Just wondering, what made you get sober. How did you stay sober? All I want to do is keep it up and not pick up a drink. Today I kept busy being productive. I feel satisfied. But who knows how tomorrow will be. I need to learn how to fight the urge before it happens.
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I went to AA. Got a sponsor. Worked the steps. Went to therapy.
I haven’t had a craving in years as a result of working that plan
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I found getting sober is easy, staying sober is not.
I quit so many times after a bad hang over that I realized that, when a bad hang over is your motivation to quit, you will only be motivated when you’re hung over.
After a long look at my self, I also realized that I couldn’t quit, because I wouldn’t quit. I made excuses to drink and excuses to not quit. I got tired of fooling myself so I made a plan to quit.
Part of my plan was changing my relationship with alcohol.
Changing my relationship was key, I eventually no longer desired the drink. Since then, I’ve dealt so many lemons that live handed me and still, no desire to drink.
I also came here everyday and learned from others how to be sober. Not only did I listen to their advice, I followed their advice, and so I always will recommend stepping into sobriety with an open mind and willing heart. Do that and you will find success.
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What made me get sober was a DUI accident. I was extremely grateful I didn’t kill anyone or myself. Enough was enough and it was time to make changes in my life. I went to IOP on my own volition followed by AA. Working the AA program in all my affairs makes me a better version of myself. I can honestly say the obsession to drink and drug has been lifted. I’ve had to face some extreme life challenges since getting sober 4 years ago and not once did I consider picking up.
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I began to realize I was worth loving myself. That I was not the person my internal struggles made me believe I was to the outside world.
It took being separated to come to this realization.
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I had my gun in my mouth and heard a voice say, “try sober”.
I was never going to do AA, as there were so many things I didnt like about it. After 90 days of doing it on my own (and being here), i knew I was going to relapse.
Instead of relapsing I went to AA. After 4 years of that, I moved on to Recovery Dharma.
I
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I think that everyone here has a story which someone will share, others will not why the decision has been done. I think that is not important why, I think that is more important the decision to be sober. I went only in one meeting AA - it’s not my thing, but here I am tomorrow will be day #44 Before the meeting I was in rehab for a week. Now when i want to drink i pour a cup of tea and telling myself that im stronger than the alcohol. So @Lexx stay positive and dont forget that the alcohol is only a bottle and you are stronger than it.
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I had a pretty severe concussion a little over a year ago and it took 4 months for my brain to heal. I was not myself, I felt hungover, confused, irritable, and scared during that time.
I imagine early sobriety could be like a concussion rehab. Rest, limit screen time, light exercise, plenty of hydration, Magnesium, acceptance.
I also try to increase mindfulness practice. Staying in the moment. A good place for that is in the shower–listening to the sounds, feeling the heat, smelling the soaps. No past or future, just now.
-Solar
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For years, all I wanted was to be able to stop drinking. I could never go longer than a month, and as it progressed I couldn’t even get 24 hours. The last few years I’d wake up hungover until I got my next drink and was just stuck in that cycle forever (it felt). My body began shutting down. I couldn’t drink as much, yet I still felt the need to, even tho I knew it would just prolong the agony. I think for me, I drank so much for so long, that I realized if I kept it up I was going to die too soon. I finally got thru a whole day and that was it. Like a switch flipped in my brain. I hate everything that comes with it sooo much that I don’t get cravings at all. Never really did. I know EXACTLY where I’ll end up if I drink. Never again.
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I’ve been an alcoholic since my first drink and spend years trying to get sober
At my worst I was drinking 25 litres of cider a day and hadn’t been sober in years
I was standing in my bathroom with a can of cider in each hand when out of nowhere a voice from somewhere in the deepest part of my mind said “give me one good reason to keep drinking” and for the first time since I was 14 years old my mind was completely blank i had no excuses left and no more lies to tell myself and just like that i was completely sober
In an instant i was completely sober and the first thing I did was take a swig of my can but this time it was absolutely disgusting it tasted utterly vile it made me feel sick to my stomach
I then went around the house and poured away every single last drop and i haven’t looked back since
That was nearly 5 and a half years ago and there hasn’t been a second that I’ve even wanted a drink
I just don’t want it anymore I’m done with it
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I hit rock bottom. Something you don’t want to ever get to…but sometimes that’s what it takes.
