Welcome to the sober party. I found the first week to be the toughest but just keep going. One day, one hour, one minute at a time. Read around and share when you are ready. Youve found an invaluable resource in this community! @Etre
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Day 1519.
Anyone have experience or wisdom to share about agoraphobia? Apart from going to the doctor or pharmacy down the block a handful of times, I havenāt really gone out of the house in several months, and Iām not sure how to go about managing my re-exposure. If I overdo it and bail out, I am just reinforcing in my brain that running away = relief = good. If I donāt do enough, on the other hand, it reinforces avoidance behaviour and complacency.
I used to drink so that I didnāt care. I had success overcoming my phobia after getting sober and living a more normal life, but I stopped working on it after a mental health crisis left me feeling so drained, and fearful and resentful of the world. I started caring more about immediate comfort and less about my overall health, and Iām paying the price now.
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Hello, old friend! Itās great seeing you back here again.
Canāt say as Iāve not had full blown agoraphobia. Have edged along some social anxiety from time to time though. I know gradual exposure was indeed the main thing that helped with time.
Perhaps something small, like just taking a walk outdoors on your own at first? Maybe work towards something like a public park where you can see other people getting on?
Happy new year, buddy!
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I was/am a loner, I realized I didnāt go out other than work. When we got hit by the hurricane a few months ago I had to rely on friends, and have been staying with a friend and his roommate since then. I was basically forced to step out of my comfort zone. Also my job got wiped out so im back on that trail, being approachable and liked, lol
I should be back home any day now and I hope I donāt go back to my recluse life.
I go to bed early so thatās my excuse, lol. But I do need to interact with people more.
Iām so glad to see you, btw!
Not much help I suppose but baby steps and itāll happen. 
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Welcome! Great that youāre pursuing sobriety! Excellent decision in the early hours of 2023.
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Welcome to the community!
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Hey there, good to see you! Well, interacting here is a good start. It would be cool to see you in a TS zoom sometime 
There are still some longtimers like @Mephistopheles and @SoberGuyUSA and idk who else was there in the very beginning LOL. We arenāt too many, usually 2-5 ppl. No pressure tho.
Wishing you well
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Second check in
Thank you everyone so much. My heart if filled with so much love and joy. I canāt hold back the tears. The biggest motivator to stay sober and present.
But my biggest fear about my grandchild is already happening 11 hours in. My daughter started dating their son when she was 17 and still in high school. I was not comfortable letting him move in, and justifiably so imo, so she ended up moving in with them. After they arrived this morning, I politely left to give them all some time. Plus, not much sitting room in a hospital room. I let everyone know before I left that I would be back at 5pm, to give them some alone time and let the new parents rest. Well, I got here at 5:10 pm and they walked in at 5:30pm. So with no where for me to sit once I handed off the baby, I told them I would go outside for a few and give them some time. How hard is it to realize that I would like some alone time with her as well. Like I feel like, that they purposely got here at the same time, knowing that I would be just getting here. Iām trying not to assume things, and feel a little butt hurt about it, but in honesty I am. They will be living with her and seeing her everyday all day. I wonāt even get to see her again until Friday because I have to work. Am I overreacting? Sorry for the rant, but Iām trying to acknowledge my feelings, feel them, and work through them, so that I donāt slip up again. @Twizzlers thank you so much again for the info on the meetings. Because Iām even feeling just a little bit out of sorts, Iām signing in as soon as I get home. As for now I have been sitting in my car outside the hospital for 40 mins, trying to decide the most appropriate time to go back in.
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day 105 AF
Got through NYE been having a good time relaxing,
Still sober, its jan 2nd here my wife and I are out of the house today. Got a few things to do before i go back to work on the 4th.
Hope everyone is well
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Checking in substance free for 3.01 years!!! I made it through my 3rd, xmas, birthday and New Years clean.
Saw this post and thought I would shareā¦
āGood morning and welcome to Flight 2023 ā¦as we are prepared to take off into the New Year, please make sure your Positive Attitude and Gratitude are secured and locked in the upright position.
All self-destruct devicesā¦pity, anger, selfishness, pride, and resentment should be turned off at this time. All negativity, hurt, and discouragement should be put away.
Should you lose your Positive Attitude under pressure during this flight, reach up and pull down a self affirmation. Self affirmations will automatically be activated by faith. Once your faith is activated, you can assist other passengers who are of little faith.
Also there will be NO BAGGAGE allowed on this flight!!!
Our Captain, has cleared us for take-offā¦ Destination: GREATNESS!!!
Wishing you all a New Year filled with HEALTH, HOPE, JOY, and STRENGTH.ā
Have a beautiful 2023 everyone. We can not do this aloneā¦ ever. 
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Congratulations on your 3 .01 years 
and happy new year ,
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Congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter 
Glad to know the meetings help
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Second check in today, and I wanted to say:
A friend pointed out that i cant get help if i donāt ask for it. And that is so true!! I am sorry for being so closed off recently. I should have reached out more than I did. And if you are struggling, please donāt hesitate to reach out. Me doing so cost me 7 months on my timerā¦
You are worth all the love and respect this world has to offer. And sometimes that means helping each other straighten their crowns.
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Proud of you @Scorpn for being so open. you had a slip. You dont have to fall. You dont lose your progress if you learn from it. One day at a time
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Checking in at 184 days
I havenāt been on here much lately. It started making me feel worse about things for a minute so I checked out. Iāve somehow managed to stay sober through the holidays, but not without struggle. I have struggled with āwhy meā, and thank God itās not me, being extremely annoyed with drunk holidays, etc. What Iāve come to realize is these people that are partying and celebrating with alcohol are not me. They donāt have the problem I do. So let them be. And focus on me. 2022 has been a bitch. And while I feel that, Iām zoning in on me and all the newness that this year brings.
I hope you all have a wonderful 2023! Iāll check in here and there, but probably not as much as usual. I know itās selfish, but I donāt want to spend this next year talking about addiction. The more I talk about it, the more I think about it. But thatās just me. My prayers are daily with all of us.
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Do whats best for you @KrispyMac if that means checking in less than so be it. I hope you have a joyous new year free from addiction
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