7 months sober for me today - what a miracle
 

Well, today I am seven months sober. I just had to post that - no one else in my real life knows that I relapsed for 3.5 years after 9 years of sobriety and I just have to tell someone that understands. I relapsed after having left Atlanta to escape an abusive husband after divorcing him - I knew no one here besides my adult daughter. I drank alone, however I am sure my daughter and friends back in Atlanta wonder what the hell was wrong with me in that era! You guys are all that I have got.

Lately every once in awhile the thought that I don't know what would be going on in my life (if I was still alive) had I not quit drinking pops into my mind. I was on the verge of losing everything. Actually I got sober not only for myself but for my animals. One of my dogs - the creature that I loved more than anything on the planet - died last July, and three weeks after she died I got sober to honor her. (I know that sounds wierd.)

Yeah, parts of my life still suck, and I don't have everything all figured out. I have a lot of rough edges still and damage to undo - but at least I am sober now so I can start to handle things with dignity and some semblance of intelligence.

The biggest thing that I have learned these seven months - and I learned it from this forum - is that when you quit drinking you also have to learn to start living. It sounds like a no-brainer, but now that I am older and stuck in my ways, and I left the familiarity of Atlanta and moved somewhere new, it is a challenge. I am slowly getting there though.

I have yet to start a formal recovery program, but SR has been invaluable to me. I am confident I would not be sober now if it wasn't for this forum and you understanding, unselfish friends who have helped me more than you will ever realize. Thank you so much. Much love and hope to all of you.

Thank you for your post. I really appreciate your idea that when we quit drinking we must start living. That's really interesting as here on Saturday of Week Three I start doing some of the stuff I had given up.

Congratulations to you and I'm so glad you made it.

Sissy, that is fantastic :) Back in 2006 I relapsed for 4.5 years after being sober for 6.5 years :( I understand & am so thankful I am alive and sober. Congratulations on your 7 months!

Well done Sissy, 7 months is brilliant, I hope I also can get to there:You_Rock_

You are so right about learning to live again. All we practiced for so long was killing ourselves.
Big congrats to you!
I understand only having SR to share triumphs & troubles with.
You are an inspiration & I love reading your posts. :a122:

Big huge hug Sissy!!!

You and I both joined SR at the same time. I've been with you all the way along in your journey. I'm getting all teary just thinking about how far you've come.

Much love my friend :)

Congrats on you sober time Sissy. http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/applause.gif 7 months is outstanding!

Nice job sissy...You ROCK....Hang on to it....

WTG Sissy. :thanks for the post

Congratulations!!! :)

:a122::c029::a122:

Congratulations

Great post Sissy. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Congrats.And keep up the hard work.

(((Sissy))) - Congratulations on 7 months!!! I totally understand honoring your furbaby...my cats from my using days are long gone, but part of my recovery is to make living amends to the furbabies I have now.

Hugs and prayers,

Amy

That is so awesome Sissy!! :nyyI am so happy for you girlie!! Love and enjoy your post!:bunny6:

Congrats Sissy,

A great insightful and honest post.

CaiHong

Congrats, Sissy! I had no idea we were that close in our current sobriety. I picked up my 7 month chip today, after celebrating on the 7th (without booze, of course).

Thanks for sharing more of your story, and for the encouragement and support you've provided me along the way.

Funny you should mention the need to start living again. That's been front and center on my path lately too. I still isolate too much, and shared that at my meeting this a.m. If you don't have a recovery method/plan picked, I'd suggest you try a few meetings. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. But be choosy in which ones you stick with.

Congrats and here's to continued peace and sobriety!

Congratulations on the 7 months!

I didn't realize that you had relapsed after 9 years of sobriety. I did the same thing after 5.5 years of sobriety. Once I relapsed is was harder to stay stopped. I finally gave up and went to AA and the program of AA, along with this website, have really helped me to get sober and stay sober this time. You might want to give AA a try as some preventative medicine.

Congrats on your 7 months Sissy! You're doing great - very inspiring. I feel the same way about SR. Thanks for your contributions, too. :)

Congrats sissy! You have always been an inspiration to me in these threads and I know you will continue to be xoxo

That was a beautiful post, congrats on the 7 months.