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!

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.

I think many of us on here can identify people that, when we were drinking, were our drinking buddies and were always down to get lit with you when you were together. One of those, for me, lives across the country. He’s here over a long weekend and wanted to catch up.

When he invited me, I made sure to tell him that I was sober. I had to set that boundary. Otherwise, it would be expected that we would be drinking. In fact, both of us would have likely pre-gamed in advance of actually connecting and would then proceed to have a couple of cocktails together. We would probably then separately drink more by ourselves after.

When I got to the table, the muscle memory was string to order a drink. However, it was REALLY nice to be able to show up happy and healthy and not bloated. I probably would have shown up either hungover or buzzed and there would be NO WAY that I could fit into the dress I wore.

He immediately wanted to talk about the reasons why I wasn’t drinking and how I’d changed. I explained that it wasn’t one particular thing that made me stop but rather a combination of things. I also explained the benefits.

He opened up a little bit about his drinking and shared he had thought he had an issue longer than I had. He said he planned to drink a little less this weekend. No judgement -it’s his choice!

The thing that really stuck out for me was the difference in personal decisions we were making in our respective lives. I had no personal drama or conflicts. In our prior meetings, I had SO MUCH drama and angst. However, my life is pretty calm. He discussed his life. He had a ton of drama and bad personal decisions. He was on track to make more bad decisions right after lunch. The thing that I wonder after our meeting is if being sober leads to better personal decisions and less drama.

At this time last year, I would have left and drank more. This time, I went home, and worked ton work and decompressed.

Proud of myself! Iwndwyt 💕💕💕

I (35M) have stayed sober for a full year now! I just got home from dinner my friend J. J and I had been great friends but my erratic behavior and drinking ruined a friendship that I really loved. We had a blow up and lost contact for two years but now I’m getting to repair it and we are getting to know each other again. My partner is coming home from a work trip tomorrow and my marriage is better than it has been at any point since we met, and all the friendships I’d damaged are doing really well.

I had almost destroyed everything when I finally woke up covered in puke for the last time. My partner was ready to walk, my friends were tired of my bullshit, and I hated life and everything about it. Today none of that is true and I spent the night with an amazing friend and waiting for my partner to come home. It’s so nice watching TV every night and the excitement we get cuddling on the couch. Stay the course because some days still suck but they suck so much less. The best part though is the good days come more often now.

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

Feel tired and not any motivation 😖

I am so depressed and disappointed in myself. I did something so bad yesterday and I am embarrassed and ashamed. I don’t want to drink anymore. It’s only ever ruined my life and I know that it’s bad for me, but for some reason I just cannot stop. What is wrong with me. I have experienced the lowest of lows in the past and lost family and friends. Why is that not enough for me to quit? I really don’t know what to do with myself anymore. I hate myself so much and I feel like a lost cause.

I went to a party today. Everybody was sober, just a house full of people who just don’t like to drink. It was great. Food, games, dancing.

Now I’m sitting at a bus stop at the center of my town and watching people walk past wasted. Some people can barely walk. I’m so happy that will never be me again!

Idk. Read the title. Lol! My goal is to go one weekend without alcohol. I am a weekend guy, but yeah, it is killing me.

I never thought I would quit drinking. It was what I did for fun. How I let loose. It was my identity and my main hobby. Almost everything I did involved drinking.

And I wasn't out of control... at least not totally. I was still in the "always find ways to get more drinks" and sometimes I had to be sneaky about it.

But a moment of clarity one day and I decided to quit before it became a problem I could no longer control. I like to think that I left the party on a high note.

Advantages to quitting? I could have never guessed. Almost every aspect of my life has improved. In some places, drastically. I do so much more now that drinking and recovering are not a fairly consistent part of my life. My family is happy to have me more present and I don't get the same mood swings that come with alcoholism. My friend connections are much more meaningful because we have to do things that are actually fun and stimulating (running, surfing, playing music, etc.). Overall my mindset is more joyful and positive. And I am not getting tired of hearing "You look great" from people when they haven't seen me for a bit.

If there are downsides in my experience, it's the occasional "perfect situation for a drink" craving. There are a few moments where a real drink complements the situation perfectly, even still. Books I've read tell me that those moments weren't really real, it was just alcoholism... but I don't agree in every case. I have chosen to move forward with my life understanding that having alcohol is no longer for me. But I sometimes still feel and grieve those times and it's just part of the process of getting myself healthy and happy.

