Football79's thoughts
 

Hi Team!

I have been lurking here for a few months and this site has helped me a lot many times. This is an amazing positive place. A big thank you to the regular posters! You guys are great! I thought I would post in the hopes to maybe help some people.

I am an alcoholic. I have been drinking heavily for about 8 years with many blackouts, hangovers, and problems. I decided I was going to quit alcohol for the first time. I have been sober for 16 days. Here are my thoughts in early sobriety...

Negatives to sobriety:
-I miss the buzz
-Cravings were quite strong for the first 5 days but much easier since then

Positives to sobriety:
-No more hangovers
-No more depression after a binge
-No more anxiety after a binge
-No more problems with family, friends, or my girlfriend
-No more daily work worries or dreading the day
-No more red puffy face
-Increased energy and sense of well being
-I look forward to mornings and starting the day
-Noticeable improvement in appearance especially skin
-More money
-Stronger gym performance

What I do when cravings hit:
-Read on SR-usually try for a couple hours every evening
-Deep breaths
-Play the tape through
-Chew gum
-Tell myself to ignore the AV beast
-Remember the feeling of the horrible times due to alcohol and ask myself if I want to go there again
-Tell myself "this too shall pass"
-Tell myself that a few hours of a buzz is not worth a few days of hangovers, anxiety and depression

I am feeling much better physically but also notice mental and emotional calmness and stability. My social life has already improved as well as I feel much better at work and am available to be contacted now that I am not drunk or hungover. I answer my phone now.

I have been lifting weights at least 4 days per week, doing yoga, rollerblading, playing catch with a baseball or football, eating healthy, drinking about 6 liters of water every day and sleeping well. This has helped me to feel great as I enjoy my new found love of life.

For anyone struggling in early recovery........please stick with it. Life gets so much better once you are sober for awhile. Thanks very much for reading and any comments/questions are welcome.
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Welcome to SR, football79! Sounds like you're on the right track and I hope to see you post often.

Welcome to the family! :) Congrats on 16 days sober! :)

Thank you so much for your post. I'm on Day 5 after many years of trying to quit and this gives me inspiration to keep going. Congratulations!

Congratulations on 16 days Football.

Sounds like you are doing really well

Thanks for posting!

Glad you're here, welcome
keep coming back

Great post! Although it's been a little rough for me lately for the most part your experience mirrors mine. Thanks for the reminder. Sobriety is so worth it.

Welcome to the Forum!! :wave:

Great job on 16 and kicking the av's butt!
I've found that ignoring or trying to stop thoughts that put alcohol use in a positive light near impossible. They eventually spring up, but what what does help is to acknowledge them and bring them out in the full light of day. With alcohol use totally off the table as an option their(Its) points are less than debatable, the thoughts are seen for the hollow and pathetic excuses they are for continuing the addiction. The idea that "a" beer sounds nice, is easily swept aside when the reality that "a" beer was rarely ever the plan. Ending up drunk is never worth the nice idea, those ideas will not come up as often when your mindset is geared toward the idea of not wanting the drunkness and all its associated crap ton of crap. Stay resolved and the AV weakens , starve it out! Great post and mindset you got there, you got this!
Wish you well and hope to see you around

Nice to meet you Football79

Hi all! So today is 6 months sober for me and I owe it all to the amazing supportive people who frequent this fantastic site. My deepest thanks to all of you! I obviously don't post often but I read here almost every day. I don't have really any support in my life given that my family is 5000 miles away, my girlfriend doesn't quite understand and my friends would rather that I drink with them. SR is my rock that I can always turn to. I have learned so much about recovery from this site that I feel I have quite a few tools in my box and the AV doesn't stand a chance.

Some observations after 6 months of sobriety after binge drinking for about 8 years:
-I feel better than I have in a long time.
-I love waking up sober everyday and getting through my days is much easier and much more fun and enjoyable.
-Many of the physical ailments have completely cleared up or greatly improved.
-Self confidence is at an all time high.
Cravings are very few and far between and pass easily.
-Appearance has improved greatly.
-Bank account is growing without trying to save.
-Relationships have improved ten fold.
-All of the problems in my life that alcohol caused have vanished or diminished greatly.
-I no longer have to take tums and tylenol daily. In face almost never now.
-I wake up easily feeling refreshed and physically feel well all day.
-Work days are now easy to get through with no hangovers.
-I am happier than I have been in a long time.

Thanks again to everyone at SR. All the best!

Congrats on 6 months. That's really awesome!

Congrats! Many more to come, keep truckin

Congrats! And quite the inspiration for those of us just starting.

Nice to hear Football....keep posting about your sober journey! Congrats on the big 6.

Thanks for the good news update!

Fabulous post! Thank you so much for checking in and posting.

Yay what a great update, football79! Congrats on six months and thanks for sharing! I hope you update us again in the future.

Congrats on 6 months football79 :)

D