Hi I’m Marc and I’m newly sober after drinking from the age of 14 (I’m 39). I’m a binge drinker and 8 days ago I woke up in hospital after drinking too much that caused me to collapse and black out (I lost my brother to alcoholism so I’m very scared it could happen to me) This has happened before but not this serious. After this I’ve decided enough is enough. Any tips on staying sober? I’ve found it fine so far but I know next week will be more difficult as I used to binge fortnightly.
Thanks 
Welcome to the community, there will be hundreds of suggestions which work for hundreds of different people but the one thing I can tell you is not an action but a mindset. ACCEPTANCE - accept the fact that this is going to be hard no matter what you do and some days or moments will give you every excuse / justification to drink, every thought and feeling is perfectly normal and you are not the special one or the exception to the rule we all have to go through it. Accept that today is the only day you made the choice not to drink because to imagine the rest of your life without alcohol, well to be quite honest, it’s unacceptable. Finally Accept all the help given and be open minded to things you think stupid or just don’t want to do. I never got sober doing the things I wanted to do it wasn’t until I accepted the advice of long term sober people and started to do what they did that things began to change for the better. I wish you well on your journey.
Thanks Dolse! I hope your journey is going well. I will listen and take on board any information from the community 
I know it’s going to be difficult but for the first time in my life I feel like I’m ready to try my best to live a life without alcohol controlling me.
Welcome to the community. I don’t think I would have gotten sober without this site, so you’ve come to a good place.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your brother.
A useful tip I picked up was - there’s no quick fix to getting and maintaining sobriety and you’ve got to be prepared to put in the hard work and you’ve got to want it. I mean , proper want it. This site is an absolute gold mine of information so when I joined here I read and read and read, old posts, new posts and I learned as much as I could. I used to drink almost every night from getting home from work and start earlier on the weekend and days off. That was about 50 hours a week I devoted to my AUD. I read somewhere that you should be prepared to put into your sobriety the same amount of time you put into your AUD. I do indeed put in a lot of time into staying sober (169 days currently) but it’s nowhere near 50 hours a week, it’s probably about an hour a day. Not too overwhelming but enough to remind me that I cannot moderate alcohol and can’t ever take that first drink. It will probably kill me or leave me seriously debilitated, so given that I kinda like being around I’d say I’ve got a good incentive. I used to be a bit hostile to the one day at a time philosophy because the prospect of staying sober forever scared the bejesus outta me, but I read about it, warmed to it and embraced it. That was after someone here suggested it. (Thanks @Mno )
Summary;
Accept you have a problem.
Try to understand why you have that problem.
Be prepared to work hard to beat that problem.
Have a plan or programme.
Useful tools are ODAAT and HALT. Writing stuff down helps massively too. Whether that’s journalling or just posting here.
Wish you the best on your journey, you’ve got the ball rolling now. I’m in my 50s and I wish I would have done this when I was 39.
Welcome! Search around there are some great posts on this topic. I linked one of em for you.
This is priceless advice right here…
And, it’s exactly what I needed to read right now.
Thanks for sharing! 
Welcome to the journey!
I’m new here as well; I’m 33 days into freedom from my drug of choice.
This first month has sucked: I’ve been irritated, angry, bored, depressed, numb, etc.
But… this community has been so supportive, and has given me so much good advice and insights.
The #1 thing I’ve learned: All of my feelings are completely normal - and, they will eventually get better.
The #1 thing that’s helped me personally: I come here and I participate, every single day, whether I feel like it or not - several times a day, especially when I’ve just been triggered.
Somehow, that creates a tradition that helps to keep the ship stable in my head.
Wishing you the best!
I was a binge drinker myself for many years. Weekends were chaos. Thankfully you can leave it behind you and the benefits are yours for the taking.
There will be a fear of missing out, a fear that life won’t be the same. Holidays, celebrations, Christmas all big drinking periods and you’ll be wondering how you’ll do those times not drinking but I can assure you it’s possible. Once you get into the habit of it, it becomes second nature. I’ve had a couple of sober Christmas now and it’s so much better.
