Congratulations. Thats huge.
Any Friends of Bill W here @ AudioKarma
- Thread starter johnny_fever
- Start date
You must be one of those crabby old timers by now!
I'm just a beginner but 3 more weeks it'll be a year for me and I fully intend to keep it going as long as I'm breathing. I had no intention of doing that but once I got started I found out that a sober life is really a great life. Now I'm wondering why didn't I stop that nonsense a long time ago.
A big kudos to all you long time abstainers
and may you all continue your journeys in great health.
A big kudos to all you long time abstainers
and may you all continue your journeys in great health.
Thanks and the same to you! Thanks for keeping this thread going.
Let's just say I've become pretty familiar with step 10.You must be one of those crabby old timers by now!
@motorstereo - Every one of us has exactly the same time. 24 hours. Today is the clean time that matters. Congrats for stringing so many together! Keep it up!
Thank you; I have no idea what step 10 is as I didn't do the 12 step program. In my case I had a health scare a little over a year and decided as soon as I got word of my diagnosis it was in my best interest to stop while receiving my treatments. It turned out I liked the totally sober lifestyle so much that I decided to keep it going. No doubt one of my better decisions in life if not the very best one.Thanks and the same to you! Thanks for keeping this thread going.
Let's just say I've become pretty familiar with step 10.
@motorstereo - Every one of us has exactly the same time. 24 hours. Today is the clean time that matters. Congrats for stringing so many together! Keep it up!
Nowadays instead of slopping beer all day and most of the night on Saturday I'm sitting in a quiet spot reading the good book instead.
I read somewhere that every journey no matter how big or small they all begin with that very first step. That is so true and congrats to everyone in this thread no matter where we are in our own personal journey of beating the spirit demon.
That's great. I'm glad you got through the scare and decided to stick with a sober lifestyle.
Even if you don't feel tempted, You may want to give the rooms a try. Meetings designated as "open" allow non-members, but you seem to qualify having a desire to stop drinking. You may find comfort in having a sober support group.
I started meetings when I was 22. I wasn't sure if I was a "real alcoholic" at the time because my story wasn't as "bad" as the 50-somethings in the room. But I decided that even if I wasn't an alcoholic and didn't need the program to stay sober, working the Steps is a good way to live my life, with or without an addiction.
I looked at this thread off and on for a few years before working on my problem. I'm coming up on 18 months, that's my longest stretch since I was teenager. Like many of us, I stopped because I NEEDED to. I actually needed to a long time ago but It's amazing how addictions are self preserving. They tend to stifle the part of the brain that says things like "I'm am addict and need to stop" and enhance the part that says "everything is fine, I'm am in full control". The feelings of self loathing finally overpowered the desire to drink and now every day I wake up without a hangover or the low level dread that I did something stupid is a much better day. I do wish I had quit a long time ago but I the past is the past and I celebrate every sober day for the achievement it is.
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Great Job nbarber
Vusbagen
Super Member
The most important change for me was learning to be honest with myself.
I had a decades long drinking problem but was never honest enough to realize or admit that I was an alcoholic.
Even on windy days when the hidden empty beer cans would blow through the yard. Or when I would make a secret trip to the recycling station. All the beer cans were the same brand. Obviously they were cans that I emptied.
Finally I broke down and ended up in the special ward at the hospital with a guard in the hall. It took 10 days there before I admitted I had a problem and had to change.
I had a decades long drinking problem but was never honest enough to realize or admit that I was an alcoholic.
Even on windy days when the hidden empty beer cans would blow through the yard. Or when I would make a secret trip to the recycling station. All the beer cans were the same brand. Obviously they were cans that I emptied.
Finally I broke down and ended up in the special ward at the hospital with a guard in the hall. It took 10 days there before I admitted I had a problem and had to change.
spicer
Lunatic Member
Well good on you, some never, are incapable of learning, caring. Glad you had the realization. Never too late.
"I had a decades long drinking problem but was never honest enough to realize or admit that I was an alcoholic."
Man, that statement resonates!
Actually, I don't know if I'm there yet, being honest with myself about being honest with myself... Its been 18 months and intellectually I know having "one" drink is impossible, I'll going crashing down the same self destructive path, but some suborn part of my brain hangs on to the idea that maybe I'm not an actual alcoholic and might be able to drink responsibly in the future.
