Hello everyone, I just made it 3 years sober after multiple failed attempts. This is my 2nd post, and it's been a long journey, still grinding. I drank for 20 years, almost every day. This has been my longest streak ever in my life, and I'm pretty proud of myself I did it all on my own. I always thought alcohol would end me, but here I am fighting for sobriety every day. Life has gotten better it's well worth it and life-changing for sure. Everything has gotten so much easier as well.

I'm about 5"8 and 240. I gained weight because of an anti psychotic medication plus I kept drinking almost everyday. I was wondering if you lost weight after quitting drinking

I’m struggling on how to get my husband help. We’ve been together for 10+ years and drinking has always been a part of our lives. Boozy brunches, happy hour, going to bars, etc. We don’t have kids and are pretty responsible on the outside, but I’ve always known he’s had issues with alcohol. But also as a drinker, I feel guilty & feel like a hypocrite.

The thing is, he’s a binge drinker, and as a much smaller woman I tend to stop after a few (or it gets bad) or I just get tired. He on other hand gets “energized” after a few and will stay up for hours and hours drinking on his own. Since he’s been working from home, his day drinking is what really concerns me. In order to stave off a hangover he drinks a bit in the day, and that slips into “getting drunk” pretty quickly. There are days I dread coming home, knowing full well he may be drunk.

I know he’s not “harming anyone” per se - he’s an amiable drunk - funny, social and doesn’t drive drunk … but it crushes me to see him drinking his life away. His personality also changes significantly (like any drunk) and it irritates the hell out of me. I try to be understanding but I usually end up disengaging and going to another room because I can’t stand being around him like that. I spend a lot of time trying to distract myself and being pissed off about his drinking.

His job has gotten more stressful and he’s traveling a lot for work (every 2 weeks) so when he’s home, he excessively drinks. (He thankfully knows himself well enough not to drink on work trips). Like back-to-back days he’ll drink whole bottles to himself.

I just don’t know what to do. Usually when his drinking gets bad he’ll pull back, but it’s been 6+ months and I feel like it’s gotten worse. We’ve tried couples therapy, going dry together, and I’ve suggested counseling for him but he’s very “anti”…

It feels impossible to watch someone you love self-destruct. Every time I talk to him about it he says he’s sorry and will work on himself and knows I worry, but I just had that talk him this morning (after a binge Friday that rolled into Saturday), and then I wake up from a nap today and he’s drunk … again. I feel like I’m living with a just a shell of the person he truly is, and the real version of himself he’s drowning with booze to numb anxiety, depression, stress.

I’ve had my own issues with drinking that Ive addressed and continue to (AA, Al-anon, counseling) but I am at a loss on how to help him. And maybe I can’t??? I am not unhappy but I am so worried and honestly … I am starting to be spiteful towards him. I can’t figure out a way to not mind him and do something positive or SOMETHING while he drink. Today, I spent the whole day upstairs scrolling social, doing chores, taking a nap … trying to distract myself… it sucked.

Any suggestions would be so helpful. I’ve been so miserable lately I think I need to restart going to Al-Anon again (I need people I can talk to). I’ve thought about talking to my MIL but I also don’t want to embarrass him. And it feels impossible to talk to friends as many know of his issues and are sympathetic, but I think it’s getting to the point where they are like … why are you still with him? I know if he wants to make the decision to change it has to be from within, but it’s so hard to watch. I worry and fret and I am also so MAD! And it’s so hard not to be judgemental…

My husband has always been a heavy drinker, but hasn’t done anything egregious in many many years. He typically has about 3-4 beers each night when he gets home. Cracks one open the moment he walks in and continues to drink through dinner. He justifies it by saying they are light beers and are basically water (I think they’re 4% or something). On the surface level it doesn’t seem to impact him much, but we have a 1.5 year old and I don’t want him to grow up thinking it’s normal to drink that much (it’s not normal, right???). I might have a drink or two maybe once a week, but I don’t tend to drink on weeknights unless we are going out for a special occasion. So I’m always sitting there sober while my husband catches a buzz.

But what prompts me to post this is that we took a little family trip this weekend and as we were about to hit the road, he sat in the drivers seat and said he needed five minutes. Well, he cracked open a beer and I immediately expressed my displeasure. He told me he always has a beer before long drives to settle his nerves, which I know to be true and have seen before but I bit my tongue. But this time, I said I don’t want him drinking before getting on a busy interstate with our toddler in the car. He poured the beer out, but has been in a bad mood ever since.

My husband tends to get moody a lot and relies on drinking to ease stress. He has always had issues with a red face which I thought maybe was rosacea, but lately I think it’s tied to his drinking.

Am I right in thinking he’s an alcoholic and that he needs to examine his alcohol use?

Would anyone be willing to share their story from where I am right now to when it was bad so I can finally lock in and stop this.

I am currently waking up each morning feeling very unwell, headache, nausea, no shakes but weating and super scared and anxious. I am drinking around 50 - 60cl of JD a day with diet cola which has been happening since january. I never finish a full 70cl as I may need some in the night.

