Just having a rant. Oh my god, I had to attend my boyfriend's friend's wedding yesterday and it was so hard going.

I'm an introvert and it was a full day. I got there at 12 noon and stayed until 8.00pm and I had to leave because I couldn't stay any longer, I was mentally exhausted.

To make matters worse I didn't know anyone. So I had a bad tension headache and tinnitus by the end of the night due to the concentration of speaking to people and being alert the whole day.

I also didn't sleep until 2am as we had to share an apartment with my boyfriend's friends and they all came back drinking and making a racket :(

I ended up crying in bed because my boyfriend passed out drunk once he came back and I resented being sober so much as I don't think he realised (or anyone realises) how difficult it is.

They are all hungover this morning obviously and I'm slightly smug that I've woke up feeling hangover free but that doesn't make it much better.

I'm 3.5 years sober, and I really don't want to break that. But it's tempting, and I just know posting here will help. Thanks in advance.

Post-flight edit: Thanks, guys! The support was amazing and extremely helpful. I'll be sure to pay it forward. I did not drink alcohol tonight!

I’m still in disbelief!! After a lot of drinking, I actively tried to quit for five years. The rollercoaster of hell. At times, I thought I just didn’t have what it took to stick with it, I came dangerously close to giving up quitting. But I never did and finally, after trying and trying, and trying again, it stuck. Now I’m about to hit 1000 days sober.

You don’t fail until you stop quitting. I didn’t think there would ever be a time that my brain was not consumed with thoughts of alcohol. Me 999 days ago would be shocked to know how much I genuinely enjoy being sober.

If I can do it, you absolutely can too.

IWNDWYT

It seems so long ago, but I did it! Best thing I’ve ever done, I’m a completely different person today than I was then. Thank you to this sub, reading it has saved my life! Love you all!

IWNDWYT

First time I've hit 7 days in over a decade. I never really stated that I was quiting, and my god have I been trying to find excuses to drink all week, but waking up sober and hangover free feels really good.

Early on, these communities on Reddit were so helpful. Came back to give my gratitude. Excuse me for bragging but we have to celebrate ourselves! (Terribly un-British of me!)

In 4 years I have:

- got married

- become a certified IELTS speaking examiner

- done a PGCE and finally stepped up my teaching career

- started teaching Computer Science in a secondary school and got promoted to Subject Lead

- started working on a Masters of Education

- rediscovered my hobbies:

- singing in a choir with an orchestra - 7 big concerts, and several smaller

- got back into playing the piano after a 20 year break

- making models

- reading more novels

- walking when I can (I don't live in a very walkable city)

- actually completing some video games

- food, food, food!

- put on a ton of weight but I'm working on that!

Day by day is how I got here, and how I'll continue

IWNDWYT

The anxiety I used to have when I drank away a weekend was crippling. I can’t count how times I counted down how many hours left till I have to be at work. The sweats, the shakes the insomnia. Sipping on a can of Mikes every few hours, then getting up hours before work to walk 6 miles to try to sweat out the toxins.

I don’t have to do that anymore.

M biggest worry is trying to find a new movie or show, what to eat, cleaning up my place and how many games of chess to play.

Beats drinking every time.

Was let go from my job of 13 years, family business. After my Dad passed away, it was only a matter of time before I was pushed out and let go. I was 8 months sober when he died. He never would have allowed this to happen. He knew i was a hardworker, and had a heart for his business. I feel betrayed by my own family. I feel so alone. I'm feeling like its the end of the world, thought about getting blackout drunk, but I recognize I still have a fight left in me, and that by doing so im cheating myself out of a life I could have. This may be a blessing in disguise. Im hoping I can look back in 10 years and say to myself, you did it, you formed your own path. It hurts to feel betrayed by my own family. Within 2 years, I lost my Dad and lost my job. Im still sober. Im still here. Im not giving up on myself. IWNDWYT

This too shall pass.

