How long have you been sober?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Minnesota, USA
Posts: 1,468
Originally Posted by Acheleus 
I'm two years and a few months sober. I had to join AA, find a sponsor, work the steps, and exercise to find long-term sobriety. Walking on the treadmill sounds like a great idea. I just finished a quick jog myself. I think exercise helped me the most as it made me feel like I was doing something good for myself. Quitting drinking by itself did not help me deal with the problems that caused me to drink. Counseling helped me learn how to analyze my own thought patterns and recognize when I was being too negative.
I relapsed after nine months and stayed sober another nine months. I drank again after nine months and that relapse lasted one night. One thing that helped me was staying out of romantic relationships until I was confident in my commitment to sobriety. If you have a supportive partner that will help you stay sober.
But ultimately I think being sober and staying sober is about loving yourself. You have to believe that you deserve something better than active alcoholism.
Congratulations on 36 days sober!
I relapsed after nine months and stayed sober another nine months. I drank again after nine months and that relapse lasted one night. One thing that helped me was staying out of romantic relationships until I was confident in my commitment to sobriety. If you have a supportive partner that will help you stay sober.
But ultimately I think being sober and staying sober is about loving yourself. You have to believe that you deserve something better than active alcoholism.
Congratulations on 36 days sober!
2 years!!! Yayaya, that so great! 😁
I too find working out to help a ton with my built up anger, I have no idea where it all came from 🙃🙃🙃 but I'm finding a healthy way to release it. I'd definitely recommend everyone try it, strength training, yoga, HIIT, whatever but it's a huge stress reliever!!!
Relationships are tough enough, trying to maintain while changing internally can pose a but of a challenge. I'm glad you found what works for you in that department!!
My boyfriend would always tell me I don't love or respect myself with the way I was drinking, I never understood that. I do love and respect myself, so I thought... Maybe I needed a few to think I did. Loving ones self, I am finding to be a struggle, but I work at it everyday. It's tough when one is so flawed (the mind can be so nasty)
Thank you so much for sharing!! *
🌞🌞🌞🌞
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Glad you are here! I am 20 mo and change (the 21st is my month mark so Nov will bring my "last quarter" to two years!).
AA was- at long last- my plan of action and avenue to a completely different life, and one that is more wonderful than I could have imagined. Getting sober was just the first step - I was given a year, 18 mo to live in Feb 2016, and that finally (after about a decade of increasingly devastating alcoholic behavior- was my moment to decide to change. I chose an uncertain future sober over a certain death by drinking.
Once I made that decision, full court press surrender to AA and acceptance of my disease began my journey beyond sobriety, into recovery.
There are other paths that lead people to success- like SMART or AVRT - and I can just attest to what has worked for me so far- given me hope and a future, and seen the promises of AA coming true in spades.
You can do this. Among advice I was given early and heeded was "look for those who have what you want." I looked for - and FOUND- people who had happy, peaceful, full lives in their recovery and decided that is what I wanted too, and go to any lengths and at any costs to have and grow it myself.
AA was- at long last- my plan of action and avenue to a completely different life, and one that is more wonderful than I could have imagined. Getting sober was just the first step - I was given a year, 18 mo to live in Feb 2016, and that finally (after about a decade of increasingly devastating alcoholic behavior- was my moment to decide to change. I chose an uncertain future sober over a certain death by drinking.
Once I made that decision, full court press surrender to AA and acceptance of my disease began my journey beyond sobriety, into recovery.
There are other paths that lead people to success- like SMART or AVRT - and I can just attest to what has worked for me so far- given me hope and a future, and seen the promises of AA coming true in spades.
You can do this. Among advice I was given early and heeded was "look for those who have what you want." I looked for - and FOUND- people who had happy, peaceful, full lives in their recovery and decided that is what I wanted too, and go to any lengths and at any costs to have and grow it myself.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Minnesota, USA
Posts: 1,468
Originally Posted by August252015
Glad you are here! I am 20 mo and change (the 21st is my month mark so Nov will bring my "last quarter" to two years!).
