freshstart57

JDooner, what is long term sobriety to you? 3yrs? That's me, not a day counter. 5 1/2 years? That's flutter, who also posted her feelings about this. What motives are in question here in your estimation?

LBrain

Hey Grag1959, sure count away! In the very early days counting days can be a motivator. But as you acquire some serious time counting is up to you if you want. I do like the thought of it becoming detrimental to moving forward.
After 30 days I stopped counting. Now all I know is that the 28th of every month is another month, December is a year. But I don't dwell on it.
Just don't fall into that powerlessness trap. As long as you chose to not drink, you are in charge.

jdooner

I am sorry, did Flutter post a OP about not wanting to count days? In fact, have you ever seen anyone on here post an OP with >5yrs about how they don't want to count days anymore? I have not. What I have seen is many in the early phases of sobriety (myself included) post about how counting days is not helpful.

I am not saying it is or it is not. For most what I observe is a days, months, 3 months, years type of progression for the counters out there (yourself included). I also agree with other comments that the actual date of sobriety is important to be mindful of.

My personal view on longer term sobriety would be 3-5yrs

To the OP - I am not criticizing the decision to not count or to count. I am simply suggesting to be true to your self with your own motives - I was not in the early days, weeks months - I found my own mind played tricks on me. Perhaps my own experience is what has come though - but then again its the only thing I can share.

mecanix

I felt wretched on the first few days , i was curled up on the floor sobbing , all hot and sweaty .. a hot tangled mess of confusion .
Each of those days felt like they were one ton weights i was hauling on just to get through .

I counted my days i was proud of my achievement .

I'd given up for good , my reasoning was , if i don't quit now and stay quit then just when will i do it ? For years i accepted i had a problem but i was unwilling to do anything about it and just carted it around like a bathtub of misery...

stand on your head , lock yourself in a cupboard , hop on one leg , count , don't count , whatever it takes .

Quit , stay quit and don't look back ..

I don't count the days anymore , the days are mostly glorious sober ones the odd one or two are stinky sober ones … i'm aware of the count i have it on my calendar once a month and use the round number as a way marker or look out point where i can take stock and be thankful .

One of my friends found greens on the calendar useful as a motivator , because day count was de-motivating when he slipped .

I think acceptance was key for me , both in being an alcoholic and also in realising i need never drink again if i didn't want to , Such a glorious dream .. one i'm living , one you can make come true too ..

Bestwishes, m

Lance40

I think counting days is good if it is helpful and motivating to stay sober. I counted days for 10 weeks and then had a one day relapse before getting back on track the next day. Before I relapsed, counting days was very important to me. I guess I'm technically on Day 3 now, but I find it's meaningless because my sense of achievement will always include those 10 weeks that I was sober before I slipped - and that's what I find helpful and motivating.