5 nights dry
 

I am feeling good...cut down on low alcohol for a month before stopping drinking.....not sure how I am going to cope socially though...last time I had moderate to heavy withdrawal symptons....this time I have managed it better..I am exercising again and feeling good...using natural remedies to help sleep....but it will be a long road...socially especially ...any ideas?

The hardest part
 

When I finally realized that the folks I was drinking with had absolutely ZERO to add to my life and that being around them was bringing me down to their level, I was able to walk away and never go back. Its not easy to leave behind the people who you considered friends but this is not about them....
its about you and your health.

Your good friends will understand if you lay it out for them but they may still want to drink in your presence. Try to avoid this.

5 Days in an EXCELLENT start! Good Job!

Congratulations on 5 days. I'm on Day 3 (this time around). I also realized that the people I was hanging around and drinking with added too much negativity and drama into my life. It makes it easier to walk away.

However, it's scary to realize you have to re-build a life almost from scratch. But sometimes that it the best way to build the life you truly want.

Good Luck!

Good going on five days. I've had many of them. It was only when I realized that alcohol was ruling my life that I could make the changes to enable me to quit.

Have you considered going to AA? That could help with the social part. You'll be around people just like you. There are other programs of recovery, too. Try anything, do anything take action to not take that first drink. Think it through to the end, and the misery it'll bring.

Welcome and best to you.

Congratulations on 5 days - good for you.

Since I've quit drinking my social life has changed drastically. I was worried about this a lot at first (and I think many people are) because most, if not all, of the socialising I did involved alcohol. I still go to pubs (very occasionally) if there is an event I must go to, such a birthday or something like that, but generally I have no interest in being in those sorts of environment any more. I guess I've realised that my physical and mental health is far more important than socialising... and I've also learned that I enjoy my own company now - I tend to have solitary hobbies such as baking. For now, try to focus on your sobriety and what you will GAIN from it rather than what you will lose... all the things we think we are losing through sobriety turn out to be things we could do without anyway, in my opinion.

Welcome to SR! Hope you find all that I have here. Wishing you all the best on your sober journey. x

Congratulations on getting through the first days, and welcome to our online community!

These are some great answers, and I am taking notes here myself. MrsKing, I like your emphasis on turning the question around to consider what one GAINS not only from their sobriety but from their new lifestyle. Just a few weeks through I'm still negotiating some of the social boundaries, but I'm already enjoying some of the benefits of sobriety, including a better mood, moderately more energy (and therefore, more exercise during my busy weeks,) and the beginning of insight into why I have been a problem drinker for so long. I have no intention of letting go of these new found benefits by giving in to the bottle again!

Stick with us here, LSC1, and stay strong. I wish you well in your recovery.

Welcome aboard and congrats on your days :)


AA really gives my the social world I needed. I like being around people specialy bar people . But since I came into the rooms of AA over a year ago. That has become my social base . I love being around sober people and doing more things then sitting on that bar stool. :)

Keep coming and posting.

Hi LSC

I am having the same worries. I wonder how I am going to mesh in with the regulars after 8 years of acting like Barney from the Simpsons. Slurring out sentence fragments and belching loudly is no longer going to work. :rotfxko

Since reading is something I enjoy and I learn best that way, I've decided to start devouring books about people skills and how to talk to, relate to, and resolve problems and disputes.

One thing is most of this social difficulty is just going to be up in your head. As long as you are friendly and you smile, nobody is going to not want having you around. That's important to keep in mind