thomas11

I hesitated on starting a thread about this, but I suppose if it helps someone, then it's a good thing.

I have done well abstaining from alcohol for the last 8 months. I did get drunk one time. The weekends were my time to drink and for most of the last 8 months there was a void on the weekends. I didn't feel the urge to drink, but there was an empty space. I guess the main thing I felt was boredom.

Now, in the last 3 weeks I feel like I've turned a corner of sorts. I am not bored, that void is disappearing. I'm finding myself doing things and not thinking about "not drinking". I'm just doing everyday stuff. It is very freeing. I can do what I want, drive when and where I want, do things I wouldn't normally do. I could have done them before, but I didn't because I was in that void. Now I WANT to do different things. I have a desire to do more than stay at home and do nothing, and even if I am at home, I keep myself busy...naturally/not forced. It's pretty new to me, but for anyone who is new to this site, I could be a case study on how not drinking slowly becomes the new normal. Its pretty cool.

soberclover

So very true! Friday nights used to make be really squirrely and over time....not so much. Sober is better....much better.

Dee74

Yeah I never had much success with filling the void Jeff, but a lot of success in healing it, if you can see the difference

I drank because I felt my life, or myself, lacked things - if you (meaning anyone reading) can get a handle on what those things might be, I reckon you're more than half way home

D

thomas11

Not sure I follow on the difference between filling a void and healing it? Obviously there is a difference because you pointed it out?

Purplrks3647

Very encouraging, Thomas! Thanks for sharing

izzy8

Thanks for sharing that, Thomas! Very encouraging

Dee74

I had a void in me -a sense of something lacking that I tried to fill with things, and stuff.

Nothing ever worked because the void was bottomless.

When I concentrated instead on what was lacking in me - like all my insecurities and my self esteem issues, my need for approval and validation from others and my fears of being a fraud and less than others, lonely unwanted and unloveable...etc etc

when I worked on that stuff, I began to heal the void.

Some counselling helped but most of it was just time and effort into trying to be the guy I wanted to be

D

thomas11

ok, got it. I see what you mean now.

Fervor

That's great to hear. Your enthusiasm is evident, and now you have something that you want to keep experiencing to spur you on. I can't wait until I can post something like that. Well done.