Welcome to the site @Agckohl ! Iām glad you found the site to get helpful support!
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Iām Christy and Iām 26 days sober. Itās my first day on here and Iām feeling ready to have some sort of community around me. I actually havenāt told anyone about my sobriety yet, and Iām navigating how to be this person who arguably has her life publicly very together and this person who absolutely knew it was time to put down the red/white/rose/bubbly wine glass. Iām feeling like Iām surfingā¦ one minute, Iām effing crushing it, running further than I have in forever, sleeping like a queen, crushing work projects with new ideas and a clear mind and the next Iāmā¦ so angry that I canāt have a glass of red wine like a normal person. So mad that I canāt sit on my porch with a goblet of rose and listen to Morgan Wallen on a summer night and have that just be a simple thing. Or I start getting anxiety about my trip in a month with some of my girl friends who are all party girls and telling them Iām not drinkingā¦ or maybe I just wonāt even say a word and just not? I luckily donāt need booze to dance or talk to people, so Iām not worried about that part. Anyway, Iām rambling. Iām so glad to be here and I look forward to hopefully lending a lifting hand to you all when you need it. When Iām not doing this stuff, Iām an avid athlete- tennis, yoga, pickleball, most sports really, standup paddle board and suchā¦ a budding cook, a gardener, world traveler and outdoors woman. I shamelessly love pop music but Iāll listen to most things from country to rock as well. Iāve never turned down a trip to an arcade and I love all things water- sweat, ocean, hydration and tears. Water heals everything. 
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Welcome to the community, glad youāre here too. As far as being angry, I was pissed for a long time about not just being able to relax and drink like a normal person, and I tried every way under the sun to moderate, and failed every time. Life is so much better, calmer, and more at peace then Iāve been since forever. Donāt worry about next months trip, or next yearās party, just take it day by day and make your only priority to hit the pillow sober tonight. Congrats on your sober time. 
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Good for you for doing the work, your kids will be so grateful one day.
All newbies here, welcome! Was living that bartender life for 15+ years. 55 days ago I was in a place that put me on my knees and made me make a choice in how I was living and the way I was dealing with my past in all the wrong ways. I was not being a good person to myself. This community has helped me tremendously. Itās a safe place to hang out and express how youāre feeling. God Bless and welcome to the real party. Just wanted to share that as I enjoy my morning 
and 
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How are you doing today?
Hey I am Angela. I have been sober since March 7,2024. I am trying to find online A.A meetings to attend. I wouldnāt be alive today if it wasnāt for my Higher Power saving me. I hope to keep living for Him, serving Him and being a light in this world for Him. Spreading His word and what He has done for and in my life.
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Welcome Angela. Congrats on your sobriety. Keep checking here and read around. It is a super place to be.
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Welcome to the community Angela. Lovely to meet you and congrats on your sober time 
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Glad you are here with usā¦this is a wonderful supportive community 
Welcome.
I totally understand the feeling youāre trying to describe. Iām upset about the same thing sometimes. I donāt really used to drink until Iām drunk, but If I start I want that tiny buzz everyday. And it bugs me that I canāt be āclassyā with a glass of red listening to music in the evening or celebrate life with champange that I used to.
But life is so much better staying sober.
I hope you like it here, look around and get involved where you feel like. 
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Welcome to the community. Download the In the rooms app on the Play store itās free. And just pick any online meetings you want.
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Hello, i havenāt tried any official groups, like AA or rehab. When Iām in a different environment: missions trip (Iām a Christian), camp job (I operate large haul trucks in oilfield mines) etc. where alcohol is prohibited Iām fine. Literally, no problem. I actually got a camp job 2 years ago specifically for that reason. Unfortunately, 1 of the mine workers who rents a room from me cheats on his wife & even brings his side piece to my house when Iām not here. * Iāve met his lovely wife of 35+ years
- she has come to visit on 3 occasions & stayed at my house for more than 2 months.
I quit the camp job only to control his infidelity
** i wonāt evict him - weāre like family now, she wouldnāt leave if i exposed all of this
ANYWAYā¦ Iām at home.
I was going to have my last hoorah glass of wine when i got out of bed. That was 3 hours ago. The empty bottle is in the recycle bin & Iāve opened the vodka cupboard.
If anyone is available to talk me off the ledge, please do. [Telephone number removed by moderator].
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Hey there, Hope you are okay. Perhaps instead of drinking the vodka you can pour it out? Take a walk maybe? Or go to bed early or hit an online or in person meeting? Sounds like you need some support and hopefully you will find some here.
