Paul848

I'm 28 drinking almost every day around 6,7 strong beers or equivalent of liquor. Really scared about that, since most of my family had/has alcoholism. I still can manage all the things in my life but it gets harder..

Anna

Welcome, Paul!

I'm glad you recognize that you want/need to stop drinking, Not surprisingly, man of us have felt the same way as you do right now. You will be able to live and have fun and have a good life without alcohol.

Mattq2

Welcome Paul,
I drank for a very, very long time. If I was not working I was drinking.

I must agree that it was very difficult in the first month or so to enjoy anything. I forced myself just to participate in "life". All my energy went to staying sober.

As more time went on I began to enjoy things again. Some things that I thought I liked while drinking were not fun sober. I tried new things that I hadn't done in years and enjoyed them.

It takes some time for the mind and body to balance. It absolutely will if given enough sober time.

I'm fairly new to sobriety. The most important thing I have learned is to focus on the positive changes sobriety brings. Put aside the negative thoughts . You can do it. It's not easy but I wouldn't give up my sobriety for anything. We are here for you my friend.

bandicoot2

Hi Paul and welcome to SR! Please stick around and you will find lots of support. You will also hear from many who manage to enjoy a sober life, me included.

Alcoholism is a progressive disease so you are smart to seek help Now.

Alcoholism also has 3 distinct phases:
1. Fun
2. Fun + Problems
3. Problems

You can do this....Sending you a big Hug!

oakleaf82

Welcome! I am pretty early in sobriety. Ups and downs so far. I am trying to find new ways to have fun and do new things. Life is a bit "quieter" yes, and I have had to stay away from some things and people, that I know were only associated with drinking. I do remind myself often of all the positives of sobriety, and that any "fun" I thought I had while drinking was not actually fun at all.

ljc267

I was about your age when I started drinking everyday. Here I am 17 years later and almost 6 months sober, and I would do anything to go back and be able to tell myself the fact that I wasted 17 years of my life drinking. Any fun you will miss out on is minuscule compared to the amount of pain and suffering you will save yourself.

You are young. Take advantage of it and quit now.

Paul848

Thank you! I really appreciate the response, I stopped for 2 moths 2 years ago after reading Allen Carr book, everything was great, the mornings, the clarity of the mind, energy level, but I relalized that I can't relax really I was constantly tensed and a little bored.. and after my best friend came to visit me we got trashed and I started drinking again.

D122y

Paul,

I quit when I was 27 for 8 months. It was so easy, I decided to start drinking again. When I tried to quit 23 years later....

Omg...it was a living hell...

The brain damage is happening. The personality is altered.

I never knew the real me until I made it clean 23 months now.

There is no mystery. It is addiction.

Look in the mirror, see an addict.

The same as a coke head or a meth fiend.

Learning to live clean takes time. We all learned the wrong way to live.

We can unlearn this addiction. It is not natural.

Consider this, you will likely not die right away from drinking, you will likely live to regret you didn't stop when folks here warned you.

Nobody ever warned me. The internet saved my life as I know it now.

It can save you too if you try.

Thanks.

Mattq2

Hey Paul,
I failed so often. Then I realized you had to make a plan. Anticipate things like your friends coming over and how you will deal with that sober. If a certain situation just seems to overwhelming than don't do it. It's hard work but it's worth it.

Dee74

Hi Paul

I worried that life without alcohol would be devoid of fun - in fact it's the opposite - I fully realise now how miserable my life was as a drinker

Glad you've joined us

D