16 Months Sober
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,228
16 Months Sober
Hello all,
It has been 16 months since I stopped drinking. I had a rough 6 years, where I spiraled into full-blown alcoholism, to the point that I nearly lost everything, and I mean everything. I am now (reservedly) happy and feeling a bit more secure in my sobriety, I thought I would check in.
I still have cravings but I have found ways to work around them. I can never take back the things I said or did while I was drinking, but I am slowly gaining the trust of my children and husband, who were most affected and harmed by my behavior when I was drinking. There are no second chances when letting your children down, especially now that they have learned to rely on me again.
The best part of not drinking anymore is just being normal. Alcohol gave me an inflated sense of self, in a defensive, desperate manner. It is nice to know who I am again and to learn to work hard even when I don't want to - it is a skill I stopped developing while I was drinking.
Being knee-deep into alcohol addiction, I thought EVERYONE drank every day. Yeah,it was just me who drank every day.
To people on day one, or week two - or the beginning of their sober journey, it gets better. It is a hard thing to convince an alcoholic that things get better, because they rarely do in the early stages of sobriety. I only have 16 months sober, but it is in the looking back and remembering that I realize how much better things have become.
Looking forward to the two-year mark next March - reaching my next goal for sobriety, as well as personal and professional goals.
It has been 16 months since I stopped drinking. I had a rough 6 years, where I spiraled into full-blown alcoholism, to the point that I nearly lost everything, and I mean everything. I am now (reservedly) happy and feeling a bit more secure in my sobriety, I thought I would check in.
I still have cravings but I have found ways to work around them. I can never take back the things I said or did while I was drinking, but I am slowly gaining the trust of my children and husband, who were most affected and harmed by my behavior when I was drinking. There are no second chances when letting your children down, especially now that they have learned to rely on me again.
The best part of not drinking anymore is just being normal. Alcohol gave me an inflated sense of self, in a defensive, desperate manner. It is nice to know who I am again and to learn to work hard even when I don't want to - it is a skill I stopped developing while I was drinking.
Being knee-deep into alcohol addiction, I thought EVERYONE drank every day. Yeah,it was just me who drank every day.
To people on day one, or week two - or the beginning of their sober journey, it gets better. It is a hard thing to convince an alcoholic that things get better, because they rarely do in the early stages of sobriety. I only have 16 months sober, but it is in the looking back and remembering that I realize how much better things have become.
Looking forward to the two-year mark next March - reaching my next goal for sobriety, as well as personal and professional goals.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 28,647
Good one, P. We are about the some length of sober Cherish what you have.....do not be one of the 'yet' crowd like me..
I am not that bad
I did not lose my partner
My children have not stopped loving me
I have not lost my car, home, career, studies, self esteem`.......yet
I am not that bad
I did not lose my partner
My children have not stopped loving me
I have not lost my car, home, career, studies, self esteem`.......yet
- well done on 16 months!
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