courage to take picture
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2014
Location: east coast
Posts: 451
courage to take picture
Hi all I'm on day 6 today! Haven't had any urges, now that's different. But I did have the urge and the courage to take a picture of myself tonight. Thought I would start a visual journal just some extra incentive. I look horrible! I'm sure that is to be expexted after 10 years of heavy drinking, but I'm also 51 yo. but a year ago I looked pretty darn hot. I compared pics from last year. Now my questions are is this my age turning on me or the drink? Is it possible for the drink to sneak up on me all at once? Like Boom! Wouldn't I've seen this gradually happening since the amount I drank over the last several years had not changed? And BTW I don't know why I'm being vain all of a sudden, but I'm going to use it for good: another reason to stop the madness, although its my mental health and soul being broken down that really brought about the strongest desire I've ever have had to stop. BTW how long does it take to see improvement or should I not worry about it and just focus on not drinking?
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 1,305
I'm very early in my recovery, so I can't speak to the long-term results of sobriety. However, I can tell you that my drinking damaged my appearance over the course of about 4 years. It was gradual, but very significant. I'm taking pictures too. 
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,697
Congrats on 6 days! I think starting a visual journal sounds like an excellent idea! I may start one myself...
As far as changes go, I noticed a difference in my hair and skin within a week. And it all just keeps getting better. Best wishes!
As far as changes go, I noticed a difference in my hair and skin within a week. And it all just keeps getting better. Best wishes!
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,759
Don't focus on "not drinking", focus on "living sober".
I think I started to feel better after a few weeks but really started feeling more grounded when I got six months. The cravings were almost gone and I felt better than I'd felt in a long time.
Treat yourself well with good food, exercise, and rest. It will get better.
I think I started to feel better after a few weeks but really started feeling more grounded when I got six months. The cravings were almost gone and I felt better than I'd felt in a long time.
Treat yourself well with good food, exercise, and rest. It will get better.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 374
I took a picture of myself after I put down my last drink, and again the next morning when I was going to work. I wanted the visual reminder for what I was feeling at that point. A week later, I took another , and the difference is staggering.
Congrats on 6 days!!
Congrats on 6 days!!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2014
Location: east coast
Posts: 451
Thx least! That's what I'm gonna do...not going to have a pity party over the pic. 6 days ago I would of used my bad looks as an excuse to pic up the very thing that is the main culprit. Darn...things r going to work out!
Life is an unlikely miracle.
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: England
Posts: 1,859
Hey Mistory, I'm 52, and all of us age, but we can still look healthy and our best. I'm on day 43 now, and I can tell you, I do look a lot better, no bloat, no redness, my face looks a lot better, healthier. Friends have commented on my weight loss, so it must be true !!
I didn't think to take photos, that is a good idea. x
I didn't think to take photos, that is a good idea. x
Sober since 10th April 2012
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 6,047
The toll that drunkenness takes on your appearance gets worse as you age, which is why 20yos seem impervious to harm.
Your body will heal progressively the longer you stay sober, and good eating and exercise will help. Looking forward to the 12 month sober photo?
Your body will heal progressively the longer you stay sober, and good eating and exercise will help. Looking forward to the 12 month sober photo?
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
A photo a day in recovery!!
What a cool idea. I've never seen that done but it sure would be a powerful thing. I wish I'd thought of that!
Keep it up. It might just become the next big viral video on the Internet and reach a lot of people who still suffer, with a message of hope!
What a cool idea. I've never seen that done but it sure would be a powerful thing. I wish I'd thought of that!
Keep it up. It might just become the next big viral video on the Internet and reach a lot of people who still suffer, with a message of hope!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 151
your skin will deffinetly start looking better, alcohol messes up the way your brain controls capillary dialation, basicly your blood vessels start staying full open, hence the reason many alcoholics have red faces, theres a whole slew of other effects like your body can't matabolize b vitamins nor iron properly which affect your apperance , you can read all about it online
To be honest though there are much better reasons to stay sober then just looking good
To be honest though there are much better reasons to stay sober then just looking good
Trudgin
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,348
Originally Posted by mistory5 
Hi all I'm on day 6 today! Haven't had any urges, now that's different. But I did have the urge and the courage to take a picture of myself tonight. Thought I would start a visual journal just some extra incentive. I look horrible! I'm sure that is to be expexted after 10 years of heavy drinking, but I'm also 51 yo. but a year ago I looked pretty darn hot. I compared pics from last year. Now my questions are is this my age turning on me or the drink? Is it possible for the drink to sneak up on me all at once? Like Boom! Wouldn't I've seen this gradually happening since the amount I drank over the last several years had not changed? And BTW I don't know why I'm being vain all of a sudden, but I'm going to use it for good: another reason to stop the madness, although its my mental health and soul being broken down that really brought about the strongest desire I've ever have had to stop. BTW how long does it take to see improvement or should I not worry about it and just focus on not drinking?
THAT is outstanding!!!
You're appearance will rebound, certainly. The drink does take it's toll on outward looks. The first thing I noticed about myself and others with some sobriety, is the light in the eyes is turned back on - like replacing a dimming bulb......
Thanks for being part of our SR community!! Can't wait to hear more!
FlyN
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2014
Location: east coast
Posts: 451
Originally Posted by JanieJ
Hey Mistory, I'm 52, and all of us age, but we can still look healthy and our best. I'm on day 43 now, and I can tell you, I do look a lot better, no bloat, no redness, my face looks a lot better, healthier. Friends have commented on my weight loss, so it must be true !!
I didn't think to take photos, that is a good idea. x
I didn't think to take photos, that is a good idea. x
Originally Posted by FeelingGreat
The toll that drunkenness takes on your appearance gets worse as you age, which is why 20yos seem impervious to harm.
Your body will heal progressively the longer you stay sober, and good eating and exercise will help. Looking forward to the 12 month sober photo?
Your body will heal progressively the longer you stay sober, and good eating and exercise will help. Looking forward to the 12 month sober photo?
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 10,912
This may or may not be relevant to you. I used to hate having pictures taken of me, not only during my bad drinking times but in general, in my whole life. Just never liked the way I looked in any moment or very rarely, some moments worse than others. I've figured that in my case this is often a sort of delusional perception, "body dysmorphic disorder" as they call it. Just never good enough, no matter the reality. Very often I would look at the same pics later (months, years) and then I actually like them and find them attractive, I think because the anxiety and dissatisfaction of the moment is gone.
Of course it can be aging, or the effects of alcohol also. Objective changes. If tracking the transformation of your appearance appeals to you, take pics over a longer period of time and look at them at different times, see what happens. I think most people find lots of positive changes in their appearance after getting sober, aging or not. Probably at least in part this is also coming from the inner transformation of our soul, that we learn to like our sober selves better and as a consequence, we are able to see our physical being in a different way.
Of course it can be aging, or the effects of alcohol also. Objective changes. If tracking the transformation of your appearance appeals to you, take pics over a longer period of time and look at them at different times, see what happens. I think most people find lots of positive changes in their appearance after getting sober, aging or not. Probably at least in part this is also coming from the inner transformation of our soul, that we learn to like our sober selves better and as a consequence, we are able to see our physical being in a different way.
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