Good morning all. I am new here. I’ve had a his app for a few days, and just got registered. Proud to say I have 15 days under my belt this morning. I went o bed at 8 last night and slept til 6am without moving a muscle. That’s 10 hours! I feel great, and confident, and healthy. I have more energy, and my thinking processes feel much more fluid and lubricated. I’m trying to surround myself with positive people who know about alcoholism. Hope to be a long time member. I appreciate you all.
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Welcome Shawn. I’m proud of you for deciding to become sober and obtaining 15 days. That’s hella awesome.
I highly recommend checking in daily to keep focus in the checking daily to maintain focus thread.
I also recommend finding some activities to fill time like, running, cycling, working out, meditation/mindfulness, crafts, drawing, reading etc.
Mindfulness is also great of letting go of past shame and guilt since it teaches you to let your thoughts pass without giving them any attention.
This is a weird suggestion, but I recommend giving your addiction a name. Sobriety became easier for me once I named my addiction Brutus. It is no longer an enemy hiding in the shadows now, but now I know my enemy and now I can fight it better.
I also recommend reading on this forum a lot on this forum and asking questions if you have any.
You can make sobriety a lot easier. It’s really hard to think about staying sober for the rest of my life. If I think, do I want to stay sober for the rest of my life? I think hell no. But I can and want to stay sober for today. The next day, I also think I can stay sober for today. and so on.
Don’t think about not using for life but think about not using today. Do that every day, and it gets way easier. If you are very deep in the shit, you can even think, I’ll stay sober the next 5 minutes.
Don’t listen to your mind, your mind will not stop being a dick, it will be a dick less and less, but it will never fully stop being a dick.
If you have cravings, just play the tape. By that I mean, pretend that you abuse again, then try foreseeing the future. Will it be all butterflies and roses, because you feel so awesome when relapsing, or will it be shame, self-disgust and disappointment you feel.
When your mind tells you that you can use once, that’s bullshit, the biggest bullshit ever. Your addiction just tries to find a way to get satisfied.
I also recommend following the twelve step-program with a sponsor.
I hope this helps you get even more days.
Good luck, you’ve got this. 
(My opinion on this has changed by now)PS: May I recommend not asking for congratulations? It makes you seem like you’re begging for attention and I’m sure that’s not how you want to be seen. And don’t woory about not getting congratulations, we all know how significant sobriety is in this community and we all are very proud and happy for you
Wow, that’s some great sleep! Congratulations on your 15 days!!! 
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I’m sorry if I offended you. I am a single father, and live alone in a small studio. So, yes I do like a little attention, congratulations, and kind words. Thanks for your input.
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Thank you Stella! I do feel fantastic!
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I am not offended in anyway, and did not mean to offend in anyway. I’m sorry if that happened. Reading that you are a single father makes me even happier, because that means you want to be there for your children, good job 
Strong work my brother x2! We Smitty types are just a "special bunch ". Have a great day.
Congrats Smitty, 15 days is great 
Hey 
. Congratulations on the 2 weeks! That’s a great start and some hard work. I can’t believe how well I sleep now too. It’s amazing. And not waking up with a hangover in the middle of the night? How awesome is that? I use to be a big hangover guy. The bad headache kind. Kept drinking. Kept getting hangovers. Sounds kind of stupid. So many things I love in sobriety but mornings are the best now after good nights sleep.
Keep up the great work.
I drink a lot of sparkling soda water now. I mean a lot!!
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That’s so true. I was a headache, dizzy kind of person when I was hungover, and it was an everyday thing. I also enjoy sparkling water now! Interesting. Last time I was sober I enjoyed those aloe vera drinks, but I’m definitely on a no carb, no sugar, no artificial flavors kick right now. It’s my new adictive drink lol.
Wohoo, congrats to 15 days. And welcome to this forum. People here are just amazing, and I’m sure you’ll get a lot of cheer along the way if you stay here. I’m pretty new too, I’ve been here about a month. I felt a bit lost in the beginning, but I just wrote in threads I found interesting and now I don’t know how I’ll do without all the amazing people here.
The daily checking in, checking out is really helpful. And if you feel the need to you can always check-in more than once a day. I do pretty often, there’s always someone around.
I wish you the best of luck in your sobriety journey.
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Brilliant job keep it up
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I’m right around there myself!! It’s been a bit bumpy but I agree I feel pretty good! Congrats on your day 15!
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I agree with you. In my mind everything is very black and white. I had not realised that for some people it is a big step to share their days and ask for compliments, I had not put myself in someone else’s position.
So thank you for clarifying and your feedback. I will try working on putting myself in someone else’s position and try recognising exceptions
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Hey @Smitty1988, great job on 15! It is exciting and empowering to feel that accomplishment. 
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I’m with you here. I’m trying to engage in the forum and post pretty much. But every post makes me nervous because I’m going personal. I’ve also erased posts because I just can’t, and don’t feel comfortable exposing myself like that.
I really enjoy talking to @anon89207786 as well, and I at least think that I’m trying to respect everyones opinions.
But if you know what you need, and if it helps you on the path forward I absolutely think that this should be the place to ask for it. None of us might really have our shit together (If we did, we probably wouldn’t be here) but we do have the spirit to lift each other up. And cheering words, a virtual hug or just some acknowledgement that we’re here and trying to do the right thing. Is something that we all need sometimes. Because it ain’t an easy thing we’re trying to accomplish.
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I really appreciate that, that actually put tears to my eyes 
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Have you ever practiced asking for help? Because that is very useful
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So much wisdom and helpful, compassionate voices here! It is a joy to see. We are all unique individuals with our own needs or not for praise, feedback, comfortableness with sharing etc. It makes my heart happy to see people respecting and understanding eachother’s needs and boundaries. And being able to disagree constructively and respectfully. It can take so much to put ourselves out there, replying with empathy and compassion (even while disagreeing) is a blessing. Thank you all for being so brave and honest and compassionate.
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Thank you. I don’t think he’s wrong either, as you said it’s just another opinion and another view of life.
There’s so much diversity here, and the fact that we all are in different ages, with different backgrounds and from different countries makes it even more complicated. But I feel like there’s a pretty high tolerance and that most people do take the time to explain and trying to understand.
@anon89207786 is very humble and I admire that. When I was in the same age I wasn’t even close to being that wise, and caring.
Asking for help or attention or just admit that you need to be seen isn’t easy for anyone. At least i don’t think so.
There’s a scene from a Swedish kids movie I absolutely love. It’s called Seacrow Island.
There’s a family with four kids and a single father. The oldest daughter is helping him to take care of the family, and this day the father have been painting the outdoor furniture set. When he’s done he calls for the daughter and the youngest son to come and see the result.
When they arrives the father says: Look what I did, doesn’t it look nice. Doesn’t it turned out good.
The youngest son answers: Come on dad, don’t be so childish.
The daughter replies: You see, everyone needs to be admired and get credit sometimes, even fathers.
Father says: That’s right and looks a bit sad.
And the son changes his mind and saying: I never thought about that, good job dad, it looks really nice.
I never understood that scene as a kid, but I totally do now. 
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