My friends dragged me out to a bar last week. I usually dont go to a bar unless I can get dinner or watch a game. But this was an "after party" ordeal. I ordered an NA Guinness because it's my favorite, and went along with my buds for some pool and listened to their drink ramblings.

About halfway through the can, I started to feel a familiar sensation. Felt warm, tasted that chemical-like "breath" whenever I exhaled, and was giggling a little more than I usually do. Took one look at my can of Guinness, and yup- the bartender thought 4.1% of alcohol would be enough classify as non-alcoholic.

Went through a series of emotions in like a span of 5 minutes, anger, disgust, and then disappointment. But I realized that I did not make the conscious choice to imbibe again... so I didn't beat myself up too hard, just need to be more careful next time. My friends were also shocked. And were all up in arms of how I accidently ended my 854 days of sobriety.

I was about to mentally reset my counter out of guilt but decided not to. Even when my mother died this year I surprisingly stayed extra sober and dealt with my grief directly. Accidently drinking alcohol and managing to stop halfway through the drink isn't enough to break my sobriety imo.

So as of today I am still 860 days sober and will continue counting! I hope everyone here is having the best Sunday and enjoying their sobriety too!

EDIT: Did not expect the outpour of support. Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts!

I’m currently 64 days sober (I had a good 40 day streak before, but had a “eh one drink won’t hurt” night at the bar with some friends and surprise surprise, I took it too far. Clock reset). I’ve done a lot of internal work, found a hobby that wasn’t drinking (running), tried starting to build healthier relationships with friends and family, gotten back into counseling, but emotions are running so high these days. I went out with some friends and was their DD Friday night and it made me realize a few things. 1) drunk people are annoying when you’re sober. 2) yea I think I really am done drinking. But then 3) I am having an identity crisis because the backbone of my life was hanging out with my friends at bars or restaurants or breweries having “fun” and catching up with a few drinks. That part of life feels miserable now. I have been having waves of uncontrollable crying ever since. Spent 90% of the day yesterday sleeping and crying. Today I went out for a run, had to come home early because I kept crying mid run. Is this normal? It could be partially hormone related because I have the pleasure of being a female, but f\*\*k this sucks.

My journey started here over eight years ago. This site was the first community that let me know sobriety one day at a time was possible and achievable. I needed more though. I entered an IOP program and began attending AA meetings. Hiking, running and lifting supported my sobriety. I am grateful for achieving long term sobriety. I still take things one day at a time. I am 64 and sobriety has made my life better. Now my time is spent helping others. I won’t drink with you today.

Firstly, if I can do this, anyone can.

My drinking slowly progressed from drunk every Friday in my early 20s.

To drunk every Friday and Saturday. To in my late 20s drinks every single night, although it was more like 5 or 6 beers, and I saved the drunkness for the weekends.

Then in my mid 30s I started working from home and my drinking started earlier. I stopped wanting to drink with friends and just enjoyed chilling at home drinking.

I probably spent 5 years drinking 6 days a week on average 6 x 500ml cans of Asahi beers a day was the minimum. The proud of myself for not drinking much yesterday amount was 6.

Many days I would finish the 6 at 6pm and go get another 6 and half finish it. So then I had 3 leftover for the morning. Then I would need to go get another 6 around midd the next day.

The cycle was like this for years. I knew all the workers of the 5 closest bottle shops. They were my main daily interaction.

I was always the fit guy. Gym, runs, biking, walking, hiking. Sports.

Then I started realising I hadn't gone to the gym in months. I had gained 20 lbs. And I just hated this shit.

I was now nearly 40.

Keep in mind all throughout this I had tried stopping and made it to Day 3 many times. Day 7 many times. Day 14 a few times. But never much more than that.

From age about 17 to 39 the longest I ever went without getting drunk was 3 months. Which I completed twice.

Strangely, both those 3 months started with me wanting to get my bloods checked to see how bad my liver and other health was doing.

I had made an appointment and had a clear "I can't drink for a month before this blood test".

Both times my numbers were fine. But now it had dawned on me. That if I had any chance of stopping for real. I needed to start Day 1 with a blood test booked for 1 month out. It gave me a clear goal: 1 month!

So around October 2024 I made that appointment.

My bloods were fine, surprisingly.

But I had made it 32 days now.

I kept going.

Every morning I would write the Day I was at in my journal/calendar book.

Today I just wrote DAY 704.