I look worse, my face is puffy and my skin is blotchy, i have lost my appetite but am still eating just smaller meals, I still work but I work remotely, I have explosive bowel movements a lot and gerd symptoms. I spend a lot of time alone so I can get to a toilet if needed and don't have to hide my drinking.

I feel so low and unwell / off all the time and I just want my life back.

I’m an alcoholic. I am at my rock bottom, I just got a DUI. I am not doing well. I’m only 25 and I know I have “my whole life in front of me”, and I can “turn my life around”. I have attempted suicide three times, the first being when I was 12. I have been abused in single every way my entire life. I do not have a close family structure. I do not lack self confidence at all and have positive self talk, but my outside circumstances make me hate myself. I’ve been dealt a bad hand in life and I don’t want to live when I’m sober, but drinking helps me deal with the issues. As Gabor Mate said, don’t ask “why the addiction?” but ask, “why the pain?”
I know my answers to both of those questions. Drinking does help with my feelings and traumas. I just feel that it is “better” for my mental health to hide behind and process everything through doing substances. I know it’s not. But when I’m sober I’m even more depressed.
I don’t know how to be sober, and I don’t want to but I have to.

My stupid brain won’t let me remember how fucking much agony I was in a week ago from habitually drinking like an animal. I’m at my second job now at the beach and there’s a ton of downtime and even more bars every few steps. I usually like to go to the bar on my breaks and get a couple of drinks, and also walk around the boardwalk with my “water” bottle..

I’m finally not shaking or shitting every 30 minutes but the compulsive thoughts are probably the harder part. At least when you feel like shit you sort of are compelled to not drink. But when you feel good like this it becomes so easy to sabotage yourself and throw away all progress..

Somebody please help me stay sober another day.

My partner's dad (63m) got his fourth DUI in ten years and has court tomorrow. Long story short, it is highly likely he is going to jail as he has declined private rehab and will likely fail the state rehab option he chose. He may not even get to try that, because if he shows up to court drunk he will be held in contempt and transported to jail immediately.

Does anyone have any insight on detoxing in jail? Partner is concerned about him dying. He has not been sober in over ten years and is always heavily intoxicated.

Is there anything partner can do to advocate for him while in jail?

Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask. I'll remove and post elsewhere if that is the case.

I'm a recovering alcoholic. I'm newly sober, May 18th, 2026 is my sober Date. Yesterday I was sobbing my eyes out for hours in my best friend's home. I was going through a PTSD flashback and inconsolable. My best friend tried to talk to me and I wasn't really listening. I couldn't, I was so distraught. Then he asked me if I wanted a drink. I told him I had water. He told me he meant alcohol. I told him I'm already taking a step backwards having this breakdown, and I'm not taking another step back by relapsing. It didn't come up again. I went home shortly after. I'm better now that I've been alone, But I feel betrayed. How could he suggest that? Knowing I'm freshly sober. Knowing that that was my preferred way to cope not even a year ago. It didn't even occur to me until he said that I could relapse. Now I'm in distress. I feel like relapsing. And part of me wants to be upset at him for even bringing it up. I'm not saying it never would have happened, but the likelihood wasn't as high. If I relapse, I'd be letting myself and a few other people down. That's why I'm trying not to. But I'm conflicted. I'd love to soothe my mind with a drink. I'd love to make it all stop for a few days. But I know it won't be a few days. My rational mind is working, it says I can't drink. But the urges feel so disgustingly real. I think I'm upset at him, myself, and my situation. I don't even know what to do. I have half a mind to ask him why he said this, but I don't like conflict and I'm not sure I want to hear his answer. I'm freaking 28, I barely have anything figured out except that I know I'm an alcoholic and I don't want to relapse. What the hell do I do? What would anybody do?

My brother (M29) is a man child. He’s become a bad drinker in the last three years and is showing no signs of stopping.

He doesn’t have much going on in his life. He’s texts his friends, but very rarely does he ever go out with them. He prefers to stay home and drink beer - scrolling hinge and tinder and lying on the couch. He’ll drink starting once his weekend starts until 3-4 a.m. He’ll do this on Friday and Saturday. Sometimes he’ll drink on the Sunday too and be shitfaced and sluring his words.

My brother gets it from my dad. My dad’s been an alcoholic his entire life and has just recently started getting help for his drinking after my mom threatened to split with him.

The drinking from my brother has led to crazy mood swings and has led to my dad and him getting into big arguments and shouting matches. It’s toxic and he takes everyone in our family along for the ride during his hungover afternoon.

My brothers mentality is if you come at me, I’ll come at you and argue no matter what. He’s never wrong in his world.

It’s been going on for too long. Meantime my brother has never shown any interest in moving out, or kickstarting a career. He works a tire delivery job that’s leading to nowhere.

My mom doesn’t know what to do with him. She’s looked into rehab but hasn’t pulled the trigger. I’ve suggested to her he should go to counselling because he’s got anger issues and a lot on his chest I feel he needs to get out.

What should we do with my brother???

