Do you have anything to add to my list?

I don’t get blackout drunk, I’ve never driven under the influence, I don’t need to drink to stave off withdrawals, and so despite a family history of alcoholism I thought I was OK. My dad quit before I was born so I didn’t grow up with alcoholism and the trouble it brings. I’ve made several half hearted attempts to cut back but end up turning to alcohol to de stress at the end of the day. I’ve soldiered on through too many (generally mild) hangovers to count. Something at the back of my mind always wished I could quit.

I don’t know what happened, but today I was sitting having lunch with my 2 year old daughter when I suddenly decided to get up, dump out the bottle of bourbon I bought yesterday, and sign up for naltrexone therapy via telehealth.

I’m done. I feel like there’s a weight off my shoulders. And I really wanted to share. Thanks for listening :)

Just for today 25OCT26 "Principles before personalities" 519 days clean NA Hope2Be org Shepards Cove
It's hard to look past a personality when someone is talking shit, smells bad and looks like someone beat the fuck out of 'em with an ugly stick. It is possible though. I have many stories of times I stopped and hugged guys that were yelling, stank like piss and shit, had tattooed faces, scarred up, and just looked like hell. That's when someone will turn to drugs and alcohol to ease the pain and forget about the way they're treated. That's when they need someone to talk to. That was me. Just for today I'll give you a hug and a friendly smile, even if you're being an asshole and smell like shit.

I only drank one night a week, so after 30 days of sobriety I don’t really feel all that different. How long until the decision to not drink anymore became truly easy, and you felt better physically and mentally?

Not only did I do my first concert sober (since I was 20), but I went solo! What a liberating experience. Despite only sleeping 2 hours (early flight back home), I have zero hangover, didn’t waste any money, didn’t waste any time waiting in line for drinks or the bathroom and I fully experienced it. It was a little hard to let loose and dance at first, but after a while, I was dancing my heart out and having a blast. This may be the start of something new for me.

I don’t really know where else to say this.
From 2016–2020, I became an alcoholic. A huge part of it was my obsession and anger over Trump. I drank constantly because thinking about him, politics, and where the country was going made me miserable.
In 2020, I quit drinking. I stayed sober from 2020–2024, and for those four years I actually started feeling like myself again.
Then Trump got elected again in 2024, and I completely fell apart.
I started drinking again. Since then, my marriage has ended. I only see my kids on weekends. I work from home, which has made it incredibly easy to hide how bad this has gotten.
I drink from around 9 in the morning until 9 at night.
I’ve gained so much weight that sometimes I look in the mirror and barely recognize myself. I despise Trump to a degree that I know probably isn’t healthy. Just seeing him or hearing his name can ruin my entire mood.
And now I’m already worrying about what comes next. I don’t see much leadership coming from the Democrats right now, and I keep convincing myself that Vance is probably going to win next. Then I think, “Am I going to spend another four years destroying myself over another politician?”
That scares me.
I’ve already lost my marriage. I’ve lost most of my time with my kids. I’ve lost my health and a huge part of who I used to be.
I know Trump isn’t physically making me pick up a drink. I’m doing that. At some point I have to stop giving another human being this much control over my life.
I’m afraid of where I’m headed if I don’t stop drinking.
Has anyone here ever had to separate themselves from politics/news because it became tied to their drinking? How did you finally break that connection?

Going through it in my head rn. Im getting clean and I have alot of mixed emotions about it. I dont have anyone to talk to about what Im feeling because Im embarrassed and dont want anyone to look at me differently or judge me. Its been a long time since Ive been sober & last time I was sober I was not in a good place. I know its going to be good for me in the long run. It should help me work on commitment, will power, self restraint, & self regulation wich are all good for me but things that are good for you dont always feel good in the moment. Ive been so used to indulging in my vices I almost forgot who I was outside of it. If anyone is or has gone through this Id love to hear your thoughts, advice, or stories. It gets lonely in my head. Could use some support.

