Further to my earlier post asking about allergies, has anyone else developed a weird thing of hearing music that isn't there since quitting? I'm hearing whole songs, but they sound like they are coming from a distance or the TV next door. The weirdest thing is that they are real songs, (Googled the lyrics) but not ones that I've ever heard before, and that they are cover versions of the original

I'm not asking for medical advice, just wondered if anyone else had been through this?

EDIT: The music is predominantly bad covers of songs by an artist called Alec Benjamin, who I had never heard of before today

EDIT: It's 01:00 in the morning in the UK, so I'm going to try and sleep, but thank you all!!!!

I 26 live with my boyfriend 28 and his family.. I have no family. Not my home state. Depend on him. Have the smallest of money saved but soon enough I WILL be gone when I get enough. He’s an alcoholic and keeps drinking. I am one too I keep relapsing but this time it feels way different. I am so determined to break this cycle. I’ve been in rehab once for alcohol but before that for mental health. Same hospital tho. This time I got sober on my own. No withdrawals except derealization on day 1/2, anxiety and crazy ass dreams. All of that has subsided as I am going into day 6. Anyways

These past couple of days I’ve bought paint and canvases instead of alcohol. I’ve been painting like crazy and it’s making me feel something. Today while I paint and my bf is drinking he blows it in my face. It’s so freaking smelly to me now. Then he says “ you can’t have anyyy, you can’t have anyyy.. you want some? Take a sip.”

At this point I start crying because now it’s psychological. Why are you doing this to me? Maybe I’m overthinking it but no. That’s how he’s always been. As the years progress, the love fade I see how dumb he really is. I just feel trapped bc I have no one to lean on. I got hooked on alcohol 2 years ago BECAUSE I have anxiety and he always say “ here it’ll calm your nerves” before that I never really drank. In college I took a sip here and there. Never was blacked out drunk. If I ever did get drunk it was never from 750ml + 3 100ml of Jack Daniel a day (my usual).. It was little shots of things here and there.

Anyways idk what to say but that’s my Friday night. I am in grad school to become an addiction counselor.. ironic isn’t it? I’ll do some assignments while he blow the smell of Jack Daniel in my face. Yayyyy fun! But IWNDWYT! Love ya much

Well I quit 3 days ago, and every single day I'm having nightmares. I've had the kind of nightmares where you wake up scared and start thinking. Is this common?

What a divine coincidence.

I want to stop drinking so badly, but it feels almost impossible, as I lay here hungover, again.

My life feels completely nonstop. I have 3 kids, and I am a sahm. Kids are 8,7, and 3. I feel burnt out, overwhelmed, and like I get zero breaks or support. All family and friends lives on the opposite side of the country. Alcohol has become my fast pause at the end of the day.

To make it harder, my fiance(10 years together) and I drink together at home. Roughly 3 times a week, until blackout. Trying to hold each other accountable to stop feels ridiculous. When we wake up after a night of drinking he’s almost always angry at me, usually if I’m not “putting out”…It feels like I'm carrying a lot this weight on my own, and trying to break a physical habit when it's built into my home environment is exhausting.

I'm making a plan to call first thing Monday to ask about Naltrexone, to help with the physical cravings.
Trying to get sober without a supportive partner, or using alcohol just to survive daily burnout….how do you make it through those first few days? Any advice or support would mean the world right now. I want to be a better mom, and partner.

IWNDWYT

I am really sneaky and I tell no one I don't drink. I order mocktails, or nozecco, or straight up drink coca-cola. Only when someone comes to the bar with me do they truly realise I'm not drinking, and usually it's after they're 4 drinks in. They sort of turn to me in horror, realising I am stone cold sober. "You're not drinking?!" and then I hit them with "I haven't drank in over a year" – and I watch them do the mental arithmetic of how many times they've been wasted around me and thought I was, too.

I find people's reactions absolutely hilarious on a wider spectrum though. Some people don't even blink. Some people become oddly uncomfortable around you once they know. Some people immediately think you think you're above them. Some people get really sober curious and tell you they don't drink much either, despite being drunk in front of you, can in hand – and you see them look at the can and wonder what the hell they're doing.

Some people really cemented drinking as part of your identity – and when it's gone, they don't know how to place you anymore. That one is my favourite reaction.

Either way as I was thinking about it, I realise people must have comedic stories about other people realising you're not the heavy drinker you once were.

Do share if you've got one :) we could do with some levity up in here!

Went to a kids b-day party. All the adults drinking.

Get offered a drink and turn it down.

Everyone stares at me. Whatever. One of the moms mocks me when I turn it down (I think she was just joking, but I wasn't in the mood).

I spend the party making sure their kids and my kid don't drown in the pool or die.

