It's only day 6 and I've made it to day 5 or 6 several times recently, but Friday nights were always when I would fail. Spent yesterday evening with an old friend who doesn't really drink anymore and was glad to see that we do actually still enjoy each other's company. He had largely quit hanging out with me because all I ever wanted to do on the weekends was drink. Had a little itch to go to my local brewery when I got home last night about 7:30 but I fought it and found a distraction and ended up in bed before 10. It's a small win but not drinking on a Friday has felt like an insurmountable obstacle for months, feels good to be up, showered, and just about ready to go run some errands before 8 on a Saturday morning. I haven't been productive on a weekend in a very long time

I am going to post every day here and make it to 100

My interests are reading a good book. I always loved reading since I was a teenager I should really read more now. I have always loved wrestling it’s a beautiful art form that I have always thought was very intriguing. The nba has always had me interested, I love watching a random game or two. Working out is also an amazing hobby that I love doing. Any suggestions for other interests that I can dabble in? Would love to try any and all!

I was offered a shot again today!… and I said NO. Fucking A let’s go. I know what taking that shot is capable of, it WILL open up those alcoholic doors that I’m so desperately trying to remain locked and boarded up. It’s never just one shot I can’t lie to myself anymore. I’m feeling a tad sick today and I’m done with work thank god. Resting up for a bit & if I feel better I’m going to see my friend. hopefully I can hang out with her for some pleasant social time she always has cool vibes.
Onto day 37 tomorrow let’s fucking go.

pls some nice words

Trying to remind myself that any time off is good time, and to be proud of what I accomplished, learned, and did during the 25 days I was just sober.

Unfortunately I spent the past 4-5 days deep in it with beer, wine, and whiskey telling myself that I’d hop back on the wagon soon, so I might as well get my moneys worth and drink a whole bunch. No surprise, I now feel like shit, sick and greasy and lost. It only took a couple days of drinking to feel like that again. I think that’s another important reminder for me, that the days of drinking “normally” waking up with a mild hangover and going about my day are over. I’ve advanced past that stage now and it does not work for me.

I found myself in the airport, sneak chugging beers in the bathroom and working out the logistics in my head of how drunk I needed to be to get through the flight. But it’s a bottomless pit and there is not enough booze in the world to fulfill me.

I worked the sobriety muscles though, learning how to say no when it was presented to me and feeling good about those choices. But of course it is truly one day at a time and tomorrow’s abstinence is not promised. And it is not determined by yesterday’s adherence. I know my life can be so much more than what it’s been, I won’t quit quitting ❤️

So it’s been a couple of weeks since I stopped drinking again, and I decided to clean up. I found a bottle of wine half still in and almost out of instinct I went to drink it, I didn’t in fact I poured it away. Hope I don’t find any more. IWNDWYT

I'm about 3 days in to sobriety again and I wanted some help with something specific. I really only crave alcohol from 3:30pm to 7:00pm and if I can make it through that time I'm usually fine. But I mean, it's a real 3 and a half hour war with my mind. Any suggestions on what to do about this or anyone have this same issue?

I’m getting through my first big party without any alcohol 🥳 shoutout to the pack of la croix I’ve been downing

I’m going to a wedding tonight and I’m kinda nervous. I’m one year and 3 months away from alcohol. I definitely feel a lot better about it than I would have a year ago. I’ve done other things like concerts and sporting events. This time just feels different. I’ll be seeing people I used to drink with that I haven’t seen since quitting. There’s a whole scheduled cocktail hour that’s actually 90 minutes. And no kids allowed so I’m doubting there’s any fake champagne for a toast. I even had a recent relapse dream about this night. Not too worried about actually being tempted to drink. Just feels like there may be a lot of different situations I’ll need to navigate. I don’t even have a default mocktail. I usually stick with sodas or an NA beer but I’m unsure about those as well.

So any tips for the night?

Hello. I’m 31. Been drinking since I was 18. It has only escalated in time. I started with weekends in smaller amounts, blah blah blah. I’ve tried to quit many times. The most I can make is about 2 weeks, then I always give in. Well, that’s not true. I stopped while
I was pregnant (and weeped about it many times because it was so hard. I just accepted my misery).