I see you are new here so wanted to share that I have removed your telephone number (I am one of the site moderators). This is an open forum and we discourage posting numbers and such. Members can PM you to chat for sure. Also, posting while using/drinking is discouraged, tho allowed in our opt in category Seeking Help, off the main forum where members may be triggered. 
I hope you are doing okay. Can you dump out any drink you have left? Or take a walk or nap or sleep? Hit a zoom meeting? Or a live one? Maybe post more here or read to connect with others. I am sorry you are in a messy situation right now. I always found tho that drinking made it far messier and me much more down.
Wishing you some clarity and peace. 
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Thank you. I did go to sleep.
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Hello. I guess itās about a time that Iāll post here for the first time and introduce myself. My name is Juuso and Iām originally from Northern Europe, now living in Tokyo, Japan. I drank alcohol for the first time when I was 13 years old. As teenagers we drank now and then, usually a few times per year since we didnāt have so much money and it was difficult to get alcohol. But I think starting drinking that early in my life also plays a big part in why this is so damn difficult right now for me to stop.
Iām in my late 30s now, have worked in IT for over 10 years, got a wife and a child (second one coming next year). I donāt drink daily and I rarely drink until blackout, but my tolerance is high and I end up getting quite drunk when I do drink. Also often times when I drink, I also want to drink the next day and day after, especially if itās the weekend. After 3 days, I feel so terrible (anxiety and high heart rate) that I donāt want to drink, and usually stay off 2-3 days until the same loop starts again. Most of the time I drink, I drink alone but at times I also join social occasions.
My DOC is craft beer. That stuff was introduced to my life around 10 years ago. It was just fun to explore different types of beers and visit various tap rooms, meeting new people the same time or going with colleagues for āa fewā beers. That habit stuck with me until the recent COVID years I started to realize that something is wrong with my alcohol usage and I began to wonder why itās so difficult to moderate or stop.
Iāve read a few books on the topic: Naked Mind, Dopamine Nation and Am I addicted?.The two last ones I read this year and found them to be especially helpful and giving me essential information and tools. Last year I was able to stay off alcohol for 62 days. I decided back then to try moderation, but pretty soon just returned back to my old destructive drinking behavior. From there itās been anything between 1-23 day breaks Iāve been able to take until today, but I keep failing and going back for just this one more time.
One thing I really lack here in Japan is community. Everyone around me drinks and many of my friends are heavy drinkers. Iām not even bothered about the drinking when out with friends, but I feel tired that I canāt talk about my issues with anyone. My wife is supportive, but sheās also done trying to be a therapist after looking my behavior for the past 6 years. Our relation is good, but of course sheās hoping I could recover finally.
So here I am finally. I just want to talk my mind out sometimes with people who struggle with this same issue as I do. Yesterday was my last time drinking alcohol. I donāt want to drink anymore. I need to manage through the few weeks of pain again and then a very long period of dullness, because Iāve screwed up my pleasure-pain balance so badly. Last year even after the 2 months, I was still feeling very dull, so I know I just need to wait longer and it will get better. Iām returning back to exercise again from tomorrow and will keep at it.
Thank you if you read this far. Iāll try to post here now and then (maybe some pictures too!).
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Welcome to the community Juuso. Glad youāre here
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Welcome to the team, @flux, glad to have you 
Please let us know if/how we can help and do send pics of Japan, please!
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Hi, my name is Louise I am 49 years old - 50 soon! I have been struggling with my alcohol abuse for the last 8 years.
Today i am 24 hours sober. I need all the help I can get otherwise i donāt feel I will be here on this earth to see my next birthday. I hate how alcohol has taken over and destroyed the last 8 years of my life.
Feeling weak and broken!
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Welcome to the community Louise! 24 hours is a wonderful start! This is a great community with loads of support, advice and love to offer. Take some time to rea around and engage when you are ready. You are not ALONE! 
A few of my favorite threads here areDaily Gratitude, The Air Of Recovery #7
and
Checking in daily to maintain focus #70
The early stages are rough and can be hard on your mind / body. Stay hydrated. Rest when you are able to as your body is detoxing and that takes a ton of energy. Stay connected as we do need community and support in this journey.
Do you have support in real life? Are you able to attend any meetings / groups or check them out online?
ODAAT! hope to see you around
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Welcome. Stay strong and soon the days will pass by. For today you can stay sober.
Read around and reach out anytime. The folks here all have been where you are.
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