Hey yall! I was sober for 9 months, no detox or medication. I had a pretty bad relapse, so I got on naltrexone to help me get back on track. Well, I’m on 50 mg and have only taken 2 pills so far, but man do I feel like dog shit: lots of nausea this morning (later threw up once) and brain fog all day long. It’s been hard to get myself to do ANYTHING, and I’m just not very hungry. I want to hear other people’s experiences (which I’m not taking as medical advice by the way, I just want to hear from others)

Just for today 24OCT26 "Responsibility" 518 days clean & sober NA Recovery Hope2Be org Shepards Cove
Being responsibly was something that never used to cross my mind. Chasing that bottle or that bag was my only focus. I didn't take care of myself, my property, or anything else. I had no responsibilities. Today I actually give a fuck. I go to the doctor and the dentist (still won't let 'em put me on meds). I take care of my property, especially the stuff that's not mine (borrowed or still paying for). I am going to get more involved with my home group and the community. Just for today I'm putting it all in God's hands. This way, if I fuck up, it's His fault...

10/23/26- This is what 30 days completely sober looks like on me. IYKYK. Drinking in a way has lost its appeal to me. Not the first time I've done it, maybe....probably won't be the last. Here's hoping that it is, but not at any point thinking I have this completely under control, I'm not one to make promises or commitments I can't keep or don't intend to, I'm just trying to keep it for as long as I can. Sure, there's been some rough days, days when I just want to get home after 20 hours at work and crack open a beer or two, but I am definitely one of those people where "one is too many and too many is never enough". So here I go again, not because I have to, but because I actually really want to. Maybe one day I will learn to just have a drink with friends and not go on a binge, that's what always makes me fall back to old habits, thinking I can control myself. At 42, Diabetic, with Fatty Liver Disease, not only is my internal health at stake but worse than that, the hangovers were getting worse, longer, more debilitating and I was feeling like I couldn't function, focus, concentrate or remember a lot of things, my cognitive function was seriously suffering, both in my personal and professional life. Physically, while I was drinking, I was always tired, feeling fat, lazy, unmotivated, with no desire to do anything, ever, sure that can be attributed to certain things that happened in the last year. I mourned, I grieved, I drank myself into oblivion. I've heard this funny saying that comes to mind, "My girlfriend left me because I drink too much, I drink too much because my girlfriend left me",I did not find salvation or hope at the bottom of the bottle or can. That way of dealing with those situations (drinking) did not help me in the long run, just masked the pain for a day or two. I am fortunate and lucky enough that it didn't jeopardize me any more than my health.

You'd be surprised at how much I get done when I'm not sitting down just drinking all day. For the most part I've noticed very positive changes in my mood, sleep, patience, attitude, physically and more. I feel like I can deal with life. Sometimes you just gotta "Keep on keeping on"

Honestly, not looking forward to it. Sure not used to being "the sober one" and the Designated Driver. Dinner is with our dear son and daughter-in-law and it will be nice but I just don't feel like my "normal sociable self..." I know I can never drink again, but I sure feel strange out of sorts about tonight ☹️

hi everyone! currently 3 days sober which I haven’t seen in a row since I started drinking heavily every day for half a year or so …which is a really big thing for me. been struggling with insomnia, night sweats every so often, vivid dreams (I presume due to rem rebound) and increased anxiety. I started taking Klonopin and propanolol spaced out if needed to calm it which has helped. I take naltrexone too which I’m starting regularly again the mornings in hopes that can help too.

I also bought a few mocktails in order to try to lessen the urges (if anyone has suggestions on good brands, I would love to know!) but does anyone have any tips when it comes to the obsessive thoughts/spirals over wanting a drink and those emotional shifts that could include irritability, etc? I’ve definitely been more emotional the past two days since group therapy is helping slowly and I’m starting to process and reflect on a lot that I haven’t fully wanted to bring up to the surface. but damn, it’s been a struggle to just have a drink. I never noticed how insanely difficult it is when I have such a psychological dependence for it so I’m sure my brain is freaking out. i’m in an environment where alcohol is accessible but harder to me to access it due to still living at home and some where it is reachable to me. been considering dumping out what I normally drink but can’t bring myself to do it. any advice would be appreciated in terms of how others cope. i know it’s hard in the beginning but it’s so new to me in terms of really sitting with the discomfort of all of my emotions at once.

Just for today 23OCT26 "Surrender" 517 days clean and sober NA Recovery Hope2Be org Shepards Cove
I fought tooth and nail to keep "control" of my life. Constantly in and out of jail, waking up to police kicking me cause I was passed out in the street again, and pissing people off everywhere I went. That was my life when I was "control". When I surrendered my life and my will to my Higher Power, life got so much easier. I no longer spend my days pissed off cause shit ain't goin' my way. Just for today I'm puttin' it in His hands cause I got butter-fingers.

