100+ days sober

I hope he's just keeping his seat warm Neg rep-worthy if ever I saw it.

OP, all the very best - I believe in you even though I don't know you and I know you can do it. It's a huge deal and a huge challenge, but you will keep seeing those milestones pass with a little willpower.

Speaking as someone who has also had a substance addiction problem in the past (although not to alcohol ) I am happy to say that I made it through the other side, and have been completely clean now for just about six years. Depression/anxiety tend to get better once you've addressed the root cause, and alcohol or drugs are just a fuel for these problems so taking them out of the equation makes things a lot easier. Take things one step at a time though, dropping nicotine is part of the master plan but it can wait until you've stopped thinking about the ale.

Socialising away from bars and hobbies are both great pieces of advice as well.

 

Well done mate - all the best of luck with it. As a habitual smoker of certain things myself, (use your imagination) which some will argue is not as bad as alcohol and some will say is worse, addictions/dependencies can affect your relationships and work so much so well done on kicking it. I've managed to find a kind of middle ground, I guess everything in moderation - I also suffer from anxiety and have found it makes me a more tolerable person a lot of the time, but ideally i'd like to pack it in the next few years.

 

Congrats, and keep us posted with how it goes

 

I wish I could use drugs/alcohol in moderation. Its just not that way for me. Its all or nothing.
Those who can use in moderation, power to ya and enjoy the highs for me!

Thanks for all of the replies, the forums kicks ass!

 

I had to quit drinking a few years ago (it triggers my migraines). If you usually drink with friends i would suggest that you talk with them and let them know the situation im sure they will be willing to help you if they are any type of friends. If not I would suggest you find new people to hang out with. I would suggest not trying to quit smoking at the same time it can make you very irritable. Some say its the best way to quit both at the same time but that's not my experience. If you drink on your own you need to find something to replace it, a hobby is a good thing and if your married spend more time with your family.

I applaud you on 24 days of being sober, JOB well done and keep it up. Take one situation at a time then work your way up to one day at a time and it WILL get easier as time goes on. I promise, I don't even miss drinking any more.

Keep up the good work and we all have faith in you.

 

Congratulations on getting off the drink, it's a long and slow process but as long as you keep taking it one day at a time and find other outlets, someone mentioned running, you'll get through this in no time at all. I'm not sure if you're following the AA program or not but there are a lot of good people there that will be more than glad to help you during this time.

On the quitting nicotine front I would wait until you've been off the alcohol for a while. It took me almost two years to get to where I could quit smoking for longer than a couple weeks.

 

Keep it up and keep the mood high.

 

Well done man. It's not easy. I had a bit of a drugs problem myself one time... it's been cannabis, cocaine then alcohol.

I used to think that I was a all or nothing kind of guy... then one day I drew the correlation between my depression and drinking. It turns out that if I drink more than 2 or 3 alcoholic drinks I get chronic depression in the hangover. As in, want to end it kind of feeling.

Anyhow, since realising I went sober for a while, and now I find drinking more than 2 or 3 to be quite difficult. If I feel drunk, I just stop. Never thought I had it in me.

Luckily though, I don't like out on the town and things, so it is easier for me not to do it.

 

Day 30
Its been rough some days but I made it a month. Everyone I know is very proud of me which helps a lot. The anxiety gets to me and sometimes I just don't know what to do with myself. Thank God for computers, lol. Thanks for all of the replies, they help.

 

Well done mate it's hard in the beginning, It's been over 30 years I've not touched a drink

 

It gets easier. Did you find something to replace it? Sports drinks? Fruit juices?

 

I supplemented my tipple, cider, for alcohol free apple an pear ciders and it gave me the feeling that I was still drinking. Kind of like having one of those plastic cigarettes.

I'm slowly cutting back again now and haven't drank for 3 days (it's a start).

 

Every journey starts with a single step grats to you both

 

Well done matey hope your recovery goes well for you keep up the good work as you know were here if you need to vent out talking often helps

 

Well done & keep up the good work, it's nice to hear people managing to take control and improving their health! - if only I could get my dad to the gym!

Ignore that uncalled for comment from ~ said ~ persons above, it'll get easier as time goes on, good luck!

 

Hey, congratulations mate! Keep it up! This sort of thing takes a massive amount of guts and character! Well done

 

The trick is to identify what drink did for you, and finding internal resources to achieve that instead.

Basically:
- What settings did you drink in?
- What were the triggers to your drinking?
- How did you generally think and feel when you reached for a drink, and
- How did drinking change those thoughts and feelings?

Drinking alcohol is basically an attempt at trying to feel better. It's a coping strategy: a very effective one in the short term and a really bad one in the longer term, but an attempt at coping nonetheless. The trick is to find better (internal) coping strategies, which may not feel as immediately effective in the short term but work better in the long term.

 

Well done OP, keep it up.

I was the same all or nothing, but gave up for 2 years when it cost me something very dear.
Sometimes you have to reach rock bottom to realise there is a problem.

Now I have control back, but it is still a struggle.
Stay strong it will be worth it in the end.

 

I was an all in type as well(anything and everything) battled my demons for 15 years then one day went cold turkey that was 10 years ago it can be done with the help of people around you stay positive and sober !!

 

Congrats, I don't drink so I wouldn't know exactly how hard it really is