Hi. My name is Nathan. I am one year sober and i can’t help but feel a little empty.
I wasn’t expecting a fanfare and i understand that other people may not fully appreciate the milestone. However, i am feeling a great sense of ‘What now?’
If anybody can relate and give me some encouraging advice. I would be grateful.
Thankyou.
Absolutely. I had 15 months at one point and i did feel the same. I have 3 dwis and i was working on getting my license back and got denied. I definitely relate to the feeling and i ultimately ended up relapsing pretty hard. Right now i have almost 7 months and im looking at things considerably different, the milestone does matter. Sometimes its nice to treat yourself, some new clothes. New cologne, something that interests you. Id say just keep plucking along and stay the course, everyday life has somethint beautiful to see in it. Dont let the little things get yah, you’re doing amazing. So welcome and keep reaching out
Thanks for the reply friend. Great way of thinking, it is the little things that matter.
All the best to you.
Sincerely
Nathan
Hi Nathan, congrats on one year sober, that is a huge accomplishment! Curious, has AA been a part of your sobriety journey? The reason I ask is that my very first AA meeting (5 weeks ago) I was a ball of nerves, emotional, scared, etc… and someone at this meeting was celebrating their one year of sobriety. It was, I think, just the right amount of “fanfare” and I really connected with this persons story and found it inspired me in my early days of sobriety to keep going. I guess what I’m getting at is if you haven’t been to a meeting in a while, it might be just the right place to celebrate a year of sobriety amongst company who truly get it. And if you’ve done that already, great. Maybe just do something nice for yourself, maybe invite one or two friends and tell them you want to celebrate this. I think asking for support is totally ok.
Congrats again! I hope to be where you are in about 10.5 months!
Thankyou Laura. Your words mean alot.
I haven’t actually been to a meeting at all. I was about to do so early on, but for some reason i lost the nerve. I have gotten through on my own, using my own motivations and keeping a strong mind.
I have two young daughters, who are the main focus.
I actually signed up for this site to connect with some other people in the same boat. I just needed to find out if this hollow feeling will last , and i dont want to be worried about feeling ‘ah…whats the point?’…
I just feel like ive climbed a mountain to find the view isn’t all that great. If that makes sense, theres probably a better analogy…
Thanks again
And Congratulations Laura.
Best,
Nathan
Welcome Nathan! I hope you find this community as sort of a link you may have been missing in your journey! One year is a HUGE accomplishment. I’m looking forward to that milestone soon.
As for mountain climbs, sometimes the view ain’t that terrific. But that’s life.
Welcome Nathan!
Congratulations on a full year! That’s fantastic!
I celebrated my first year with the people in AA and it was amazing. There’s nothing better than being with like minded people having cake and celebrating milestones. I had tears in my eyes when I was presented my 1 year chip and a speech from a fellow AAer. There’s been a few more since and it keeps getting better.
Year 1 was experiencing all the firsts and just trying to survive the pandemic. My addiction thrives on isolation so not picking up was a challenge. Thankfully, I had this forum and online meetings. Year 2 was when all the work started for me. Pealing back all those layers isn’t easy but certainly worth it. Year 3 and 4 were much harder for me. I had to face some really hard life challenges. I’m now in year 5 and I’m finally feeling the peace and serenity everyone talks about in the rooms.
Anyway, wishing you the best on your journey.
Hi there. Thank you very much for the welcome.
I hope this will be a good source of support, so far so lovely. You’re right. I need to appreciate the achievement and keep taking it day by day. Small details make the biggest impacts, and i guess i shouldn’t be looking for that silver lining so early on. It is only year one. More growing to do, more mountain to climb.
Thank-you
Nathan
Hi there, lovely to hear from you.
Thankyou for sharing your experience. It’s good to know that no matter how far we come theres always ways to struggle and overcome. I’m sorry to hear about your tough years.
I’m lucky i am in a mindset that allows me to see that taking a drink is not the answer to any problem and so far i have been able to stop myself from using that ‘crutch’
I am determined to keep my years sober, no matter how challening things get.
Thankyou again, all the best
Nathan
Ya, its early days…get use to it…Thats why its one day at a time…ODAAT
Theres so much going on inside you ro work on…and so much to look forward as you go…
Be well
Thankyou for taking the time.
More work, and eyes forward.
Best
Nathan
I can understand that. I joined this app in the process of getting sober, so when I finally got my one year I had plenty of online congratulations to lift me up. But for sure, the day after it is like, what now? Well, just keep going. And that keeping going is not so glamorous. But, it truly is a meaningful and esteemable way to live.
Welcome! You got a lot of good feedback. 
And congratulations on your year. I know for myself, milestones did tend to give me the now what…especially during the first couple of years. I expected a lot from sobriety…like it was going to somehow magically make all of life better. That was a bummer when I realized life was still going to life me and what my sobriety was offering me was a clear head to really examine my WHYs and my what nows…kind of getting into the recovery portion of sobriety. Working out why and what I was escaping from and how could I heal, grow and shift so I didn’t revert back to escapism. Ugh…but necessary for me to heal. Idk if this is what’s up for you, but I do know each morning waking up hangover and regret free still is 100% better for me and my mental health than waking up with a hangover, regrets and sometimes much worse. Keep going, it gets better. 
I understand the analogy. Maybe try a meeting? Even though you’ve done well on your own thus far, it sounds like you’re looking for some connection with people who understand what you’re going through. I don’t love everything about AA, but I’ve found it to be an incredibly welcoming and supportive group of peers and that has been powerful for me.
Thankyou for your reply. It is so good to hear from people who can identify and i appreciate your support.
I agree, life still keeps throwing things at you but so much better to deal with things without the haze and anxiety. That feeling of life getting in the way of having a drink is something i felt for many years. Luckily i have plenty to focus on and find some relaxation in other things. Which i never thought could exist outside of having a drink in my hand.
I still get envious at people who can enjoy alcohol in moderation but i don’t begrudge.
Appreciating all and any feedback.
Thankyou
Nathan
First of all congratulations on 1 year sober! That first one is filled with various exciting milestones throughout, at least it was for me.
What now? Now you get to rediscover yourself. Some have said the second year of sobriety can be tough because you start dealing with the deeper issues, the things we hid from with substances.
Just keep walking the path one day at a time, with a goal of being a little bit better than yesterday. Build a sober network and live 
. Best wishes to you
Well done on 1 year still early sobriety ,as for what now plenty of hobbies you can do and clubs you can join ,my experience going alone is hard ,for me id had AA and it with fellowship made my journey easier as you see my chip that was decades ago , keep us posted on your journey wish you well