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Differences you experienced after getting sober

Old 02-04-2019, 10:41 AM
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Differences you experienced after getting sober

I am only on day 5 but clearer thinking is slowly coming back and I've also been getting a full nights rest as well. Appetite is improving and I am taking vitamins.

Where were you a week before getting sober and where are you now? What are some of the biggest positives you noticed? Accomplishments? Relationships? Living and working situations etc? Lets hear them
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Old 02-04-2019, 11:21 AM
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Day five is awesome!!!! Keep going, it gets better & better! Promise.

Wow a week before I quit? After being a daily drinker for roughly 30 years, I was a bloated, shaking, heart palpitating mess. For some weird reason the day before I stopped I took a selfie. I never take selfies. I didn't recognize the face looking back at me. That was almost 21 months ago.

Where do I start on how my life has changed????? I'm 64 so my life style is a little bit different than someone younger. But in the last 21 months I got a kayak for my retirement & have paddled across lakes all alone. I've gone on some brutal hikes that I never ever could have done 21 months ago. I've started painting again & I've taken up embroidery & quilting (sounds lame) but I have never, ever done anything like that before. I've never been a good sleeper, but now I don't worry about it like I used to. Now if I don't get sleep I just wake up tired instead of nauseated, dizzy & guilty. I can keep up with my six grandkids. Oh and my skin! That's the best part!

No denying it is rough quitting. It is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I still pinch myself.

Keep going please. All you have to do is not drink & listen to all of the awesome advice on this forum. I don't post a lot but I do come here several times a day to read all of the wisdom people have to offer & see how everyone is doing. Hang in there!!!!
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Old 02-04-2019, 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Labatty View Post
Day five is awesome!!!! Keep going, it gets better & better! Promise.

Wow a week before I quit? After being a daily drinker for roughly 30 years, I was a bloated, shaking, heart palpitating mess. For some weird reason the day before I stopped I took a selfie. I never take selfies. I didn't recognize the face looking back at me. That was almost 21 months ago.

Where do I start on how my life has changed????? I'm 64 so my life style is a little bit different than someone younger. But in the last 21 months I got a kayak for my retirement & have paddled across lakes all alone. I've gone on some brutal hikes that I never ever could have done 21 months ago. I've started painting again & I've taken up embroidery & quilting (sounds lame) but I have never, ever done anything like that before. I've never been a good sleeper, but now I don't worry about it like I used to. Now if I don't get sleep I just wake up tired instead of nauseated, dizzy & guilty. I can keep up with my six grandkids. Oh and my skin! That's the best part!

No denying it is rough quitting. It is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I still pinch myself.

Keep going please. All you have to do is not drink & listen to all of the awesome advice on this forum. I don't post a lot but I do come here several times a day to read all of the wisdom people have to offer & see how everyone is doing. Hang in there!!!!
Wow! If that isn't inspiration for someone to quit I don't know what is. I am half your age and couldn't do that with a kayak.

Congrats and thank you for the words of encouragement!
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Old 02-04-2019, 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by SIB View Post
I am only on day 5 but clearer thinking is slowly coming back and I've also been getting a full nights rest as well. Appetite is improving and I am taking vitamins.

Where were you a week before getting sober and where are you now? What are some of the biggest positives you noticed? Accomplishments? Relationships? Living and working situations etc? Lets hear them

Good question SIB, I'm a day on from you. Let's keep each other going 😊 🙏
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Old 02-04-2019, 11:38 AM
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Each and every single thing in my life has gotten better, clearer, surer, brighter, stronger, deeper, on and on.

There is not an aspect of my life that has not benefitted from me finally getting sober, at 41, almost 10 months ago. Financially, spiritually, from family to physique, from sleep to sex, from my relationships with my son, wife, family, ex-wife, colleagues, strangers and self.
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Old 02-04-2019, 11:40 AM
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Every single aspect of my life improved with sobriety. Everything!
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Old 02-04-2019, 11:52 AM
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Well, when I'm drunk, 90% of what I say is bullsh*t. When sober, only 50% is bullsh*t
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Old 02-04-2019, 02:09 PM
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You hit 3 of the big ones already SIB , clearer head , sleep , good appetite , but there tons more of smaller ones too , some barely noticeable, some you start to take for granted, and that's when you need to be careful, cos I drink and bang ,all those little improvements you barely noticed are gone but are now glaringly obvious . Hope you keep going , oh a week before I stopped I could barely write my name , 6 plus months sober I'm here wishing you luck .
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Old 02-04-2019, 02:34 PM
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Towards the end of my drinking I was hanging on to every part of my life by a thread (home, marriage, business etc...). Within a year I had everything back on solid ground. Could never have done it actively drinking. Other things I've noticed is my mind is sharper, and I am in better shape now than I was 15 years ago.
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Old 02-04-2019, 02:37 PM
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Where were you a week before getting sober and where are you now?
i dont really remember a week before but do know it was a dark place.
im not in a dark place now.

What are some of the biggest positives you noticed?
a week in the only positive i noticed was i wasnt drunk

Accomplishments?
i faced my past,learned from it, am comfortable in my own skin, and havent drank in close to 14 years.

Relationships?
which ones? the ones with my family and friends are aweseome now.
relationship as in with a woman-im single and LOVE IT!
i have dated and might again. no skin off my back if i dont.

