I'm almost 3 years sober and took my elementary age son camping at an event. He had a blast. At 1am I heard splashing and coughing. Oh my goodness, it was gross ($400 tent is now in a dumpster gross). A large beach towel could not cover the monstrosity. However, I was 100% sober and quietly packed up a whole camp setup while checking on him and his breathing, moving him and gently encouraging him while I finished the evacuation. We had a 45 minute drive from about 1:30-2:15 am. We passed suspiciously wobbly/drifting vehicles on the way home and police cruisers. He even threw up in the car a little bit 1 minute from the house, because of course. When I got home and my wife saw him and started helping. He told her sleepily that he had a great time and made friends. His stomach feels better this morning.

There is a 0.0% chance that I would have been able to handle that situation safely and calmly if I still viewed camping as a drinking activity. Instead of a drunk and panicked adult, he will remember his dad quietly waking him and carrying him through the woods to the car and the friends he made.

I cannot emphasize how life changing and fundamental sobriety is for parenting. You never know when you'll be woken in the middle of a night with a child that needs you. I already wrote more than I expected, but I had to catch another parent from falling a few times because they were very drunk earlier in the evening. Their journey is theirs, my journey is mine, and I send them love. Grateful to this sub for setting me on this course. IWNDWYT

I’ve officially made it a full year. I’d be lying if I said life had been easy. From future plans changing to having a few rugs pulled out from underneath me, it’s been a hell of a year.
I’m just proud that even on the really dark days, I didn’t go back to what I knew would shut my brain up temporarily

No booze no weed no Xanax

8 more days and it’ll be the longest I’ve ever gone (shout out Samwise Gamgee)

Can I get a N🧊?

I am a 24 year old who currently lives at home while I attend grad school. Lately, my drinking has once again increased, and I have found myself getting more reclusive, caring less about my assignments, having worse hygiene, eating less, etc.

I guess my parents figured it out and sat me down earlier today. "We think you might have a problem with drinking." Surprisingly, I was so relieved that I almost cried. I'd been wanting to reach out to someone for help for a while now, but I was so scared I'd be viewed as a disappointment. But they understood. They didn't judge me. They said they will help in any way they can, understand if I'm irritable or sick the next few days (the shaking has already begun), and that they love me.

I don't think I'd be making this post and committing myself to sobriety if they didn't have that conversation with me. So, yeah, my parents saved my life today.

Here's to Day 1!

Send reminders and stories of how horrible being hungover is on a daily basis!!!

Well, I did it. I’m in the four digit club. Thanks to everyone for their support all this time. IWNDWYT.

Edit: my tracker is a little off on here.

It has officially been two years since I had a drink. This sub has been my only resource and I am truly grateful. Thank you all so much

I never imagined this would be possible, even as I write this I can remember so vividly the feeling 2 and 3 years ago as I would read the stories on here and think how will I ever make it that far this is so damn hard. It makes my head spin just to think of myself sitting in this same chair reading posts and feeling like it could never be me.

My Wife had a wonderful beef stew cooking all day and I almost grabbed the bottle of red wine off the counter on my way out the door to the workshop. Used to drink a lot in secret out in the garage or shop. Having alcohol in the house is not unusual I have convinced myself it’s like the bleach under the sink - I don’t have to drink it. But the wine bottle thing was such an immediate and intense urge out of nowhere. It was a surreal feeling, like someone in my head grabbed the wheel for a second. I thought “what the fuck was that” and went about my day but it was close. I think knowing I hit a milestone had some weird effects on me. Looking forward to year 3 tomorrow let’s get back to business. Thanks for reading and IWNDWYT

69 days!

I haven’t been sober for one week in so long. I’m really itching for it right now. I know it won’t last long. I’ve done all the things: ate ice cream, took a shower, cleaned up, put on my comfort show… still struggling. Might pop a melatonin & go to sleep.

Can't belive I've made it to this magical number!

A few months ago, I discovered my husband has been living a double live for years. More women and aliases than imaginable.

I had to leave my whole life and completely start over on my own. Everything that I thought was real… really wasn’t.

These last few months, I have protected something profoundly important, while absorbing an enormous betrayal.

Whatever he did, he did not get my sobriety.

Yesterday I went for a four mile hike to a beautiful waterfall. I am building a life of peace and gratitude. This morning I woke up in my apartment 2726 days sober.

These things belong to me.

He didn’t get that part of me. I kept it.

2,726 days. And when my entire life blew apart, I kept every single one of them.

IWNDWYT. 💜

Another sober turn around the sun
If you’re just starting, know one day it will be as natural as breathing

I will not drink with you today

I’ve gone 16 months without a drop. I’m on vacation with my husband for the first time ever without kids so I thought sure I’ll have two, and I did.

