You are very brave sharing your story. I am 6 days in, feel terrible, but reading your story has helped me remember I do not want to drink today. I want to be a better wife and mum. I managed a month in 2022 and it’s definitely harder this time. I’m annoyed with myself for not keeping with it then…
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Hi Serena. Your story sounds so similar to me. Binge drinking, but having 6 weeks off work this summer I was drinking every day and wow stopping has been hard. The physical effects make getting on with life very difficult so I am trying to rest. I’m hoping we can all find strength and do this together.
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Hello and welcome. I’ve only been here 17 days. You’ve made the right choice. Good people 
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We can 
. I quit for 5 months last year without help, apps or fellowship. I then traveled out of the country and drank there with the mindset to start over once back in US. The things is after being sober for a while, we tend to believe we’re “normal”, “we’re cured”. So I continued drinking, less than before, more controlled, but soon found myself back in the same place or worse… We are not “normal”, we are powerless to alcohol. Sooo this time around I’m here because that experienced made me realize that I need a reminder of this. A reminder not to have that first drink because it will never be enough, I will want more. So here I am 
. I’ve also started to attend zoom meetings and I’ve loved it so far. We can do this! This isn’t the end of the world as long as we stop now 🩷
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Yep, me too. And hey, none of those things might improve by cutting out the alcohol, but maybe it’s a good idea to at least try it – it won’t make things worse to at least try, right? That’s my theory, anyway.
Welcome. Day 28 (again) myself, for all the reasons you described. It’s lonely, but you’re not alone.
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Welcome Noel-Marie and @Gin-gin-girl to Talking Sober! This is a good safe place to be when you are trying to not drink. There are folks who have had successful sobriety using mostly this forum without too many other resources, but most of us got more help in one way or another. I came to Talking Sober well along into sobriety, but since finding TS, and especially since the pandemic, it is my daily dose of sobriety medicine and I am grateful to have found this place.
Here are some threads for getting started.
Blessings on your house 
as you begin your journey out of darkness.
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Hi, I thank you all for taking the time to reply. Sadly, today wasn’t my day. I couldn’t do it, I had to visit the supermarket for something and I had such anxiety that I bought myself 2 bottles of wine. They’ve been drunk, steadily, to make me feel normal and keep me functioning, and now I reset and try again tomorrow. I have actually quit before, I know it is so worth it, sober sleep and sober life is so good, I really really want it back, I just need to get those first 48/72 hours under my belt and then hopefully I will get a bit of belief in myself again that I can actually do this. I hope the other poster (Noel something - sorry I can’t remember right now) has had more success than me. And all of you that are trying to encourage me and have a reasonable stint of sobriety under your belt, please use me as a case study and don’t ever bloody touch another drop. When I had 3 months under my belt, I looked and felt great, and I really thought I’d cracked it, and look at me now, back to square one and can’t manage 1 day sober. Just hoping that tomorrow being Sunday with no work, that it really doesn’t matter if I don’t function, if I lay around doing bugger all apart from reading sober stories and listening to sober podcasts then it doesn’t matter tomorrow like it did today. Keep going everyone💪🏻
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Longest I’ve ever gone in 26 years is 33 days. I’m determined to try something different. I’m so curious to what life is like without alcohol. I’m hoping that I have more energy and joy. But today I’m just tired. So so so tired.
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Are you trying again tomorrow?
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Yes I’m trying again tomorrow. Well actually trying again now, 2 hours since last drink. Only 2 bottles today instead of 3. If I don’t have any tonight then by the time I get up tomorrow I will have 14/15 hours under my belt, just hoping something will click tomorrow and I’ll resist for the day
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Welcome to this forum. People are very supportive in this group. Congratulations on your one day sober. You are heading in the right direction. Do what you did to get one day sober and then you will have two days and so on. 
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Stay home. Stay safe and tomorrow will be another day, another chance to try this thing again 🩷
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Tomorrow is another day. I think Serena’s advice was great. Stay home, relax, sleep.
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Thank you to everyone who responded. The messages of encouragement brought me to tears. It is overwhelming to receive words of acceptance when I am sharing the worst part of myself. Today is day 2 and I haven’t drank. I found some happiness in little things today, some music, laughing at my kid’s jokes. I visited a family member and was offered wine, I turned it down. A little sense of pride sparkled through me. I have also reflected on how alcohol has affected me even when I’m not drinking. Emotions are overwhelming, I look for things to be angry or sad about. I haven’t been a supportive partner to my husband when he’s going through a difficult year, instead I have been resenting him for it. Without alcohol on my brain, the images of my worst behaviors are in blinding clarity. I desperately want to be a better person. I don’t know how I will feel about alcohol tomorrow or the next day or the next day, but I will take today as a win because I didn’t drink. Hope is good stuff.
To those of you who posted in this thread who are in early stages like me, I feel you and I see you. Almost every morning for the last 2 decades I have said “I won’t drink today” only to end up drinking later. It is like I am a different person each half of the day. We came to this forum for a reason, I am seeing it as an action and intention to build on. I’m squeezing your hand from across the digital plane
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Congrats on day 2 and you found some happiness. Nice 
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You’re doing it! One moment at a time. All we have to do is stay sober right now.
Well said! Onward. 
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This is me, almost every day… In the morning I know that I will not drink today, but - later the same day, the drink is in my hand. For now, third day sober.
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I hear that, different person each half of the day here too! Oddly, checking in here each morning and just reading a few posts is making that first half of me stronger, and the later half a little bit easier to reassure that I’ll get to another morning and another check in. Best of luck to you, lots of folks cheering for you here 
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Congratulations on making one of the most important steps in the rest of your life!
Know that you are absolutely NOT alone…your story is so close to mine…though I started earlier (teens), and finished later (50’s)…divorced once likely due to alcohol, remarried (now 23yrs)…but my drinking almost destroyed it several times, drinking during workdays (yep working remote…) -
re this: scary because I am going to have to face all the damage I’ve caused.
I have to tell you - First, just focus on today and YOU. Tomorrow, the same. Keep doing that - don’t drink. Each day you will be amazed how different you will feel - clarity, worry going away…
And ‘facing all the damage you’ve caused’? One thing that will be completely enlightening to you - your husband will be overjoyed!! The past is the past, you can’t change that - what you can change is the future and yourself.
I’m 2 yrs sober and its the best thing I’ve ever done for myself and for my marriage.
One day at a time as they say - seriously though, just focus on the day and getting through it. The first week is tough but it gets easier. I promise you your husband will love you for this.
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You’re two days ahead of me! Keep going!!
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