I really like that. Rewiring my brain. That statement has made me feel hopeful. Thanks so much!! Distracting myself with a crossword with my dad lol 
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And isnāt that brilliant! - donāt want to sound like a drama queen but I would give anything in exchange for spending 15 minutes with my parents. So true that you donāt appreciate anything until itās gone. Cherish that distraction!
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Hi everyone! This is a really cool app the more things to help us to stay sober the better! Today I have 58 days! Iāve been in the program many times before but Iāve never been more serious about it as I am now. It is literally a life or death matter. It took me a long time to realize that. Iāve been going to meetings and working the steps with my sponsor. Iām looking forward to getting to know you guys!
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All great news Karen!! Welcomeš
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I have read and understand the rules and I will follow them to the best of my ability. Hello! My name is Curtis Ellis, and though my story is different, it does have one thing in common with many of you, my use of alcohol. I thank God for where I am today and have been clean since 5 Jan 2015. I took some time away from many things that I could use as a ātriggerā and though I found myself, I lost many āfriends and acquaintancesā. No worries about that though, and I really like where I am and my control over my life now. I will admit that, for the most part, I do spend a lot of time alone, but Iām ok with that. Iāve finally gotten my life together, paid off the cost of TWO DUIās (lost my driving privileges for a year, jail time and did the interlock device for 1 year). And? Hereās where things are beginning to change for me. I spent a little over two years cleaning myself up and was fortunate enough to keep my job after the second DUI, and now that Iām no longer under water and Iām breathing easy, I do find myself missing the lifeā¦ Not the drinking, but association of activities from drinkingā¦ Crazy, huh? Iāve found myself thinking about this a lot, thus the reason I decided to join this site to be able to express myself and get encouragement when needed. I donāt plan on drinking again, but I also know that those plans can easily turn into āfamous last wordsā. I did visit one of my old hang outs, the VFW here in town (Iām a retired USAF Master Sergeant and a member there) and was shocked a bit. Most people I had drank a lot with didnāt know how to take me now, and after they had a few (diet coke for me), I couldnāt believe thatās the way I use to act. And the smell! (since I quit drinking, I didnāt have a reason to smoke, so that went away as well, 2 years this month). Was this what I was missing? Needless to say I donāt go there much, especially after hearing āyou were more fun when you were drinkingā¦ā (from an ex-somethingā¦ the relationship was always centered on alcohol, so Iām not sure what it wasā¦) No, I didnāt let it bother me as this was after they had had a few. So, I keep myself busy with work, gym, mountain biking and various hobbies, to include my 10 rats! LOL! Anyway, thatās me, and if anyone has any questions for me, please feel free to ask.
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@LoneWolfWithin. I just retired from the Army (21 years) and only have about 5 months clean time. I also seem to be more of a loner but also like and cherish (and miss) that bond of those in arms. I have avoided the VFWs and other watering holes as my recovery is too fragile. Somehow, the āthrill or adventureā associated with alcohol cannot be recreated while sober. I do hope I can embrace other activities in life you have obtained.
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hey everyone,
my name is sabrina, iām 36 and live in a small town near bonn in germany. i started drinking when i was jobless 7 years ago. it started slowly with every 2. weekend some beers f.e. or half a bottle of wine. but then bit by bit got worse. some weeks ago i did drink one bottle of vodka all alone. months ago i did ride my bike after i had one bottle of wine. i started to drink in the middle of the week because i thought i could relax better after a long day at work. my skin got worse and worse, i was in hospital often because of my skin (abscesses). my body did scream at me to please stop that. i wasnāt the one i was in the past, i totally lost my ability to be creative, to build something or to paint. i did not enjoy music any more, i did hate myself. i wanted to drink til i die. but then, from now to then, something changed. it did click in my head.
now iām clean since 16 days, and i enjoy it so so much to become a better version of me. life has a sense again. my senses do improve again (totay i was sitting at the bus station, just enjoying the warm sun, the wind and to watch some ppl hehe). i am 100% awake again, and that feels so f**** great!
i donāt ever want to drink again! this chapter is over.
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Hello, Iām from London and new to this forum. Iāve been struggling with alcohol addiction for almost 8 years. Iāve slowly lost contact with lots of people and become very isolated. Earlier this year I managed to give up smoking but have been struggling to quit drinking.
