seethefuture

Good Evening!

I am at 2 weeks sober. I've been very productive and am feeling great. I've done this a few times before and of course end up going back to "social" drinking, which leads to more. I definitely have a party switch. Luckily, I do eventually stop, usually way before bed time - so I am not prone to benders and the like, but I still have hangovers.

As I've posted before, I live in a metro area where drinking is the core of socializing - everything is done around getting drinks. My friends are very supportive when I stop, so I don't have that pressure. Right now I am dealing with family obligations and this is definitely a challenge - I would LOVE to have a drink or 6 right about now after a day of taking care of my elderly and ornery parents! But I am not - I am here.

My life has been full of major life changes over the past 2 years - separation, divorce (all for the best but traumatizing), watching the decline of my parents, losing my only sibling a few months ago in a tragic (alcohol-related, sadly) accident - and what better way to deal with it than to have "a few" drinks? Now, though, I realize that I am better equipped to deal with things as a sober person.

So here I am trying to make it through these next few days with my grieving parents.

instant

Sober Life gets easier with time. I know you are grieving and have a lot on your plate.

In time I found I was far more able to be resilient when stressed- and over time a new way of relating to people has opened up for me.

I can now see there is a whole community who's life does not revolve around alcohol type socialising- it was hard to see and even harder to relate to that when I was drinking.

Anna

It isn't easy to get used to living without benefit of alcohol, but you can do it.

Congratulations for 2 weeks sober!

least

Living sober doesn't mean our problems go away, just that we're able to deal with them better.


Congrats on two weeks!

Correy

And that's great.

Keep up and good luck with all you do.

seethefuture

Thank you, everyone. I can't believe my brother is gone. In many ways I have lost my parents, too, because as they have gotten older, their personalities have changed. Home is no longer a safe and happy place to go. I am the one that has to be in charge of everything. There is nowhere to hide. Thank goodness for my boyfriend and for my girlfriends, who believe in me and give me lots of support.

I will look here for help in staying sober!

Hevyn

Hi seethefuture. I'm so sorry for the loss of your brother & the impact it's had on your family.

I know how much strength it takes to keep from numbing yourself. I'm sure you've realized it only seems like an answer - it does nothing but add to our anxiety. It's much better to get through this time with a clear head and full awareness. Feeling the emotions and talking about them leads to healing faster. I'm glad you wanted to discuss it here - we care about you. Congratulations on your two weeks - that is fabulous.

Toffee1

Congrats on your two weeks. It sounds as though you have a lot to deal with right now.you must know though that it will be easier to deal with everything if you have more energy and no hangovers. Right?