Nine Months Sober
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,645
Nine Months Sober
My previous best is 13 months, but this time I'm not planning my relapse. I have no desire to drink today, tomorrow or ever - alcohol is poison to me.
I just had a conversation with my brother tonight. He's an active drunk contemplating rehab. He's sick all the time and needs a drink to stop the shaking. There's not much I can do for him - I told him to go to rehab. But I have a feeling I'll get a call one day by the time he's 50 years old that he's gone. It breaks my heart but there's nothing I can do about someone else's active alcoholism. I even explained to him that I went through the exact same thing - over and over again. And that my life would be instantly horrific again with a single drink of alcohol. If he decides he wants to die of alcoholism, then I guess that's his decision.
Anyways, my life is good today. I enjoy my job and make decent money doing it - I get to program and design experiments all the time. It's neat when my scripts and experiments make coworkers lives easier and their work more efficient. I live an otherwise quiet life with my dad and two cats. I'm hoping to go back to school and get my PhD in physics in the next five to ten years.
There's no doubt in my mind that I'd be in a gutter somewhere or working my way to that fate if I didn't quit drinking nine months ago.
Life is good. Alcohol is poison.
I just had a conversation with my brother tonight. He's an active drunk contemplating rehab. He's sick all the time and needs a drink to stop the shaking. There's not much I can do for him - I told him to go to rehab. But I have a feeling I'll get a call one day by the time he's 50 years old that he's gone. It breaks my heart but there's nothing I can do about someone else's active alcoholism. I even explained to him that I went through the exact same thing - over and over again. And that my life would be instantly horrific again with a single drink of alcohol. If he decides he wants to die of alcoholism, then I guess that's his decision.
Anyways, my life is good today. I enjoy my job and make decent money doing it - I get to program and design experiments all the time. It's neat when my scripts and experiments make coworkers lives easier and their work more efficient. I live an otherwise quiet life with my dad and two cats. I'm hoping to go back to school and get my PhD in physics in the next five to ten years.
There's no doubt in my mind that I'd be in a gutter somewhere or working my way to that fate if I didn't quit drinking nine months ago.
Life is good. Alcohol is poison.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,780
I'm tickled pink to read this! 
I know that you, like me, struggled for a while before it finally clicked. So happy to read of your growing sober time. 
And yes, life is better sober. I am really happy for you!
I hope your brother comes to want what you've got.
I know that you, like me, struggled for a while before it finally clicked. So happy to read of your growing sober time. And yes, life is better sober. I am really happy for you! I hope your brother comes to want what you've got.
Samantha
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,031
Glad you're sober, and sorry about your brother. I also have a family member who is in active addiction and I mean drinking every single day. Morning, night, doesn't matter. They think because they don't black out often, and still work it's not a problem.
Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 3,942
Well done TWTOM 👍
I spent most of my forties drinking and only saw the light at 48 1/2. Three years on, life has changed out of all recognition for the better. There’s hope and a better life for your brother.
I spent most of my forties drinking and only saw the light at 48 1/2. Three years on, life has changed out of all recognition for the better. There’s hope and a better life for your brother.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 5,169
Originally Posted by ThatWasTheOldMe 
My previous best is 13 months, but this time I'm not planning my relapse. I have no desire to drink today, tomorrow or ever -
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,748
YAY!
Congrats. I really like the part where you are helping others in your work. That is awesome stuff!
I am sorry to hear of your brother and I hope he finds a way to make it out of active alcoholism. Keep shining the light and he may just surprise you!
Onwards and Upwards!
Congrats. I really like the part where you are helping others in your work. That is awesome stuff!
I am sorry to hear of your brother and I hope he finds a way to make it out of active alcoholism. Keep shining the light and he may just surprise you!
Onwards and Upwards!
01-14-2019
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,217
I wanted to start off by saying Congratulations on 9 months! I like your future goals and being sober is going to make them much easier to achieve.
So I can relate to it being hard to be watching someone we care about still in active addiction. I know in my many attempts that while I talked about quitting and rehab and what not - it wasn't until I was determined to do so - that I made those steps. But here's how I'm approaching it with loved ones and others. I'm living the best sober life I can and if someone wants to talk about it - I let them know I will. I want to be an example - that it can be done. It's like passively helping. There is hope for your brother who is contemplating rehab. He's thinking about it. The seeds of sobriety are planted, they may grow. They may not. I wish we didn't have to watch others in active addiction but how many people watched us? I feel like being sober is probably helping other people get sober - indirectly or directly. So hope shouldn't be lost.
Wishing you and your brother all the best.
So I can relate to it being hard to be watching someone we care about still in active addiction. I know in my many attempts that while I talked about quitting and rehab and what not - it wasn't until I was determined to do so - that I made those steps. But here's how I'm approaching it with loved ones and others. I'm living the best sober life I can and if someone wants to talk about it - I let them know I will. I want to be an example - that it can be done. It's like passively helping. There is hope for your brother who is contemplating rehab. He's thinking about it. The seeds of sobriety are planted, they may grow. They may not. I wish we didn't have to watch others in active addiction but how many people watched us? I feel like being sober is probably helping other people get sober - indirectly or directly. So hope shouldn't be lost.
Wishing you and your brother all the best.
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