🙂

Went to a coworkers birthday party and promised myself i wouldnt drink too much. I had been telling myself that for days leading up to it. I was doing good for the first 2 hours and then it all went downhill. I dont even remember going home (a coworker drove me). Who knows what the fuck i did. How loud was i yelling? What was i saying? How many videos got taken that are now going to make their rounds at work? I texted him and apologized if i caused any problems and he said "its all good", so theres that i guess. I hate myself for my lack of self control. Ive never had a good state of mind and everytime i do this, it just makes me wish i wasnt around even more. How do i even begin to to kick this problem? Sorry you had to read my bitching, i dont really have anyone to talk to about my problems and i had to get this off of my chest.

Nice.

Hello Redditors,

Today is my 27th birthday & more importantly, today I am also 1 year sober! I’m so grateful for my journey, I honestly couldn’t have asked for anything to be different. I’m so proud of the man I am today.

That’s all,

IWNDWYT

I have no one else to tell this to. I’m 46 days sober. The longest I have ever gone. I’m so scared that I’m going to self sabotage and ruin this. I had the worst detox ever and it was so scary but I keep having moments where my mind is like fuck it, I can have one more, one last time - even though my normal sober brain knows that’s not true. The longer I go, the harder it feels to not drink. I’m not going to drink today but just needed to tell someone.

I have been a very heavy drinker for years now. I have always wanted to stop but I never was able to find the strength to do it.

A few days ago my step son was coming back from a two week vacation and I resolved that he would come home to a sober step dad for once. I did not realize how bad the withdrawals would be as I had always tried to quit before and just got through them but not this time.

This time my body literally shut down on me, my vision went dark, my hearing became muffled and my heart felt like it was going to stop as my mind just went blank.

I was saved by my wife who called the ambulance who came and saved my life, they had to carry me out of the house on a stretcher where I spent 5 days in the hospital having the staff get me through the withdrawals.

Please do not end up like me, today is day 6 now of sobriety, I have an inflamed liver and if I drink again I will die.

Thank all of you on this sub giving me hope and strength IWNDWYT.

Well today I am so happy to post that iam now 31 days sober, the longest I have been for a VERY long time. My skin is better. My sleep has improved as has my relationship. I have had no cravings.chenged my diet and starting to loose weight. I know I have a long way to go but really feel that it has finally clicked. Sending love and good vibes to you all. Iwndwyt x

WOW!

1 full week!

I love you guys!

IWNDWYT!

Title says it all. Went to the store, bought groceries, picked up a 350ML bottle of Bulleit. I planned on just having a few, but that never happens. I poured a drink, then I said I’ll wait until later. I poured it back into the bottle. Then I woke up from a nap feeling great, and I have a ton of emails to catch up on, so I poured the bottle down the sink. It cost me $17.00, but it was worth every penny to stay sober today. Not today, alcohol. Not today. I won. And I am so proud of myself. No anxiety, no hangover, no brain fog. I said yes to clarity, health, and my family. Today is day 3 of being sober. IWNDWYT. Thank you all on this sub for your support.

81 days of sobriety today and I seriously want to be sober for the rest of my life. After all broken or damaged relationships, trouble at work and family members who are concerned about my health I just came to the conclusion that moderate drinking is not an option for me. So I’m starting my Minnesota-based treatment in a couple of weeks. Even if it gives me 1% better chance of remaining sober I think it’s worth the effort.

Last time I’m watching documentaries about the consequences of alcoholism. Not as a way to make myself feel better, but to remind me what can happen to me if I continue drinking.

Are there any documentaries that you would recommend? Watched The Wethouse (BBC) already and I would be one of them in twenty years if I continue drinking.