I drink about.. 3 or 4 of 8% seltzers on a normal night to feel good. Well, sometimes 1 or 2 or none. It I’m on a bender, it can go up to.. twice that maybe?

I’m a female, about 5’4 and 155ish or so. I work full time and have a toddler. I’ve been working with therapists and psychiatrists for years. We’ve found some meds that have definitely helped so far.

I’ve been depressed my entire older life. The only reason I didn’t do anything bad was because my mother and people I cared about. I just couldn’t hurt them like that.

The meds definitely help. I’m much less irritable and actually see the light of day. When I miss a day, I can tell in my mood immediately.

The problem is, without alcohol, I feel nothing. I know it takes like, what.. years to repair those pathways naturally after you’re addicted to change? I did 9 months. It didn’t change anything. None of the cravings.

I am not strong enough to stop this. I have already been sober for almost a year and it did nothing for me. I’ve been depressed since time immemorial. It’s the only thing that makes me feel better.

Don’t worry. My son is growing very well and is very safe. I never drive drunk in the car with him, or anything like that.

I know my son deserves a sober mom. He does have one. I spend hours of sober time with him playing and whatever else he needs. But after he goes to bed..

I can’t stop drinking to feel okay. I am lost.

Edit: Thanks Reddit care person. I am not suicidal, I will be okay. Just reaching out for some support here. All is okay and well.

Edit: Thanks guys. It didn’t work. <3

Things keep going full circle, I feel so much sadness and stress in my life.

I’m 99 days sober and I wake up every day pretending I’m okay and tell myself that things will get better but they don’t.

I’m seeing a therapist, took time away from work, working out all the time… focused on getting mentally and physically better

But it always comes full circle and the realisation kicks in that i carry a huge amount of sadness, depression and anxiety around with me every minute of every day and it comes to a point.

I know what people will say. I’m just prolonging it all until tomorrow where it’ll be 10x worse and I will hate myself and the world even more but presently, that seems like a pretty good trade with how I’m feeling right now.

Don’t even know why I’m writing this, maybe hoping if I write it down and send it out into the universe that the right energy will come back my way and keep me from drinking tonight.
And I know it’s a faux comfort, a faux feeling of peace but damn any bit of peace or comfort sounds pretty nice right about now.

Today is my birthday. I’m pretty sure that it is the first alcohol free birthday since age 21.

Every year, my significant other and I go to Vegas for my birthday. At this time last year, I was DEFINITELY at LEAST half a dozen drinks in (it’s 1:30 now - so I may have been passed out by now, getting ready for round 2).

Last year, I took two trips to Vegas. I actually truly don’t remember a full day of the trip - which is terrifying. In August, I took a trip to Santa Barbara for a group organization without my significant other. It was a MASSIVE disaster because of alcohol. I wound up shell shocked and on a bender for two weeks. My significant other was really worried. Then, in October, I was dealing with some things I can’t discuss here. I wound up at 6:30 in the morning (while buzzed) thinking I had a brilliant idea regarding how to handle it. (Spoiler alert - it wasn’t brilliant and I wound up kind of ruining my birthday).

When I got back home, I did something REALLY embarrassing that had small professional repercussions because of drinking. I didn’t get in trouble, but it was VERY embarrassing. I had massive anxiety for the next couple of months because of it. There were days that I would lay in bed paralyzed by fear and anxiety because of things piling up because of drinking. My phone would go off with 400 plus email, text message, missed call alerts throughout the day and I was paralyzed with fear and anxiety and shame. Too afraid to move. Finally, there was a Christmas party that I wanted to go to the day after Christmas. I got too drunk in the day to go. It was probably not even a good idea for me to go on my own anyway. I also felt alcohol impacting my mind and memory and was making it harder to do my job. I couldn’t remember as well and I couldn’t trust myself to make stable decisions.

After all of this, I decided to do dry January. By week two, I started feeling like a new and better person. However, I couldn’t wait to get back to drinking! As soon as 2/1 hit at midnight, I got my vodka delivered. I started drinking again and there was no moderation. I quickly went off the rails. I did something else embarrassing because of drinking. I had more anxiety attacks. I took a week or so off work and even went to my parent’s house.