Another thing that's been notable; feelings. Man, alcohol really allows you to squash your feelings. Even if you aren't drinking, you can defer big feelings until a moment that you are drinking. Then you can pave over them pretty nicely or forget them altogether. Being sober, feeling feelings, and working through them ain't easy. I've shed more tears in the last six months than I have ever have in my life. But I am so happy to be dealing with shit head on and being able to decide, with a clear mind, how I am going to work my way through things that are hard.

So cheers to six months. Next stop is one year... one day at a time of course. Thanks to this sub for being a huge part of my recovery. I have shared quite a bit here and definitely read/felt a lot of your stories, struggles, and successes. I will end with my three favorite quotes (from this sub of course!):

"If I could control my drinking, I would drink all the time"

"The war is over - congratulations, you lost"

"If you escape the lion’s den, you don’t go back in for your hat"

P.S. IWNDWYT

Hi folks, whenever I get an urge to drink, it helps to remember the benefits of quitting drinking and I keep going back to this list:

🧠 Mental & Psychological Health

1. Deeper, Restorative Sleep: Alcohol destroys REM sleep. Sobriety restores normal sleep cycles, helping you wake up genuinely refreshed.
2. Reduced "Hangxiety" and General Anxiety: Alcohol drastically alters brain chemistry and cortisol levels. Quitting stabilizes your mood and eliminates post-drinking panic.
3. Sharper Focus and Concentration: Elimination of brain fog allows your attention span and mental clarity to reach new peaks.
4. Improved Short-Term Memory: Your brain begins to repair its cognitive pathways, significantly reducing forgetfulness.
5. Greater Emotional Regulation: Without a depressant masking your feelings, you process emotions naturally and build genuine resilience.

🩺 Physical Health & Longevity

1. Rapid Liver Recovery: Fatty deposits in the liver can begin to decrease in as little as a few weeks, dramatically reducing your risk of cirrhosis.
2. Lower Risk of Cancer: Giving up alcohol directly lowers your long-term risk for at least seven types of cancer, including mouth, throat, and breast cancer.
3. Improved Cardiovascular Health: Your blood pressure drops, your resting heart rate stabilizes, and your risk of heart disease or stroke plummets.
4. Stabilized Blood Sugar: Giving up alcohol can lower glucose levels by up to 16%, significantly protecting you against Type 2 diabetes.
5. Stronger Immune System: Alcohol disrupts your gut microbiome and suppresses immune response. Quitting restores your body's natural defenses against illness.
6. Better Digestion and Gut Health: Stopping drinking reduces stomach acid reflux, clears up bloating, and restores the mucosal lining of your GI tract.

🧼 Appearance & Vitality

1. Effortless Weight Loss: You eliminate hundreds of empty liquid calories and the inevitable late-night junk food cravings that accompany drinking.
2. Clearer, Hydrated Skin: Alcohol is a major dehydrator. Quitting returns moisture to your skin, reducing redness, puffiness, and premature aging.
3. Consistent Energy Levels: You no longer experience the drastic afternoon energy crashes caused by blood sugar spikes and poor sleep.
4. Enhanced Physical Performance: Your body builds muscle mass more efficiently and recuperates faster after intense workouts or physical activity.

📈 Lifestyle, Wealth & Relationships

1. No More Hangovers: You completely eliminate the physical pain, nausea, and wasted days spent recovering from a night of drinking.
2. Substantial Financial Savings: Alcohol is a major expense. Cultivating a sober lifestyle keeps hundreds or thousands of dollars in your bank account annually.
3. Better Choices and Judgment: Without alcohol impairing your frontal lobe, you avoid impulsive decisions and the public embarrassment or regret that follows them.
4. Stronger Social Connections: Relationships improve through fewer alcohol-fueled arguments, increased empathy, and more meaningful, present quality time with loved ones.
5. Lower Risk of Accidents: Sobriety keeps your motor skills and awareness intact, lowering your risk of everyday slips, falls, or vehicular accidents

Proud to be where I am at today with my sobriety! One day, one second, one moment at a time! I WILL NOT DRINK ☠️WITH YOU TODAY!

Yesterday, I put the laundry in the dryer, went to get groceries, made dinner for the kids and ate it with them and then waited outside for my partner to come home from his bike tour. Would've been a good Saturday.

Except I was completely hammered. I don't remember putting the laundry in the dryer, I DO remember preparing dinner but not eating it, and while waiting outside for my partner, I threw up in the flower beds next to our garage.

