New to the site and sobriety
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 22
New to the site and sobriety
Hi all,
I am a long time reader of this site, it has been my major support mechanism reading other people's experiences and relating them to my own, letting myself know that what I am experiencing is "normal" and lots of other people are going through the same and a lot of people, far worse than I.
I am now 24 days sober.
I have been a heavy drinker for 12 years, it had become ingrained in my life, it slowly but surely started to replace my other activities, hobbies as time progressed. I felt less and less inclined to socialise with new people, try new things, travel... do all the things that I once loved, my joie de vivre was slowly eroding in direct correlation with increases my alcohol consumption, of course, I couldn't see this at the time but now it's as clear as day.
Towards the end of my drinking career I didn't want to feel sober and I would avoid that at any cost, a 750ml beer for breakfast was the order of the day, topped up throughout the day as required.
If I ran out of alcohol during the day or evening I would manipulate the situation at home and engineer a situation to leave the house under some lie that I have something important to do or convince my wife to accompany me to a restaurant or other place I know I could easily keep my supply running.
Simply put, my entire life, work, play, family, everything revolved around obtaining alcohol.
Last year I managed 3 months sober, I ended it with a (just one) beer in the airport during a long layover, I thought... hey, it can't be so bad... I can just have one... WRONG - My one beer turned into 15 months of even heavier drinking than before.
So to people who ask, can I ever drink "normally" again after having a problem with alcohol? The answer is, probably no, never. I advise against it, that 1 beer in the airport opened the door to a further 15 months of heavy drinking and the problems associated with it.
One morning, after waking up hungover and feeling miserable, I drank my 750ml breakfast, but today I became acutely aware of my situation, my surroundings, my life (of lack thereof) and my predicament, which seemed unusually clear. I decided to stop drinking. Now.
I was lucky, as my wife had gone back to see her family and I was alone, I had no work for 12 days so I used this time to go through the withdrawal period, alone. Before anyone warns me about the dangers of doing so alone, I am currently working in a country where the health care has trouble with minor issues, there is no help for alcoholics...
The first 7 days were hell, night sweats, no energy, cravings, sore heads, I am not going to lie, it was tough, by my taste of sobriety last year for 3 months was enough to push me and see this through... again.
For 2 weeks I had no energy, i couldn't do anything, i slept and slept, and ate and ate, only at the beginning of week 3 i have started to regain normal function. Today on day 24, I am feeling almost like my old self again.
So a few points that may be helpful to people that I have learned through my experience:-
--Can i drink normally again after acknowledging I have a problem with alcohol?
NO
--Being sober is boring, what am i supposed to do?
Sorry to say this.. but, get a life. Your previous life was dedicated to the search for and consumption of alcohol. You cannot simply wake up sober and think everything will be fine now, it won't, you need to occupy your life and time with constructive things that promote a healthy life and attitude.
For me, this included getting back into my old hobbies, reading more. Setting goals, planning trips and holidays. The list is endless.
Alcohol seems to rob us of the ability to plan and execute a healthy and exciting life. You don't need alcohol for this.
Finding new activities leads to new friends, new adventures and happier times.
--Can i hang out with my drinking friends and just drink soft drinks?
In early sobriety, no. I guarantee that your drinking friends fuzzed up minds will think nothing of trying to coax you into 'just one'.
Actually, i recommend you leave these 'friends' behind. I left behind a lot of drinking buddies, without the alcohol, we had very little to say or contribute to each other.
One thing that really, utterly shocked me and cemented my decision to stay sober was after the first week of withdrawal symptoms and feeling like I had been hit by a truck, I searched youtube for 'withdrawal symptoms', go perform this search yourself, what you find is not pretty but it's where you are headed, should you not get your addiction in check.
Sorry for the long first post, i've not spoke to anyone about my situation, this is the first time i've communicated with anyone my thoughts, feelings and experience.
Nice to meet you all.
Tranquilo.
I am a long time reader of this site, it has been my major support mechanism reading other people's experiences and relating them to my own, letting myself know that what I am experiencing is "normal" and lots of other people are going through the same and a lot of people, far worse than I.
I am now 24 days sober.
I have been a heavy drinker for 12 years, it had become ingrained in my life, it slowly but surely started to replace my other activities, hobbies as time progressed. I felt less and less inclined to socialise with new people, try new things, travel... do all the things that I once loved, my joie de vivre was slowly eroding in direct correlation with increases my alcohol consumption, of course, I couldn't see this at the time but now it's as clear as day.
Towards the end of my drinking career I didn't want to feel sober and I would avoid that at any cost, a 750ml beer for breakfast was the order of the day, topped up throughout the day as required.
If I ran out of alcohol during the day or evening I would manipulate the situation at home and engineer a situation to leave the house under some lie that I have something important to do or convince my wife to accompany me to a restaurant or other place I know I could easily keep my supply running.
Simply put, my entire life, work, play, family, everything revolved around obtaining alcohol.
Last year I managed 3 months sober, I ended it with a (just one) beer in the airport during a long layover, I thought... hey, it can't be so bad... I can just have one... WRONG - My one beer turned into 15 months of even heavier drinking than before.
So to people who ask, can I ever drink "normally" again after having a problem with alcohol? The answer is, probably no, never. I advise against it, that 1 beer in the airport opened the door to a further 15 months of heavy drinking and the problems associated with it.
