I made it to 30 days today! I have gone longer in the past but something seems different this time. The last time I went clean, I was pounding NA beers at every turn- at home, when I went out, etc. This time around, while I keep some in the house just to have on hand, I’m finding that I want them less and less and opt for what my wife calls “shower ales” (ginger ale, I was a HUGE shower beer lover) and teas, especially a hot tea before bed. I feel like when I decided to stop drinking this time around, my mind and body was telling me that I’d had enough. I had just turned 29 and was tired of having to apologize in the mornings for doing and saying things that I hardly ever remembered. I was tired of being hungover and feeling sorry for myself. I was tired of thinking about alcohol constantly- would I have some? How many? What was I going to get? Is the ABV high enough to really sock it to me? How many can I have before my wife gets angry?
I was tired. So very tired.
But I sit here today, with 30 solid days under my belt, feeling hopeful. Feeling a lot more like myself. Feeling good “cravings” coming back, like learning new instruments (harmonica is up next!) and feeling like I have some actual purpose in this world has kept me sober. As well as this awesome forum
So thank you guys for your always awesome support and advice! I look forward to 30 more
Thanks all! I’m feeling strong and @Elisabeth I buy fancy ginger ale in glass bottles and have that instead of a beer when the “I want a shower beer” feeling hits lol
I was a fan of shower beers, garage beers, basement beers and beer just about anywhere lol. Congrats on 30 days that’s huge! Day 12 over here, just taking it a day at a time. My birthday is Friday so kinda figuring out how to deal with that for the first time.
So inspiring! Congrats on 30 days!! I related to quite a bit of your share. The shower beers, is the ABV enough, how many till the spouse gets mad?? Uuggg.
You’re amazing, keep it up!!
Congrats on your 30! And yup, I know exactly how you feel with the “difference” this time around. I’d been going hard for about 15 years since I had my first heartfelt effort to quit close to 2 years ago. Although I never used N/A beverages as a crutch, last time I only made it 27 days and every day was a struggle. Finally said enough is enough 39 days ago and haven’t had but maybe 1 or 2 minor cravings during my current recovery. I’m truly done this go around and that feels like nothing I’ve ever felt before!
Congrats on the 30+ days. I’m at 3 days. Looking for a good aa meeting in the Milwaukee area and getting a referral to an addiction specialist to talk about the root causes of my drinking. I know it’s social anxiety. I went from shy kid to life of the party on booze. Can’t continue that way. I’m 41 as well. Wondering if there’s anything you’ve done differently this go around that’s worked better than the failed sobriety attempts of the past?
I don’t think there is any one “thing” that is different now. The only thing that felt different to me was when I made the decision to quit once and for all. Usually in the past my decision to quit was the result of a bad night and it almost felt like it was what I was supposed to do. This time around, I had a lot to drink one night out at a show, my wife and I did get into a small argument but nothing major, but when I woke up hungover and late for work and was rushing out the door, I just had this overwhelming sense of “I’m so effing sick of this”. I was tired of having to work hungover (my job requires lots of intense focus and concentration), I was tired of trying to piece things together, I was tired of blowing money, I was just over it all. So I felt as though my conviction as stronger this time!
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