Living and working situations etc?
i was diagnosed stage 3 metastic melanoma 13 months into recovery, went through a 2 1/2 year battle that involved a LOT and put me on disability so not able to work any more.funny thing about that:
i was a carpenter for the last 10 years i was able to work- i framed houses and loved it. first year sober i was admitting it was taking a toll on my body and i had to get out of it. yet when i was told i wouldnt be able to be a carpenter any more i was devastated. wanting to get out of it then told i had to retire from it crushed me.
living situations-
i LIVE and that is awesome!
prolly not thinking of that type of living situation but thats what came to mind.
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Old 02-04-2019, 02:45 PM
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Day 18 today.

I sleep better, I lost a ton of weight, I feel restless and go to the gym or to sports everyday so I guess I am more productive. I am more social and put time back into my hobbies again also.

Emotionally I feel more stable and mentally stronger. I eat better and have more energy to ckok and do stuff. I am a far more superior and better version of myself and I am doing stuff I always want to do but never get round to.

The danger is the quiet boring times so I make sure those don't happen, I keep myself busy and socialise or put time into my hobbies or sports. I cut out all the bad influences completely too. Knowing it's like a mental illness helps, it's a physical thing in my brain that I can't moderate or control because that is the nature of addiction.
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Old 02-04-2019, 04:01 PM
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Just posted this list in another thread..

- I don't have to put my energy into lying and hiding my drinking consumption. I spent so much time and effort trying to hide my drinking problem it was draining.
- Weight loss. As previously mentioned my face is less puffy.. I actually have a jawline and my swollen stomach has shrunk. I've dropped 2 dress sizes.
- Getting a good nights sleep. My sleeping pattern took a while to sort itself out but I'm finally waking up feeling refreshed and not wanting to throw up or call in sick to work
- My job performance has improved. I'm not making silly mistakes at work and have better relationships with my work colleagues as I don't feel I have to withdraw myself incase they notice I have a problem.
- I actually have time to do things other than drinking and find enjoyment in them. My passion for exercise has come back. Before I never would've had the stamina to work out or go to the gym but now I'm working out everyday and feel so much happier and healthier for it.
- Saving money. I'm not spending all of my money on vodka anymore so I'm managing to put some money into a savings account every month. I finally see a future worth living.
- Having an appetite. Now rather than having to force food down, feel like I was going to vomit with every bite and struggling to keep it down.. I'm actually enjoying food and planning meals. I'm a massive foodie and love going out for meals now.
- Reduced anxiety. I used to think drinking helped with my anxiety but it was having the opposite effect. My social anxiety seems like it's almost disappeared and my confidence has soared

& loads more. Can't believe I didn't get sober earlier!
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Old 02-04-2019, 05:56 PM
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I remember how desperately afraid I was before I got sober. I was desperately afraid I would fail, that this would kill me, that I would leave my kid alone and defenseless and hurt in the world, and that for all the things I lucked out on, alcohol would defeat me and take it all away.

I was an at home drinker - every day - and every morning, I would get in the car with my hangover and drive my kid to school and myself to work, praying, desperate that this would be the day I could stop. This would be the day I could start, you know?

I had one of those golden moments, a miracle really. I woke up one day and I knew. I just freaking knew that that day was the day. And it was! It was hard and it was lonely and it was frustrating, but I kept putting one foot in front of the other and not taking that first drink.

Now my life is immeasurably different. To an outsider, it probably doesn't look like anything has changed at all. But people on SR will understand. That desperation and fear isn't part of my life anymore. I keep it on the edge of my mind always so I'm aware of the danger. I will never go back there. I have peace. I have joy. I have moments of road rage. I have frustration. I can be counted on. I AM counted on. And it's all me. I had to meet myself on the road to recovery and I'm pretty okay. Sarcastic and awkward, but okay.
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Old 02-05-2019, 12:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Taooo View Post
Day 18 today.

I sleep better, I lost a ton of weight, I feel restless and go to the gym or to sports everyday so I guess I am more productive. I am more social and put time back into my hobbies again also.

Emotionally I feel more stable and mentally stronger. I eat better and have more energy to ckok and do stuff. I am a far more superior and better version of myself and I am doing stuff I always want to do but never get round to.

The danger is the quiet boring times so I make sure those don't happen, I keep myself busy and socialise or put time into my hobbies or sports. I cut out all the bad influences completely too. Knowing it's like a mental illness helps, it's a physical thing in my brain that I can't moderate or control because that is the nature of addiction.
Well done on your 18 days, I'm over the moon for you taooo, keep going...
Much love to you 🙏💖
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Old 02-05-2019, 04:04 AM
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Awesome job on 5 days. Like less and others said - every single thing in my life is better sober.

Keep going!
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Old 02-05-2019, 02:49 PM
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I’m only on day 9 but I was miserable and in very bad health before. It has been 9 days without any drama, 8 days in a row I made it to the gym, I’ve saved money and have good food in my refrigerator.
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Old 02-26-2019, 08:28 PM
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Went vegan and lost 40 pounds with no exercise while eating LOTS of non-dairy Hagan Daaz Have tons more energy. Feel sharp as a tack most days. Got my sense of humor back. No more aches and pains in my lower back and sides. Skin looks like it did 10 years ago. No more yelling at people on their voicemails and forgetting the next day what I said. Spend time with my kids, actually present in their life where as before I just wanted to drink and watch movies. The housework is done most days. Regained an interest in old passions. List could go on and on.
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Old 02-26-2019, 11:57 PM
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I’m only day five and I’ve noticed the following already: better deeper sleep (although I do feel tired), saving money, more energy, mind is SO much sharper (this is a big one), heart palpitations have gone down, negative thoughts are far less, feel more hydrated, feel more stable, get more done in my flat, eating dinner for a change, smoking less, skin is better, face is less puffy. God...so much!
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