New to sobriety
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 3
New to sobriety
Today I made the decision to stop drinking. I have been a 3-6 bottles of wine a week drinker for the last 15 years. I usually go a couple days of no drinking in between but when I get that first drink, I can't stop until the bottle is done. I prefer to drink alone and numb out.
I am 50 and newly married to a wonderful woman who is 23 years sober. She has never said anything to me but I can see the hurt when I open a bottle. On those nights, I can't wait for her to go to bed so I can really let loose. This morning the first thought I had was to stop this. I am not a normal drinker and never will be. I will not squander the goodness in my life for alcohol.
I don't have all the answers and thats ok. I will listen, read and be open to all advice. And for today, I will not take a drink. I am very happy I found this place.
I am 50 and newly married to a wonderful woman who is 23 years sober. She has never said anything to me but I can see the hurt when I open a bottle. On those nights, I can't wait for her to go to bed so I can really let loose. This morning the first thought I had was to stop this. I am not a normal drinker and never will be. I will not squander the goodness in my life for alcohol.
I don't have all the answers and thats ok. I will listen, read and be open to all advice. And for today, I will not take a drink. I am very happy I found this place.
Behold the power of NO
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: WA
Posts: 7,764
Welcome to SR.
I am glad you are here.
Here is a thread to get you started
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ce-advice.html
I am glad you are here.
Here is a thread to get you started
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ce-advice.html
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 120,874
Welcome to SR, ZenHeart.
"I will not squander the goodness in my life for alcohol".
What a wise, insightful and determined statement. Maybe write that down and keep it in your pocket. Most of all, keep it forever in your heart.
Glad you found us.
"I will not squander the goodness in my life for alcohol".
What a wise, insightful and determined statement. Maybe write that down and keep it in your pocket. Most of all, keep it forever in your heart.
Glad you found us.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: sydney nsw
Posts: 785
Hi Zen, welcome.. I just turned 50 and I am 24 day sober. I drank probably 20 bottles a week easy. It controlled and consumed me constantly. My whole life revolved around wine. It was pretty insane looking at things now. I new for years that there was a problem here. During my 30 years of abusing myself I only really quit once and that was last November for 30 days. Xmas came around and that's when I had a beer (don't even like beer) and then it all started again.
You said this morning you realised that you had to stop this. This is the same realisation that I had and I did 24 days ago.
Its a tough road but as the saying goes if I can do it so can you. I had to replace my behaviour and substitute drinking with something new. For me it was fitness and changing my diet. This is working for me. The first 2 weeks were the hardest but it does get ëasier" as the days start to accumulate. The physical dependence has gone its just the mental part that remains what you need to learn to control and to work with. Good luck you can do this, you have already chosen not to drink, you can see the damage its doing to everything around you. Sobriety is not scary to me anymore, its the new normal.
You said this morning you realised that you had to stop this. This is the same realisation that I had and I did 24 days ago.
Its a tough road but as the saying goes if I can do it so can you. I had to replace my behaviour and substitute drinking with something new. For me it was fitness and changing my diet. This is working for me. The first 2 weeks were the hardest but it does get ëasier" as the days start to accumulate. The physical dependence has gone its just the mental part that remains what you need to learn to control and to work with. Good luck you can do this, you have already chosen not to drink, you can see the damage its doing to everything around you. Sobriety is not scary to me anymore, its the new normal.
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Welcome to SR.
When I finally came to that realization, came to it and accepted it, it was a major break through for me. Never was a normal drinker, never would be, therefore, can never drink again.
It was like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. I was never going to drink again. All I had to do was the hard work to carry through that decision.
Originally Posted by ZenHeart 
I am not a normal drinker and never will be.
It was like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. I was never going to drink again. All I had to do was the hard work to carry through that decision.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 3
Originally Posted by SoberLeigh
Welcome to SR, ZenHeart.
"I will not squander the goodness in my life for alcohol".
What a wise, insightful and determined statement. Maybe write that down and keep it in your pocket. Most of all, keep it forever in your heart.
Glad you found us.
"I will not squander the goodness in my life for alcohol".
What a wise, insightful and determined statement. Maybe write that down and keep it in your pocket. Most of all, keep it forever in your heart.
Glad you found us.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: New England
Posts: 19
Welcome ZenHeart! You have found a great place to be. I am a couple of years older than you and also was a wine drinker. I would go thru 8-10 bottles weekly and more when we went out. I am now 2 months sober. It was difficult in the beginning but it does get easier. It really is one day at a time. I found it helpful joining a class, like Class of October 2015. There are a lot of people starting, but always people with sober time comment too. Best of luck!!!!!
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