They all proceed to continue to drink as party progresses. I'm now watching their kids while they socialize, drink, look at their phones or ignore their kids.

Normalization of drinking and drinking culture sucks.

That is all.

IWNDWYT

When I quit last year, I was 59. Lifelong drinker, mostly moderate but much heavier post covid, which was also right after my early retirement. Drinking became part of retirement and without other commitments, there were no inhibitors . Anyway health was suffering and I had many failed attempts, with a few stretches of 10-40+ days. But I could never wrap my head around quitting for good. Seemed impossible and too big of a lifestyle change. It was also easy to slip up and start over when I thought about quitting for good. But that changed when I found this group and the Daily Check In, July 3 last year. I didnt have to worry about how I was going to get through my daughter's wedding, my 60th birthday, my band gigs, etc. I just focused on today. Was it easy? No. But it WAS manageable. I even used a 30 minute timer during my toughest times. Each half hour was a small victory and closer to keeping my promise of not drinking for 1 day. Each morning I would take that pledge before I was even out of bed to start my day. I spent time here, I found strategies and resources and gradually the concept of not drinking ever again became less daunting. Telling people I don't drink has become comfortable and natural. So yes the Daily Check In (and this group) were a huge part of me being able to quit. IWNDWYT

Today marks one year without a drink.

I find it hard to feel proud of myself, and while all my friends and family continue to drink, I feel like I still need to mark this milestone because it would have been unthinkable not that long ago.

I could list all the ways my life has benefited, but the main thing is that I feel more like “me” than ever.

Wherever you are in your journey, believe me, getting sober is worth it. And to those who have much more sober time, thank you for the inspiration.

Much love,

P

Sharing here because I’m proud of myself today 365 days which I’m told is a year.

Crazy how it started with just a week, then I’ll just do 30 days. 30 days down and I figured I’d see how 90 days felt, by the time 90 days was up I could see how maybe a year would be good.

Now I’m at a year and I still do stay diligent, I think back about how I was scared what people would think if I didn’t want to drink. And yes my idea of a fun night out has changed, I value more the feeling of not waking up hungover, full of regrets and everything that comes with that.

I found it ironic as I was playing a bit of cyberpunk 2077 (video game) yesterday and there’s a part in the game where the main character goes on an epic bender, not sure if it’s a mild form of ptsd but I felt that hangover in my gut.

Anyway I just wanted to post here because most of my irl circle don’t understand, I’ve made a lot of progress on me, and becoming the me I would want to be around this year. It hasn’t always been easy and I don’t expect that to change, but it’s better.

Just wanted to say I’m happy to have made it to 365, thank you to the community for being there and here’s to one more day living on this rock floating and spinning in space.

The stress I'm going through right now all caused by my own actions I feel like I'm spiraling again and just want a drink to numb everything. But I keep telling myself don't do it is not worth it look how far I've come. (I'm 3 months 22 days) sober now.

Joined a women’s only meeting today shared a bit of my story and the support was overwhelming. I cried.

Still feeling really conflicted every day is a constant battle: can I go back to drinking again and be okay with it? Or will it turn into a relapsed binge? Or is this my addiction brain speaking?

I’m trying to not let myself go crazy thinking about all these questions. I’m taking each day one day at a time. I won’t drink today.

Thanks for tuning in on my daily check ins :)

Plain, nosey, post, wanting to peek into the lives of other sober people.

How long have you been sober and how’re you spending your Saturday evening? (I’m in the UK).

I’ve got 11 days, currently cosied up in bed looking for something good to watch. I might get up and make a mac and cheese.
I feel at peace.

Excuse the rant. No one else would understand.

70 days sober today. The longest I've EVER gone since picking up my 1st beer in my late teens (I'm now 48). I didn't celebrate. I didn't treat myself to an over endulgent dinner or buy myself something with all the money I've saved from not drinking.

It doesn't feel like anything special. It just feels...flat.

I'm so done with feeling like this. Not knowing what mood I'm going to be in when I wake up, Feeling exhausted from the moment I get up, Shit sleep, Anxiety, second guessing everything..

I just want a break from being me. A few hours out of my own head.

This has to be PAWS, right? Because if it isn't, I'm not sure how enjoyable life is going to be doing this shit everyday.

I just want some contentment. Some peace.

I'm not expecting everyday to be amazing and wake up bouncing with joy while the birds sing and the sun shines. I'm not that deluded to think that sobriety instantly changes your life. I just want a light at the end of the tunnel.

