Hello, I’m Stephanie in Ohio. I got sick a couple weeks ago from beer and decided to take a couple days off. Now I’m on day nine and I don’t want to drink again. I’ve been drinking for twenty years and I know it’s only harmed me and ruined my life at times. I feel so much better without it, like my brain has started working again and I’m out of a fog. I’ve stopped before but always went back gradually. This time I’m determined to stay away.
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Hi Brittany I feel you girl. Been there myself. I’m also 24 but I’m now 8 months sober. If you need a friend to lean on please message me. You can do this girl 
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Thank you for sharing your story. How are you doing these days? If nothing else…I am supporting you.
Hey good morning! I cant believe i said that because if i could have it any other way i would be sleeping right now. I normally am not a person to talk about anything ive been through, maybe thats y im a mental case but; Ive been slowly detaching myself from that way of thinking. But Im 36, and i just decided last night to finally bite that bullet and finally get clean. Ive been saying that for years but i feel in my soul, body, and mind that it will happen. My life up to this point has been really mentally and emotionally draining. I have really been trying to keep my head above water but i feel like i need to change the direction that im swimming in order to do so…Growing up i was molested at a young age by my father who was a heavy drinker. I started heavily drinking when i was in my early 20s. Switched to harder substances when i was 25. I started escorting after my friend drugged me and him and 5 of his friends had their way with me one night. From 26 to 30 it was a blurr to me. I just completely spiraled out of control. Especually because that wasnt the first time it happened and he knew that, and he did that bullshit. When i turned 31 it was the 1st time i tried to get sober but of course i failed. Tried multiple times after that nothing worked. I did manage to get myself clean off meth. I still have my vices though up until yesterday. Hopefully this time is diffrent. Im just tiered of being tiered. im running a kitchen which i never thought i would be doing which is actually something i wanted to do since i was maybe 12 or 13 before things got really bad. Ive worked my ass off to get to were i am in my career… Ive been really into editing photos recently as a way just to seperate myself from life.
I shoot pool as well and decorate cakes. But thats a little bit about me. Hopefully this time i stay sober. Ive been really depressed and anxious recently so hopefully i figure out another way to deal with shit.
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Welcome to the community friend. This is a great place to be surrounded by support and others who understand the struggles of addiction.
Great work on starting on your day 1. We can not do this alone so connections in real life and on here or other recovery groups are vital to our journey.
So sorry for all that you have been through. Sending you strength and love. Hope to see you around
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I’m Christy and I’m 26 days sober. It’s my first day on here and I’m feeling ready to have some sort of community around me. I actually haven’t told anyone about my sobriety yet, and I’m 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. I’m feeling like I’m surfing… one minute, I’m 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 I’m… so angry that I can’t have a glass of red wine like a normal person. So mad that I can’t 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 I’m not drinking… or maybe I just won’t even say a word and just not? I luckily don’t need booze to dance or talk to people, so I’m not worried about that part. Anyway, I’m rambling. I’m so glad to be here and I look forward to hopefully lending a lifting hand to you all when you need it. When I’m not doing this stuff, I’m an avid athlete- tennis, yoga, pickleball, most sports really, standup paddle board and such… a budding cook, a gardener, world traveler and outdoors woman. I shamelessly love pop music but I’ll listen to most things from country to rock as well. I’ve 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 you’re 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 I’ve been since forever. Don’t worry about next months trip, or next year’s 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. It’s a safe place to hang out and express how you’re 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 wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t 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 us…this is a wonderful supportive community 
Welcome.
I totally understand the feeling you’re trying to describe. I’m upset about the same thing sometimes. I don’t really used to drink until I’m drunk, but If I start I want that tiny buzz everyday. And it bugs me that I can’t be “classy” 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 it’s free. And just pick any online meetings you want.
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Hello, i haven’t tried any official groups, like AA or rehab. When I’m in a different environment: missions trip (I’m a Christian), camp job (I operate large haul trucks in oilfield mines) etc. where alcohol is prohibited I’m 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 I’m not here. * I’ve 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 won’t evict him - we’re like family now, she wouldn’t leave if i exposed all of this
ANYWAY… I’m 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 & I’ve 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 it’s about a time that I’ll post here for the first time and introduce myself. My name is Juuso and I’m 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 didn’t 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.
I’m 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 don’t 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 it’s the weekend. After 3 days, I feel so terrible (anxiety and high heart rate) that I don’t 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 “a few” 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 it’s so difficult to moderate or stop.
I’ve 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 it’s been anything between 1-23 day breaks I’ve 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. I’m not even bothered about the drinking when out with friends, but I feel tired that I can’t talk about my issues with anyone. My wife is supportive, but she’s also done trying to be a therapist after looking my behavior for the past 6 years. Our relation is good, but of course she’s 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 don’t want to drink anymore. I need to manage through the few weeks of pain again and then a very long period of dullness, because I’ve 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. I’m returning back to exercise again from tomorrow and will keep at it.
Thank you if you read this far. I’ll try to post here now and then (maybe some pictures too!).
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