Quitting Alcohol

Congratulations! I’m very happy for you. I don’t know anything about you or your history but what was it that gave/got you the strength to get and stay sober ?

Legitimately concerned now that my ex wife may never find the strength to pull herself out of it. She’s lost her marriage and home, she’s finally about to lose her job, her kids have all chosen to live with me instead of her and she’s just so less capable than she used to be. She doesn’t even seem to be able to find the strength to try

It’s really sad. She’s done a ton of reprehensible things but she is still a really nice person under the grip of something truly horrible.

It is such a gnarly affliction

Congrats!

Thanks. Your ex-wife's story is very sad. Speaking personally, it wasn't strength that got me sober, far from it. But I did want to live. I was willing to change everything, to do exactly my new sober friends told me to. A huge part of that involved thinking about things differently.

Way to go kioshk! Very happy for you.

Way to steal my thunder. I am at two years today. Congrats to us both!

well done

(not chronological)

hundreds of days in a row not bending knees or elbows to house alcohol is a milestone worthy of celebration

habits
good and bad
result from simple repetative actions over extended periods of time
and might start with a blinker into the parking lot just to get gas and jalapeno chili cheese nachos

wrath
the following opinion is only mine
but also centered from a place of being a young child with an alcholic parent
please tend to the kids first
the adults can sort their own shat out later

Happy anniversary, guys!

Thank you and I’m sorry you had to grow up like that.
And yes, that’s what I’ve done. I’ve made significant changes to my life over the last 3-4 years and have been the main/almost sole parent even before the split. And since the split even more so. I’ve tried everything I could with her but what you learn as a family member of an addict is that only they can do it.

My kids are all teens, so they understand more than younger ones would, but it’s been a tough few years for them. One of my girls barely sees her mother and the other two don’t trust her at all, but they’re safe and loved

I have been without alcohol so long I'm not sure if it's seven or eight years without counting. Somehow it's starting to feel it's just who I am, in that respect.

Yesterday was 20 years no booze no dope for me. So nice to not have a life centered around getting ****ed up.

Congratulations... that's a great run.
I myself have been without Alcohol for about a decade. but I am thinking about getting back into it.

Congratulations Mark

That's awesome, good going marknfw. And I shoulda thanked you earlier for congratulating me on my 8 years. Same goes for brianr, Tom Ames, that_pope, and any others I missed. Thanks, guys. And before I forget even more, congrats to that_pope on his 2 years!

edit: I've posted this before, but I should do it again. I got sober on soberrecovery.com the website. Anybody who's had enough and wants a new life free from alcohol's chains, go to soberrecovery.com and just ask for help. A bunch of great people there will treat you with kindness, respect, and caring. Best of all, they've all lived thru the hell you're going thru and know the score in ways that non-drunks never will.

Some folks there are all AA all the time, some hate AA with a fiery passion. Some are atheists, some Christians, some Buddhists, on and on. But we all hate alcoholism and want to share what we've learned. I still read it most days and even post now and then.

That's awesome, I'm so happy for you and everyone in your life.

Just saw this, thank you! They were closer than we wanted but we were never really threatened - many friends lost homes or were displaced long-term.

Congrats to you, but not everyone drinks every day.

I enjoy drinking and alcohol, and while I don't drink during the week, I do get drunk every other weekend at a bar or club.

Am I gonna die in the worst way? I think not.

That's awesome! Huge congratulations!

I'm a drinker from a family of problem drinkers. If I had found a reason and the determination not to drink for a decade, I would be extremely hesitant to take it back up. Best wishes for whatever you decide.

I only click on this thread every several months or so. Imagine my surprise at seeing myself mentioned today. I have nothing but respect for anyone who decides to quit drinking and can actually do it. Keep on chugging! Figuratively speaking ...

Congrats Mark! So happy for you!

I'm talking about drunks, alcoholics. I'm not talking about you or to you. Do I need to say getting drunk now and then doesn't necessarily make you a drunk?

If you and alcohol are getting along well, I say that's great and good for you.

Congrats! 29 years for me in March. Lately been trying to get to more in-person meetings, which I find make a huge difference. Online/phone meetings I’m just too prone to multi-tasking.

Speaking of phone meetings, I may have mentioned before but I am a regular attendee on a daily 5 PM (ET) mens’ call-in AA meeting. My sponsor started this at the very beginning of Covid in March 2020 and it’s run every day since. Solid group of guys with critical mass from Long Island and Arizona, and a few guys from other places around the country. PM me for details.

I'm going to quote you in reverse.

I'm not sure that's true. There is more to this thread than just about alcohol.

100%

5 years sober today!

About 5 years with diagnosed cirrhosis. Doing great, turns out cirrhosis is not necessarily the death sentence I thought it was in the hospital 5 years ago.

Great job joey!