# Sobriety (short)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [December 29, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510 "2003-12-29T02:55:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/1 "2003-12-29T02:55:33Z")
Until a few weeks ago, at this time of day I’d be quite drunk. Just about able to string a sentence together.
Then I quit.
Now I have no escape. I miss being drunk. Getting drunk was, for me, like switching the brain to “off” for a while. I would look forward to getting home from work, sitting in front of the computer or TV and getting gradually pissed.
But now it feels like the switch is permanently in the “On” position, and I am starting to get really tired and fed up with being ‘on’ all the time. If that makes any sense.
I don’t feel like this every night. Just tonight. It will pass. Don’t feel bad for me.
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### Author:  [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/2 "2003-12-29T03:02:02Z")
Things will get better soon, in both a short-term and long-term sense. You will get used to living sober.
Congratulations on quitting, BTW! You are a very strong person.
If things don’t get better in a few weeks or whatnot, maybe you should look into something less addictive that’s [somewhat] similar to alcohol and has a general depressant effect (I’m thinking of a particular green and leafy one, although we need not recommend/condone illegal activities here). There are some legal analogues of the particular green leaf (which is decriminalized over there, now that I think about it–whatever), but I’m not sure how close the effects are, how addictive/dangerous they are, etc.
Anyway, good luck, and congratulations again on how far you’ve gone.
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### Author:  [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/3 "2003-12-29T03:57:46Z")
Been there, done that. Almost 11 years ago.
It does get better. Really.
My e-mail is below, if you want to talk.
Robin
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/4 "2003-12-29T03:59:17Z")
Mr. Lobbers, we like you regardless of what you do or don’t do.
Any “improvement” you choose to make is your choice. More power to you, brother!
P.S. there are other ways to switch off that don’t require any chemical changes to the brain. You’ll find yours soon, I’m sure.
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### Author:  [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/5 "2003-12-29T04:15:22Z")
Ahh, sobriety can be a bitch.
I am working on 3 months now and it can be a bitch. I relapsed a little while ago and now I am starting all over again. I found that the first month and a half or so left me feeling really wacky and jumpy. I figured out that exercise really helped. I’d just go out and walk around the block until I couldn’t walk anymore.
Slee
You can also email me if you feel the need.
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### Author:  [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/6 "2003-12-29T04:33:37Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by fetus \*
> \*\*Anyway, good luck, and congratulations again on how far you’ve gone. \*\*
D’oh! Meant to say **how far you’ve come**. You get the idea, though.
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### Author:  [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/7 "2003-12-29T04:53:26Z")
Lobsang, I hear you. Turning my brain off was the reason I drank and used drugs until I was 38. Congrats on waking up a lot faster than that.
Go to a few AA meetings. Those folks really know what you are going through, and they can really help, if you listen up and let them. It’s a lot easier to do it with the help of friends and the program than by yourself. Give it a shot, man. Good luck and congratulations again.
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### Author:  [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/8 "2003-12-29T04:58:10Z")
Good luck, **Lobsang**. I did the same thing 26 years ago and today wouldn’t want to take a drink if you opened my mouth and tried to pour it in; I enjoy life too much without it.
I second **essvee’s** recommendation of trying a few AA meetings. It’s worked for millions of people and can be a great way to learn how to live life all over again.
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### Author:  [@DLC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DLC)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/9 "2003-12-29T07:40:32Z")
Interesting. I fail to see what about alchohol is so addictive. I enjoy drinking, do it on a fairly regular basis, but I have no trouble stopping for an extended period of time. Hm. Maybe its just me.
At any rate best wishes and good luck with your sobriety.
-Me, wondering why people would want to be sober anyway.
