Welcome @Saki 
We’re an awesome community of people from all walks of life getting and staying sober. Thanks for introducing yourself. You’ll find a lot of supportive people and interesting topics.
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Thank you! I look forward to all the kind and supportive words.
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My name is Rich. I’m 37 years old from Massachusetts, living in the New Orleans area. Grew up spending a lot of time in church basements while my dad attended his AA meetings. I don’t remember ever seeing him drunk because he quit when I was a baby. He has been sober over 30 years now. I finally admitted to him, and a few others about my addiction. Like many addicts, I also suffer from anxiety, and depression, so the idea of attending/speaking at a meeting myself is one of the scariest things I could imagine. I’m only on my 2nd day sober this time around, but I’m more determined than ever, and this is my first time trying any kind of support system.
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I’m JD I’m a love addict and codependent. I grew up in Ohio and now live in NYC. I didn’t have a nurturing home so I look for it in other people. I have ruined my life through staying in bad relationships and cheating and not looking out for myself and what I want. Thanks.
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Hi my names Ray. New here I’m a long time sober very fortunate to be sober longer than I was drinking. Looking forward to the new year here in Scotland we call it Hogmany hope everyone has a great and sober new year.
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Im Brett. I live in Gainesville Florida. I’ve been shooting up heroin and cocaine for 5 years now, but have been abusing substances for ten years. I’m hoping this time around I’ll finally get clean.
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Welcome @Brett_Allen. We’re a pretty cool community coming from all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds with a common purpose…to get and stay sober. Thanks for sharing.
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Heh Bret doing ok try and get to a meeting it makes it easier. Get phone numbers lift the phone when you need help. Best wishes buddy.
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Hey there. I’m ragan, a 26 year old college graduate with 3 degrees. I’m a musician and a writer in my free time. I work 3 jobs: a counselor at a youth rehab facility, a martial arts instructor, and an athletic director at a youth outreach facility. I’m the child of drug addicts and saw first hand what drugs and alcohol could do to a family and always thought that I’d be able to avoid the vices because of that. But like I said, I’m the child of drug addicts and as soon as my friends started passing everything around in middle school, I jumped on board. While suffering through depression and self-infliction as well as 2 suicide attempts, I had a brief stint in high school where I was using cocaine regularly, but my true vices didn’t start until college. I had one more failed suicide attempt which pushed me deeper into alcoholism. During a particularly toxic relationship, I started drinking more and using ecstacy on the regular. After we broke up, I spiraled into my addiction full force until I met my wife. She helped pull me from addiction, but I still struggle daily with alcoholism and the thoughts of how things were. I may not be good yet, but I’m getting there and always game to talk if you need it 
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Hi there,
Probably a pretty typical alcoholic. I’m in my late forties and have been drinking since I was a young teen. I’ve had my share of good times and very embarrassing times due to booze. One or two drinks is never enough for me. I regularly binge and black out. Needing a hair of the dog has become more common for me over the last few years.
I really want to quit for good and I’m hoping this app will help.
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Hi I’m Ashe, I am a struggling alcoholic. I am 9 days sober now , last drink was December 24th around 2am. I suffer from anxiety and ptsd from past childhood trauma. I am currently trying to have an actual relationship with someone without effing it up with my addiction and mental stuff. I am extremely grateful to have found this app, I started yesterday but deleted and made a new account today because got embarrassed my full name was my username. I am also extremely shy and suffer from hermit syndrome. Lame I know. Thank God for this app and I hope I make it this time.
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Welcome Ashe. Good to see you. We have a tight knit group and are always here for each other. I’ve transitioned through my first 22 days of sobriety with a huge help from my friends in this forum.
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Hi, I’m Apoc. I’ve known I have a problem with alcohol for a while but have never really been held accountable and gotten away with it. Recently I’ve had a bout of depression that has resulted in panic attacks at work and I figure it’s perfect timing to finally start working towards staying sober (I’ve never shown up to work drunk but deal with a lot of anxiety after a night of heavy drinking and add depression on to that and well; recipe for hell!). I am tired of waking up not remembering what happened the night before, of driving home when I was in NO position to, of feeling an automatic sense of guilt the next day even when I didn’t do anything “wrong” and ah… I am done with hangovers! I am ready. I am excited and I am so thankful I downloaded this app.