For me I gambled with my life for more than 30 years drinking. I knew one day I would pay the price. And I did. I almost left this world pre-maturely….2 different times.
Did I really want to leave 3 kids, 2 grandkids and a future? If I ever were to go back…that’s what would happen……
Stay strong. Be honest with yourself. Love yourself. You live once…make the most of it…
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I got sober because I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. The pain of change finally looked less than the pain staying the same. These sayings are cliches for a reason. They are so effing true.
And I did the second to last thing I wanted to do and joined AA. (The absolute last thing I wanted to do was rehab. But I hope if AA hadn’t clicked then I would have swallowed my pride and gone anyway.)
And for about a year I just did what AA said. At three and a bit years sober I pick and choose my own program these days. But I always head back to basics with AA when I feel squirrelly.
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Good question, but a complicated one for me. After years of a constant stream of crazy black-outs, hospital visits, damage beyond repair to relationships, self-harm, getting SAd at parties and finding out about it weeks later (true story, fun times… not) regrets, tears, promises to never do it again only to forget said promise weeks later and do it again… I was done.
It sounds simple, but it wasn’t. There’s nothing simple about living years of your life in a painful blurr of nothingness with no light in sight.
But a year ago… I decided to be done. Like really decided to be done in the depths of my soul. Drinking and drugs stopped being an option altogether because I think I shaked off my death wish.
So yeah… first couple of months I felt like shit but drinking was simply not an option. Instead, I came here everyday, I read books on recovery and started practicing mindful meditation.
It used to be anything to feel anything, or anything to numb everything, now… it’s never again, no matter what.
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My desire to live was greater than my desire to die… somehow.
I dove, and I mean dove headfirst into recovery media. Probably a thousand hours of sobriety podcasts, audible books and days and days of reading here.
Your recovery will have a direct correlation with how much work you put into it. Work those sober muscles and see how strong they get!
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Alcohol and drugs are the only thing that ever told me it loved me but lied. The whole time id be looking out crying inside seeing all these precious things that really loved me and part of me just didn’t care because getting high was more important. I can’t let those precious things ever come last anymore. So for that I will stay sober
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For me, pornography has been my drug of choice. It’s been a long battle. Therapy and a 12 step group is helping. I’m finding being heard, being 100% honest and learning my triggers are huge.
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Everyones path towards sobriaty is a bit different then other ones. What fits me maybe not work for you.
I had a long stretch of sober days and then relapsed because I thought I was cured some how.
What made me quit again? A few things: my daughter saying to me she liked me more when I was sober.
Second: my cat trow my wineglass on the floor into pieces. I saw it as a sign from above 
And I noticed my drinking going bad rapidly and I didn’t want to be the way I was years ago.
So I quit.
How?
I stripped my house from all the alcohol and got rid of the empty bottles so I could have a fresh start.
Told people nearby I quit so the could support me and didn’t offer me drinks.
Filled my fridge with healthy foods and aclohol free drinks.
Kept myself busy all day/night
Came here every day to check in sober
Asked for help when I needed it.
Try to take good care for myself by resting and sleeping when I need it ore taking hot baths for relaxation.
Avoid alcohol related people, events, places for 3 months ore so.
Focus on today only and get trough it sober
Etc.
You will find many more of those here on this forum! Try them and keep those who work for you and trow the rest. It will leave you with a personal recovery plan! 
Why am I still sober today?
Because I still put work into my recovery.
I’m here every day and added a coach to help me keep growing and become stronger.
Getting more out of my comfort zone is my 2024 goal 
I wish you a sober life, put in the work and you get there!
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I was sick of being sick and when i went to my first AA meeting i knew i was home did what i was told get a sponsor and phone numbers (at that time no mobiles so just had house numbers} got on the program did service work 12 step work and changed my mind set became abetter person and it worked ,well up to today 37 years later still sober
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