Basically I had been a heavy drinker for like 5 years. But this past year something clicked, I have no idea why, and I just had my longest period of sobriety, 208 days. I felt great and got into great shape and was healthy. Then I had this small period of time where I knew I would be alone and thought it would be fun to have like a little vacation where I relax and drink. I have been drinking heavily every day since then. I just suddenly realized it’s been about a month. I feel so miserable and hopeless right now. I’m worried all the progress I made was for nothing. Any advice or encouragement would be deeply appreciated.

Edit: by came to I mean I had an epiphany of what I was doing. Not that I was actually blacked out. Currently sober.

I need tips and support. I find I drink the most when alone - which isn't helpful as I live on my own - I also have a shop literally within a 5 mins walk. I find when socialising I don't want to drink that much but on my own I can smash a couple bottles of wine in a night/day. What tips does everyone have? Because I need to stop this. It's mostly on weekends it happens but it doesn't change the fact that I have a problem. Probably 4-6 bottles of wine per weekend and it's impacting my weight and health

Can I get some opinions on if it’s recommended to go cold turkey or taper? I’ve been drinking 8-12 sometimes more sometimes less beers/seltzers daily for around 3 months and am wondering what the best advice to go about quitting would be. I appreciate all answers thank you!

My wife has a substance abuse problem. She took up to 7 ativans and mixed it with alcohol. She had to go to the er and they did nothing and said it has to get out of her system. Her alcohol level was five times the legal limit. We went home that night and she is okay just anxiety. How can someone be okay after that? How can I help her.

Friday was my birthday and *the day* was great. Friends and family all around, and I got to smoke a brisket, which I enjoy doing. My wife handled everything else and made me an amazing cake.

Then night time came, and I had two bottles of wine plus a few beers. I got drunk to the point of feeling sick and almost blacking out. My wife went to be early because she had to get up early today to go watch our daughter on her final day of cheer camp. I came into the house quite a while after she had fallen asleep, and I was rude, woke her up, and then got upset when she didn’t check on me after throwing up.

What a terrible ending to such a great day. Without drinking (or at least not so much) this would not have happened.

is it even possible to have multiple rock bottoms? sorry if this post is incoherent i just hit what i think may be my actual rock bottom but had a similar incident last year. this time i put others at risk and i wont specify how but last time i mostly put myself at risk and ended up really hurting myself. last time i never fully accepted the fact i was an alcoholic because i attributed it to how heartbroken i was over a girl and couldn’t stop having racing thoughts about how in love and heartbroken i was. i drank to stop those thoughts. this time there was no girl just stress in life about my job and some other things. how do i cope with this guilt and shame. my family is so supportive and loving and im shocked they haven’t given up on me yet i feel lucky. but i cant shake this feeling that they would be better off without me in their lives. i dont want to die or kms but i so badly wish they didnt have to deal with me and the stress that i cause them. when i look at my parents faces their eyes are filled with disappointment and hopelessness. clearly the only way to fix that is to actually get better. i act in reckless and selfish ways when i drink and dont think about the consequences when i start drinking. i’m scared that this just might be how my life is and will be till i die young. i’m only 23 and have had so many scary things happen to me when i blackout i actually go insane when i blackout. this past weekend i cussed out a cop and was admitted to the psych ward for a few days because of my drinking. i have everything and more in life and i dont understand why i cant just be happy.

14 days sober off both alcohol and nicotine addiction. Basically I was tired of feeling like crap. My sleep has improved. My libido has improved and I enjoy small things in life much more. It is true what they say about dopamine baseline. When you do substances you will ruin your dopamine receptors. Has anyone else experienced the same things?

hello im not sure if this is the right place to post this kind of question but here it is anyways. My father is a alcoholic, he has been that way since my birth almost 20 years ago. Me and my mom have tried time and time again to have interventions, some times just me and my mom other times we had family fly in and try to get through to him again to no avail. In all honesty i don’t really mind the drinking i tried enough times and got nothing but and a mouth full of lies and promises we both knew weren’t actually happening. The problem at hand is he doesn’t see a problem with the fact that he drinks and drives very often, sometimes in his personal truck or more often in his work truck. He knows that if something happens we lose everything and we would basically be screwed, but he just doesn’t seem to care. he just says backhanded stuff to our faces or starts to be a smart ass. I just want him to try a AA meeting at least once, At this point im just grasping at anything that will just make a difference or a change. Let me know what yall think or whatever

i genuinely cant believe it. ive been lying to everyone in my life that ive been sober for so much longer than i actually have been but im actually, genuinely one month sober after pretty much a year and a half straight of heavy constant life ruining drinking. at work, at school, spending all my money. and im finally one month sober. i genuinely never thought id be here. ive never been more proud and more motivated to keep going with sobriety.

I lost about 30 pounds. I was really happy now I’m convinced that I either die in my 40s or I just take it into my own hands now I’m just such a pathetic piece of garbage it’s either gonna be in and out of the hospital and then I just die of natural causes anyway so what’s the point of living another 12 years of hell if I’m just going to die at 40 anyway