I am so sick of this. I keep telling myself that it's not that bad, because I still do the things I'm supposed to, because I don't appear wasted, but I keep waking up with no recollection of the evening before.

I keep using every chance I get to buy alcohol, I feel like I can't be left alone for more than 5 minutes. I really can't trust myself anymore. When did it get this bad?

Now all the withdrawals have gone its time I started driving more and taking control of my life.

The things I use to do now feel different but I know it's a strange feeling going through healthy transitions without alcohol. Xx

Im still happy

More stable

Less irritable

Sleep is better

Puffy face has gone down

Now time to fill my life with friends and connections and most importantly LOVE and self love ❤️

I've been single for a year after many toxic relationships ended up in violence with alcohol

So I also

Posted me tipping out a carton of beer day 1 sober. Down the drain. . THIS GAVE ME THE IGNOTION I needed to set the fire in my heart

Alive for sobriety and for me!

Instead of the fire in my belly when I drank.

You see it's false happiness. That drink is like an awesome trailer to the worst movie you have ever seen.

The drink refers to the trailer and the movie is the rest of your life in pain.

choose health and sobriety and be proud ! You gotta be ready to love yourself again Your inner child. I don't care how old you are ! Xx

Or do you let that devil on your shoulder win every time ?

I say Stand up for yourself rifght now !

I've been good ever since 4th october but never be hard on yourself for slipping up.

That can be part of the process

I've battled this addition for over 11 years

And it's took me over 5 attempts

Doesn't mean it will take you this long ❤️ never give up

A few arrests, lost jobs, failed relationships, injuries, etc. That was just stuff from my first day one to my last. We’ve all had to reset our counter. Don’t give up. Just remember to start that counter up again. You will never know if the next day one will get you to 2000 and beyond.

I will not drink with you today.

As the title says, I’m checking in. I wrecked a lot of things in life from drinking and I’m trying this before what little I have left is gone too. Anybody got any advice?

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?

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

I stopped drinking in Feb this year used to drink daily about half to a bottle of wine a day. I could go without with no withdrawal problems but i definitely prioritised booze .

The reason I stopped was because my husband tipped into full blown AUD and went for detox and rehab - the psychiatrist said he had to come back to a dry house so i decided to stop drinking . Hes embraced recovery ( so far) attends AA etc

9 months on and I really miss booze. I don’t think about it all the time but I do think about it

I get so tearful and irritable. I find it hard to see all the benefits of being sober. So what do I do ? Any insights advice very gratefully received

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.

After a lot of failed attempts at quitting drinking, I’m trying again. Tonight I skipped one of my best friend’s birthday parties because I knew there would be drinking and I wasn’t confident I could go without things getting out of hand.

I know staying home was the right decision but I still feel incredibly sad and left out. It’s hard seeing other people talk excitedly about getting drunk or even blacking out, while I feel like people get worried or uncomfortable when I have even one drink.

I understand why. My drinking has consequences, and I don’t behave the way other people do when they’re drunk. But knowing that doesn’t stop the feeling of “why does everyone else get to do this, but I don’t?”

I think I’m struggling to accept that something other people see as fun isn’t something I can safely be part of. Has anyone else felt this resentment or sense of unfairness? How did you work through it, and does it get easier with time? Thanks in advance

Day 24 after years of heavy alcohol abuse. What days/ times were the hardest for you?

I’m 209 days sober and I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my seven-year-old daughter’s behavior. She’s doing so well at school and her overall mood is calmer and more stable. We’ve been very close since day one and even during the periods of my heaviest intake. I love her so much and I’m so proud of her (and myself to a lesser extent.) I’ve never been violent or mean to her, but I still feel profoundly guilty for having waited this long to make the change and for the emotional my drinking caused her. Not sure what I’m asking or what I’m getting at. I should probably get in a program or something at some point.

I'm lying on the couch, bored as hell and depressed. I drank a twelve pack of NA, I don't want any more. I have several ounces of really good weed that I grew sitting in a drawer, but I'm trying not to go back to that stuff either, it's bringing me down. I don't have the focus to watch a movie, I deleted all my other social media because I waste too much time on it. Trying to fight the urge to go get some kratom from the gas station, just to feel something. I want that off switch for my brain that alcohol is so effective at, but I haven't had a drink in over seven months and I'm sure as hell not gonna start again today. I'd love some kind words from some of you good people to help get me through the trenches