What a difference a week has made!
Sober Soldier
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 1,911
What a difference a week has made!
Hello everyone.
It has been a little over a week since I joined SR to try and help me get my mind in order and send my alcohol problems back into the dark depths from whence they came, and I must say in one week my life feels very different in the best way possible. I have 8 days of sobriety under my belt and I am seeing so many improvements in my life.
First of the all, I have made it through an entire work week without going near alcohol or even craving it. I was in bed before midnight every night without so much as a thought about drinking. And I've been waking up in a much better mood feeling very refreshed and ready to take on whatever the day threw at me without that "I can't wait to just go home and start drinking" feeling.
Second, the number of things that I allow to bother me is steadily dwindling. For years, I have let the littlest things bother the crap out of me. So much so that I have developed a reputation for being a miserable, misanthropic grouch. But, over the course of the week, I've noticed that less and less things bother me. I've even received a few "Wow, you're actually smiling!" comments, and people seem more inclined to engage in conversation with me. Don't get me wrong, many things still get to me, and I have work to do, but I'm learning to catch myself getting unnecessarily frustrated and stopping to reevaluate whether it is really worth it to get my heart rate up over something so stupid.
The third and most significant improvement is that I find myself worrying less about things. For several years I have suffered from these fears of doom about my future (which I believe have been the primary driver of my drinking habit). I am in the process of trying to start a business and I have been afraid of the shattering disappointment of failure as well as the possibility of overwhelming success. Both things scare me equally. And instead of facing those fears proactively I have just returned to the bottle time and time again to wash them away. Well, I can honestly say those fears are fading. I feel a renewed sense of hope and ambition. I may not be thrilled with where I'm at right now, but I have convinced myself that if I just keep grinding and keep busting my butt every day, I will get things rolling. And of course, reminding myself that there are always others out there suffering much worse than I am is humbling and helps keep me focused.
I feel that this all started happening after I logged onto SR for the first time last week and let out what I had been keeping locked up inside of myself for way too long. I have not felt this positive and happy in years and it is truly amazing.
Thank you SR!
It has been a little over a week since I joined SR to try and help me get my mind in order and send my alcohol problems back into the dark depths from whence they came, and I must say in one week my life feels very different in the best way possible. I have 8 days of sobriety under my belt and I am seeing so many improvements in my life.
First of the all, I have made it through an entire work week without going near alcohol or even craving it. I was in bed before midnight every night without so much as a thought about drinking. And I've been waking up in a much better mood feeling very refreshed and ready to take on whatever the day threw at me without that "I can't wait to just go home and start drinking" feeling.
Second, the number of things that I allow to bother me is steadily dwindling. For years, I have let the littlest things bother the crap out of me. So much so that I have developed a reputation for being a miserable, misanthropic grouch. But, over the course of the week, I've noticed that less and less things bother me. I've even received a few "Wow, you're actually smiling!" comments, and people seem more inclined to engage in conversation with me. Don't get me wrong, many things still get to me, and I have work to do, but I'm learning to catch myself getting unnecessarily frustrated and stopping to reevaluate whether it is really worth it to get my heart rate up over something so stupid.
The third and most significant improvement is that I find myself worrying less about things. For several years I have suffered from these fears of doom about my future (which I believe have been the primary driver of my drinking habit). I am in the process of trying to start a business and I have been afraid of the shattering disappointment of failure as well as the possibility of overwhelming success. Both things scare me equally. And instead of facing those fears proactively I have just returned to the bottle time and time again to wash them away. Well, I can honestly say those fears are fading. I feel a renewed sense of hope and ambition. I may not be thrilled with where I'm at right now, but I have convinced myself that if I just keep grinding and keep busting my butt every day, I will get things rolling. And of course, reminding myself that there are always others out there suffering much worse than I am is humbling and helps keep me focused.
I feel that this all started happening after I logged onto SR for the first time last week and let out what I had been keeping locked up inside of myself for way too long. I have not felt this positive and happy in years and it is truly amazing.
Thank you SR!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Somewhere up north
Posts: 62
This is so encouraging to hear mns1. I signed on to SR for the first time yesterday so today is day 2 for me.
