Windancer

Has anyone proven to their loved ones they can do this and had a healthy relationship? Do the cravings lessen? Can you have a happy and satisfying day without booze or drugs???

Jupiters

well, I know I that I CAN'T have a happy and satisfying one WITH booze.

KAD

Good days and bad days but ALL of them better than drunk days. That is the honest truth. Sure, I still face challenges - such is life - but when I'm sober I actually stand a chance of facing them and dealing with them.

Lostinhk

Do read the recovery journals, there's some great stories of people whose lives improved drastically with sobriety. They really inspired me.

FreeOwl

YES.

All of the above.

Nonsensical

It wasn't them I had to convince.


Mine did.


Yes.
My addiction, however, is quite miserable. But that summunabeach lied to and stole from me for more than 25 years, so it can just suck it.

TroubledJoe

Getting sober gives you the OPPORTUNITY to be happy and healthy. It allows you to work towards it. That simply cannot happen otherwise.

Windancer

That's great! Im just trying to feel hope for my rough road to sobriety.

LBrain

Did you ever hear, "A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work?"

Any day without drinking is better than any day drunk.

sugarbear1

life is so much better!

MIRecovery

Yup and Yup. It is done a day at a time with the help of others

Eddiebuckle

Only after I made the commitment to do whatever it took every day to stay sober. The relationships heal over time, personally it took a couple of years to say I had truly changed and was comfortable being that person.

Cravings lessen over time, they were pretty much gone after 9-12 months with the exception of the occasional fleeting thought.

Absolutely. And that is the thing I found most surprising; I fully expected to continue to want to drink for the rest of my days.

freshstart57

1. Yes.
2. Yes
3. Yes

Serenidad

Ditto!

Sent from my iPhone using SoberRecovery

soberjuly

The first 3 days were miserable. On Day 7 today and feel great!

but I also am juicing lots of veggies...I know that is helping

I don't have cravings - I just miss habits - the way I rewarded myself for things - all the time - with a glass (or 2 or 3...) of wine.

Climber122

When I was drinking:
1. Daily panic attacks
2. Car was repossessed
3. Divorce/cheating
4. Was afraid around my kids
5. Drove drunk a lot
6. Hurt myself frequently
7. Compulsively internet shopped
8. Nagging depression

After a few years sober:

None of the above apply

Hang in there. Your emotions will be up and down. But the one thing you simply cannot do is take a drink. Everything else rides on that. Keep seeking answers - go to support groups, post here, go to church, read books... the answers will come that will help you sort of the wreckage and you will feel better about taking on life's challenges and about yourself in general.

Anna

Of course, there is hope. And, of course, life isn't perfect, but I am very, very happy.

thenewjenn

I am happy, healthy, no cravings, and I have repaired my relationship with my husband. Hang in there and keep trying to find what works for YOUR sobriety. For me it was AA meetings, reading, some yoga/meditation and time in nature unplugged. Also it helps me to throw myself into shortterm projects when Im feeling unsettled (creative projects usually or organizing things... Just something that requires my full attention and leaves me feeling accomplished at the end)

LooseGrip

Yes, I went 6 months without drinking, cravings went away. Was happy, healthy and SERENE. It is better than any high out there.

ScottFromWI

Everything, and when I say that i mean EVERYTHING is better now that I am sober. Absolutely and positively 100% better.

It didn't happen right away, but it is worth the work involved to get there.