First Day of Sobriety
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1
First Day of Sobriety
Hello all,
I got arrested for a DUI 2nd Thursday night/Friday morning. I am completely scared for my future and am filled with utter despair. After my first one, I thought I had gotten better (or at least I rationalized to myself that I had). I have never been an everyday alcoholic, but am a binge drinker when I drink. I am going to my first AA tomorrow and I am nervous. I find myself wishing I could just drink socially like everyone else and keep asking myself, why do I have this disease? Today is my first day sober and I plan for sobriety to continue for the rest of my life. I feel ashamed, guilty, and cannot believe my own stupidity. Any helpful advice anyone could give on other things to do besides AA or any support offered would be wonderful. I have hit rock bottom. I am only 29 years old and I know I have a whole life ahead of me. I just need to pick up the pieces and try to get back up.
I got arrested for a DUI 2nd Thursday night/Friday morning. I am completely scared for my future and am filled with utter despair. After my first one, I thought I had gotten better (or at least I rationalized to myself that I had). I have never been an everyday alcoholic, but am a binge drinker when I drink. I am going to my first AA tomorrow and I am nervous. I find myself wishing I could just drink socially like everyone else and keep asking myself, why do I have this disease? Today is my first day sober and I plan for sobriety to continue for the rest of my life. I feel ashamed, guilty, and cannot believe my own stupidity. Any helpful advice anyone could give on other things to do besides AA or any support offered would be wonderful. I have hit rock bottom. I am only 29 years old and I know I have a whole life ahead of me. I just need to pick up the pieces and try to get back up.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North of England
Posts: 1,442
Please don't be nervous about going to AA for starters. Everyone has had a first time there and they know what it is like. You will find it very friendly I am sure!
I go to AA, read and post here and read quite a lot of literature too. If you get into a zone where alcohol is your enemy and not a friend to 'give up' that will help!
I go to AA, read and post here and read quite a lot of literature too. If you get into a zone where alcohol is your enemy and not a friend to 'give up' that will help!
Re-Tread
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Meditation
Posts: 1,300
Im right there in the same boat with ya. Minus the DUI. I dont like the fact its never gonna get better so I can drink normally but its not. I got into some drunken trouble with the law at 28 or 29. I was so upset I started in AA. I enjoyed it and walked away with a Big Book but only got sober for a month.
Being a binge drinker is tough. Its easy to rationalize that we are not so bad because most times I drank I didnt get drunk. But the consequences are the same. Its been 6 or 7 years since I got into trouble and Im on day 2 of sobriety again.
Get in there and take it seriously and youll save youself time and pain.
Being a binge drinker is tough. Its easy to rationalize that we are not so bad because most times I drank I didnt get drunk. But the consequences are the same. Its been 6 or 7 years since I got into trouble and Im on day 2 of sobriety again.
Get in there and take it seriously and youll save youself time and pain.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Midwest
Posts: 9,029
Well, I've always asked myself why I can't drink socially and haven't found an answer yet. I've accepted that it just "is." I attend AA meetings. I socialize with non drinkers. I focus on the things that are going right for me and that I enjoy doing. I take my sobriety one day at a time. Some days are easier than others. Welcome to SR. You can't beat yourself up forever and shouldn't. We have all done things we are not proud of and manage to move on and live happier lives.
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: northeast US
Posts: 715
Originally Posted by ChangeRequired 
Hello all,
I got arrested for a DUI 2nd Thursday night/Friday morning. I am completely scared for my future and am filled with utter despair. After my first one, I thought I had gotten better (or at least I rationalized to myself that I had). I have never been an everyday alcoholic, but am a binge drinker when I drink. I am going to my first AA tomorrow and I am nervous. I find myself wishing I could just drink socially like everyone else and keep asking myself, why do I have this disease? Today is my first day sober and I plan for sobriety to continue for the rest of my life. I feel ashamed, guilty, and cannot believe my own stupidity. Any helpful advice anyone could give on other things to do besides AA or any support offered would be wonderful. I have hit rock bottom. I am only 29 years old and I know I have a whole life ahead of me. I just need to pick up the pieces and try to get back up.
I got arrested for a DUI 2nd Thursday night/Friday morning. I am completely scared for my future and am filled with utter despair. After my first one, I thought I had gotten better (or at least I rationalized to myself that I had). I have never been an everyday alcoholic, but am a binge drinker when I drink. I am going to my first AA tomorrow and I am nervous. I find myself wishing I could just drink socially like everyone else and keep asking myself, why do I have this disease? Today is my first day sober and I plan for sobriety to continue for the rest of my life. I feel ashamed, guilty, and cannot believe my own stupidity. Any helpful advice anyone could give on other things to do besides AA or any support offered would be wonderful. I have hit rock bottom. I am only 29 years old and I know I have a whole life ahead of me. I just need to pick up the pieces and try to get back up.
Guest
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: The Deep South
Posts: 14,636
Welcome! I was a binge drinker and eventually got a DUI at age 30. So your situation sounds a bit familiar 
I got sober a few times from ages 27 to 36. My best advice is to realize the gravity of your situation now rather than later. I am so grateful I knew to get sober in my 20s. Some can get it on the first try. But for others it takes a few. I kept thinking I'd be ok to drink again. Because I was not a daily drinker, the impulsivity to get blasted once in a while was strong. But looking back with hindsight, I see just how much of my time was spent recovering from the binge and feeling "ok" again in order to want to binge again. The endless cycle.
Congrats on the desire to get sober! SR can help.
I got sober a few times from ages 27 to 36. My best advice is to realize the gravity of your situation now rather than later. I am so grateful I knew to get sober in my 20s. Some can get it on the first try. But for others it takes a few. I kept thinking I'd be ok to drink again. Because I was not a daily drinker, the impulsivity to get blasted once in a while was strong. But looking back with hindsight, I see just how much of my time was spent recovering from the binge and feeling "ok" again in order to want to binge again. The endless cycle. Congrats on the desire to get sober! SR can help.
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Olathe
Posts: 200
Realize that being sober really is a rewarding and enjoyable life. Any time you think you need alcohol to have fun or to conquer boredom, that is just the alcohol demons speaking (it's not true)! I have also always been a binge drinker and got 2 DUI's in the same month. It wasn't enough to stop my drinking problem, I needed to make the decision myself that I'm done.
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,560
It's good to meet you ChangeRequired.
I've been there too. You will rise above this. There's no point in feeling ashamed or guilty, that won't do anything but keep you down and defeated. You'll come out of this to lead a better life. Keep posting - it will help with the anxiety you're feeling. We all understand.
I've been there too. You will rise above this. There's no point in feeling ashamed or guilty, that won't do anything but keep you down and defeated. You'll come out of this to lead a better life. Keep posting - it will help with the anxiety you're feeling. We all understand.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: C.C. Ma.
Posts: 3,697
Welcome to a chance to live probably the way you wish to for a long time. It's simple but not always easy, we just don't pick up the FIRST drink. Alcoholism is a progressive disease so the whys and maybes will never amount to much. I just needed to ACCEPT the fact that I cannot drink alcohol in safety and take daily steps to stay sober.
BE WELL
BE WELL
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Engerland
Posts: 897
Dear Change
Well done on your first day. We all started with day one and they do add up if you use the help of others, make the changes then help others out of this damn hole.
Best wishes.
Be safe today
G
Well done on your first day. We all started with day one and they do add up if you use the help of others, make the changes then help others out of this damn hole.
Best wishes.
Be safe today
G
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
