2 years
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 526
2 years
yep, 2 years since i've registered on this site.
one thing i can tell you for sure that i feel a whole lot better physically and mentally this morning than two years ago.
a chance to know and experience life without alcohol is not something anyone should pass up.
it's a drug, a horrible one, widely accepted perhaps, but nonetheless dangerous and evil.
i had a few relapses and drinks here and there, but i've also learned many valuable lessons along the way. i don't even wish i could say that i was completely sober for two years. i would not have had the chance to understand what i needed to... although each "drunk episode" brought many negative things, eventually it made me stronger, more aware, more present and mindful. (being drunk for 10 days in total out of two years, is not something i am proud of, but i will take it over being drunk every day like i used to)..
i also cannot say that things are just peachy and there are rainbows everywhere. life has its difficulties, but it becomes a lot simpler to untangle any problems when you are clear-headed and not suffering from another hangover.
sobriety made me want to improve physically and mentally. the extra time i wasn't spending on drinking, could be spent on exercise and better diet. i feel to me it is the best motivator to stay sober.
my recent visit to the doctor proved that you do heal, not only mentally, but physically. my cholesterol is 3x less than it used to be, i have normal blood pressure and don't require medication, i'm 80 lbs lighter, my fatty liver is non-existent and completely cured.
i would really be dead or seriously suffering within 5 - 10 years if i didn't quit drinking. there's no miracle here, you remove that poison (after all it is a real poison) from your body and it will thank you. and your mind is surely to follow.
if i can give any advice... is that one should really try and experience life sober. it's full of magic that will never be revealed until you stop drinking to let the fog lift.
one thing i can tell you for sure that i feel a whole lot better physically and mentally this morning than two years ago.
a chance to know and experience life without alcohol is not something anyone should pass up.
it's a drug, a horrible one, widely accepted perhaps, but nonetheless dangerous and evil.
i had a few relapses and drinks here and there, but i've also learned many valuable lessons along the way. i don't even wish i could say that i was completely sober for two years. i would not have had the chance to understand what i needed to... although each "drunk episode" brought many negative things, eventually it made me stronger, more aware, more present and mindful. (being drunk for 10 days in total out of two years, is not something i am proud of, but i will take it over being drunk every day like i used to)..
i also cannot say that things are just peachy and there are rainbows everywhere. life has its difficulties, but it becomes a lot simpler to untangle any problems when you are clear-headed and not suffering from another hangover.
sobriety made me want to improve physically and mentally. the extra time i wasn't spending on drinking, could be spent on exercise and better diet. i feel to me it is the best motivator to stay sober.
my recent visit to the doctor proved that you do heal, not only mentally, but physically. my cholesterol is 3x less than it used to be, i have normal blood pressure and don't require medication, i'm 80 lbs lighter, my fatty liver is non-existent and completely cured.
i would really be dead or seriously suffering within 5 - 10 years if i didn't quit drinking. there's no miracle here, you remove that poison (after all it is a real poison) from your body and it will thank you. and your mind is surely to follow.
if i can give any advice... is that one should really try and experience life sober. it's full of magic that will never be revealed until you stop drinking to let the fog lift.
Thank you for the post.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NE Wisconsin USA
Posts: 6,223
Serious That is fantastic...fantastic is my word for the day when reading a post like yours....80lbs lighter I'll have to hear more about that please....720 days of recovery and 10 as reminders...I am so glad you put the relapses in perspective...
Relapse is a characteristic sometimes of recovery...most people with illnesses and disease have relapse
Thank you for spreading the good word and helping others...for this hour at SR I'm really latching on to threads that tell me stories of recovery and success...
For me it is all well and good to help the addict who still suffers...but it is extremely good also to read success...hope...enjoyment
Relapse isn't alright it certainly points to something going on that needs to be worked...but (and I have felt and thought like this many times) I mostly looked at it being negative...like I should be ashamed, guilty, futile...
it took many a good sober people to help me "get over it" get outside of myself and start helping others....
You are doing that and I am very honored to read your story...
Relapse is a characteristic sometimes of recovery...most people with illnesses and disease have relapse
Thank you for spreading the good word and helping others...for this hour at SR I'm really latching on to threads that tell me stories of recovery and success...
For me it is all well and good to help the addict who still suffers...but it is extremely good also to read success...hope...enjoyment
Relapse isn't alright it certainly points to something going on that needs to be worked...but (and I have felt and thought like this many times) I mostly looked at it being negative...like I should be ashamed, guilty, futile...
it took many a good sober people to help me "get over it" get outside of myself and start helping others....
You are doing that and I am very honored to read your story...
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 526
Originally Posted by wiscsober 
Serious That is fantastic...fantastic is my word for the day when reading a post like yours....80lbs lighter I'll have to hear more about that please....720 days of recovery and 10 as reminders...I am so glad you put the relapses in perspective...
Relapse is a characteristic sometimes of recovery...most people with illnesses and disease have relapse
Thank you for spreading the good word and helping others...for this hour at SR I'm really latching on to threads that tell me stories of recovery and success...
For me it is all well and good to help the addict who still suffers...but it is extremely good also to read success...hope...enjoyment
Relapse isn't alright it certainly points to something going on that needs to be worked...but (and I have felt and thought like this many times) I mostly looked at it being negative...like I should be ashamed, guilty, futile...
it took many a good sober people to help me "get over it" get outside of myself and start helping others....
You are doing that and I am very honored to read your story...
Relapse is a characteristic sometimes of recovery...most people with illnesses and disease have relapse
Thank you for spreading the good word and helping others...for this hour at SR I'm really latching on to threads that tell me stories of recovery and success...