I work hard during the day, but feel compelled to have a relaxing drink of wine each eveningā¦which turns into the whole bottle. Every night! Iām hoping to quit and live a healthier and happier life.
I just need to be strong and find the will power. Iām so inspired by reading some of the posts here too
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I am new here , have been sober for a month and am an alcoholic addict. So I hope to stay one day strong at a time.
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Hey there Iam originally from Chicago, IL but moved to Arizona at the end of may. I had to change my people, and places. I have 150 days under my belt I was a heroin/cocaine addict and drinker. I just did my story on fb if anyone is interested. I needed to tell my story so people can realize that addiction is a brain disease.
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It takes one person to believe in you and give you a second chance. Donāt give up hope!
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Hi, my name is Ana, Iām 26 and live in Zagreb, Croatia.
Iāve been drinking since I was 14, and Iām a social drinker without any self-control, leading to many embarassing situations. I know my main problem is my emotional state and drinking sort of helps me forget about my problems (which are many and are growing with time), but instead of resolving them, I start drinking. I donāt drink all the time, but when I do I make a fool of myself every time.
I am a person that tries to establish a certain place in society at the moment, but my drunk talking is going to destroy me. When drunk I have no rules, I insult everybody and pretend that Iām the most qualified person in everything I do, which is soooooo far from the truth. I am super low on self-esteem, I am still at university because of my laziness, and even though I exceed at my part time jobs, Iām affraid my drunken mouth will be my downfall.
I have friends who were the same as me in our teenage years but have since grown out of the phase, while I still am the same, or even worse and their patience is decreasing. It has even resulted in situations where Iām not even invited to go out with them anymore. And when I finally do go out it turns out a disaster.
I know I must stop, Iāve known for the past 5 years, but I just canāt help myself.
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Hi everyone. Alcoholic here. I went through something traumatic a year ago and while Iāve been able to control my drinking for the most part I spiralled out of control starting in May. I now have a bottle or two of wine almost every night just to deal with the trauma and isolation but Iām trying to finally quit AGAIN. Iām also terrified Iāll have really bad detox symptoms if I go cold turkey so if anyone has any advice please let me know!
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Maybe if you try talking about it (the traumatic event) with somebody youāll feel easier.
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Iāve been seeing a therapist for almost a year. She doesnāt know about my drinking though
But why? How evere big your secret may be, you know you can always trust a therapist. They wonāt judge you and are prepared to hear anything. That is why I urge you to come out
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I think it takes time to build genuine trust with a therapist. Also, to admit your struggle to them - saying it out loud - is to truly andmit it to yourself. I agree that itās important to tell them, but there may be some real significance in the fact that you havenāt. But that youāre being open on here is a great step in the right direction @Try2change
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Hi everyone. Alcoholic here. I guess Iāve known I was an alcoholic for at least the past 2 years but it wasnāt until recently that Iāve seen it as a problem. Before I was content that I was a functioning drinker and I never really did anything extremely bad ā¦ in hindsight, Iāve had a really bad couple of years. Iām in my mid 20s and have enjoyed āregular binge drinkingā since 17. It wasnāt until about 3 years ago that I started to drink during the week ā¦ then what went from a 26 oz a week turned into almost a 26 oz a day. I lost my girlfriend of 5 years ā¦ my job performance went downhill ā¦ I gained 50 lbs. Iāve driven drunk, put myself in danger many times, engaged in unsafe sexual acts and been a bad friend and son on many occasions. Starting last spring I decided to cut back ā¦ all summer I would drink two 26 oz during the week and one 26oz on a Friday or Saturday night. Well I think I have reverse tolerance developed because I used to be able to drink a bottle and get up for work feeling fine ā¦ nowā¦ half a bottle and Iām near black out and suffer extreme anxiety and depression the following day. I truly believe I have damaged my liver and I count myself lucky I havent landed in jail or hurt someone. I love being drunk and I love drinking both socially and aloneā¦ but I have no choice but to give it up if I have any hope of a happy and healthy life.
Also should mention, Iāve never been addicted to any type of drug but I do take antidepressants.
Really excited to hear your stories and successes and together we can all get healthy.
Love and peace.
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Hey everyone Iām Robert I was lost in addiction for some time but I got tried of living that life so Iām changing my life around and I feel like itās time for me to give back so Iām going to school to get my bachelorās degree in human resources so I can be a drug and alcohol counselor.
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