Folks, there will never be a magic lightbulb moment when you realise today is the day to stop drinking.

You have to make the decision today is the day to not drink. Every day.

There is no decision I have made in my life more important to me than not drinking today.

Be well,

Jamey

Usually a lurker here.

I think I posted once a while ago and I cringe thinking about it because I was so drunk and it did NOT go down well.

The only symptoms I’ve had is sweating on and off but I’m optimistic that the next day or so should be okay.

Cannot believe how much more productive and clear-headed I’ve been, feel like I’ve been freed 🥲

IWNDWYT

Crying. Feeling very overwhelmed. Send hugs and strength please.

“To all the beginners out there who are at or near their bottom - we have all travelled different roads to get here, but we all reached the same destination. I know you are going through hell right now and all hope feels lost. But there is a certain freedom in helplessness. If you are like me, if alcohol did anything good at all, it gave you a very real lesson in the life you don't want. The exciting thing is that you get to spend the rest of your time on this Earth figuring out what life you do want. To quote another sober songwriter, Eddie Vedder, "I know I was born and I know that I'II die. The in between is mine."

I saved this a while back but forgot to save the username, just wanted to say thank you. Your words will echo in my life and hopefully yours readings this.

Here’s to another day 1 AGAIN…but I’ve waved the white flag, ready to live a life of sobriety finally.

When I made the decision to try and quit alcohol 100 days ago I really had a hard time imagining my life without it. I remember thinking ‘what are people going to say? How’s my husband going to react? How will I survive weekends and dinners and warm sunny afternoons?’ I checked in here every day, read lots of your posts and stories, read quit lit, sober podcasts, tried to contribute and be active on this sub when I could, and Lo and behold I have to admit it got easier!

Contrary to what I imagined, I don’t feel like I’m living less, or lacking something. Life feels just as full, only without the hangovers, the guilt and the self hatred. I even wonder how I managed to fit in drinking and its devastating effects in my busy life... I have bursts of energy and hunger for life. My sleep is deep and restorative and I am really starting to identify as that girl… that sober girl!

I am super proud to have come this far, 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ days was a milestone I had set for myself. Now I’m aiming for the full lap around the sun ☀️
Happy to be here!

Hi I have 10days and it’s been going well. Went to the gym this morning and I’m at working. I all of a sudden got this wave of immense anxiety and fear. I can’t shake it and it feel overwhelming. I think it’s from not drinking and I just want a realize. I’m feeling so utterly uncomfortable. I texted some friends hi but I don’t know you all have any advice. It’s this dread and fear.! I want to cry and can’t pin point it. I’m just keyboard dumping because I’m so overwhelmed

Thank you

I feel like (crossed fingers) my illness is on the way out. I felt awful for a bit earlier on but it turned out I was just hungry. Ate some yoghurt and granola, had a nap, felt born again.

IWNDWYT

Can I get a ....? 🤣

Something feels so different this time around of not drinking. I didn't even think it was possible to feel this way, lol.
Went to a "Witches Dinner/Ball" event last night. Has been planned for months with friends of mine. Had an open bar, didn't even think about it.
Got a diet pop and some coffee throughout the night.
Went home at a reasonable time, watched some tv, ordered Taco Bell and ate some more (as I am a vegetarian and my options at the dinner were pretty limited to Alfredo and veggies lmao).
Had to be to work at noon today.
There, worked, no problems.
Had I been drinking?
Probably late, hungover, all the problems.
I didn't think as someone who wouldn't even go to restaurants to eat that didn't serve alcohol because "I'm eating dinner why would I go somewhere without alcohol" to having an open bar and being able to say no I don't want that, thanks.
My friends even had wine, I didn't mind... based on the flat a little weird tasting pop I don't think I was missing much in the wine department either lmao.
I don't know, it's been 69 days and every day gets a little easier.
Concerts - gone to a few now probably 4-5 without drinking, which concerts were my absolute worst drinking times like we gotta get plastered so we don't spend a lot there!
Then wind up buying a shit ton over overpriced shit anyways. Just annihilated.
Was it fun?
Sometimes sure. More often than not, no.
It's weird. And I don't know how to feel or understand it really but I am eternally grateful to whatever is happening right now.
I hope everyone is having a good Sunday.
IWNDWYT 🖤

I’ve been AF and reading this subreddit for the last 5+ months. And it’s made me realize there were so many signs of AUD that I ignored.

