I’m having a hard time with this. I feel like I look at my counter and the time goes by so slowly… like I feel like I haven’t had a drink in so long but then the hours and days take forever to add up. Does this happen in the beginning of sobriety? I guess once I think less about it my sober time will add up faster…
Yes when getting sober the clock has seemed to be my enemy lol, I’ve been told numerous times to not look at it. I am on day 15 now of being sober and I will say I’m not watching the clock anymore for sure. I try to stay busy doing anything so I won’t think about time, it does change and the clock watching goes away.
Thank you! Looking forward to that!
Early recovery is an odd time or it definitely was for me. After a couple of decades of drinking let’s be honest it was a new way of life. I just dove into me! I was reading recovery literature daily. I walked more miles in a day than I drove probably. I went to meetings as often as my rural life allowed. And all of that was to keep my mind engaged. I posted daily in the checking in daily thread that was the only time I would look at my timer. So I had a pretty solid idea what day I was on. I can’t say time was slow to pass really but it was hard to be patient and allow it to pass. If you practice this long enough it will soon just happen. I tell everyone early on to work their ass off on themselves. Keep your ass busy during those tedious days and guess what you are so busy fixing you that you aren’t idle and we all know where that can lead. Soon you will have a few months and guess what you have been so trying to not focus on not drinking/using, and you evaluate yourself and realize Wow I have faced and processed all this stuff… You will start to have a life that snuck in on you as you were busy surviving. Best wishes. Share what your day is going like it might help you and inspire someone thinking about sobriety. Best wishes.
Thanks for the wise words @Chad_R . I really have been trying to keep busy. I just ordered a recovery book how to quit without feeling sh**t and can’t wait to begin reading it as I’ve heard so many great things about that book. My drinking has gotten out of hand and I feel like it’s taking a toll on my body. I want to be free from this mess of addiction once and for all so maybe that’s why I’ve been watching the clock a little too much… yoga and meditation has also really been helping me. It calms me down. Last night was scary because it was the first time I actually experienced shaking. I did my yoga took a hot shower and used some calming essential oils and the anxiety went away. Did not drink and was super proud of myself this morning. I guess I did something right. Thanks @robin for this amazing place full of support. God bless you.
This board has helped me more than I can express. I can honestly tell everyone on here you sharing any part of your recovery with us helps so many people. Just hang in there. Yeah recovery is hard. But the reward is greater than anything I expected. I’m at 321 I think and I finally love life. We will cheer you on every chance we can
yes. I felt the same way… then I thought of all the times I said “If there were only more hours in the day…” Goshdarnit, I got what I wanted. There is time to do stuff now.
How fast are u wanting it to go? And to what goal of sobriety are u wanting to hit? Because realistically there is no goal everyday that we do is an amazing achievement and should be looked at with pride that’s the point of it been a day to day thing. I think as it goes on and becomes a little easier for u then u will see this and relish in ur success
I see what you’re saying and you’re right. I guess I compare myself to those in triple digits with months and years of sobriety and see that I am still beginning. It’s just frustrating but even more of a motivation to keep pushing through.
I also don’t really have a specific goal in mind.. maybe I should. I just don’t want to feel dependent anymore. That is my ultimate goal.
Well that is a great goal and u will know wen u hit it no matter the days u will rack them up so don’t worry about that just enjoy everyday as it’s a blessing that ur enjoin more than ever now xx well done xxx
Don’t worry abt a timer. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else.
Think on this. You don’t train for a marathon in one day. You do a mile. Then two miles, then a 5K, then…
I have 3 years, Ten months, but they are just a series of months, which are a series of weeks, which are…all the way down to a minute.
Handle this minute. Once it’s passed, you’ll be on to an hour, then hours become days.
You can look at a timer and think on how slow it goes or compare to someone w three years or twenty, but the reality is that the most important day is today.
Best,
Chandler
Look at it like working out. You have to build up the strength and Michael to lift 300 lbs or run 5k. This is no different. It takes time to get time. Never forget that you are still “working out” today the same as anyone else with more time.
At the end of the day if you stayed sober then you have been sober as long as me. If you stay sober all of today then you have been sober as long as someone with 3 years or 30. Cuz today is all that matters. Be proud and confident that you will stay sober today and there’s a pretty good chance you will tomorrow too.
Make your goal to stay sober today and have the same goal tomorrow. When you were speaking of goals You said you just didn’t want to be dependent any more. The way you worded that makes me a little nervous. I’ll be the first to tell you that for me and others like me there will never come a day when we are not dependent. No amount of time “cures” our disease. Do We get better? Yes. Does it get easier, yes! But there will never be a time when we are not dependent. No amount of time will allow us to control our drinking.
You are doing great pal!! Coming on here and sharing your struggles speaks volumes of your determination. So try not to pay too much attention to that time.
One day at a timer
Haha @Chandler13. We were typing the same thing at the same time about the 5k. Great mins… Lol
Game recognizes Game. Genius recognizes Genius as well, I suppose.
Best,
Chandler
It can seem like the sober days pass slowly. I feel ya with wanting to have more sobriety time under my belt. But, others are right…you don’t get to day 90 or 300 without going through day 4 or 10. I have to remind myself of that sometimes.
One thing is for sure, I’d rather feel sluggish at day 11 than be back at day 1!
Thank you for the support @Chandler13 @Gabe.G I am sober and happy tonight and you are both right, today is the day that matters. Tomorrow I will face another day in sobriety
Thank you @hamluv16
I feel all in all the same way.