I needed to quit. It was SO hard. I was in tears on this page and with my peer counselor trying to quit and saying I didn’t think I could. Days 1 through 4 were literally hell. I made it through by sleeping the full time and only getting up to go to the bathroom.

The sobriety stuck. The first drinking holiday was St Patrick’s. I made it through. As the days and months went by, there were good and even great moments and some terrible and stressful moments. I made it through without drinking. Additionally, when other people acted crazy, I could genuinely say it wasn’t my fault. I remembered fully what I said or did and was confident that I acted sanely.

Last night, as my birthday was rolling around, I thought about if the me today could have a conversation with the me from a year ago. What would I think about that person? I’m about 15 pounds lighter and more confident physically. I am more stable and confident. I don’t have crippling anxiety because of something dumb I did.

Don’t get me wrong - particularly today, I’m craving a drink and would like to celebrate in a way that is easy and familiar. BUT, I’m happy to not be there. I’m happy regarding where I’m at!

Thank you for reading if you have. Getting this all out has been helpful and a present to myself! Iwndwyt 💕💕💕

Last night we had front row seats at a great concert and stopped by our favorite local bar and grill after to hear more music. I had a lot of club soda and water but no alcohol. So many benefits!

1. I remember all of the concert. So much fun!

2. No headache today. Enough said.

3. The scale moved in the right direction this morning. Yay! 11 more pounds to go.

4. Best of all...I didn't wake up until 8:30 am. There is no sweeter feeling than to wake up with light in the room and realize you slept all night.

5. Extra bonus: we were the top scorer in the bar trivia. Had never actually played along on my phonevbefore but it's a great way to entertain yourself and not think about drinking!

IWNDWYT

Like the title states. I’d like to hear how your life has improved since quitting drinking.

I’ll start.

- Lost 45 lbs, I’m almost back to what I weighed at 22, I’m a 36 year old man
- back in the gym and enjoying it
- My skin has never looked better
- I’ve read more books
- I’m a far more present father
- I haven’t had a serious argument with my wife in months
- I no longer wake up in the morning feeling dread. Dread about what I did the evening before, or fear of facing the day to come

I want to hear about your success, big or small.

101 days without the poison, my life has changed for so much the better.

There's no point, really.

I manage stress in other ways, I find ways to take my anxiety in other ways.

Alcohol, while great at loosening me up and making me less anxious, comes with horrid hangovers that wipe out my ability to function the next day.

I don't even want a sip. There's just no point and it doesn't fit into my lifestyle these days.

It's been over a year since my last drink. I don't crave it anymore due to how massively it seems to impact my ability to function the next day due to hangovers.

In fact I'd go so far as to say I really loathe all drugs. Even caffeine is on my shit list much of the time.

Now let me crack open this can of sparkling water and enjoy my Saturday. Cheers!

I have never felt more desperate and alone in my life. I wish I could explain more but I can’t think right now because I’m having a panic attack. This is not my first time getting sober and fuck does it get worse.

I had a few drinks left and I was toying around in my mind whether to just finish them and you know, quit tomorrow but tomorrow never fucking comes. There is always a reason, an excuse, a lie I tell myself to keep drinking.

So down the drain they went. My heart is beating so fast. I fucking hate this poison and the grip it has on me.

For the first time in this attempt at sobriety, I feel 'deprived' and like I'm missing out on something, like I'll never be able to properly connect with my family again (it's a hard-drinking family). Wishing I could join in and not feel like an outsider at a family gathering.

The temptation is strong but I have to keep going as I have a family of my own now that I need to be sober for.

I'm pounding alcohol-free Estrella Damm at the moment. No idea how I'm going to survive Christmas 😥

Does anyone relate?

Basically the title says it all. I got hammered before I left for this work event (an evening not-work event) and then got even more hammered while there. I don't think I said anything too stupid, but my boss drove us there and now I'm afraid it's really obvious I was smashed. I'm not getting fired or anything like that; I'm just mortified. :\ Today is rough so far.

This NA beer just became available in my local supermarket. Very nice taste and not flat compared to the original beer. Really recommend it if you like dark beer.

Hi all,

I am very early on in my sobriety journey, only 11 days. I have always been an avid player of video games and tabletop games like Warhammer. Over the years I've made drinking part of these hobbies to the point where they are linked in my mind.