I can only hope to be where you are by next week. It makes me hopeful. Keep up the great work. A few members welcomed me with the phrase, we're all in this together and I couldn't agree more!
I can only hope to be where you are by next week. It makes me hopeful. Keep up the great work. A few members welcomed me with the phrase, we're all in this together and I couldn't agree more!
Living Sober
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 555
Hey mns1- Well done!
It is amazing what a difference things are when we stop. From the way that you've talked about all of the positives, I can see that you have a great attitude toward your goal of sobriety, which is huge. No doubt that you're on your way to a better you!
I wish you the best with your continued progress.
Lusher
It is amazing what a difference things are when we stop. From the way that you've talked about all of the positives, I can see that you have a great attitude toward your goal of sobriety, which is huge. No doubt that you're on your way to a better you!
I wish you the best with your continued progress.
Lusher
Recognising my AV
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South West of England
Posts: 218
Well done mns1 
I echo your feelings - although it hasn't been all plain sailing for me these last couple of weeks the sense of hope and freedom that comes from simply not drinking is absolutely fantastic - and I'm amazed at the speed with which these feelings have come.
I also attribute it to this forum - support from the old hands and the sense from fellow newbies that I ain't alone in this
I echo your feelings - although it hasn't been all plain sailing for me these last couple of weeks the sense of hope and freedom that comes from simply not drinking is absolutely fantastic - and I'm amazed at the speed with which these feelings have come.
I also attribute it to this forum - support from the old hands and the sense from fellow newbies that I ain't alone in this
Sober Soldier
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 1,911
Thank you everyone as always for the kind words!
I have achieved some nice stretches of sobriety over the last couple years, but every time I feel like part of me just conceded that I would start drinking again eventually. And I did. But the relapse that I am currently recovering from did not last long. I only let it go on for a week, as opposed to several months, before I decided that it was time to end this once and for all!
And this time feels different. There's a certain resolve that I feel. And to top it off, I have the SR Army by my side to fight this as opposed to trying to take it on alone.
More power to you all!
I have achieved some nice stretches of sobriety over the last couple years, but every time I feel like part of me just conceded that I would start drinking again eventually. And I did. But the relapse that I am currently recovering from did not last long. I only let it go on for a week, as opposed to several months, before I decided that it was time to end this once and for all!
And this time feels different. There's a certain resolve that I feel. And to top it off, I have the SR Army by my side to fight this as opposed to trying to take it on alone.
More power to you all!
Sober Soldier
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 1,911
Originally Posted by Shellshocked444 
This is so encouraging to hear mns1. I signed on to SR for the first time yesterday so today is day 2 for me.
I can only hope to be where you are by next week. It makes me hopeful. Keep up the great work. A few members welcomed me with the phrase, we're all in this together and I couldn't agree more!
I can only hope to be where you are by next week. It makes me hopeful. Keep up the great work. A few members welcomed me with the phrase, we're all in this together and I couldn't agree more!
Sober Soldier
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 1,911
Originally Posted by Hendrix
Well done mns1
I echo your feelings - although it hasn't been all plain sailing for me these last couple of weeks the sense of hope and freedom that comes from simply not drinking is absolutely fantastic - and I'm amazed at the speed with which these feelings have come.
I also attribute it to this forum - support from the old hands and the sense from fellow newbies that I ain't alone in this
I echo your feelings - although it hasn't been all plain sailing for me these last couple of weeks the sense of hope and freedom that comes from simply not drinking is absolutely fantastic - and I'm amazed at the speed with which these feelings have come.
I also attribute it to this forum - support from the old hands and the sense from fellow newbies that I ain't alone in this
Keep moving forward Hendrix!
Sober Soldier
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 1,911
Originally Posted by matilda123
What a wonderful post and a wonderful inventory, MNS! I think it is really important when we're early in our sobriety to really take stock of all the blessings that not drinking brings.
Sober Soldier
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 1,911
Originally Posted by Serenidad
Your post gives me hope! Keep up the great work! :-)
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