10 benefits of sobriety
33. Found my Higher Power
34. Trusting myself and others
35. Letting go of guilt and shame
36. Self Confidence
37. Looking forward to a new day
38. Planning for my future
39. Compassion for others
40. Finding gratitude in the simplest things . . . .
34. Trusting myself and others
35. Letting go of guilt and shame
36. Self Confidence
37. Looking forward to a new day
38. Planning for my future
39. Compassion for others
40. Finding gratitude in the simplest things . . . .
Having time and motivation to do normal everyday things such as take a shower everyday, clean the house, keep pets and litter clean. (BASIC living skills). Also, having time to be productive such as going back to school.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 118
Lotsa carrots...here's a stick :)
This doesn't seem to be mentioned much.
My addiction developed over the years...err...decade(s). A few years back I bought one of those wrist-wrap blood pressure gadgets and began to regularly check my BP.
The results were quite alarming to say the least. My BP was consistently in the range of 140-165/95-110. Of course in my (somewhat disabled) wisdom I went to the doctor and got a prescription for BP medicine, ignoring the obvious.
Years went by with minimal results while other effects of alcohol poisoning began to peek out of their hiding places. I would notice that when I would wean back a bit the symptoms would subside some but I'm not a good...err weaner. The doctors always said the same thing..."just stop drinking".
So, finally I stopped (17 days now). Been checking daily BP and results are empirically dramatic. BP has now pegged in the range 117-120/76-81 (normal) without any medication.
Point is ( and I always knew this really): you can fool your mind ad nauseum (literally even) but you can't fool your body, it knows how much you're drinking.
My addiction developed over the years...err...decade(s). A few years back I bought one of those wrist-wrap blood pressure gadgets and began to regularly check my BP.
The results were quite alarming to say the least. My BP was consistently in the range of 140-165/95-110. Of course in my (somewhat disabled) wisdom I went to the doctor and got a prescription for BP medicine, ignoring the obvious.
Years went by with minimal results while other effects of alcohol poisoning began to peek out of their hiding places. I would notice that when I would wean back a bit the symptoms would subside some but I'm not a good...err weaner. The doctors always said the same thing..."just stop drinking".
So, finally I stopped (17 days now). Been checking daily BP and results are empirically dramatic. BP has now pegged in the range 117-120/76-81 (normal) without any medication.
Point is ( and I always knew this really): you can fool your mind ad nauseum (literally even) but you can't fool your body, it knows how much you're drinking.
That's a good post Skyburst, I too monitor my blood pressure (courtesies of Wal Mart, so I'm not sure how reliable it is) but I do notice that when I go without drinking my BP lowers dramatically. But if I relapse it shoots right back up there to the "pre-hyptertensive" range. Just another very good reason to quit for good.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 24
I'm only on day one but My list would have to include everything everyone else said plus, not feeling ashamed and embarassed all the time, not worrying about who I fell down in front of, not sweating profusely all the time and regaining a sense of pride in myself. Thanks to all for giving me a list of things to think about. All those things certainly are more beneficial than drinking, even though I might not think so all the time.
Finally feeling like I'm on equal footing when I socialize with sober people, (sharing the same reality so to speak.....)
Having REAL self-confidence (and not faking it because I actually feel worthless...)
Eating and enjoying food again, (not going entire days without eating and dry heaving at the sight of food....)
...the list is long!
Having REAL self-confidence (and not faking it because I actually feel worthless...)
Eating and enjoying food again, (not going entire days without eating and dry heaving at the sight of food....)
...the list is long!
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