Just a reminder to some of you going through hard times that it might not feel better being sober for a while but it does get better in the long run. We all deal with life differently but we’re all trying to get better for ourselves and our families and whatever else might be driving you. So keep your head up and keep moving forward.
I hope everyone has a great day today and every day moving forward.
It took me at least a year to notice “life changing” shifts in myself from sobriety. Before that, the physical changes I noticed, I realized I was handling things more maturely, and that I was getting into a better headspace but it wasn’t until I hit a year that I realized how much had changed in myself and in my life as a result of sobriety. It’s not that changes weren’t happening, I just hadn’t noticed them until that point.
Also! I’m a firm believer in “nothing changes if nothing changes” - if you just stop drinking but haven’t changed anything in your environment or done anything for your own self improvement, then you won’t feel better. It’s not enough to simply stop drinking if we don’t take the steps to improve other areas of our life.
Honestly, being sober made me actually feel my anxiety and depression in a pure form. I used to dull those issues with alcohol. Now I have to be faced with them. Not easy. But I have realized I must face my insecurities and improve on those. I would have never realized that drinking.
I completely understand that. I have never known my true issues until I stopped drinking. I suppose it’s all uphill from here.
I know I need to work on a lot of things and I’m happy to know I’m not alone in feeling not so positively about everything. I agree that it takes more than just quitting drinking. I’m hopeful for what the future holds.
Perception is a funny thing. We don’t recognize gains until we look back and it hits us…
At ten months sober, im riding a rollercoater. One day on top of the mountain, the next in the deepest, darkest valley.
It because im facing things sober. When I get through one thing, I feel amazing!
Theres another thing right behind it that puts me back in the valley. I continue to move forward knowing I will find my way back to the top as long as I dont take that first drink.
‘‘Theres another thing right behind it that puts me back in the valley. I continue to move forward knowing I will find my way back to the top as long as I dont take that first drink.’’
Me too - i know that whatever happens i cannot take the first drink again.
Ya I was reading in a Destination Joy that after abstinence we have to start the next stage of recovery. NEXT STAGE 
. Naively I was just hoping quitting drinking was what we did and we got better. But the next stage is dealing with our feelings. I guess that’s why y’all in AA do that step work. Makes sense now.
I think they mentioned a third stage too but I’m going to take it one stage at a time.
We move an inch a day…look back after a bit…feels good.
I feel you on this one, coming up on 6 months! Somedays wondering what in the hell am I doing! Jus angry…but for most part I be cool, I’m looking forward to better days, no looking back
Well I hit a year about a week ago and definitely feel a lot different now than I did six months ago. I feel a lot better and can feel my confidence building slowly but surely.
Life is a wild trip.
That’s flipping awesome! Congrats on a huge milestone. Also, so glad you bumped your thread to add this. It makes those of us struggling thru the early days have hope that things get better.
There are some new folks here who could use some encouragement. Unfortunately I’m not too great at that myself.