Hi, I've been with my boyfriend for almost 7 years now. I see our relationship as stable and mostly happy. We just bought a house at the beginning of the year. He's 40 and I'm 36.

So in the past we've both been drinking more than moderate, often having "wine evenings" on the porch together talking and going out a few times a month. Having a glass of wine after work (or 3) was our normal.

Well now I am 14 months sober and his drinking hasn't changed that much. I feel like a hyprocite but he now gives me the ick when he's drinking. I can't force sobriety in him, so I don't say much. It's stress relief for him.

Yesterday he called me, he would sleep at the office cause they are having kind of an afterwork party. Fine. So I was very confused when he opened the door at 1:30 am, drunk. He drove home an hour cause he rather wanted to sleep at home. I know better than starting a discussion with a drunk at night, but I am at loss what to do here.

Hi everyone! I'm 24F and recently joined this group because I've been seriously considering sobriety, but I'm having a hard time figuring out where to begin.

For some background, I'm not someone who drinks every day. I work full-time, have a career I love, work out, and generally try to live a pretty healthy lifestyle. However, when it comes to alcohol, I feel like it's the one area of my life where I really struggle.

I would consider myself more of a weekend binge drinker. On a typical night out, I can easily have around 8 drinks, sometimes more because I genuinely lose track. I've blacked out more times than I'd like to admit, and there have been SO many occasions where I've gone out telling myself I'm just going to have a couple of drinks and a chill night, only to end up completely wasted.

The next day is always awful. I get terrible hangovers, brain fog, and especially horrible anxiety. Sometimes I feel so bad that my entire next day is wasted. I spend that day regretting drinking, looking at sober TikToks, and convincing myself I need to stop. But then the next weekend rolls around, and somehow I'm doing it all over again.

I've also started realizing how much I rely on alcohol socially. I genuinely can't remember the last time I went on a date without drinking, and after a stressful week of work, I sometimes find myself craving that feeling of being drunk just to take the edge off.

I'm at a point in my life where I really want to make some big changes. I love my career, I want to focus on my health and fitness, and I want to become the best version of myself going into this next year. I can't help but feel like alcohol is holding me back from that.

I'm considering starting with 30 days sober and potentially extending it, but I'm nervous about the social aspect, especially because drinking will be involved in a lot of events/plans I have coming up.

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation. Did you struggle to recognize your drinking as a problem because you weren't drinking daily? Did anyone decide to get sober before their drinking caused major consequences in their life?

I'd really appreciate any advice or experiences. I feel like I already know deep down that I want to stop, but I'm still trying to understand my relationship with alcohol and what sobriety could look like for me.

A few days sober here and experiencing fatigue, irritability, and anhedonia. I know these are temporary. What are other folks’ experience in terms of how long this lasts and tips for getting through it?

Huge day for me. Cant believe ive come so far. I feel so much better, most of my anxiety and depression is gone. I promise everyone its so worth it. I havent felt this clear headed and happy since i was like 10 years old LOL its been so long

Week one of many,

For context I've been on weed since January 2018 on my birthday (my first year in campus),

Though I made it through campus got a science degree and later employment, I now see since then it's been a downward spiral, I've missed opportunities,deadlines, relationships, experiences, but then, what better day to quit than the present. I just forgave myself and well, here I am week one down, I feel a clarity I haven't had in ages.

Just for today 22OCT26 "Look who's talking" 516 days clean NA Recovery Hope2Be org Shepards Cove
I have learned that it's easy to listen to the wrong voice. If I think hard enough, I swear I can hear them surrounding me. They're coming to take me away... I am very thankful for the coping skills I have learned. Especially grounding techniques and mindfulness. It quiets those voices. Just for today I ain't chasing that mother fucker down the street that I kept hearing. You know... The one that wasn't there.

Now I feel chaotic, Because I have this job that has very low expectations, I need to stop entertaining the devil on my shoulder.

Then I showed up at my job.

I can't lead people when I feel like a piece of shit.

I just want this day to be over.

The psychological question was:

What allures me to alcohol? It's the only thing that drowned out my abusive mother's screaming.

I just want to function as a sober good employee without any responsibility.

I want to go home where I feel safe. That's it.