Not sure if my username carries much recognition around here, but if it does, it’s probably for the string of mod warnings I racked up last year for being a drunken stark raving asshole.
Six weeks ago I finally pulled my head out of the bottle. Whatever flawed behavior you may see from me, it’s now 100% sober flawed behavior. And in the spirit of step 8, if I’ve insulted anyone, I’m happy to apologize personally and make whatever amends would help.
I won’t belabor the details of what brought me to that decision, but suffice to say I realized my habit wasn’t sustainable, I was sick of it, and I was scared of where it was leading. Mercifully, my life burdens had taken a break around that time. Coincidentally, I also stumbled onto the subreddit board /r/stopdrinking. This community really clicked with me as a veteran message-board rat who struggled with certain aspects of AA. If that sounds like you, I highly recommend giving that community a try. It’s big, supportive, anonymous, and has great diversity of thought and opinion. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about it.
I would also like to thank everyone here who stepped in last year and gave me a bunch of concern, support, and advice that I totally ignored. It was all good advice and greatly appreciated but, I was just too drunk and stubborn and insane to consider it at the time.
Lastly, for anyone concerned about their drinking habit, I encourage you to listen to that voice telling you to do something about it. Pull out all the stops. Circle up with a trusted friend, try some recovery groups in your area, read some literature, seek out some community. It’s difficult but not impossible, and definitely the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.
I was a spectator on those threads and was worried about you, so this is great news and I’m really happy to see it. Pulling yourself out of the hole you were in is hugely difficult, and you deserve congrats. Best of luck with your continued sobriety!
Many alcoholics justify their behaviour by saying, ‘I’m not hurting anyone!’ My take is that if you have to say you’re not hurting anyone, you are.
Although I like alcohol, I rarely drink. I don’t know what it’s like to be an alcoholic, nor the state of mind that leads to alcoholism. I understand it’s a tough thing to fight.
Congratulations, HMS Irruncible. May you remain healthy.
I remember what you’re talking about, but I also remember you as a pretty decent poster before that, too. Glad to see you dealing with this, and I hope for a good recovery.
Congrats…good decision. Remember to keep making it. Staying sober is easier than quitting. (Not eating dessert is easier than losing weight, not over spending is easier than trying to pay down debt, its just harder to fix problems than it is to prevent them).
To use a gaming phrase, being sober is living on “easy mode”. It’s great not waking up with a hangover and great having a clearer head all day. I’m finding life pretty boring, but after 3 years of feeling like hot garbage, I’ll gladly take boring.
But the first few weeks of quitting… yeesh, it was rough. It was really uncomfortable the first week, each week cutting by about half. No symptoms or anything now, just remembering how to navigate life without a drink in one hand. It’s awkward but I’ll take it.
Dude, if you are bored can’t you find something new to do? it’s a good sign that you are feeling well enough to say you are bored - extra time, extra energy, right?