Don’t dwell on those things now, just get to Sunday night coming sober and into bed fresh. That’s it for now. That’s all you need to do, time builds, wounds heal, the past fades. Commit to checking in here daily for 30 days. Post something, read the threads, get yo know a few posters. We’re all in the same boat. Give me 30 days checking in and watch your time build then dial in for longer term commitment.
I know it’s a cliche but it is worth it and you’re going to feel awesome with some time under your belt 
Thanks Phil! I’ve very much accepted that I’ve got a problem (which is a first for me) and I’m working on why I’ve got the problem. Most of my friends are heavy drinkers that I’ve grown up with so I think the culture we were in definitely hasn’t helped. Well done for being sober for so long! And thanks for the advice. I have began I private journal I’ve been adding to each day to get my thoughts, fears and aspirations down. I know this is gonna be difficult but thanks to people like you with great advice it’ll be a little easier 
Thanks Petr! That’s great advice. I’ve actually started listening to a sober audiobook and will take in as much information as I can
Thanks Ethan! And well done for being on the sober journey for over a month! Reading everyone’s comments and topics on here really is helping! It’s nice to know that this community is full of love and support
Hey friend, welcome, ive been on here and sober for almost 4 years…this is one of the very best threads ive ever read…
Your welcome 
Welcome Marc
Welcome! I was a life long binge drinker as well. A few things that helped me were engaging here A LOT…I was on here constantly, reading all I could and reaching out when needed. Never giving up on my goal of sobriety. Keeping a list on my phone of why I was doing this and reading it when I needed reinforcement. Adding as many tools as possible to my sober toolbox. Reminding myself I knew exactly what the drinking life offered…but sobriety was a whole new world of discovery…being excited about that. Not drinking. Hope to see you around!!!
There has already been so much good advice given to you here @SoberMarc Welcome!
My input: You will get strong cravings at times and you need to distract yourself for those minutes. Find something that you can default to, for me it was jigsaw puzzles or a quick walk outside. You will find what works for you.
Don’t go where there is drinking until you are stronger in your sobriety. I stayed in for months, I just could not risk all that I was gaining by being sober.
Quit for YOU and never ever forget your WHY.
Come here often. I am here several times a day because I really like these addicts. They are fantastic people and they are very generous with support.
Thanks Sassy! I’m really excited (and scared) what the future holds! But at least I’m going to be Sober on my own terms. This place has been brilliant! Loads of advice and plenty of encouragement
The list on the phone is a great idea! I’ve been journaling my thoughts etc but will definitely make a list!
Thanks @PinkFirefly! I’m thinking of taking some hobbies up or just doing more of what I love (music, reading, gaming etc)
I’m DEFINITELY keeping away from drinking situations for a while as I recover and get stronger
Thanks for the advice! This place seems great 
I’m sorry you lost your brother to alcoholism. My cousin and very close friend lost his battle with alco not so long time ago as well. 30th June 2023 we promised to eachothers we won’t drink again and I’m lucky I found this app that day and my english is good enough to get involved here (he didn’t speak english and wasn’t into any social media at all anyway). I am on this site every day since my day one. Without this place I wouldn’t make it. In best scenario I would be binge drinker like before, hating myself, embarrassing myself, always hungover, always thinking about how much I can still drink before I blackout. In worse scenario I would be dead, same like him.
What helped me at the beginning the most was ‘one day at a time’. I took it really one day, sometimes one hour at the time (ODAAT). The idea I will never drink again was overwhelming in the first months. I was grieving alcohol. I missed it. But people here teach me to think only about this day. Today I won’t drink. Probably tomorrow also, but we will see. It sound very simple but for me it was game changer. Now I know i never want to drink again. Im 3+ years clean and sober and even though life’s still a bitch sometimes I never regret being sober.
Welcome here, it’s a great place. It’s really the only one social media (if we can call it like this) app worth having. Well, maybe Strava as well
Stay active here and stay strong
Thanks for the words of encouragement Poppy and so sorry to hear about the loss of your cousin and friend 
This place seems really nice and I am very grateful people like you are here to help and talk about the journey. I am taking it one day at a time.
Over 3 years sober is absolutely amazing! Well done and thanks again
@SoberMarc maybe someone point this before me but check AA if you can. Just give it an opportunity