I would like to "reclaim" these hobbies. Maybe that isn't the right word, but I would like to get to the point where they are sober hobbies for me again. I always enjoyed doing them even before I paired them with drinking, so I am hopeful I can get back to that.

The issue is I am nervous. I have associated gaming and painting models with drinking for so long that I am worried trying them sober will cause some cravings and cause me to slip up.

Has anyone been through something like this? Were you eventually successfully able to reclaim your hobbies and make them sober activities again? Any suggestions from learned experiences? Appreciate the help!

My last drink was wednesday after having over 20 units daily probably 150 out of the last 160 days before Wednesday. I've been saying I wanted to cut down for months and months but never did. At this point the only thing keeping me not drinking is the sunk cost. Remembering how hard it was to stop even once and even for just a few days is keeping me from it. I do find that now I'm indulging on my other negative traits more without guilt (vaping, binge eating, etc) as more of a "I have to make up for the lack of alcohol by making me feel good with other things". I'm having constant headaches, a hard time sleeping, extreme brain fog (almost like I'm tipsy all the time, especially when reading a large wall of text I get this tunnel vision and stars in my eyes) and extreme lethargy. I haven't puked in a few days ever after binge eating which was a problem before. I never attributed it to alcohol I just thought it was me and overeating. Obviously a small sample size of days but I thought I had to share this somewhere.

21 days today. Would have been 28, but on the 7th day I caved . So 21 days today

Was previously drinking at least 1/2 bottle bourbon from 7-10 pm and passing out

Pros
- feeling good over all
- sleep finally better
- workouts definitely improved
- no hangovers or waking yup feeling shitty and unrested

Cons
- boredom especially in the evenings when I would drink
- hard to find any entertaining shows to watch in the evenings w my wife . Previously anything would be entertaining after 8-12 ounces of bourbon
- haven’t lost any weight

Not sure if I’ll stay sober forever, would love ti be able to drink like a normal person and not binge myself to sleep

But for today … IWNDWYT

I have never posted here before, only lurked, but I am finally ready to unsubscribe and move on from recovery spaces. Before I leave, I wanted to drop my story in case another quiet lurker needs to read it today, because posts like this were always my favorite when I first started.

My last drink was December 31, 2024. I had already been cutting back for a while and decided New Year's Eve would be one last good time before closing the chapter for good. I didn't black out or get wasted. It was just a fun night, and when it was over, I was done.

I had no idea at the time that quitting right before 2025 started would end up saving my life, because the year that followed threw everything imaginable at me:

• Doing hospice care for my 20-year-old cat until he passed away.
• Going through a brutal, high-conflict divorce that went all the way to trial.
• Surviving a major Reduction in Force (RIF) at work in the middle of the chaos.
• Getting into a bad motorcycle crash that broke my leg, required multiple surgeries over the following months, and forced me to relearn how to walk.
• Being assaulted by my brother later that year, having to get a restraining order, and cutting off toxic family and friends who showed their true colors while I was down.

Any single one of those events could have been an excuse to start drinking again. If I had still been drinking when 2025 hit, I honestly don't know how I would have made it through.

Instead, staying sober allowed me to actually face all of it head-on and rebuild my life from the ground up:

• While recovering from surgery, I committed to the gym and just hit a full year without missing a week of workouts.
• I lost over 50 pounds and am in the best shape of my life.
• I taught myself how to cook and bake from scratch instead of relying on takeout, and I barely ever eat at restaurants anymore.
• My home is peaceful, my career and finances are thriving, and my life is a complete 180 from where I was two years ago.

This sub helped a lot in the beginning just reading other people's perspectives. Today, not drinking isn't something I even think about anymore. It is just my normal baseline, so it feels like the right time to move on.

If you are quietly lurking here wondering if it is worth it, or if you can survive life punching you in the mouth without alcohol: you can, and the life waiting on the other side is better than you think.

Thanks for everything, and wishing you all the best.

IWNDWYT

Edit: I want to add to how I started off because it definitely wasn't effortless. I had real cravings for months and bridged the gap by crushing cases of NA beer whenever the urge hit, which eventually tapered down to seltzer water, and then to needing nothing at all once the habit loop finally broke.