New soberist here in eastern Washington
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: eastern Washington
Posts: 26
New soberist here in eastern Washington
About 40 days, not exactly keeping track. 56 y/o male. Decided to finally quit in order to save/prolong my life. Blood pressure was running 150-160/100-110. Now it is below 140/90 on average but I want to get it lower. I was getting bad heartburn and acid reflux also and that has pretty much gone away.
Was drinking 3-4 double IPAs plus a pint of bourbon a day, on average, for many years.
I found this site about a week ago and reading the forums will be very helpful to me, I think. Am not going to any meetings so I think I can use this site to the same effect.
Physically, I feel really good now. Mentally, I feel I am in limbo. I am confident that I can continue, but I am also cautious about feeling confident (if that makes any sense).
Thanks for reading!
Was drinking 3-4 double IPAs plus a pint of bourbon a day, on average, for many years.
I found this site about a week ago and reading the forums will be very helpful to me, I think. Am not going to any meetings so I think I can use this site to the same effect.
Physically, I feel really good now. Mentally, I feel I am in limbo. I am confident that I can continue, but I am also cautious about feeling confident (if that makes any sense).
Thanks for reading!
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,760
Congrats on 40 days sober! 
It's not good to get too overconfident, I am always mindful of where I'd end up if I drink, and it's not a nice place. 
I hope our support can help you in your new sober life.
It's not good to get too overconfident, I am always mindful of where I'd end up if I drink, and it's not a nice place. 
I hope our support can help you in your new sober life.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 701
"but I am also cautious about feeling confident (if that makes any sense). "
Makes perfect sense, I can say from sad experience.
Ten years sober: SURELY I can drink responsibly now!
Nope.
Recently four-months sober: SURELY I can drink responsibly now!
Nope.
Both times I took my sobriety for granted.
And lost it(!)
Edited to add: Confidence is a wonderful thing, an essential, empowering thing. An absolutely necessary thing. The only danger is that it can lead to complacency, which is a dangerous thing!
Makes perfect sense, I can say from sad experience.
Ten years sober: SURELY I can drink responsibly now!
Nope.
Recently four-months sober: SURELY I can drink responsibly now!
Nope.
Both times I took my sobriety for granted.
And lost it(!)
Edited to add: Confidence is a wonderful thing, an essential, empowering thing. An absolutely necessary thing. The only danger is that it can lead to complacency, which is a dangerous thing!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: eastern Washington
Posts: 26
Thanks for the words of encouragement.
I didn't mention that I have quit before- a few weeks here and there over the last 15 years. Many of those efforts were half-hearted- I didn't quit with the intentions of quitting forever. It has taken me a long time to become comfortable with the fact that I can't drink anymore-ever. One thing that is different now is that alcohol makes me physically sick. The thought of going back to feeling like that again is repulsive to me, so I don't feel like I am depriving myself of "having a good time" by not drinking. That certainly makes choosing sobriety easier, I think.
However, I know it will be a long process and I will have to remain vigilant against tricks my healing brain will throw at me.
I didn't mention that I have quit before- a few weeks here and there over the last 15 years. Many of those efforts were half-hearted- I didn't quit with the intentions of quitting forever. It has taken me a long time to become comfortable with the fact that I can't drink anymore-ever. One thing that is different now is that alcohol makes me physically sick. The thought of going back to feeling like that again is repulsive to me, so I don't feel like I am depriving myself of "having a good time" by not drinking. That certainly makes choosing sobriety easier, I think.
However, I know it will be a long process and I will have to remain vigilant against tricks my healing brain will throw at me.
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