MAlan

I would like to hear, in detail, how quitting has made your life better. I find that I often drink and tell myself it's making my life better, but I know it's definitely not! I get scared that I won't have as much fun, I won't be able to find new friends, I will be "boring" around people. I want to hear what parts of other people's lives improved... and I mean really improved, like you can't believe how much better_____ is now. I think maybe it could help all of us stop lying to ourselves if we here how much better some people are doing in specific areas. It will definitely give me something to look forward to!

ScottFromWI

I'll give you a short list

1. My health is much better - I sleep better, I feel better, i'm not hungover in the mornings.
2. My personal relationships with my family and friends are much better than they used to be.
3. My financial situation is better - i perform better at work, I spend way less money on alcohol.

Frankly, I can't think of anything that isn't better than before.

AlisonW

I don't wake up feeling guilty, or trying to piece together what I might have said or done during a blackout.
I haven't been arrested since I stopped drinking.
I haven't had a fight with my husband since I stopped drinking.
I haven't had to a waste a vacation day from work laying in bed feeling miserable.

Like Scott said, I can't think of anything that isn't better!

MAlan

Ya! This is what I want to hear!

Dee74

MAlan
Pick an aspect of life and I guarantee that it's better for me now in recovery.

It's the difference between living and just existing....it's the difference between really being part of the world, and apart from it...it's the difference between wanting to get up and see what the day brings, and waiting around to die.

It's the difference between technicolor and sepia.

Sounds hyperbolic?
I thought so too when others said it - noone could have that good a life - but I do, now.

Thats not to say lifes easy or I have no worries...sobriety not a magic spell...but I honestly love who I am now and what I've made of my life - even in the low times, I wouldn't change my life or my outlook for anything.

Giving up the drink was the first step to me finding this new life - you have an incredible future to look forward to sober MAlan

D

backbeat

My health is better, my weight is better, my emotional state is much better, and I have options because I'm not hungover.

In the past I often had no choice but to lay at home and sleep on and off, fight off the nausea, try to keep water down, avoid the phone, blow off plans and make up a story about having a stomach virus "yet again".

Now I have options. I'm not ruled by alcohol or the cravings for more or the mood swings from it or the aftermath.

ReadyAtLast

I'm only 72 days sober but have noticed the following

1. Better sleep.Solid 7 hours a night and then some.Real,rejuvenating sleep
2. Less anxiety,not full of fears about the future
3. Letting go of the past,not getting myself wound up about things that have gone
4. Have more energy and feel brighter
5. Head feels clearer,less foggy/muggy
6. Have lost 10 pounds in weight plus inches,gone down a dress size
7. Eating much more healthily and feel full of energy
8. More patient at work, with family & with myself
9. Facial redness reduced,skin smoother,less bloated,grey,eyes clearer and dark circles reduced
10.No beer breath anymore
11.No fear of driving in the morning
12.I exercise now,enjoy it and feel better physically than I have in years
13. Don't wake up worrying about what I said/did/texted/posted on FB

Most of all I have hope.Life's not perfect or full of roses but it's better than it was and I am full of hope it ill keep getting better as I stay sober

Maybe give it a try

MAlan

I definitely am! I just know that I have quit before, and I ALWAYS find a reason to just take a sip... and then blastoff. I really enjoy hearing how much better things are for all you guys! I hope to post the same kinds of improvements myself.

wheresthefun

As Dee said, you name it and for me it's better.

FBL

Everything

Nonsensical

Increased blood flow.

Yes. There.

Impurrfect

Though I'm here for a crack addiction, not alcohol, the greatest thing about being in recovery is this:

No matter WHAT happens in my life...death of a loved one, victim of two armed robberies, etc. my FIRST thought isn't "OMG, I want to get NUMB!" It's "just get me to SR, I'll be okay" And I always AM okay...going on 6 years

Hugs and prayers,

Amy

LostinWA

I am only on day 6 but have had spans of not drinking in the past but I know and feel this time it is incredibly different. think of it this way though on the 7 and 8 of this month I consumed 2 1/5 's each of those days.

I can drive and not worry.
My family is very happy
I feel sooooo much better
I drink a lot of water and I actually think it makes me drunk in happiness
people are already beginning to count on me again
(even though they may not know why)
I am already starting to enjoy things that I stopped doing (online Gaming)

I could keep going but I will agree with above there is no area that is not better.

I will end with daily mantra "Never Ever Again....Never Ever Again"

losteverything

My life got better in these ways:
I quit hating myself so much. I dont feel sick and tired all the time anymore. I am physically more active, alot healthier. I dont worry about alcohol anymore, I can drive whenever I want. I have alot more money in the bank. I quit doing really really stupid things, hurting people I love, getting into trouble. I can think clearly now..... the list really does keep getting longer, .. I dont miss alcohol, it was hell..

Alva

7 weeks sober and so far...

Honest conversations with my wife and kids
Feeling so much better as a person
Having family proud of my sobriety and not embarrassed by my drunk behavior
Joining AA and seeing there is a good life without drinking
Going out with new sober friends and having a great time laughing, sharing stories and gaining wisdom from them
Driving to the grocery store "after dark" to pick up things for a surprise breakfast for my wife
Waking up with no guilt
Not having to plan a weekend around my drinking
Going to bed with my wife instead of staying up alone and drinking
Making promises and keeping them

Wow this really is the good life

Threshold

I now have a life, when I was drinking and getting wasted that WAS my life.

Now I can do things and make choices because my life isn't controled by my addiction.

I don't have to worry about getting caught.

My boyfriend has drinking problems too. When he's not drinking our sex life is great, when he is....there is NO sex life.

In fact, when he's drinking there is no "us", beer is his mistress and we don't go out and hike, or eat, or watch movies, or ANYTHING.

It's better now because my friends and kids don't avoid me, and aren't embarrassed to be around me.

stairs

It's a huge relief to know that I don't have to live like I was any more.

Some benefits:

Family relationships are so much better.

I don't lie to myself or others.

My daughter told me yesterday she is proud to be my daughter.

Health and energy are hugely improved.

Hair and skin look much better.

Friends met in recovery have been amazing.

No blown money on drinking.

No utility shutoff warning notices.

liss74

Good for u love hearing hope we deserve to love ourselves b kind to ourselves we r worth it

ChelsieCharmed

I'm happy with myself now. And that means alot

Redviper

I have time. Before I let drinking control what I did. Now I have so much time for what I want to do. I can't believe how much time I lost. I wasn't living for me I was living for booze.