MidnightRider

Ok.. I am sitting here at work.
All I can think about is being sober.

I know... It's not such a bad thing to be thinking about.

I mean.... it is consuming my thoughts almost all day.

My question - Does this obsession ever go away?
Will I ever be .... Just a regular guy?
Or will I always be "recovering" alcoholic ?

Sitting on day 18 today and want to be sober for rest of my life!

biminiblue

It will definitely die down. All the obsessive thoughts relax after a time. The ability to let them go increases. Try some meditation, that really helped me.

For me, it took a few months to wrangle my thoughts into a manageable place. A lot of it is just the brain trying to reach balance again or to build new pathways or whatever mysterious thing it does. It took me almost a full year to completely feel normal and slowed down again.

Well done on Day 18.

least

It takes some time, but eventually you'll feel normal sober. The obsessive thoughts will subside.

ScottFromWI

It definitely gets better MidnightRider. 18 days is a great achievement but remember it is very, very early in your new path forward. But absolutlely - as long as you keep working on your sobriety and the issues surrounding it, there will definitely be a day when you don't think about alcohol much, if at all.

shell77

Oh how I understand where you are coming from! I wander the same thing. I feel like it's all I think about ALL the darn time. I don't want to think about it, I just don't want to drink.

Great questions and I'm liking reading the responses.

IronPhoenix

Honestly, I was like that in the beginning and I think that is what got me through the initial months. I became obsessed with making my plan and sticking to it. Once I was good at keeping to my plan the obsession did relax some but I make it a point to tweak my plan every so often so as not to get complacent.

I may change up my exercise focus, or schedule more counseling session, or take up a new hobby, etc...

Just keep in mind, there is no finish line. You need to make this a lifestyle change that you continue and stick with.

All my best!

teaorcoffee

Still drifting in and out of this (quite new to the sober game) - now mainly not obsessed, but occasionally get pulled into the spiral.

theVman31

Well done on 18 days.
I think time heals all wounds.

MidnightRider

Thanks all..... I have no desire to drink which is a good thing.

This is my 7th month sober out of the last 10+ months. I am praying that this is my last time.

I do like the phrase that IronPhoenix mentioned above
There is no finish line

Best to you all today..

Dee74

Hi Midnightrider

yeah I obsessed about drinking and then about not drinking...and then learned a new way of living that's a lot more peaceful and serene...it comes with building a sober life you love and becoming the person you want to be, I think

D

thomas11

Great job on your 18 days. I concur with others that it definitely gets better. That probably seems nearly impossible right now, but you have to trust us. When things do calm down, its very liberating.

MidnightRider

That's so true D .. The quote above sums it up pretty nicely
!

Steely

Me too MidnightRider. I guess alcohol has played such a major and destructive role in my life it's no wonder I obsess about it in both directions.

It's all I've known for decades, so no surprise that it's ALL I know. Only now, with sobriety and time will this change, and Dee's prediction realised.