Four Year Thank You to SR
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Georgia
Posts: 3,062
Four Year Thank You to SR
A few days ago I reached four years of sobriety; tomorrow night I will celebrate in my AA meeting. For the first 3 years of my sobriety, I solely utilized the support of SR - thank goodness I was lucky enough to find it! For me early sobriety was a lot if self-imposed isolation. As time progressed, I began to go back to AA meetings as I knew I needed face-to-face support and to get to know people who didn't drink and who got me. I found them!
Two key concepts for me has been total acceptance that I am an alcoholic and that I will never be able to drink again. I was clean and sober for 13 years and then "decided" I was now able to drink. I spent the next 8 years (!) trying to control my drinking. It didn't work. I lost my marriage, wrapped a car around a tree, had a traumatic brain injury, and most importantly lost a whole lot of trust and respect. Waking up in intensive care at the hospital after seizures was the awakening for me. I needed to accept that I never will be able to drink again.
The other key concept for me was that there will be times when sobriety just plain sucks. I've learned to embrace the suck so to speak! Early recovery wasn't fun. It was hard and it was full of challenges, but I decided to not give up. I cried and pouted and was angry and then I cried some more. And then I let it go. The reality is that things will get better. They always do. Even after four years there will be times that will suck. I need to not pick up a drink no matter what.
I hope new people will realize that sobriety and a life without shame, regret, and anxiety is possible. I don't miss the chaos. I wake up every single morning grateful that I don't have to live that life any more. I'm extremely grateful for the support of SR and for the people who have continued to stick around and post and check in after all of their recovery years. I also appreciate the new people who have shown extreme courage for facing their addiction and sharing their experiences with the SR community.
Thank you
Two key concepts for me has been total acceptance that I am an alcoholic and that I will never be able to drink again. I was clean and sober for 13 years and then "decided" I was now able to drink. I spent the next 8 years (!) trying to control my drinking. It didn't work. I lost my marriage, wrapped a car around a tree, had a traumatic brain injury, and most importantly lost a whole lot of trust and respect. Waking up in intensive care at the hospital after seizures was the awakening for me. I needed to accept that I never will be able to drink again.
The other key concept for me was that there will be times when sobriety just plain sucks. I've learned to embrace the suck so to speak! Early recovery wasn't fun. It was hard and it was full of challenges, but I decided to not give up. I cried and pouted and was angry and then I cried some more. And then I let it go. The reality is that things will get better. They always do. Even after four years there will be times that will suck. I need to not pick up a drink no matter what.
I hope new people will realize that sobriety and a life without shame, regret, and anxiety is possible. I don't miss the chaos. I wake up every single morning grateful that I don't have to live that life any more. I'm extremely grateful for the support of SR and for the people who have continued to stick around and post and check in after all of their recovery years. I also appreciate the new people who have shown extreme courage for facing their addiction and sharing their experiences with the SR community.
Thank you
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 147
Congrats on four years. I was driving to work this morning and I think I'm getting a cold and was thinking how I don't feel so hot and then I thought how bad I used to feel just about every morning from drinking the night before. I actually chuckled. Couldn't believe it. And yeah sobriety sometimes sucks but my life was pretty miserable when I was drinking.
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