AA was- at long last- my plan of action and avenue to a completely different life, and one that is more wonderful than I could have imagined. Getting sober was just the first step - I was given a year, 18 mo to live in Feb 2016, and that finally (after about a decade of increasingly devastating alcoholic behavior- was my moment to decide to change. I chose an uncertain future sober over a certain death by drinking.
Once I made that decision, full court press surrender to AA and acceptance of my disease began my journey beyond sobriety, into recovery.
There are other paths that lead people to success- like SMART or AVRT - and I can just attest to what has worked for me so far- given me hope and a future, and seen the promises of AA coming true in spades.
You can do this. Among advice I was given early and heeded was "look for those who have what you want." I looked for - and FOUND- people who had happy, peaceful, full lives in their recovery and decided that is what I wanted too, and go to any lengths and at any costs to have and grow it myself.
AA was- at long last- my plan of action and avenue to a completely different life, and one that is more wonderful than I could have imagined. Getting sober was just the first step - I was given a year, 18 mo to live in Feb 2016, and that finally (after about a decade of increasingly devastating alcoholic behavior- was my moment to decide to change. I chose an uncertain future sober over a certain death by drinking.
Once I made that decision, full court press surrender to AA and acceptance of my disease began my journey beyond sobriety, into recovery.
There are other paths that lead people to success- like SMART or AVRT - and I can just attest to what has worked for me so far- given me hope and a future, and seen the promises of AA coming true in spades.
You can do this. Among advice I was given early and heeded was "look for those who have what you want." I looked for - and FOUND- people who had happy, peaceful, full lives in their recovery and decided that is what I wanted too, and go to any lengths and at any costs to have and grow it myself.
Sometimes it does take those health scares to whip us into shape or knock some sense into us.
I am glad you are still here with us to be able to enjoy a sober life and share with us your strength, experience and hope!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Minnesota, USA
Posts: 1,468
Originally Posted by Bunny211
Almost 2.5 years. It hasn't always been easy but it is worth it. Congrats on 36 days!! Great start, keep it up!!
Thank you. I am enjoying this road, for the most part!
Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Chicago
Posts: 605
I'm a year and almost a month sober.
Drank for most of my life, I'm 46, and basically had enough with living the way I was living. Couldn't take it any longer, so I quit. I found that the mental hurdles were much greater then the physical ones.
If I could give any advice or what I've learned, it would be two things:
1. It's work. You have to put in the time to get your mind and body healed. It's not just not drinking that will keep you sober.
2. Patience. I thought that if I quit everything would be great straight away. Like I said its work. "If you walk 5 miles into the woods you have to walk five miles out".
Drank for most of my life, I'm 46, and basically had enough with living the way I was living. Couldn't take it any longer, so I quit. I found that the mental hurdles were much greater then the physical ones.
If I could give any advice or what I've learned, it would be two things:
1. It's work. You have to put in the time to get your mind and body healed. It's not just not drinking that will keep you sober.
2. Patience. I thought that if I quit everything would be great straight away. Like I said its work. "If you walk 5 miles into the woods you have to walk five miles out".
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Minnesota, USA
Posts: 1,468
Originally Posted by ljc267
I'm a year and almost a month sober.
Drank for most of my life, I'm 46, and basically had enough with living the way I was living. Couldn't take it any longer, so I quit. I found that the mental hurdles were much greater then the physical ones.
If I could give any advice or what I've learned, it would be two things:
1. It's work. You have to put in the time to get your mind and body healed. It's not just not drinking that will keep you sober.
2. Patience. I thought that if I quit everything would be great straight away. Like I said its work. "If you walk 5 miles into the woods you have to walk five miles out".
Drank for most of my life, I'm 46, and basically had enough with living the way I was living. Couldn't take it any longer, so I quit. I found that the mental hurdles were much greater then the physical ones.
If I could give any advice or what I've learned, it would be two things:
1. It's work. You have to put in the time to get your mind and body healed. It's not just not drinking that will keep you sober.