For me it is all well and good to help the addict who still suffers...but it is extremely good also to read success...hope...enjoyment
Relapse isn't alright it certainly points to something going on that needs to be worked...but (and I have felt and thought like this many times) I mostly looked at it being negative...like I should be ashamed, guilty, futile...
it took many a good sober people to help me "get over it" get outside of myself and start helping others....
You are doing that and I am very honored to read your story...
you've said it so well: "Relapse isn't alright it certainly points to something going on that needs to be worked."...
i have learned to accept that, and use it as an opportunity to look deeper and try resolve the problem that pushed me to have that drink in the first place.
that doesn't mean i would be OK with having a replace every weekend. not at all. i despise the time i've spent drunk even during those days. i hated myself i hated the booze i was miserable and sick... and i was hiding it. there will never be joy in drinking for me again. it opens up the door to that "dark place" and sucks me in completely. i'd rather just stay away.
one thing that has helped me through hard times is to learn to be mindful and to try to give back in any way possible. there's no way i could've been mindful or present when drinking daily, like i did so "successfully" for years.
most of who i "thought" i was, in reality wasn't me at all... connecting and understanding myself better while sober has been a great experience. sometimes shameful, sometimes difficult but profound and necessary.
Nothing is impossible!
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: EAGAN
Posts: 792
Originally Posted by serious
yep, 2 years since i've registered on this site.
one thing i can tell you for sure that i feel a whole lot better physically and mentally this morning than two years ago.
a chance to know and experience life without alcohol is not something anyone should pass up.
it's a drug, a horrible one, widely accepted perhaps, but nonetheless dangerous and evil.
i had a few relapses and drinks here and there, but i've also learned many valuable lessons along the way. i don't even wish i could say that i was completely sober for two years. i would not have had the chance to understand what i needed to... although each "drunk episode" brought many negative things, eventually it made me stronger, more aware, more present and mindful. (being drunk for 10 days in total out of two years, is not something i am proud of, but i will take it over being drunk every day like i used to)..
i also cannot say that things are just peachy and there are rainbows everywhere. life has its difficulties, but it becomes a lot simpler to untangle any problems when you are clear-headed and not suffering from another hangover.
sobriety made me want to improve physically and mentally. the extra time i wasn't spending on drinking, could be spent on exercise and better diet. i feel to me it is the best motivator to stay sober.
my recent visit to the doctor proved that you do heal, not only mentally, but physically. my cholesterol is 3x less than it used to be, i have normal blood pressure and don't require medication, i'm 80 lbs lighter, my fatty liver is non-existent and completely cured.
i would really be dead or seriously suffering within 5 - 10 years if i didn't quit drinking. there's no miracle here, you remove that poison (after all it is a real poison) from your body and it will thank you. and your mind is surely to follow.
if i can give any advice... is that one should really try and experience life sober. it's full of magic that will never be revealed until you stop drinking to let the fog lift.
one thing i can tell you for sure that i feel a whole lot better physically and mentally this morning than two years ago.
a chance to know and experience life without alcohol is not something anyone should pass up.
it's a drug, a horrible one, widely accepted perhaps, but nonetheless dangerous and evil.
i had a few relapses and drinks here and there, but i've also learned many valuable lessons along the way. i don't even wish i could say that i was completely sober for two years. i would not have had the chance to understand what i needed to... although each "drunk episode" brought many negative things, eventually it made me stronger, more aware, more present and mindful. (being drunk for 10 days in total out of two years, is not something i am proud of, but i will take it over being drunk every day like i used to)..
i also cannot say that things are just peachy and there are rainbows everywhere. life has its difficulties, but it becomes a lot simpler to untangle any problems when you are clear-headed and not suffering from another hangover.
sobriety made me want to improve physically and mentally. the extra time i wasn't spending on drinking, could be spent on exercise and better diet. i feel to me it is the best motivator to stay sober.
my recent visit to the doctor proved that you do heal, not only mentally, but physically. my cholesterol is 3x less than it used to be, i have normal blood pressure and don't require medication, i'm 80 lbs lighter, my fatty liver is non-existent and completely cured.
i would really be dead or seriously suffering within 5 - 10 years if i didn't quit drinking. there's no miracle here, you remove that poison (after all it is a real poison) from your body and it will thank you. and your mind is surely to follow.
if i can give any advice... is that one should really try and experience life sober. it's full of magic that will never be revealed until you stop drinking to let the fog lift.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: California
Posts: 236
Love your post. Everything happens for a reason. Your relapses did make you stronger and more sure than ever that you were meant to live life the best way possible and that is sober. Glad to have you with us. Thanks for sharing.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 136
I really like your attitude, how you talk in terms of 2 years despite some mistakes along the way. I've seen a lot of people talk about "throwing away" periods of sobriety, as if streaks are the only indication of recovery, but like you've shown, it isn't thrown away if you dust yourself off and keep going over the long haul.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NE Wisconsin USA
Posts: 6,223
You really are keeping the focus on yourself...so far away from denial and blaming other people or things.
The willingness and actions reaching out to help others is mindful and presence.
Today I will keep that forefront.
As you write sobriety isn't an end goal...it is a way of life....
So hard for me to get over resentment, shame, and guilt...blocks to my happiness and serenity...barriers to help other people...and really just showing up for life.
Even if my "problems" aren't related to alcoholism...if I throw myself harder into helping others I can accept situations as they are...
Keep up the great work
The willingness and actions reaching out to help others is mindful and presence.
Today I will keep that forefront.
As you write sobriety isn't an end goal...it is a way of life....
So hard for me to get over resentment, shame, and guilt...blocks to my happiness and serenity...barriers to help other people...and really just showing up for life.
Even if my "problems" aren't related to alcoholism...if I throw myself harder into helping others I can accept situations as they are...
Keep up the great work
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