I’m ready to make good decisions because it’s become obvious to me that I never make good decisions when I’m under the influence. I was hard into drugs when I was in high school and moved away at the age of 18 to get myself of the hole I was digging. That was 12 years ago. I picked up drinking during the time, have probably not gone a full week without a drink in that 12 years and in the past 3 I’ve made a somewhat frequent habit of adding cocaine into the mix. I’m tired of it. I’m done. I want to lose weight, not sabotage my relationship with my fiance and finally get to see what sober life is like. I’m generally a very optimistic, happy person and while I am still that person I can only imagine it will be a millions times more sober. I thank you all for any support and am definitely here to help anyone I can.
Here’s to 2017!!
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Thank you! I appreciate it. )
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Haha…yeah I tend to ruin relationships as well!
We started 2 hours apart…let’s do this! I am in this forum a lot, it really allows me to build out the concepts I want to follow and reinforces the behaviors I want to live by
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Welcome to all the new ones this is an awesome forum a Great place to be . Keep comming back because this is working . Sharing is helping , helping others and yourself . Its a Tons of advices and so much support . Thank u again guys u help me to stay clean and sober trough your stories .
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Thank you for welcoming me! I am definitely ready to conquer my addiction this time and succeed!
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Hi there, I’m Sheldon, from the UK. Sober for just over 3 months!
I have been in out of drinking since I turned 18 (now 26). I slipped into bad depression and alcoholism at university and fast forward a year, I left university, tried to pay rent with a terrible job, drank more heavily, and had a psychosis: full on hallucination, delusion, etc. I was diagnosed as bipolar 2, spent some time in a ward, and was put on anti psychotic meds. I moved back home, laid off booze for a while and started to try to live life again.
After about a year I had stopped taking medication, slipped back into drinking and although I thought I had my life under control, realistically I was self medicating with alcohol and was in denial of the magnitude of a mood disorder and addiction. I had another psychosis and went into hospital again for another long stay. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t wish that place on my worst enemies.
Second time round I learned to be more open about my mood, feelings, and so on. I am now more aware of my mood swings and how to ride them like surfing a wave. I work in a pub (bar/restaurant) and temptation is never far away. I tried periods without drinking (without targets), or cutting down, but always found excuses to escalate back into a black hole of repetition and getting drunk 6 nights a week. I learned to live with a hangover every day, but piled on weight, had crippling anxiety, and awful organisation (money, health, eating).
It’s been around 3 years since I was last ill, and last summer I found myself sitting at home after a night clubbing and realised I’d had the most fun that night at the first place I met my friends and we weren’t drunk. The alcohol was unnecessary, expensive, and didn’t do anything for me. So I decided I’d do 2 months sober for charity (starting November).
Over the course of two months, I lost around 30lbs in weight (6 inches off my waist) with no conscious change in meal choices; my anxiety pretty much disappeared, and I felt alert, motivated, full of energy, and generally much happier. So I carried on in December and through to the new year.
I’m by no means free of habits. I’m a slave to nicotine (smoked 10yrs now ecig 4yrs), my sleeping pattern is terrible, I overeat, and play video games an unhealthy amount. But I’m still doing much better socially and at work and I have picked up a few new hobbies, and really want to keep the ball rolling. So here I am!
Next on the list: saving money, learning to drive, having my first holiday in 7 years, getting a mortgage
Also picked up dating recently since my confidence has come back!
Quitting drinking has really put meaning and enjoyment back into my life!
Thanks for reading and I look forward to contributing and seeking advice and support here!
Sheldon
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No need to be shy here, we are all in the same boat paddling in the same direction! Sending lots of strength and encouragement your way. Stay strong and stay focused!
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