Originally Posted by Anna

Welcome and good job on Day 11.

And, do be proud of yourself for cleaning the kitchen. I also found that doing a little bit every day helped me to feel like I was accomplishing something and moving forward. It was very helpful for my mental health.

The cravings will ease up as time goes by. My suggestion is to come up with some ideas to fill the time when you would have normally been drinking. You can do this!

Originally Posted by Coldfusion

Welcome to SoberRecovery! This is the place to come when those cravings call. Here's some good threads to join:

Originally Posted by aasharon90

30 years older from when i started. I'm not a young
chick anymore....lol However.....

I am healthier, honest and happier than I ever was
when in my alcohol addiction.

All of us in recovery have a day one and from there
we build a sober life one day at a time.

We find someone who is a living example of the sober
life we want to live ourselves. Maybe not exactly the same,
but similar. I went to a heck of a lot of meetings back in
the day, just like many did before i arrived. I listened,
learned, absorbed and applied the lessons so many
were using as a guideline to live by on a daily bases.

From there i went home and incorporated those lessons
in my marriage, my work, personally, emotionally, physically,
spiritually to become the best person I can be today.

I'm no saint and yes i stumble from time to time. I pick
myself up, dust myself off and if i need to go back and
relearn some of those important lessons, i will, so that
i don't make some of those same mistakes again.

Over the years you begin to acquire experiences, strengths
and hopes so that you can share with the new comer like
I am doing here today and like so many did for me and
so on.

Your 11 days sober is an accomplishment. Someone who
wants to get sober will look at you and will want to know how
you did it. They will look to others with more sobriety and
success and be inspired and need guidance and suggestions
on how to get passed the first day sober.

We are all here to help each other achieve sober success.

We need the beginner, just as we need those in the middle
and those with long term completing a ring of support.

You are important to us and we need you.

Originally Posted by least

Welcome to the family. 11 days sober is a good start. Now just build on that, one day at a time. Cleaning your house a bit at a time is a good thing.

I am glad you found us and joined us.

Originally Posted by sugarbear1

If you are attending AA meetings, maybe supplement this with reading the big book? You can find the big book at (it's also on there in audio format). Listen to xa-speakers.org for speaker meetings (they helped me fall asleep in early recovery.

Those 12 steps saved my life 9 1/2 years ago!

Originally Posted by Velvetee

Holy Moly, 25 years... I'll be 65 by then
At this point, I just have a daily goal "stay strong". AA are very supportive and nurturing with me, it does give me strength.
I'm just super tired and anxious, hopefully, it gets better soon.
Thanks for this encouraging post!

Originally Posted by DriGuy

Yes, 25 is cool, and well worth it. But I will tell you honestly that the more awesome sobriety birthday for me was one year. One month was probably as awesome, but it's long enough ago that I can't compare. At the beginning, those landmarks almost seem like they are unachievable, but when they do happen, you can look back and realize what an accomplishment it was. And if you can do it for one year, you can do it for five and then ten, and so on. Eventually, you're just adding years without keeping track. I've sailed through sobriety birthdays without realizing it until a week later. But the important thing is that you have fun getting better, and for me a good way to describe sobriety is "fun."

Sure, I've had challenges along the way, and you will too, but it's fun knowing that you are going to make it through them. Life isn't always a bowl of cherries, but having the confidence knowing you will handle those bumps like an adult has always been an unusually satisfying experience for me. We don't have to be perfect. I never will be. But watching yourself get better, never seems to get dull.

Originally Posted by Hevyn

Great to meet you, Velvetee. At 11 days sober I was filled with anxiety, and very disoriented. Everything changed once I got some sober time behind me. We promise you won't always feel this way. Congratulations on doing this wonderful thing for yourself. It takes courage to let go of it & to learn to live in a new way.

I drank 30 yrs. & now have almost 13 yrs. sober. I give most of the credit to SR. Not feeling alone anymore helped me be brave & determined. You can do it.

Originally Posted by Wastinglife

My laundry is constantly in a pile either waiting to be washed or folded. Sometimes I just buy new socks instead of doing the laundry. That's how much I hate laundry.

In the early days of sobriety, I find going out for a long walk is the most therapeutic activity. I haven't been sober long but I am getting 8 hours sleep every night and walk for 1-2 hours a day. I have been eating plenty of fruit and vegetables and caffeine is my only vice. I feel good and hope to stay this way.

Welcome to the site

Originally Posted by PuckLuck

Welcome

Originally Posted by Velvetee

Thanks! I must have a sock eating monster because I have so many orphan socks I still don't sleep well but hopefully, this will be fixed at one point. We have been locked down so no walking and in general, I am a very socially introverted person, a true hermit. Maybe I need to change my habits...

Originally Posted by Wastinglife

The lockdown where you are doesn't allow people to walk outside? What about dogs? That's harsh. My city just went back into full lockdown again today. Liquor stores and cannabis shops are still open as essential businesses though....

Originally Posted by Velvetee

Hey there,

I am new here and I am 11d booze sober after a relapse in February 2019 (alcohol-free between August 2018 and February 2019, years of boozing prior to that).
This week, I finally signed my divorce papers (separated in August 2018 after 15 years spent with a hardcore weed addict) and broke off my 16month engagement (my long-distance ex-fiancé turned out to be on a 5y DUI probation and is still struggling with his addiction).
My doctor put me on meds a week ago (benzodiazepine + SSRI) and I joined AA online.
I feel empty and fighting my cravings is energy consuming. How do you cope, guys?
Thanks.