Notices

My Life Is Better...

Old 01-31-2014, 01:41 AM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Guest
Thread Starter
 
James18's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Yorkshire U.K
Posts: 313
My Life Is Better...

Since around the time I first posted on this forum my life has improved notably. After finally admitting to myself that my behaviour and habits were out of control, I could finally begin to fix my life. I didn't realize what a massively negative effect drinking & drugs and the accompanying chaos had had on me. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally - I was mentally worn out, depressed and drained of all enjoyment. My life had ceased to matter to me and I didn't recognize the person I was becoming. The people I had surrounded myself with were toxic and dysfunctional. This had happened because I myself had become toxic and dysfunctional. I didn't feel fit to be in the company of 'decent people'. I'd become what people refer to as one of the 'dregs of society' (I hate that phrase, but it unfortunately exists). To fix myself I had to change and leave people behind and close some doors permanently.Slowly but surely I have done it. I think today is the first day I've realized how much! My confidence has improved, I'm in a steady relationship for the first time in my life, I have interests that don't revolve around substance and alcohol abuse, we've moved house and set up somewhere that is entirely our own. I have created a whole new life out of the ashes of the old one. All I need to do now is find some steady work, keep sober (the hard part) and things will hopefully continue to get better.

The reasons I began to drink and use in my early teens are gone. I'm no longer awkward, no longer cripplingly shy, no longer haunted by demons from family tragedy...but I've been drinking and using as though they were still here,even though they'd snuck out,closed the door quietly behind them and left me with the bottle. I nearly wrecked my life to fix my life, now that seems so stupid.

This improvement is in part due to support from this forum, and the constant posts - positive and negative - that remind me of how my life has been, could be again and hopefully will be if I stay on the right track. This is not over by any means and I know I'll be knocked off the horse and have to get back on many times, but that's life. It'll be a long road...
James18 is offline  
Old 01-31-2014, 01:46 AM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 321
I'm right there with you. First started this journey several years ago, and it took me years to start to change for the better. Just over a year sober now, and life isn't great. I mess up, stay in emotions, don't always do the right thing etc., but I have improved. I have accomplished several things that are firsts, in a good way, in the past year. I am not the same person, and I like my life today a whole lot more then I used to
StevenT is offline  
Old 01-31-2014, 02:04 AM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Member
 
Marcher13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 6,224
James I am delighted for you, it's wonderful to hear of the progress you've made. You live in beautiful country: we are currently enjoying the All Creatures Great and Small dvds and the Yorkshire countryside is breath taking.

I find being on SR daily helps me enormously, as much as possible I check in morning and evening, it keeps me focussed on recovery and gives me a chance to give back a little of the support I've received.
Marcher13 is offline  
Old 01-31-2014, 02:06 AM
  # 4 (permalink)  
Guest
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Nottingham (UK)
Posts: 2,690
Well done James. I remember when you first joined and it's fantastic to see your progress
Skye2 is offline  
Old 01-31-2014, 02:48 AM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Member
 
MythOfSisyphus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 5,936
SR is a great place, James18. I'm glad to see it has helped you like it has helped me.
MythOfSisyphus is offline  
Old 02-02-2014, 03:03 AM
  # 6 (permalink)  
Guest
Thread Starter
 
James18's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Yorkshire U.K
Posts: 313
I'm going to be off the net for a while (maybe a week or so), so if anyone wonders where I've disappeared to I haven't gone on a bender! Still going well and will be back soon
James18 is offline  
Old 02-02-2014, 03:36 AM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 66
GREAT WORK ! keep it up
aaronraguse is offline  
Old 02-02-2014, 03:57 AM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Dee74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,043
Thanks for letting us know James

D
Dee74 is offline  
Old 02-02-2014, 05:07 AM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Kaleidoscope eyes
 
KateL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: London
Posts: 5,243
So pleased to hear that James, try and stay on the horse xxx
KateL is offline  
Old 02-02-2014, 05:42 AM
  # 10 (permalink)  
Member
 
Tang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,450
James you are setting a great example and thanks for sharing.
Tang is offline  
Old 02-02-2014, 06:05 AM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Guest
Thread Starter
 
James18's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Yorkshire U.K
Posts: 313
Originally Posted by Dee74 View Post
Thanks for letting us know James

D
No worries Dee, I wouldn't like to just disappear in 'real' life, and know it's just as annoying online! The weather is good at the moment so I'm going to make the most of it and maybe go away for a few days or at least get out every day. I'll probably still make it on to post at some point though, just not every day.
James18 is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:49 AM.