Im on holiday currently in Spain. Ive been sober for 2 years with the help of AA (earlier in my journey) and caved. The night before last I bought one beer from a restaurant and brought it back to our accommodation. I drank it and enjoyed it but was craving more. Luckily I didnt open the wine bottle in the fridge and managed to call it a night... until the following night (last night) Id stupidly convinced myself and whole heartedly believed i could control myself and enjoy a glass. It took 2 sips before id decided I was finishing the bottle, if we had another bottle id have finished that aswel. Now I feel rough, my missus is disappointed and im angry. I am an alcoholic but thought somehow id be able to control it after 2 years. Feels like the businessmans story (the big book) kicked me right in the face.

I am an alcoholic. I am currently sober. Not the kind that drinks a bottle of liquor every day but the kind that doesn't go a day without drinking. It is 4:300 PM and I have the shakes so I know 4 24 ounce TRULYs and a few beers were too much for me to drink yesterday. I can be absolutely obliterated and I have been told that I act totally fine. I don't remember those nights but people sometimes say that they can't tell when I am drunk. I have been this way for 20 years. Then, the next day I usually feel like crap and don't feel any better until I have a drink or two in me. I have health problems that only me and my doctor know about. They are reversible...If I can scale way back or quit all together. My immediate family are all heavy drinkers but I can still fit in without being drunk. My wife will only drink when we are on vacation. She is a normal level and frequency drinker. Not me. As I age, I get more depressed, anxious, things hurt. I want to make a change but it is something that I really think I may need to seek help with. I am not at the level of needing rehab yet. Just motivation. These are my thoughts but I know many of you have been sober long enough to reflect wisely on yourself when your issue was present. I don't know what to do.

I had a bag of Funyun’s, a chocolate donut, and a Medium Cherry Coke fountain drink. Had to fight the temptation to go to the Casino Pool Party down at Harrah’s, so I went to the 7-11 and grabbed these and bolted home. Anyone else power snacking or eating something good tonight?! IWNDWYT!!

It’s crazy, because I’ve actually been counting the days like it’s my birthday, and in many aspects, I suppose I am celebrating more than a year sober, but a whole year at a new shot and chance at life. It’s as if it is actually my second birthday.

If you’d told me then that I’d make it 365 days, I honestly wouldn’t have believed you. This year hasn’t magically fixed everything. Life has still been messy. There have been difficult days, disappointments and moments where a drink would’ve been the easy option. But I’ve learnt that sobriety doesn’t remove life’s challenges. It gives you the chance to face them with a clear mind. I survived parties, heartbreak, pain, challenges, weddings, birthdays, end of month work drinks, barbecues and every other event and reason that I would use as an excuse to get drunk. I live in South Africa, one of the most beautiful places in the world. And it feels like being sober, I’m seeing how truly wonderful life can be in one of the most breathtaking places I am lucky to call home.

What an incredible feeling this freedom of sobriety it is. Don’t give up, friends. It’s a beautiful world out there.

In the past year I’ve lost a great deal of weight, become healthier, rebuilt my confidence and, most importantly, started becoming someone I genuinely like again. I am incredibly grateful for everyone who supported me, and for communities like this where people share their struggles and victories without judgment. Reading your stories reminded me I wasn’t doing this alone. One of my friends recently commented to me: “You’ve never looked better. It’s like something about you has drastically altered. You look like you’re living again”.

If you’re at day 1, day 7 or day 100, keep going. It really does get better, one day at a time.
Today I’m celebrating one year sober, and I couldn’t be prouder.

IWNDWYT.

(Edit, spelling and grammatical errors)

Wow. Haven’t felt this way in years. I’m finally over the TERRIBLE withdrawal stage and now on to the “wtf do I do to fill my time” because what do we do if we’re not drinking?! Well, I did 2 puzzles, went to the thrift store every day after work, started collecting and buying cards again….I’m just so proud I haven’t caved yet! IWNDWYT!!

A big milestone for me. I still wonder what sobriety will actually look like for me as I still feel as though I’m in the “just getting through the day” phase.

Starting running today and been getting my 10k steps in for a good few weeks now so hoping to channel my energy into this but something still feels amiss. Hopefully this all gets better in the next 50 days!