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8 months, still strong but what a year

Old 09-06-2019, 07:16 AM
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8 months, still strong but what a year

Well, I'm feeling good about not drinking at a little over 8 months now. Woohoo! I've really been trying to re-brand myself in my mind and with friends/family as a non-drinker. I lead a pretty healthy lifestyle generally, so it hasn't been as rough a switch to talk to others about without getting into the whole "I'm a wasted mess when I drink" convo about my decision. I HAVE quit for my health, so it's not a lie! I just don't list ALL the reasons :P

But man, I've said it before and I'll say it again, this year has been ROUGH. A few particularly jarring incidents took place with people I felt close to and now no longer am. None of those relationships were in any way related to drinking, it's just coincidence that these happened in this first year of sobriety, but I'm so glad to be sober for them. I'd be lying if I didn't think to myself recently that a drink to get out of my head for a bit would be nice, but I shook those feelings off, played the tape forward, remembered why I quit and checked in here. I know I've got to stay on top of my self care as far as eating right, exercising, etc. because it could be easy to let these situations derail the progress I've made in a lot of life areas, but I'm not going to let that happen! I'm too mad at those people to let them eff up my progress

Anyway, it's been a rough week and I'll be glad to welcome the weekend. Hope you all are having a good one and work on your game plans going into the weekend! There's lot of healthy and fun things to do to get your mind off that annoying AV, or just Netflix binge something when all else fails. You got this!
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Old 09-06-2019, 07:38 AM
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I’m 8 months and a few days in too. People joke about New Years resolutions, but this one seems to have worked out for you and me.

If you looked after yourself before, you might not have noticed any physical changes. I haven’t lost any weight as I was/am a gym goer and runner so always burned off my alcohol calories. However, an ultrasound in December diagnosed a mild fatty liver, but then a private fibroscan* done two weeks ago showed all that fat had gone! My liver is healthy and supple now. What a recovery, and all I did was stop drinking! Your liver will be thanking you too.

* Having a fibroscan was overkill, but I’d drunk for 20 years and could well have had some fibrosis or scarring. I’m very relieved that’s not the case. I’ve been let off Scott free.
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Old 09-06-2019, 07:52 AM
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Congratulations! That's great to hear. I've not had any medical evaluations around anything, but my doctor never suggested any based on blood work, so I'm hoping everything looks good! I've lost a bit of weight, just from not doing the ****** hangover food, excess alcohol calories and not being hungover for the gym on the weekends. That's been a nice side effect, besides just feeling mentally better overall. Much needed to help me get through the BS this year has thrown at me!
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Old 09-06-2019, 08:13 AM
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I’m no doctor obviously, but if your bloods are fine, I’d say you’re just fine.

And yes, my dad died recently, which wasn’t a surprise and he was ancient, but as life events go, it’s quite a big one. It didn’t occur to me to drink. That’s incredible when I’d use any little excuse to have a bottle of wine previously. It’s a total fallacy that drinking helps with stress. The only stress there is caused by alcohol dependency.

Well done again, fellow eight monther.
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Old 09-06-2019, 08:26 AM
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Well done guys. I am at 6 months now. Many positives. The most difficult aspect for me is socialising without alcohol. I am trying but it is testing. I may have to cut down this aspect to as little as possible. I do not think it will get better. Still, not socialising won’t kill me, alcohol will.
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Old 09-06-2019, 09:07 AM
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It’ll be a different type of socialising. My wife and her friends don’t drink, so when I used to go out with them, I’d be disappointed and irritable if they went somewhere which didn’t have alcohol - how ridiculous and self-centred does this sound now 😀 - Now I’m pleased to tag along and am even sociable!

I have friends who drink a lot. I’ll meet them earlier on in the evening. I’ll have a soft drink or alcohol free beer, and I’ll leave earlier. They know I don’t drink now because I was alcohol dependent.

If strangers/colleagues go drinking, they can count me out. I don’t mind looking out for drunk friends who’d look out for me, but I’ve no time for drunk strangers now.
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Old 09-06-2019, 09:09 AM
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Callas, that's definitely been an issue for me in the past. Maybe I'm getting older and caring less about the social scene, but it's been easier this time. The hardest has been those first few times out with friends I used to drink with (the ones that weren't JUST drinking buddies) and letting them know, hey I don't really drink any more. I had to put up with a bit of ribbing, but for the most part everyone dropped it pretty quick. Seltzer water is also my friend! I always order it if I've been at a bar for a work thing or friend's birthday or whatever, and just tip a dollar if they don't charge me so I don't feel bad for taking up space. Of course, skipping those events had been necessary in the past when I didn't feel strong enough to be surrounded by booze and not drinking it. Good for you on six months! That's a tough first hurdle to get over, so that's a bonus
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Old 09-06-2019, 09:20 AM
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Thanks guys. I am a bit disappointed that I am not getting better at socialising without alcohol. Perhaps I am just a slow adapter or perhaps it’s understandable taking into account that I have never before this 6 months socialised without alcohol. I tried to think back and I truly cannot think of any social occasions without alcohol. That was just our lifestyle. Still is for the others. If I need to make yet another massive shift in mind and practice to stay sober I will.
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Old 09-06-2019, 09:28 AM
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Definitely. I’ve got a good friend a few hours away, and we’re struggling a bit to work out what to do on our next lads weekend. That’s a nice problem to have. Even as a heavy drinker, I was very bored of bars and beer.

P.s. Nicely done on the six months.
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Old 09-06-2019, 06:07 PM
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Sorry for the rough times KeepingUp - I hope better days are ahead...
congrats on 8 months

D
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Old 09-07-2019, 12:58 AM
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Originally Posted by KeepingUp View Post
I'd be lying if I didn't think to myself recently that a drink to get out of my head for a bit would be nice, but I shook those feelings off, played the tape forward, remembered why I quit and checked in here.
THIS ⬆️⬆️

The thoughts of a drink pop into my head still, at 16 months sober, they are going to. I am an alcoholic. But they are just thoughts. It is what we do with them that matter and it sounds like you know exactly what to do when they come in which is excellent! Well done on your 8 months, you are amazing!
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