Jus

Those struggling.

My question to you.

What do you THINK, you'll miss out, on, by CHOOSING not to drink today?

Just for today.

I'd like to know your first thought

Sit quietly and ask yourself that.

FeelingGreat

What I'll miss out is the pleasure of the first drink, the pleasant feeling of relaxation, the taste.
I've long ago come to terms with the fact that I don't stop at one, and I'm happy to give up that short term pleasure for the far greater reward of feeling good about myself the next morning.

Mrrryah1

I'll miss out of feeling a part of my group of drinking n partying friends

SillyString

I can tell you what I used to think I'd be missing, and what sometimes fleetingly crosses my sober mind now:

• Missing the ability to mentally relax if just for a moment
• The ability to be silly and fun
• Fitting in

But what I KNOW I'm missing is:

• Certain blackout and potential alcohol poisoning
• Self-loathing and guilt
• 3 day hangover
• Panic level days long anxiety-absolute torture
• Night sweats
• Pounding heart
• Crushing headache
• Severe nausea lasting for at least 24 straight hours.
• Saying and doing things completely out of character. Embarrassing myself and my husband over and over again.
• Picking drunken arguments with my husband, only to tearfully apologize over and over again.

What I KNOW I've gained by being sober 49 days, and 7 weekends is:

• Peace
• A sense of self worth
• Anxiety is nearly GONE
• Waking up EVERY DAY feeling physically and mentally good. It's still a bit of a surprise 49 days later!!
• My skin is soft as a baby's bottom...and I'm 47!
• Better ability to deal with stressors because I'm not exhausted and sick all the time, running on fumes.
• The realization that I can still be silly and fun without alcohol. And, in fact, I'm much funnier without it.
• My husband's trust.
• The realization that the very short lived perceived "benefits" of alcohol are just that...perceived. Not real. And not worth it to blow everything I've gained.

Mrrryah1

Yay Sillystring! Love it!!

Ruturn

I would miss out on the fact that drinking was the ONLY thing that would make the committee in my head shut up. The alternative, which is what I'm choosing, is to have to listen to that committee and march through what is to me some vary large issues I've been running from for years. They have to be dealt with no matter how much I don't want to or unpleasant they will be, and the only way I can do that is to be sober.

PurpleKnight

I'll be missing out on a hangover tomorrow morning!!

Betterlife1

I will be missing sitting at dinner with my wife and enjoying maybe two glasses of wine. The buzz I feel, and the effortless flow of conversation…

But then while she stops after two, I would go on to have 5-10 more throughout the night! I won't even really enjoy the buzz after a while, but just keep drinking to try to feel that same feeling I did with the first couple of drinks. I'll pass out, and the next day be exhausted, nauseas, sick, lazy, tired and basically just miserable!!...