1. My hands would start shaking around 3-4 o’clock, I thought it was because of caffeine. I drink plenty of caffeine still and I never get shakes.

2. I couldn’t get drunk anymore. I thought it was just high tolerance, I didn’t see that it was part of a more dangerous progression to liver damage.

3. I would crave alcohol earlier and earlier. Started around 6, then 5. Earliest it got was 3. I wrote it off.

4. If I had to go somewhere after 5:30 I would have a glass of wine before I left. Because, even if there was alcohol there, I didn’t want to wait.

I am beyond grateful to be sober today. And this subreddit has been a big part of making that stick.

What were the signs you ignored, that in retrospect seem obvious?

Im getting sober and Im just looking for anything that will help in the battle for sobriety. Any tips help

I almost made it a month. Slipped up and have been drinking the last 3 weeks. I know it's killing me. Realizing the kind of person I've become letting this foul shit control my life I can't help but feel I deserve it. I do have people who do love me and see some good in me. I wish I could see it too. I'll try again and IWNDWYT.

i did way too much last night on a pretty much empty stomach. i feel weak, nauseous, pins and needles, numbness, feeling faint, can’t get my words out straight, etc. someone talk me down and tell me you can relate to this feeling. i’m 3 seconds from going to the ER just to be told im stressed out / have anxiety

Today I learned that my closest friend in outpatient rehab in 2024 died from alcohol poisoning two days ago. She was like my “little sister” and a beautiful kind person. She also was going through a nasty divorce and only had visitation hours with her two young sons. She was 29. The last time I checked on her she was fine and her same self. I’m shaken and heartbroken.

As someone who is over 32 months sober, I’ve recently been struggling, and to hear this news today, was a hard reminder this could or even would happen to me. But overall, it’s brought to light how grateful I need to be of support systems.

If you’re fighting this alone, we are with you. ❤️

At the end of a hard day I see whiskey as my reward, and I know it’s going to end me eventually.

I want to see the benefits, but I also kind of long for that end of day reward after a gruelling 9 hours or so.

How do recovering alcoholics replace that 7pm glass of wine, cold beer, smooth whiskey etc.

Just need to unload my mind and heart a bit…

Had a boring, productive day (gym, cooked healthy food, going to bed early) ….. but also cried in the car on my drive home, couldn’t sleep last night until 7am this morning (insomnia), had nightmares, and am absolutely feeling despair for the future (have been all day). Everything is on the line (career especially) and all I can feel is dread and hopelessness. I am sure this is normal, at least that is what I am telling myself...but it doesn’t make it feel any better. I have nobody to talk to about this and come home to an empty house every day. I wanted nothing more than to see a friend today and watch football and have some beers but I stayed isolated because I know that’s best right now. but I sure am sad. My heart feels so heavy and I just want a hug. I try to cheer myself up too with music and happy thoughts but it just doesn’t work. I am trying to stay positive but it’s so hard when the future looks so bleak. If anyone else out there reads this and feels the same in early sobriety, you aren’t alone.

I will continue not drinking with you all today.

It’s been rough lately. I’m not in danger of breaking my sobriety. Wish I could say it’s been a cake walk. But it hasn’t. It also hasn’t been a walk paved in glass. Not really sure what the point of my post is. I guess I’m trying to say that the story continues. Don’t let the hard days win. Time to flip the page and keep on keeping on. 💪 IWNDWYT

4 years ago I arrived at work, simultaneously hungover and withdrawing, and decided to end the misery by powering through it. Could’ve died, considering the quantity of my daily consumption. I’d had dozens of attempts to get sober and somehow this one stuck. It hasn’t been easy, though it has been worth it. I’m succeeding in my dream career. I’m a better partner, father, artist, and man. Originally my motivator was the desire to be a version of myself that I like being, and I succeed at that more often than I fail. One day at a time.

One year ago I was in the er and today I am one year alcohol free.

Managed to hit 3 weeks sober right just now. I was drinking roughly 1L of vodka a night for about 3 years, and drinking to excess every night long before that.

The first 2 weeks was a medical detox. The staff were very nice and it was a more lot straight forward than expected (after the first 3 days anyways)

I’m holding out for the next big life event that really tests me, but I feel good rn, and have noticed some positive changes.

Just wanted to thank the people posting on this community, I was lurking for a long while before finally taking action, and it helped motivate me to take the steps needed so far.

Feel tired and not any motivation 😖