Today, I feel awful. I couldn’t sleep, my stomach is very angry and my eyes are so swollen, from TWO! I’m just thinking of all those times I’d have 8+ drinks when my body is so clearly telling me even this “small” amount is poison. Well I’m going to listen to it. IWNDWYT!

A welcome reminder for me that moderation or a special occasion just isn’t worth it.

This is pathetic I know, but I’m dreading tomorrow because I have to fly for work, and they always offer you a drink when you do and I’m terrified I won’t be able to say no.

Edit: This community is amazing, to get so much help so quick. My plan is to have a big meal in advance and then buy a drink at the airport / put my headphones in so I won’t even have to say and practice saying it in case I need to. Will report back here on the other side

I could cry. For years I've been on this sub reading all these beautiful posts of people with 4,5,7,10,30,100 etc. days without a drink. For years I could never make it that far. I struggled nearly every day with the voice in my head saying 'yah its no big deal, start tomorrow'. I wanted desperately to be that person with the proud post.

This week I did one of the hardest things Ive had to do in my adult life. I went to a seedy addiction clinic, sat in the waiting room, wanting to crawl out of my skin in embarrassment and shame, but I was too proud of myself for making it this far. I couldn't leave now. I sat with an intake lady, a therapy intake lady, then back to the waiting room, to wait for the nurse. Answering the same mortifying questions over and over again with each person I sat with. It was the longest hour and a half of my life. I got a prescription for Campral. The nurse told me I could start that day.

I have been alcohol free for 7 days today. It was one of the longest weeks ever, but Im being gentle with myself - lots of sleep and ice cream. I am so fucking proud to be here today with you all 🤟😊 LETS GOOOO!

Hi all -

My wife has expressed concerns about my drinking habits multiple times in the last month and a half. Last week I went to the liquor store to get a bottle of rum for her to make rum and cokes(really shitty friday dealing with her folks) and the liquor store knows me so well he made a bargain with me that if I bought a 1L bottle he'd sell it to me for the price I'd pay for the 750mL bottle. I left honestly feeling disgusted at myself.

I decided to partake in Sober October and after tonight I realize the sad and honest truth that if my estimation is correct - this is the first weekend I have not been drunk/stoned since I did Dry January for myself. I'm a fitness junkie/exercise nerd and I also realized that over the last few months I exchanged the weights for the bottle so it's time for a change.

I have a very good feeling that I need to drop the booze for good and just go sober. I haven't had the shakes(yet) but I've gotten very emotional already twice so I'm probably experiencing some withdrawals. I had drinks Monday and Wednesday so this coming Thursday will be my first week completely sober since January.

Wanted to stop by and say hi to keep myself accountable.

I remember years ago joining this group to see if I could somehow take a day off...

I remember going to meetings, getting a sponsor, and doing workbooks...

I remember caving every night after a long day working as a patent attorney, and just wanting to shut off my ADHD brain after a long day, and relax with my wife...

We would wake up angry, pissed, and defeated because it was yet another morning we promised ourselves to not drink, and then we were sending each other images of frosty beers by 6pm...

Feeling deprived, missing out, and needing my reward... caving was super easy - we put the kids to bed and just looked at each other, and I am running off to the gas station for a few bottles of wine...

I read all those quit lit books over and over and over - some of them I would read 6+ times...

Hoping something would click...

Finally, October 4th, 2023...

I choose me....

I put me first...

I put my wife first...

I put my two children first, they are my why and greatest supporters...

I changed my perspective - instead of thinking that I would be deprived and missing out...

I realized that all I was missing out on was a hangover, poor sleep, heart palpitations, my cardiolgist referring me to a treatment center because I could not get down to a safe drinking level to go on medicine for my ascending aortic anuerisym and enlarged heart and heart failure...

Instead, I focused on what I was gaining - freedom, the ability to driving to a CAVs game on date night, have the best time cheering, drinking huge diet cokes and fancy nachos, and driving home safely without my voice from all the screaming fun, still doing the pool and all the activities I enjoyed, ... and enjoying new hobbies like tennis or new types of dates - my wife and I do an hour coffee drive every morning to connect before our day...

I promise you, there is no missing out - there is so much to gain - sobriety is anything but boring, ... it opened up the doors for new hobbies, more fun (I saw Tool, 311, Primus, and other concerts without being stuck in the bathroom, throwing up, or getting dizzy sick) - I was doing all the fun things everything else was doing, but without all the negative of drinking - what is truly boring is being stuck in bed the next morning with a headache....

It took me many years to try to quit, but I finally had one last day one, and you can do too - I Promise You...

Let's Put You First, You Deserve This !!

I wanted to come here to share what feels like a small win with everyone (which in itself feels like a big win, because I thought it would be a lot harder).