This forum is the only place I've ever talked about it. I quit on my own, got some congratulations from some people close to me, but they have drinking problems too. Seems when you're in the constant company of alcoholics, the behavior seems normal. Anyway, feels good to get this stuff out and participate in a supportive environment.
AK is a good place, thank you all for keeping it that way.
Man, that statement resonates!
Actually, I don't know if I'm there yet, being honest with myself about being honest with myself... Its been 18 months and intellectually I know having "one" drink is impossible, I'll going crashing down the same self destructive path, but some suborn part of my brain hangs on to the idea that maybe I'm not an actual alcoholic and might be able to drink responsibly in the future.
This forum is the only place I've ever talked about it. I quit on my own, got some congratulations from some people close to me, but they have drinking problems too. Seems when you're in the constant company of alcoholics, the behavior seems normal. Anyway, feels good to get this stuff out and participate in a supportive environment.
AK is a good place, thank you all for keeping it that way.
I'm proud of you. I took the AA path because deep down I'm a people person. I like that you realize taking a drink can open that door again. I remember in treatment the goofy side of my brain said Maybe I'm not really an alcoholic. Remember that one day I didn't drink. LOL. Any way I was in a dope sick way and couldn't get off the floor being so ill. We call that the VOICES.
I strongly advise checking out a few (AA) meetings!
When you meet the usual crew at an AA meeting, you'll quickly realize that they're the brothers and sisters you've missed all along but never realized it!
(you will realize that we understand and speak the same language that you do but never had a safe place to speak it! For me it was discovering the family I might have dreamed of)
Alcoholism is a disease of denial; it tells you you're OK and NOT alcoholic whenever you stop for a while.....which makes quitting quite a problem until ACCEPTANCE....
which comes with joining our "club"! Then it becomes relatively easy!
Just go to meetings, don't drink, and do the next right thing and you will be amazed at the improvement of the whole universe and your quality of life!
What's the worst thing that could happen?
Trust me on this, it will just keep on getting better. You told me this at my first ever meeting, 42 years ago.
All you need is the key of willingness.
Life can become so much simpler when the "fog" has lifted.
Good luck!
Good luck!
A side benefit of me becoming alcohol free is my wife also is done with it. She was no where near the amount that I consumed but still we feel we don't need any of it in our lives. And since she did that she's also been able to kick another nasty addiction.........cigarettes.
Those two nasty addictions seemed to go hand in hand and it appears she's stopped for good this time after so many failed attempts over the past 42 years. I thought for sure losing her mother to cancer related to smoking would be enough but it wasn't. These terrible addictions are just so powerful and destructive.
I love reading the stories here of fellows that have conquered their alcohol problem and have gone on to a much better life.
A question to long time abstainers; do you ever have a dream that you've gone back to it? I did recently and I was so very glad to wake up and realize it was just a stupid dream.
Those two nasty addictions seemed to go hand in hand and it appears she's stopped for good this time after so many failed attempts over the past 42 years. I thought for sure losing her mother to cancer related to smoking would be enough but it wasn't. These terrible addictions are just so powerful and destructive.
I love reading the stories here of fellows that have conquered their alcohol problem and have gone on to a much better life.
A question to long time abstainers; do you ever have a dream that you've gone back to it? I did recently and I was so very glad to wake up and realize it was just a stupid dream.
All great comments for you @nbarber. Like hang on the Calvary is coming. LOL. Please try AA meetings. I was pleased to see old friends who kinda disappeared and did something about their problem. We are not alone or unique. Like @motorstereo said. You have friends you haven't met yet, I also sent you a pm. Later. Fever
I remember in high school, when we drank beer, there would always be smokes. They went hand-in-hand, like a nail and a hammer.
Hang in there. Almost every one of us has/ had those thoughts. I remember at first I just couldn't fathom getting any enjoyment out of life's activities without some level of partaking.
Now I'd rather drink bleach.
Your mindset can turn that same level of obsession to drink into an even stronger obsession not to drink.
In other words, use your superpowers for good, not evil.
Vusbagen
Super Member
I never wanted to "drink like a normal person" That sounded like a waste of time to me.
I wanted to drink to excess.
Now I always remind myself that when it comes to alcohol it's all or nothing.
All leads to an early death and I prefer to live.
