My life without alcohol

I'm 1½ years sober. This is, without a doubt, the very best thing I have ever done with my life. I know I had it easier than many others, I didn't suffer any physical withdrawal and the psychological withdrawal wasn't awful.

Being alcohol free (not even wanting to take one single social drink) represents nothing but freedom for me. I feel free.

My biggest wish, is that others who suffer alcohol demons, can feel this freedom.

I get emotional about it, particularly considering I am losing my mother to this addiction.

My heart goes out to you all.

I need to quit alcohol because my doctor said my liver levels were high and said that if it gets too high you get liver damage. I didn't even realise I was addicted to alcohol until my psychologist told me. At the moment Im trying to just cut down to just drinking on the weekends. I find it impossible to fully quit alcohol because I get really bored. Like i have less interest in watching movies, socialising, listening to music, etc while sober. I can still play video games sober though for some reason.

So yeah Im just hoping to cut down to just the weekends.

I do understand the boredom. Everything seemed "brighter" when I was on a buzz. Maybe not so much when I got flat out drunk - but yes, everything seemed more interesting. And I would look forward to evenings so that I could get my "high". But on the ugly side, I'd hardly ever remember going to bed. I'd sleep for a few hours and then not at all. I'd not remember fights I'd start with my husband and son. I was always exhausted the next day - doing only what I had to and little else more.

One of the highlights, even if it seems small, is that I have not vomited since the night I quit (19 July 2015) and I was getting sick every single time I drank. (Which was every night). This is really a big deal to me!

ozm8ey, I wish you strength. Baby steps!

Hooray Sabrina. I also really got "in the zone" and very accepting and grateful for my sobriety at about 18 months.

For me, it has only gotten better. Giving back is also a great feeling!

*high fives*

moogs

Doing that is not likely to be of much help in relation to your liver, and it will likely also result in an increase of troubled times during the week. To learn more about yourself in relation to possible alcoholism, try cutting back to never having more than two drinks per day and with at least two hours in-between...and let us know how that goes.

It's amazing how wonderful life without alcohol can be! Welcome to the club Sabrina!! I'm so tickled for you!

I'd like to agree with what's already been written...A sober life is a good life, in my experience. Drinking out of boredom isn't a good trade off for feeling like crap emotionally & physically after. I don't know what your diagnosis is, ozm8ey, but alcohol is a depressant, so it's really unwise to drink if you have a tendency towards depression...not to mention the ill effects when you mix alcohol with meds & its wear & tear on your liver. This may sound strange, but after getting a bit sober I had/have A LOT of fun going to AA meetings...There's a saying: We are not a glum lot. You might give that a chance, not only for support, but also to have some fun.

Congrats, Sabrina! I know how hard it is to quit & to admit there's a problem. I'm glad you're enjoying the wonderful feelings of sobrity!

Congrats Sabrina and well done.

I will be getting a tattoo to celebrate my sobriety - it's a whimsical piece of an infinity sign, with a bird and the word freedom underneath. (Can't find a picture of it on line but I have the pic on my phone). I weighed up the date I stopped, and the word strength but those did not best represent what I feel, and that is freedom. I am hoping to get it in the new year. Both wrists are taken so it will have to be my foot

congratulations Sabrina on your 18 months of sobriety. I like your idea for a tattoo. I'm going to get one, when I hit one year of sobriety.

splitimage

Congratulations Sabrina....18 months is an accomplishment to hold on to...for dear life!

Dear Sabrina,

may I ask what you mean with this ? Is your mother drinking ?

Yes gmts, my mother is in end-stage alcoholism. We almost lost her in December. Her last drink was end November and she became desperately ill from withdrawal and delerium tremens. She is doing better now. I do hope she doesn't relapse. It is been a very tough road for her.

Hats off to your sobriety for that long Sabrina, sadly I only made it 7 months last year...i still socially drink, and I've cut way back....bit i somehow feel that im still kidding myself.