One morning, after waking up hungover and feeling miserable, I drank my 750ml breakfast, but today I became acutely aware of my situation, my surroundings, my life (of lack thereof) and my predicament, which seemed unusually clear. I decided to stop drinking. Now.
I was lucky, as my wife had gone back to see her family and I was alone, I had no work for 12 days so I used this time to go through the withdrawal period, alone. Before anyone warns me about the dangers of doing so alone, I am currently working in a country where the health care has trouble with minor issues, there is no help for alcoholics...
The first 7 days were hell, night sweats, no energy, cravings, sore heads, I am not going to lie, it was tough, by my taste of sobriety last year for 3 months was enough to push me and see this through... again.
For 2 weeks I had no energy, i couldn't do anything, i slept and slept, and ate and ate, only at the beginning of week 3 i have started to regain normal function. Today on day 24, I am feeling almost like my old self again.
So a few points that may be helpful to people that I have learned through my experience:-
--Can i drink normally again after acknowledging I have a problem with alcohol?
NO
--Being sober is boring, what am i supposed to do?
Sorry to say this.. but, get a life. Your previous life was dedicated to the search for and consumption of alcohol. You cannot simply wake up sober and think everything will be fine now, it won't, you need to occupy your life and time with constructive things that promote a healthy life and attitude.
For me, this included getting back into my old hobbies, reading more. Setting goals, planning trips and holidays. The list is endless.
Alcohol seems to rob us of the ability to plan and execute a healthy and exciting life. You don't need alcohol for this.
Finding new activities leads to new friends, new adventures and happier times.
--Can i hang out with my drinking friends and just drink soft drinks?
In early sobriety, no. I guarantee that your drinking friends fuzzed up minds will think nothing of trying to coax you into 'just one'.
Actually, i recommend you leave these 'friends' behind. I left behind a lot of drinking buddies, without the alcohol, we had very little to say or contribute to each other.
One thing that really, utterly shocked me and cemented my decision to stay sober was after the first week of withdrawal symptoms and feeling like I had been hit by a truck, I searched youtube for 'withdrawal symptoms', go perform this search yourself, what you find is not pretty but it's where you are headed, should you not get your addiction in check.
Sorry for the long first post, i've not spoke to anyone about my situation, this is the first time i've communicated with anyone my thoughts, feelings and experience.
Nice to meet you all.
Tranquilo.
to the family! I'm glad you joined us.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome, on day 28 today... The smallest things seems to be setting me off into a massive angry rant right now. Interestingly for the first time in 28 days I thought of how a few drinks could make me feel better, thankfully I caught myself and realise just how insane that would be after the seriously hard work to come this far.
I'm off for a change of scenery today, get out the house and take in some new sights and sounds.
I'm off for a change of scenery today, get out the house and take in some new sights and sounds.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,393
Hi Tranquillo, welcome. Your withdrawal story is similar to mine. I also do not think even one sip would be ok. Don't want to wake up the beast that I believe will always be way down in me somewhere. Congratulations on your journey. It sounds like you are rocking it. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm sure it will inspire others. Reading on this site is a good thing to do, but I believe sharing your story and posting takes it to another level. 
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Bristol
Posts: 20
welcome! also new here. Well done to you! a great post. I am on day 5 today, feeling miles better, keeping busy, my husband still has my cashpoint card so I can't "shop". I feel happier already. Recognising my triggers and trying to work around them. Good luck to us all 
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: USA Virginia
Posts: 294
Welcome! An inspiring post. I have to keep remembering where I used to be..where I was headed and where I am now and it very quickly changes my thought process. I have to learn to cope with life without alcohol and to be honest..as it turns out..I have less to cope with if alcohol is no longer in the picture. Thanks again for posting and keep coming back. This site has helped me more than you know.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Thanks again to everyone for your kind words and welcoming me to the site, it's great to talk to people who understand my situation through first hand experience, there's no substitute for that!
I am pleased to report that today I visited a few museums and soaked up some culture which shook me out of angry and annoyed mode which was triggering the cravings I had earlier today, nothing is worth going back to the utter hell of weeks of withdrawal symptoms.
What a devils concoction alcohol really is, it is capable of tricking your amazing mind and body into reacting to pressure / stress / anger etc with what? further application of the very liquid that caused 99% of those ill feelings.
Hope everyone is doing well today!
I am pleased to report that today I visited a few museums and soaked up some culture which shook me out of angry and annoyed mode which was triggering the cravings I had earlier today, nothing is worth going back to the utter hell of weeks of withdrawal symptoms.
What a devils concoction alcohol really is, it is capable of tricking your amazing mind and body into reacting to pressure / stress / anger etc with what? further application of the very liquid that caused 99% of those ill feelings.
Hope everyone is doing well today!
Sobriety is Traditional
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Orcas Island, Washington
Posts: 9,066
Hi Tranquilo!
How about joining the 24 Hour Club? You check in to the thread daily and commit to stay sober for the next 24 hours. It's a little added inspiration, and it brings you to SR once a day.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...e-join-us.html
How about joining the 24 Hour Club? You check in to the thread daily and commit to stay sober for the next 24 hours. It's a little added inspiration, and it brings you to SR once a day.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...e-join-us.html
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