I've made it 118 days. Let me finally share my story...
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 11
I've made it 118 days. Let me finally share my story...
That's right! 118 days since my last drink. Which means I've not touched a drop in 2014.
I always wanted to share my story with you guys but never felt able to. Lack of energy, fear of reading my own story, a few reasons I guess. I've been a lurker on the forums for the last few years and have wanted to stop for a long time and decided on 27th December 2013 that enough was enough, I was slowly killing myself. I never really saw it as a drink problem as I suffer from depression, that was the problem for me, and alcohol numbed it. For a few hours. Then I'd feel 50 times worse for at least 3 days after stopping a binge drinking session. I was pretty good at hiding my issues, a functional drinker I guess, as I work full time through the week, didn't touch a drop throughout the week, but could easily see off 100+ units on the weekend to try and hide away from life and its problems. This was a weekly thing, feel like **** in work from Monday to Thursday then do it all over again Friday night. I was effectively putting myself through withdrawal every single week, the horrendous shakes, cold sweats, insomnia for 3 days straight to the point I'd cry because I was exhausted and all I wanted to do was sleep. Thankfully I have no kids or dependants that had to rely on me so I was only destroying my own life. I turn 29 next month, I'd say I've been a heavy drinker for 5 years so I'm grateful for every sober day now and how I feel I've managed to catch it before it is too late. My 20s have been miserable with the drink, the fact I'm overweight and stuff... but I've been hitting the gym and eating well since I've stopped, have lost over a stone so far and I feel better than ever. I'm so excited to turn 30 whereas there were times I'd wonder if I'd ever make it that far from drinking myself to death or leaving my depression get the better of me whilst drunk and doing something stupid to hurt myself. It doesn't feel like I'm losing out on not drinking (which is how I was convinced quitting would be like). On the contrary, it feels like I've gained so much. I can comfortably say I will happily never touch another drink again.
That's pretty much the jist of my story. I just wanted to say, and I'm sure there are many other lurkers who are just like me, thank you to each and every single one of you for sharing your stories. My withdrawals lasting in to the first few days of the new year were made a little easier by reading people's stories and it made me feel like I wasn't alone.
It made me realise that it's never too late to take a stand. I felt I had nothing to live for this time last year, now I feel like life is just beginning. Again, thank you so much for sharing your stories. I wish everyone all the luck in the world with their sobriety.
Thank you, guys and gals. Xx
I always wanted to share my story with you guys but never felt able to. Lack of energy, fear of reading my own story, a few reasons I guess. I've been a lurker on the forums for the last few years and have wanted to stop for a long time and decided on 27th December 2013 that enough was enough, I was slowly killing myself. I never really saw it as a drink problem as I suffer from depression, that was the problem for me, and alcohol numbed it. For a few hours. Then I'd feel 50 times worse for at least 3 days after stopping a binge drinking session. I was pretty good at hiding my issues, a functional drinker I guess, as I work full time through the week, didn't touch a drop throughout the week, but could easily see off 100+ units on the weekend to try and hide away from life and its problems. This was a weekly thing, feel like **** in work from Monday to Thursday then do it all over again Friday night. I was effectively putting myself through withdrawal every single week, the horrendous shakes, cold sweats, insomnia for 3 days straight to the point I'd cry because I was exhausted and all I wanted to do was sleep. Thankfully I have no kids or dependants that had to rely on me so I was only destroying my own life. I turn 29 next month, I'd say I've been a heavy drinker for 5 years so I'm grateful for every sober day now and how I feel I've managed to catch it before it is too late. My 20s have been miserable with the drink, the fact I'm overweight and stuff... but I've been hitting the gym and eating well since I've stopped, have lost over a stone so far and I feel better than ever. I'm so excited to turn 30 whereas there were times I'd wonder if I'd ever make it that far from drinking myself to death or leaving my depression get the better of me whilst drunk and doing something stupid to hurt myself. It doesn't feel like I'm losing out on not drinking (which is how I was convinced quitting would be like). On the contrary, it feels like I've gained so much. I can comfortably say I will happily never touch another drink again.
