It’s my day four and yesterday was a struggle. I have PTSD since I was 21, now 45.
This time I really want to do it for life. My friend has helped me massively, because I saw him drowning in addiction. I was drinking a bottle of wine on a day off and then struggled to be productive at work. I’m a nurse. A lot of us give advice about healthy lifestyle, yet we unload our work stress at home with our best friend. Yes, the % was my best friend and I didn’t need anyone then.
My mother drinks, she always did, but was highly functioning. She has done a lot of damage to me and I don’t want to be like her.
I love the nature and hiking, that is where I find my place. Money for very bottle of wine that I haven’t bought lands in my saving account for the future trip to Scottish Highlands.
I have tried many times before but this time feels different. I realise I have a problem and just like with cigarettes I have to be radical, there is no “one drink sometimes” - NO. I believe in myself.
Hope to find this community very supporting.
Big hugs to all of you.
Welcome Nelia
Lindon, my favorite town.
Glad you found us. This is a great sober community where I finally found sobriety. The support here is unbelievably supportive.
Have a good read around. Find a few threads you like and join in when you’re comfortable.
I know I can never have just one. I never ever had just one before sobriety. Just one is not part of my mindset.
Hope to see you around.
Hi Nelia, welcome to this great community. With the help of this place I could make sobriety finally stick. Have a good read around and join in on any thread you like, when you are ready. Community and daily gratitude were essential in keeping me commited.
Glad you found us 
Welcome welcome 
You can do this. Stick around and stay accountable. Use the community and resources. Sober, one day after the next, get it.
From a fellow Londoner 
Welcome from another fellow Londoner!
This community has been massively helpful in my journey from the pit of addiction to somewhere better on the road from there. Healing is definitely possible and we’re all proof of that
Hi from Scotland the highlands is god country you will enjoy it
Welcome Nelia! Sounds like ur making some big changes and are ready to give sobriety ur all! I am in the helping field also (not a nurse but a community support worker) and I was also helping others but with their addiction issues while struggle with my own. I knew what needed to be done but struggled to do it myself. Now at 3.5 years clean and sober, i dont feel guilty or bad about providing recovery advice 
This forum has been life saving for me. The people here are incredibly wise and supportive. Hope u find comfort here and post often
there’s step one 
are you going to look for aa meetings in your area to go to?
this place is great, i really look forward to being a part of this community every day, it feel’s good and i don’t feel alone or out of place. we are happy you are here, we welcome you, and we hope to hear from you often 
Thank you all. I am always "everything or nothing ". I noticed that before I was “maybe or I will try”. I am already determined and I know I will not struggle socially as I don’t really go out to meet any friends, I have some friends from hiking groups who don’t drink.
I am observing closely my body and didn’t get any obvious withdrawal symptoms other than feeling slightly irritated the first two days.
I wasn’t even getting any joy from it anyway
Just tiredness, headache and guilt… with brain fog and sleeping problems.
I have to become more social.
I am grateful for all your messages.
I will post some updates.
If ur interested in getting to be more social with other like minded people in sobriety, 12 step meetings are always great! There are in person and online meetings. I currently attend online meetings thru the Intherooms app Another great way to gain support!
Morning from the left coast.
California.
I get it.
I’m addicted to “more.”
In many other areas too. Getting sober has helped a lot with that problem.
Hi there. Thanks a lot. 12 steps meetings, is it related to AA ?
Yes they were written by the founder Bill Wilson and Dr Bob Smith there are other types of AA meetings Share and care and big book study , so yes they are related to AA
Hey again, just wanted to check in, I am nearly one week free.
Today I gifted myself a set of acrylic paint and pastels and some fancy pads for painting. Saved up that money I would normally use to drink something.
I have to admit that I go to sleep early, isolated myself completely from social interaction, including my tiktok “friends”. I have got a regular circle of friends there where we used to meet almost every evening and talk on live. Now I don’t feel the need, which is strange. I enjoy lonely walks and spending time with my cats, started watching movies again. Life has slowed down! I like it.
My daughter has a new first proper job and is very happy. We didn’t snap at each other because I sleep well and I don’t feel tired. I realise the difference.
Just like with cigarettes, it is the end of the road for me with alcohol.
I am just worried that I will end up as a complete hermit. Hopefully I will pick up the social need again…
Thank you all for all your kind words.
Hey Neila I’m nearly 6 weeks sober and finding some days harder than others, but I attend AA regularly and read the big book, I’m in Belfast, good luck with your journey x
So good to read. I truly felt a switch in me this last time I’ve quit, much like yourself. For me so far its stuck and I haven’t looked back. Keep pushing foward, one day at a time
Thank you Jo, would love to see Belfast one day with so much history and some of my family roots being allegedly Irish.
Good luck to you too, we can do it.
Yes! That switch. I said to myself " enough is enough ". I don’t even enjoy it anymore. Luckily I was not considered yet a heavy drinker, but those regular occurencies, especially in social situations, my mum drunk on the phone - scared me. I said to myself that life has more to it than just faking reality.
I’ve gone the spiritual way and started reading about soul consciousness and changing habits. If I am to make a difference on this earth, then I should start first with myself.
I don’t go to AA or attend online - it has not called me yet, but I am not saying no. Maybe one day when I struggle ? I quit cigarettes after volunteering in Ukraine in 2022, just like that, cold turkey. Never smoked again.
I believe it’s going to be the same this time. I also quit sugar completely and started looking back into the power of herbs. I have a degree in herbal medicine which I have never pursued as a career in my life.
I am glad there is so many of us. Thank you.
I haven’t used AA or any other support, just this group here. A couple of times early on the accountability of checking in on the daily check-in thread definitely stopped me from drinking.
Since those really early days its gotten easier. Early on the cravings would come, but they pass, and then you just go about your day. Every craving passed makes you stronger for the next one.
You’re right about changing habits, so much of it is down to identifying and changing those habits that lead to drinking.
Im a year and half sober now and its the best thing I’ve done for myself. You’re doing great
You are right. I already identified thw triggers. Years of looking for acceptance from others ( which was the unresolved issue from my childhood) which have become years of social drinking because I wouldn’t be the same person when sober. Now I don’t need the acceptance, I am just enough as I am. Never had anything positive from the people I was hanging out with anyway.
You have done a fantastic job, a year and a half, one day at a time.