# Six months sober! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 4, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045 "2003-05-04T17:54:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/1 "2003-05-04T17:54:37Z")
Six months ago today I posted [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=142625) thread. I had had enough. I knew that a humble admission here on the boards was what I needed to help me get sober again, and hopefully stay that way. I was really scared that day, but I made it to the meeting that night, took a beginner’s chip, and stuck with it. I had to. See, this was what I’ve come to know as the gift of desperation. That place beyond despair and regret and sadness - it had become primal, all about simple survival, and from there my resolve grew. It was defeat, and surrender. From that lowest of points, I knew what I had to do if I wanted to live. I felt the change immediately, even before I got over the withdrawal. (When you’ve been pickling yourself to excess _every day_ for _three years_ - the length of my slip - you can expect some wicked DTs. Good thing I had the benzos.) Everyone around me noticed _something_. My work performance improved dramatically, so much so that at my review (around three months sober), my manager said - almost in disbelief - “I don’t know what you’ve done, but whatever it is, keep doing it!” Sometimes I think back to the way it was. In movies you see depictions of alcoholics and addicts and the way they live, and maybe you think it’s an exaggeration - for dramatic purposes, let’s say. Let me tell you it’s not. I lived in squallor, and cleaning the place up (let alone myself) just seemed beyond possibility. Today, six months later, I have sanity and happiness in my life. I don’t spend my days filled with paralyzing fear, shaking so hard that I don’t want anyone to see me. I can enjoy every moment for what it is. I have the unconditional love and support of a wonderful man ( **jeremy evil** ) who has been incredibly patient as I’ve been getting better. And I love him back, just as deeply. We’ve established a happy little home for ourselves, and even if we don’t have much, it’s more than we need. When I posted my [One month sober](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=148033) thread, **DaToad** said: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DaToad \* > \*\*Great news. You’ve made it this far, so now I’ll be looking forward to your post marking six months! All the best. \*\* … so I’ve been waiting patiently for the past five months. Here’s my six month thread! 🙂 I am grateful. I am vigilant. I am humbled. I am happy, joyous, and free. I am sober today. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/2 "2003-05-04T18:09:28Z")
Congratulations, **scott**! Robin ---
**Author:** ![abderian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@abderian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abderian)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/3 "2003-05-04T18:11:03Z")
Scott, we’ve never met but I want you to know that I’m impressed. Quite impressed. Congrats. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/4 "2003-05-04T18:11:05Z")
Congrats! I always have the utmost respect for the men and women who take life one day at a time! Keep it up. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/5 "2003-05-04T18:14:06Z")
Right on, scott baby. Just keep doing the next right thing. Signed, essvee (22 months) ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/6 "2003-05-04T19:14:42Z")
Congratulations, Scott. I come from a long line of AA members. My dad’s coming up on his 14th birthday I believe and my aunt’s just behind. It’s a great thing you’ve done. -Lil ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/7 "2003-05-04T19:30:43Z")
That’s his fifteenth birthday actually. -Lil ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/8 "2003-05-04T20:52:51Z")
Big kudos to you. That’s not an easy thing to do, or to talk about. Congratulations, and keep it up. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/9 "2003-05-04T21:02:36Z")
Congratulations, Scott! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/10 "2003-05-04T21:11:45Z")
Doing good! ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/11 "2003-05-04T21:13:15Z")
Congrats, Scott. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/12 "2003-05-04T21:25:24Z")
Congratulations! It’s a wonderful thing you’re doing. Keep it up! Much love, Cristi ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/13 "2003-05-04T21:34:55Z")
Congrats! Keep coming back! twicks (another Friend of Bill’s – Bill W., that is 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/14 "2003-05-04T21:35:12Z")
Thats great! Don’t forget to go back and read that post from 6 months ago to remind yourself how bad it was then. Reading it helped me remember all the “fun” drinking brought to me. Congratualtions! ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/15 "2003-05-04T22:14:47Z")
Congrats Scott. It’s nice to hear good news from dopers we care about. Keep on, keeping on, we’re all rooting for you! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/16 "2003-05-04T22:23:10Z")
Oh, **scott** , I’m so proud of you. You are an inspiration to other recovering alcoholics. Keep up the good work!! ---
**Author:** ![Payton\_s\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@Payton\_s\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payton_s_Servant)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/17 "2003-05-04T22:25:08Z")
Congrats! By the way, how’s **EvilBunny** doing? Chewed the place to bits yet? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/18 "2003-05-04T22:31:14Z")
Many many congratulations! Keep up the good work and keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Chief\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/19 "2003-05-04T22:47:20Z")
Congrats, Scott! That’s fantastic. I just passed the one month mark, so I must confess I’m a bit envious. 😉 Hang in there, buddy! ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045/20 "2003-05-04T23:02:15Z")
Whoopie! Congrats, Scott!! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-months-sober/173045.md?page=2)