that for a fact.
I guess I would love to hear that someone else drank for 30 years, then quit. (I'm latching onto every bit of encouragement I can find!)
Thanks!!!
Been there, done that!
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: London
Posts: 539
quitting is quitting for an alcoholic time really does not matter I have met 18 year olds that have absolutely destroyed there life from a year off drinking and have met people who have drunk for many many years have not done so much damage!!
we all stop 1 day at a time so it makes no difference at all really!
we all stop 1 day at a time so it makes no difference at all really!
Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Boston, MA.
Posts: 1,756
Well if your looking for some encouragement, I have been drinking (except the last 29 days 
) for 29+ years might be 30 exactly but ehh at this point no need for me to count how long I was in the dark; But how Long I found the light 
) for 29+ years might be 30 exactly but ehh at this point no need for me to count how long I was in the dark; But how Long I found the light 
Behold the power of NO
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: WA
Posts: 7,764
Started in my 30s drank alcoholically for a little less than 2 years was sober 5 years.
Relapsed, was drinking for 6 years sometimes one or two, some evenings a lot and sometimes not at all (was not quitting just did not feel like drinking) then around the holiday season, drank alcoholically for 3 weeks and could not stop. I have been sober since January.
Relapsed, was drinking for 6 years sometimes one or two, some evenings a lot and sometimes not at all (was not quitting just did not feel like drinking) then around the holiday season, drank alcoholically for 3 weeks and could not stop. I have been sober since January.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Posts: 4,044
I abused drink and drugs for OVER 40 years (I'm 59 years old). Thanks to a nudge from the judge, court appointed 12-step meetings and the support and encouragement of people that I met at those meetings and through online recovery sites, if I don't pick up I will celebrate 6 years clean and sober from ALL mood altering substances on Aug 21st.
Life could not be better!! And miracles happen every day....I'm one of them.
Life could not be better!! And miracles happen every day....I'm one of them.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,777
I am not as old as you, but I have been using alcohol since I was a young teen. I am 33. I'm not sure if the number of years matters as much as what the alcohol is doing to a person when they drink. Probably better to give it up now, because you have a lot of life left to live. We are all the same in regards to being alcoholic or alcohol abusers, problem drinkers.
Life is much better.
Life is much better.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 3,360
I drank from 17 until 56 with varying amounts of time "dry" for certain reasons. Been sober a little over a year, doesn't matter how old we are or how long we drank. The only time it is too late is when our addiction results in our death. If we are still alive and breathing it is a great time to be become sober.
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,569
Add me to the list - right around 30 yrs. of trying to control it. I'm off it 5-1/2 yrs.
Try not to dwell on what might have been - I had to stop thinking that way because it was keeping me from moving forward. The important thing is - you're taking action now. Some never see what it's doing to them & continue until it kills them. This won't be us!
Try not to dwell on what might have been - I had to stop thinking that way because it was keeping me from moving forward. The important thing is - you're taking action now. Some never see what it's doing to them & continue until it kills them. This won't be us!
Clear Eyes Full Heart
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,272
Started at 17 quit at 53 so 35 years of active drinking. Not daily, but often binge drinking. Knew I had a problem almost right when I started (runs in the family) but wasn't ready to quit until last summer I guess. Sober since then
with AVRT, urge surfing, and SR.
It may be easier than you expected. It's kind of nice to do something different for a change. Being sober makes you feel younger with more possibilities in front of you, a good thing to feel as you get older.
with AVRT, urge surfing, and SR.
It may be easier than you expected. It's kind of nice to do something different for a change. Being sober makes you feel younger with more possibilities in front of you, a good thing to feel as you get older.
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