WakeUpSarah

What I'm enjoying about being sober:
- No puffy, bloodshot eyes
- No bloating
- Able to eat vegetables and drink soda again
- Digestion nearly back to normal (Sorry if TMI LOL)
- No worrying about when or how to get more booze
- My mind is starting to clear up
- No guilt over drinking today (because I didn't, and won't!)
- Less sweating
- No reflux
- No paranoia about not answering my phone because I was too drunk
- No dread at what I could have possibly written on Facebook in the middle of the night
- Starting to sleep properly again
- No hangover headaches, body aches, or nausea!

What I miss about drinking:
- the routine (ritual)
- the ability to use it as a "reward" (Ha! Some kind of reward, eh?)
- the hour or so of being "carefree" (in exchange for 23 or so of agony)

So far, so good! Did I miss anything? Feel free to add to my list!

MycoolFitz

It seems like your ups way outweigh your downs. And it seems that a lot of your ups probably were and are becoming your rituals. Real rewards come and will come with sobriety and free of the addiction carefreeness is sure to follow. Looks like the ups have it.

Dee74

the more I stay sober, the less I miss the way I used to live and the person I had become...good for you Sarah!

D

BodhiTree

Sarah,

I am on day 12 and can completely relate to everything on your list. A few more positives I've found:

• Choosing when to go to bed and going through a bedtime ritual (wash face, moisturize, brush teeth) rather than passing out on the couch.
  
• Reading more because I can focus
  
• Remembering the endings of movies and tv shows

It feels great, doesn't it?

WakeUpSarah

Bhodi, I totally agree, it's always embarrassing to tell people "Oh, yeah, I saw that movie, but don't remember how it ends... I must have fallen asleep." I also bought myself a new book today. I used to read every night, but it's been far too long! I forgot to mention that my complexion is *much* improved! (Probably from not passing out on the couch!)

raindancer11

Yes, the complexion is a nice bonus, isn't it? Great list! Sleep was a big one for me as well as having a clear mind.

DoubtfulDebs

i missed that so now i make tea in the evenings and next month a coleague is going to teach me the tea-making part of the japanese tea ceremony, where you whisk the tea and so on.
i won't do it every night but i thought it would be nice to have a ritual on a saturday night specially if i have friends round.

right now i'm all about replacing those things so there's not a vacuum in my life.

debs

SSIL75

Great list! You'll get new rituals and for sure. Ones that don't end badly!

My list is virtually identical to yours. I can especially relate to the dread in the middle of the night. I'd also have that pit in my stomach in the morning trying to read the energy in the bedroom. Is my husband mad at me?? And then walking into the kitchen and cautiously lifting the wine box. Is it obvious that I drank half of it? etc.

edeneen

Good Post ! I am also feeling much better already at day ten, and I'm reading again too ! Awesome !

ViciousCycle

Waking up in the morning ready to embrace the day, not dread it.
No dry heaves in the morning.
Bright eyes.
Ambition is back.
No "wishing" I could quit.
No waking up every hour with horrible, crazy thoughts.

NO MORE ANXIETY.

Englishrose70

No wine belly!!! lol

raindancer11

Another huge one. Glad to be on this side, playing for this team.

Threshold

I'm saving money.

WakeUpSarah

Good one, Threshold! I'm thinking of treating myself to a spa pedicure! That would have only bought me two bottles and two days of misery, and instead I can have pretty toes for weeks!

Oatmeal

Not having to keep track of all my lies........and not having anything to lie about anymore.