2. Patience. I thought that if I quit everything would be great straight away. Like I said its work. "If you walk 5 miles into the woods you have to walk five miles out".
Patience, yes I am trying to improve in this area, with all things, not just my sobriety!
Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: MN
Posts: 8,704
This month was 2 years with the exception of one afternoon a couple months ago. Its not a perfect record, but I don't count days. I approached sobriety as a wholesale lifestyle change meaning it involves more than simply counting days.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Leduc, Ab
Posts: 758
Today is 65 days for me,
My story, too long. Short version, I drank everyday, became emotionally and mentally unstable and sat down on my bedroom floor by the bathroom and said "I can't go on living like this anymore god please help me" I was contemplating suicide but was to afraid to die. I was also to afraid to live like I was anymore. I had already ended up in the hospital after downing half a bottle of pills a few weeks earlier. I gave up and called my old sponsor and got back into meetings.
Whats been working for me.
Talking to my sponsor on a regular basis
Praying every morning and night
Going to lots of meetings
Committing on SR everyday to stay sober
Getting into the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with my sponsor.
Working with a Addictions Councillor
My story, too long. Short version, I drank everyday, became emotionally and mentally unstable and sat down on my bedroom floor by the bathroom and said "I can't go on living like this anymore god please help me" I was contemplating suicide but was to afraid to die. I was also to afraid to live like I was anymore. I had already ended up in the hospital after downing half a bottle of pills a few weeks earlier. I gave up and called my old sponsor and got back into meetings.
Whats been working for me.
Talking to my sponsor on a regular basis
Praying every morning and night
Going to lots of meetings
Committing on SR everyday to stay sober
Getting into the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with my sponsor.
Working with a Addictions Councillor
Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,966
11 months'ish..I don't count days and there was a 'one night stand' thrown in the mix. Just like my name; I can't remember when it was and don't want to look for my post about it/read what happened that night again. Still feel bad about it.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 116
Originally Posted by ljc267
Patience. I thought that if I quit everything would be great straight away. Like I said its work. "If you walk 5 miles into the woods you have to walk five miles out".
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Minnesota, USA
Posts: 1,468
Originally Posted by Hats
Today is 65 days for me,
My story, too long. Short version, I drank everyday, became emotionally and mentally unstable and sat down on my bedroom floor by the bathroom and said "I can't go on living like this anymore god please help me" I was contemplating suicide but was to afraid to die. I was also to afraid to live like I was anymore. I had already ended up in the hospital after downing half a bottle of pills a few weeks earlier. I gave up and called my old sponsor and got back into meetings.
Whats been working for me.
Talking to my sponsor on a regular basis
Praying every morning and night
Going to lots of meetings
Committing on SR everyday to stay sober
Getting into the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with my sponsor.
Working with a Addictions Councillor
My story, too long. Short version, I drank everyday, became emotionally and mentally unstable and sat down on my bedroom floor by the bathroom and said "I can't go on living like this anymore god please help me" I was contemplating suicide but was to afraid to die. I was also to afraid to live like I was anymore. I had already ended up in the hospital after downing half a bottle of pills a few weeks earlier. I gave up and called my old sponsor and got back into meetings.
Whats been working for me.
Talking to my sponsor on a regular basis
Praying every morning and night
Going to lots of meetings
Committing on SR everyday to stay sober
Getting into the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with my sponsor.
Working with a Addictions Councillor
Thank you for sharing! I am glad you are here to help others and yourself along the way!
Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Chicago
Posts: 605
Originally Posted by MelSober
Oh my gosh, that is perfectly put! I think I am going to print that out and tape it where I can read it everyday. Thanks.
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Originally Posted by tomsteve
my DOS is 4/23/05.
however, thats nothing.
1 day, 1 week, 1 month- THATS an accomplishment!
however, thats nothing.
1 day, 1 week, 1 month- THATS an accomplishment!
A gentleman in my home group got a chip today - for 29 years. And he said that wasn't the important part - being with us today, sober, was. That's some good "have what I want kind of thinking as far as I'm concerned!
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