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### Author:  [@Lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lola)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/10 "2003-12-29T07:50:56Z")
**DLC** , there’s a lot of debate about how people get addicted to alcohol. One theory, basically genetic, is that some people are predisposed towards alcoholism - possibly, they lack the enzyme which breaks it down normally and thus lack the “I’ve had enough” mechanism. Other theories examine social pressures, although from my limited reading, these seem to be falling out of favour somewhat. Also, EVERYBODY who drinks or drank too much failed to see what was so addictive about it. Some people are hooked from their first drink, some people drink normally for years, then develop a problem. Or, this being the pit, a fuckin’ problem.
Point is, it’s difficult to restructure your life and thinking when so much of your time and thought has centred around booze (or anything else addictive, I suppose.) It’s difficult **Lobsang** , but not THAT difficult. Keep it up.
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### Author:  [@DLC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DLC)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/11 "2003-12-29T08:10:39Z")
Sorry I was thinking out… uh… “loud” more then questioning the mechanics of alchoholism and its addictive nature. Speaking personally, most of the time I have no real urge to drink. I enjoy it when I do, but its not like I ever think to myself “damn I wish I was wasted right now” unless its during a really really crappy movie or something. 😉
Late night rambling.
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### Author:  [@Lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lola)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/12 "2003-12-29T08:26:46Z")
No need to apologise. I wasn’t getting at you; just thought you’d be interested. Now me, I can’t understand how people get hooked on chocolate.
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### Author:  [@Lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lola)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/13 "2003-12-29T08:53:08Z")
By the way, Lobsang, try a google search on “smartrecovery”. They’ve got an excellent message board. Can’t remember the exact address - sorry.
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### Author:  [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/14 "2003-12-29T09:14:37Z")
Also **Lobsang** Think of what good you do for your body. Maybe not right now, but in the future. [if you care about that - I didn’t]
No extra wrinkles, no bowel problems, no shaky hands, no yellow skin, etc.
It \*is \* hard to quit. Especially when you drink to give your brain some rest. I still miss it.
Good luck.
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/15 "2003-12-29T09:27:18Z")
This may be deleted, since it’s a post that really doesn’t apply to readers. I’ll make this short, I have to go make another Bacardi/Coke. I suspect (as my doctor) 3 years years ago did. that I have ADD or ADHD. I also am “on” when sober. Tried AA 3 times (cite tbis all who hate me.) Valium kept me working, kept me slowed down enough to run a “normal” life. I guess you could say I was “stoned”, but I could fucntion and do my job.
Point is, I had ADD (ADHD?) for years, I just need soemthing to keep me from being wired.
I forgot where this was going, but damnit I win the argument! OK, maybe not, flame away.
(I SAID I was drinking) 😜
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### Author:  [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/16 "2003-12-29T10:29:44Z")
You expect to get flamed for that? You’ll have to try a bit harder next time, **duffer**.
And good luck **Lobsang**. Hope it works out for ya.
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/17 "2003-12-29T10:41:32Z")
yeah, weak post I had Desmo, just trying to convey how 12-stepping can backfire. This should prolly be canceled, but trust me, Valium would help.
Off to make another Rum drink to celebrate the Packer’s win today!
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### Author:  [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/18 "2003-12-29T10:58:06Z")
**duffer** Valium does help. For a while. Then you need two, then three, etc.
Isn’t there something else you can get for ADD ADHD? Like I said, drinking is great, when you can handle it.
Good luck to you too.
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### Author:  [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/19 "2003-12-29T11:25:16Z")
**Lobsang** , that first month or two is a real rollercoaster. Just strap yourself in and let yourself ride it, because there’s not much you can do to accelerate the process.
After a while, I hope you’ll find sobriety as fulfilling as I do every day, 14 months later.
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2003, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sobriety-short/221510/20 "2003-12-29T12:18:18Z")
Gum, I was just trying to say Valium helps the Hell that is living without booze, most docs don’t realize that ADD/ADHD is a valid medical case, (I hate whiny shit like ADD and Ritilan, but maybe it would do me some good)m Given some valium A(yes, I tried it for a RL trial) It would be good.
Lobsang, e-mail me.
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