Support needed
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1
Support needed
I've been a drinker for 10+ years now but my relationship and family are suffering from it. I'm 32 and its seems my whole life has been ruled by alcohol. I want to stop and I'm ready to stop but I just don't know how. What's life without alcohol? Its scary for me. Just hoping there are people on here who can help support me give me tips and guidance to overcome this
Hears The Voice
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Unshackled
Posts: 7,901
Welcome to SR Missmash!
I remember being afraid of trying to live without alcohol. It was all I knew. The side effects were ruining my life, but I couldn't imagine life without it.
Now I can't remember why I thought that. All alcohol was doing was holding me back. My life is so much better now I can't even imagine going back to the bottle.
It can be difficult for a little while, but trust the people on this site when they tell you your life will be better once you bust free from that addiction.
You can do this.
I remember being afraid of trying to live without alcohol. It was all I knew. The side effects were ruining my life, but I couldn't imagine life without it.
Now I can't remember why I thought that. All alcohol was doing was holding me back. My life is so much better now I can't even imagine going back to the bottle.
It can be difficult for a little while, but trust the people on this site when they tell you your life will be better once you bust free from that addiction.
You can do this.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 379
This used to be a big fear for me but I've stopped and started so many times that I know the drill.
It takes some adjustment. Your mind, and body, will change. First couple of weeks without alcohol can feel rough for me. Agitation. Anxiety. Lack of desire to do anything. Low mood. Depression. Fatigue. Night sweats. Night terrors. etc.
I remember feeling like life would be flat, and boring, without alcohol. I looked forward to my beer after work. But from experience that feeling goes away pretty quickly.
Find something new to do. With the money you no longer spend on alcohol spend it on something else. Someone suggested to me to start building model planes/cars etc. Never did this before but I live next door to a hobby shop and got myself a model to build for tonight as tonight will be my day 1.
6am is when I crack open a beer. But instead I will open the model and start building with my son.
I also know from experience that after the first month or two things really start to improve dramatically and you notice you can think clearly and life starts to feel important again.
All of the above is my experience only, and others may differ. But, I wanted to reply to say there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I second what the above poster said. If you think it's too difficult to do it alone visit your doctor.
I shall not drink with you today
It takes some adjustment. Your mind, and body, will change. First couple of weeks without alcohol can feel rough for me. Agitation. Anxiety. Lack of desire to do anything. Low mood. Depression. Fatigue. Night sweats. Night terrors. etc.
I remember feeling like life would be flat, and boring, without alcohol. I looked forward to my beer after work. But from experience that feeling goes away pretty quickly.
Find something new to do. With the money you no longer spend on alcohol spend it on something else. Someone suggested to me to start building model planes/cars etc. Never did this before but I live next door to a hobby shop and got myself a model to build for tonight as tonight will be my day 1.
6am is when I crack open a beer. But instead I will open the model and start building with my son.
I also know from experience that after the first month or two things really start to improve dramatically and you notice you can think clearly and life starts to feel important again.
All of the above is my experience only, and others may differ. But, I wanted to reply to say there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I second what the above poster said. If you think it's too difficult to do it alone visit your doctor.
I shall not drink with you today
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5,095
What's life without alcohol? Its scary for me
This is the baffling part of addiction. While our lives, and the lives of those around us, are being ruined, even destroyed, by our drinking, we seem to be unable to envision life without it. Question this. Does that make sense? Or could your brain simply be so programmed to believe all the marketing BS that you are fed, that you keep believing alcohol will do for you what you so badly want it to do. When in reality, it is doing nothing but destroying your life. If you continue down the path you are on, surely you will lose your family. And if you don't, well it can't get worse than that, can it? So NOT drinking is the unknown, and yeah it is hard, at first. But it does get easier.
Much of staying stopped is questioning the reality of your drinking. Is it really everything you believe it to be?
This is the baffling part of addiction. While our lives, and the lives of those around us, are being ruined, even destroyed, by our drinking, we seem to be unable to envision life without it. Question this. Does that make sense? Or could your brain simply be so programmed to believe all the marketing BS that you are fed, that you keep believing alcohol will do for you what you so badly want it to do. When in reality, it is doing nothing but destroying your life. If you continue down the path you are on, surely you will lose your family. And if you don't, well it can't get worse than that, can it? So NOT drinking is the unknown, and yeah it is hard, at first. But it does get easier.
Much of staying stopped is questioning the reality of your drinking. Is it really everything you believe it to be?
Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 379
Originally Posted by Frickaflip233 
What's life without alcohol? Its scary for me
This is the baffling part of addiction. While our lives, and the lives of those around us, are being ruined, even destroyed, by our drinking, we seem to be unable to envision life without it. Question this. Does that make sense? Or could your brain simply be so programmed to believe all the marketing BS that you are fed, that you keep believing alcohol will do for you what you so badly want it to do. When in reality, it is doing nothing but destroying your life. If you continue down the path you are on, surely you will lose your family. And if you don't, well it can't get worse than that, can it? So NOT drinking is the unknown, and yeah it is hard, at first. But it does get easier.
Much of staying stopped is questioning the reality of your drinking. Is it really everything you believe it to be?
This is the baffling part of addiction. While our lives, and the lives of those around us, are being ruined, even destroyed, by our drinking, we seem to be unable to envision life without it. Question this. Does that make sense? Or could your brain simply be so programmed to believe all the marketing BS that you are fed, that you keep believing alcohol will do for you what you so badly want it to do. When in reality, it is doing nothing but destroying your life. If you continue down the path you are on, surely you will lose your family. And if you don't, well it can't get worse than that, can it? So NOT drinking is the unknown, and yeah it is hard, at first. But it does get easier.
Much of staying stopped is questioning the reality of your drinking. Is it really everything you believe it to be?
Alcohol fills the happiness void temporarily. When I'm drunk I message people and make dumb promises knowing I can't keep them. I once told my 18 year old brother I would make him a part owner of my business and he could have 50% profits if he can do a few days in the office. Ludicrous I know, and then I have to find some way of telling family I was drunk. Because at the time I felt so happy I wanted to share my life with everyone. But once I wake up its pure embarrassment and shame.
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,512
Welcome and I sure do relate to how scary it is to stop drinking.
This is a link of recovery programs and lots of ideas from our members:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
This is a link of recovery programs and lots of ideas from our members:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Southern US
Posts: 626
Welcome Missmash.
I’m only on day 18 of my sobriety. I can relate. I’m still scared. However for me, I’m excited moreso. I can’t wait to live a life where I’m not obsessed with my next drink. I can’t wait to remember all of my next vacation. I can’t wait to go to bed tonight knowing I didn’t let myself or anyone else down for just this one more day!
You will find a ton of great people and support here, I look forward to seeing you around!
I’m only on day 18 of my sobriety. I can relate. I’m still scared. However for me, I’m excited moreso. I can’t wait to live a life where I’m not obsessed with my next drink. I can’t wait to remember all of my next vacation. I can’t wait to go to bed tonight knowing I didn’t let myself or anyone else down for just this one more day!
You will find a ton of great people and support here, I look forward to seeing you around!
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,445
Hi missmash 
I can guarantee you that noone would be here if they thought they lost out on this sobriety deal.
It's scary to contemplate sure but when you can;t stand your current way of living what have you got to lose really?
Hope to see you around some more - this is a great community
D
I can guarantee you that noone would be here if they thought they lost out on this sobriety deal.
It's scary to contemplate sure but when you can;t stand your current way of living what have you got to lose really?
Hope to see you around some more - this is a great community
D
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