That's pretty much the jist of my story. I just wanted to say, and I'm sure there are many other lurkers who are just like me, thank you to each and every single one of you for sharing your stories. My withdrawals lasting in to the first few days of the new year were made a little easier by reading people's stories and it made me feel like I wasn't alone.
It made me realise that it's never too late to take a stand. I felt I had nothing to live for this time last year, now I feel like life is just beginning. Again, thank you so much for sharing your stories. I wish everyone all the luck in the world with their sobriety.
Thank you, guys and gals. Xx
Congrats on 118 days,WELL DONE!!!
I really like this statement,"It doesn't feel like I'm losing out on not drinking (which is how I was convinced quitting would be like). On the contrary, it feels like I've gained so much."
I feel the same way.
I really like this statement,"It doesn't feel like I'm losing out on not drinking (which is how I was convinced quitting would be like). On the contrary, it feels like I've gained so much."
I feel the same way.
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 11
That is the honest truth, I was so convinced I needed to be drinking to have fun with my friends and such, since I've stopped it's made me realise (luckily!) how little my friends actually drink and how I have far more fun sober as I can actually remember the good times and make some new memories, whereas when drunk the memories were just grey clouds. I'm really lucky to have a close circle of friends who are very light drinkers really, who are never pushy and totally respect my decision not to drink. I think they like me being the designated driver as well
Hey awesome job man! I envy you. I recently just quit (again) and am on day 6. Your story pretty much describes mine, word for word. I am in my mid twenties and can relate to the ****y week and then drinking all weekend to "forget about life and have a good time". I drank hard for 4-5 years and I felt my health plummet and my depression was god awful for 3-4 days after the weekend. It really sucked and I am surprised that it took me so long to put 2 and 2 together. Alcohol is a hard battle, especially with depression. I hope that this time I can stay clean and see the light of sobriety like you. Congratulations and thank you for sharing your story.
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Join Date: Dec 2013
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One other thing, there is a wonderful app called "Stop Drinking Alcohol App" on the Google Play store which has a tick off calendar to keep track of your sobriety alongside many inspirational sobriety related quotes. It is free (but I upgraded to the paid version which gives extra quotes as I was so impressed). I highly recommend it as the quotes really helped me get in the right mindset and it is nice to tick off day by day. I'm not affiliated with the app or anything, just think it's brilliant
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 11
Hey awesome job man! I envy you. I recently just quit (again) and am on day 6. Your story pretty much describes mine, word for word. I am in my mid twenties and can relate to the ****y week and then drinking all weekend to "forget about life and have a good time". I drank hard for 4-5 years and I felt my health plummet and my depression was god awful for 3-4 days after the weekend. It really sucked and I am surprised that it took me so long to put 2 and 2 together. Alcohol is a hard battle, especially with depression. I hope that this time I can stay clean and see the light of sobriety like you. Congratulations and thank you for sharing your story.
Look forward to more of your posts, you are doing the most awesome thing.
Congratulations.
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 11
Thanks so much for posting your story. That sounds exactly like me, can so relate to the misery of Monday - Thursday in the office and then the all weekend bender which of course was in fact misery as well, or just putting off the misery to come again the following week. Congrats on your sobriety and the changes you are seeing! I want some of that!! :-)
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 11
It's both comforting and also crazy that other people have a similar story to my own. I think we've all kidded ourselves that because we didn't drink through the week and that we could hold down an office job that we weren't alcoholics. I guess the stereotypical alcoholic doesn't really exist any more huh? It's not necessarily the down and out unemployed homeless guy - we come from all walks of life.
Thanks again for the kind words. X
Thanks again for the kind words. X
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Gatineau, QC, CA
Posts: 5,100
Thanks for posting this, you have just inspired a chronic Alcoholic.
On day 2 from another relapse (I could write a book on this) strength slowly coming back.
Never made it passed 100 days, thanks for making me see the other side,
On day 2 from another relapse (I could write a book on this) strength slowly coming back.
Never made it passed 100 days, thanks for making me see the other side,
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 11
I never thought I'd make it this far. I thought life would suck without booze. How wrong I was, I'm hoping you'll see the same soon. Stay strong and good luck with your sobriety, friend.
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