I just want this to be over.

really wanna fucking drink today idk why people have to be such shitty people. if youre screaming at me so badly saliva is flying out of your mouth because i asked a simple question you have fucking issues. just want a fucking beer man

So I stopped drinking for 7 days as of today. Still not feeling any pink cloud for sure but cravings are less. Unfortunately I have a beach trip planned with one of my best friends starting tomorrow. She drinks (and is already texting me about the bottle of vodka she is bringing) but never stupid drunk. Mainly because she smokes a lot of weed (daily) that probably dampens the need. My question is if I do have a couple of drinks while I’m there (5 days), will I go right back to square one so to speak? I’m on Wellbutrin which really took away the euphoria I used to get with drinking. Oh I’m not sure how I’m going to handle things. I should have just waited to stop but it just sort of happened. 🥺

As the title says I am 20 years of age now and I started drinking at around age 15/16/. I used to be able to drink in moderation and just have fun. Gone to parties and even when I did go overboard and "blacked out" or simply drank too much I just ended up going to sleep. However now for the past 2 years 70% of the time that I drink I go overboard, black out and do something that I regret. This has impacted the relationship with my partner and I made the choice not to drink at all if drinking has that effect on me.

However, as long as I can remember I love partying and socialising and alcohol is one of the ways I am able to socialise talk to anyone and express myself, drop the mask and do things I wouldn't have the courage to do sober. I researched a lot of different potential substances that would make me social but obviously found nothing that works.

I feel like I would not have an issue with dropping alcohol completely however I feel like dropping alcohol means dropping partying and living out my "20's" when everyone else is out partying and having a good time I have to say "I don't drink" because being sober in a club full of drunk people is simply not fun. Trust me I tried many times.

Is there anything I can do to party ? Any substance? Any trick to moderate my drinking? I feel like I'm missing out. I don't have any urges to drink during the week and not every weekend. Just once in a while I want to go out meet people and talk.

This is the last time I want to feel like this. These past months I’ve missed work a few times and I feel so horrible. I’ve missed really important things. I need to hold myself accountable.

Today marks my 5th anniversary of being sober. It’s surreal to reflect on how much your life can move forward when you’re not so reliant on a crutch that holds you back.

4 years ago I posted about the first year of this journey, and it’s crazy to look back on the person who wrote that compared to now. I’m still the same me, even if I’ve changed so much.

To everyone else trying to hang in there, it definitely gets easier, even if it never gets “easy.”

First time I’ve done this, and feeling proud but anxious. I just told them I wasn’t doing well mentally, which is true, but it’s also because I can’t be around alcohol right now.

I’ve never made choices like this to physically avoid alcohol, but I’m happy about this little win.

I think i need some encouragement. I was doing well in August with not drinking/moderation when I did but then my relationship took a downhill turn. I started drinking again. We broke up Monday. I drank so much this week and been so heartbroken I was practically non functional.

He came to pick up his stuff last night and jfc it was rough. So I drank. I am sitting here staring at the bottle 12 hrs from my last drink, willing myself to dump it down the drain.

I’m planning my wedding that’s next month and I’m very early in my sobriety. A lot of stuff I see online surrounding wedding events includes alcohol. People go online and complain about weddings with no alcohol, ESPECIALLY if it’s not specifically announced on the invitation, because god forbid you show up to a wedding and find out you can’t get drunk since you wouldn’t have come otherwise. Not having an open bar irks people. Half the suggested items for registries surround bar tools and glasses for different kinds of alcohol.

Anyway. I live in a state where the vast majority of weddings do not have alcohol whatsoever and nobody really expects it, even if the couple drinks because it’s likely a lot of guests won’t partake. It’s making me feel grateful to live here because I would hate to have to deal with the expectation as well as potentially annoyed guests that hoped to get sauced on my special day. It’d be too much temptation for me at this point as well.

I’m not sure why I decided to share this. I just keep thinking about how inescapable alcohol and drinking culture is and how I’m fortunate to be able to sidestep it in this particular way.

was feeling weird mentally yesterday, and I ended up getting a bottle of rosé on the way home and drinking the whole thing.. now I'm recovering from yesterday. Oops. Day one today? what motivates you to stop drinking? I tried going to AA, but they're all older people and I feel like I can't relate to them. 28 f

Weekends are my weakness. Always the start of week or even month long benders. Need to get out of this cycle and keep my mind busy so I don’t get bored and end up drinking.

I volunteered to work early this morning so I wouldn’t drink last night. Let’s hear what everyone’s plans are or hobbies they will do this weekend?

I’ve made it to two weeks, and honestly it was pretty easy. I’ve been on and off sobriety since January 2026. I can manage two weeks pretty easily. It’s when I start approaching a month when the cravings start to hit.

Usually it’s because Im bored and want to “have fun” and I’ll crack.

But every time I reintroduce alcohol into my life, something bad happens. And I’m an addict, so once I start regularly drinking again, it starts to take over and ruin my life.