Two Years
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 83
Two Years
TW: mention of suicide
Today I've officially been alcohol-free for two. Whole. Years. I both can't believe the time has gone by so quickly and also it feels like a lifetime ago. Life has certainly not been perfect, but I can definitively say it has been MUCH BETTER without booze. I've had occasional cravings or those thoughts of maybe I can just have one, or why can't I drink like a "normal" person, but the few things that have helped me the most:
- Shifting my mindset to being a non-drinker. I haven't really verbalized the fact that I quit to anyone except my husband and a few random people in my life, so that label is mostly just for me. I'm not depriving myself of alcohol, I'm just a person who doesn't drink. And I like myself that way.
- Play the tape forward. When I get those creeping thoughts of "just one" I remember, it's never just one. And, to be honest, I never enjoyed just one. Just one gives me a headache. Just one makes me sleepy. Worst of all, "just one" makes that craving for "just one more" nearly impossible to ignore. And even if I had "just one" that night, it sets the stage in a bad way for the next time.
- Realize that not as many people are "normal" drinkers as I thought. It's not the most happy thing I've come to realize, but a lot of people have problematic relationships with alcohol. I'm not judging anyone, it just makes me a little sad to see. But it also makes me realize I'm not weird, alcohol is just a very difficult thing to manage.
- Reflect on all that I've gained. My physical and mental health are so much better. I'm in general a fairly healthy person and more or less well adjusted, but I'd have thoughts of suicide when I was healing from a night of binge drinking. These are not thoughts I EVER have, even when things are very difficult. But I did. I would be so ashamed of myself, so embarrassed that I just didn't ever want to show my face anywhere again. I'd be a recluse for a few days or a few weeks, not really talking to anyone I didn't absolutely have to except my husband. And I'm a social person! To think back on what alcohol did to me at those times, it made me someone I'm not, both when drinking and in the days that would follow. I'm glad I don't have to be that person any more and can just be me.
So, here we are. Two years in. This is not my first profile here, because I let my shame and embarrassment even drive me away from here on some of my earlier attempts to quit. I know I still need to be vigilant and I thank you all for sharing here. It really, really helps to read and post and respond. For anyone just starting out or wanting to start out, I don't have any advice except to keep coming back here. It's an easy place to find support and keep busy during those difficult times. Beyond that, I guess just see what works for you and take advice from others here. See what sticks. And don't let a setback stop you from moving forward. We all mess up. But we don't have to let the last mess up define us. You get to do that.
Happy new year!
Today I've officially been alcohol-free for two. Whole. Years. I both can't believe the time has gone by so quickly and also it feels like a lifetime ago. Life has certainly not been perfect, but I can definitively say it has been MUCH BETTER without booze. I've had occasional cravings or those thoughts of maybe I can just have one, or why can't I drink like a "normal" person, but the few things that have helped me the most:
- Shifting my mindset to being a non-drinker. I haven't really verbalized the fact that I quit to anyone except my husband and a few random people in my life, so that label is mostly just for me. I'm not depriving myself of alcohol, I'm just a person who doesn't drink. And I like myself that way.
- Play the tape forward. When I get those creeping thoughts of "just one" I remember, it's never just one. And, to be honest, I never enjoyed just one. Just one gives me a headache. Just one makes me sleepy. Worst of all, "just one" makes that craving for "just one more" nearly impossible to ignore. And even if I had "just one" that night, it sets the stage in a bad way for the next time.
- Realize that not as many people are "normal" drinkers as I thought. It's not the most happy thing I've come to realize, but a lot of people have problematic relationships with alcohol. I'm not judging anyone, it just makes me a little sad to see. But it also makes me realize I'm not weird, alcohol is just a very difficult thing to manage.
- Reflect on all that I've gained. My physical and mental health are so much better. I'm in general a fairly healthy person and more or less well adjusted, but I'd have thoughts of suicide when I was healing from a night of binge drinking. These are not thoughts I EVER have, even when things are very difficult. But I did. I would be so ashamed of myself, so embarrassed that I just didn't ever want to show my face anywhere again. I'd be a recluse for a few days or a few weeks, not really talking to anyone I didn't absolutely have to except my husband. And I'm a social person! To think back on what alcohol did to me at those times, it made me someone I'm not, both when drinking and in the days that would follow. I'm glad I don't have to be that person any more and can just be me.
So, here we are. Two years in. This is not my first profile here, because I let my shame and embarrassment even drive me away from here on some of my earlier attempts to quit. I know I still need to be vigilant and I thank you all for sharing here. It really, really helps to read and post and respond. For anyone just starting out or wanting to start out, I don't have any advice except to keep coming back here. It's an easy place to find support and keep busy during those difficult times. Beyond that, I guess just see what works for you and take advice from others here. See what sticks. And don't let a setback stop you from moving forward. We all mess up. But we don't have to let the last mess up define us. You get to do that.
Happy new year!
Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: NSW - Australia
Posts: 14,598
Congratulations on 2 wonderful years of sobriety KeepingUp.
Even the hard times are wonderful after alcohol has been removed. We get to think about what is the next right step, and to witness an ever improving life.
Well done.
Even the hard times are wonderful after alcohol has been removed. We get to think about what is the next right step, and to witness an ever improving life.
Well done.
Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 3,948
Originally Posted by Steely 
Even the hard times are wonderful after alcohol has been removed. We get to think about what is the next right step, and to witness an ever improving life.
Well done.
I wonder if anyone has ever stopped drinking and had a worse life as a result after two years. I’d say no.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
