Never give up
 

This is the first time I have logged on since September 2014, although I haven’t been a stranger. I needed this site more than anyone can know to get me to where I am today, 3 years and 9 months sober. I do not like reading back on my old posts however it helps to look back and see where I have come. How have I managed this length of time and not feeling that I ever want to go back? I knew that if I did not change my life I would lose everything including my life. The look of disappointment on loved ones faces, the crippling anxiety and depression, hiding alcohol and the embarrassment when it was found, and it goes on. I knew that I couldn’t just stop drinking I had to change my life. As everyone will know the first days and weeks are horrendous, for the first year I would suffer really bad cravings every 3 months, and as time went on the period in between got longer until around 2.6 years the cravings got fewer and fewer. I read every self help book I could, I didn’t socialise where I knew there could be temptation until I knew I was ready, I journaled, still do, and took up mindfulness and meditation. At the beginning one month seemed like forever but as time went by life got easier. Do I get caught out in my thoughts sometimes and think a drink would help, yes however I have a file in my head that is filled with the pain, the regrets, the embarrassment and I open up that file when I need to. Apologies for the long post, all I want to say is never give up, I didn’t ever think that I would be here. I hope to be logging in more often and help where I can.

Congratulations on your sober time and thanks for your post 🙏

Great to hear from you macali & welcome back and congrats on your sober time - that so awesome!

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Very inspiring post. Thanks.

You're coming up on four years sober! :) I like your message too, it's very encouraging. :hug:

Congratulations! I have 8 months sober and I’m learning that recovery is a process. Learning how to live sober Is hard sometimes. Thank you so much for the encouraging post:)

thns for the post

Well done on 8 months sober Sober45, fantastic achievement!, I used to get so frustrated and annoyed, why can I not be like everyone else and be able to drink and control it? I am not everyone else, I am me and I had to choose what path I wanted to walk. Living a sober life is hard to begin with and does get easier, but not nearly as hard as living a drunk life. I have a lot of regrets in my life, if I carried on those regrets would just keep growing. Stick with it Sober45, it is worth it. Fill your life with walks, reading, spending time being kind to yourself, anything you enjoy. Enjoy and embrace each day sober.

Thanks for the inspiring post Macali. It helps to read things like this. Congrats!