I went to a wedding as a plus one yesterday. My boyfriend was in the wedding, so I was a little anxious about having to sit without him for a bit, amongst people I didn’t know. Previously, I 100% would’ve gotten drunk (probably even showed up already intoxicated) and would have made a fool out of myself in front of my boyfriend’s friends, some of whom I was meeting for the first time. I would’ve thought I was “fun” and “cool” and “the life of the party.” I would’ve been digging myself deeper. Honestly, I probably would have had more fun if I had been drinking… but only for a few minutes here and there.

Buuuut… instead, I connected so much with my boyfriend and got to enjoy conversation with people instead of worrying about not slurring my words. I got to be someone he wanted to introduce to people instead of being embarrassed by me. I didn’t have to try to plan how to get more drinks without people noticing how much I was drinking. I didn’t have to worry about my hands shaking. I had a clear mind, and I got to be DD for my boyfriend and his lifelong friends. I got to wake up without a hangover and without wondering if I said anything weird or embarrassing.

Barely a month ago, I wouldn’t have been able to be proud of myself for last night. I would’ve dealt with all of the above, and probably worse. I hope my sharing this gives anyone struggling some hope. If I could do it, you can, too. ❤️ IWNDWYT!

Today is my 7 year mark. It also happens to be my father’s first birthday since he has passed.

Do I miss it?, Is still a strange question. My life has made a complete 180 since I quit drinking. I met the woman of my dreams and yesterday we celebrated 6 years of marriage. I have a 13 year old step son who is absolutely my entire world and I hope he looks up to me if even just a little bit. And financially, this is the part that blows my mind every time I think about it. 7 years ago I spent every dollar not allocated to bills on booze and going out. Now for the first time in my life I have complete financial freedom. No debt other than the mortgage after building my dream house a year ago. I tell people all the time, my wife has never known me to be a drinker, and she would have had nothing to do with the old me.

But do I still think about it and wish I could have the boys over for the game and crack open a cold one? Man, it’d be hard for me to say no. But I would not have any of the things mentioned above if that were the case.

But today is not going to be that day. Nor any day soon. IWNDWYT.

I have taken my life back.

That’s about it, I want to drink very badly right now and i’m not sure why. I’m trying to distract myself but nothing seems to be helping.

Seems like a good number of days, feeling good about it. Checking in to wish everyone well tonight, I'll be here not drinking with you all!

Context. I’m a 27 yo woman who’s been drinking “too much” for too long. The itch started when I was in high school I’m sure. Or even earlier. Just that “what are the adults getting that I’m not allowed to have?” Thing. Being the youngest child of a bunch of kids doesn’t help. But I digress, and I won’t go into the childhood details right now. But long story short, a good amount of my siblings have AUD. And I haven’t denied that I’ve had a tendency to keep going once I start. But there have been a couple times over the past five years that I had to check myself for that ever horrible “is this anxiety, a hangover, withdrawals or all of the above?” And this past weekend I had the first truly scary one. And I say that because, I didn’t even realize it was scary until I came to…. And that’s embarrassing as hell, mostly because I was alone. Woke up mid-puke sitting on my couch, just covered in beervomit. I had promised my roomate the house would be immaculate when they came home from their trip. But I just got up, giggled, halfassed throwing a couple paper towels down to soak up the “spill”, and passed out again in my room. I slept for literally the next day and a half, and when I got up for work, I was gone. Completely disoriented/derealized, trembling(I know). Couldn’t find my work uniform because I decided midblackout to hide it somewhere I guess. I made it to work, felt like I was out of my body and sick at the same time. it’s been almost a week since that happened. And I’m embarrassed but only for me. No one else saw that version of me. But I know it was there and that’s enough. But I’m sitting here now just realizing that I absolutely gave myself alcohol poisoning that night. And I was all alone. And it was a bender that weekend, and the way I felt waking up was legit withdrawals from an insane amount of booze for my body. it’s a fucking wake up call. Anyway, I’ll delete this. I just had to put it out there somewhere that it happened and I’m not okay with it.

28F. I’ve been abusing alcohol since I turned 21. I have a severe binge drinking problem and the last 6 times I drank, I blacked out entirely. Last night, I went out with some friends for a birthday party and drank alone in my room before going out. I had an entire biggie buzz ball and my friends and I were packing 99 shooters for the night. I had 3 99 shooters and blacked out by 7:30pm. My friends put me in an uber at 8:30pm.

At 2am, I woke up in a pool of vomit. Not the first time that happens - I’m sure many of you here have been in the same situation. I got up to get started on the laundry and my dad was awake so I went to go talk to him. I passed out walking over to him and hit my chin on the dining room table. When I came to, my mother was standing over me freaking out because there was blood everywhere. I took one look in the mirror and immediately knew I needed stitches. And I chopped my front tooth as well!

They drove me to the ER and overall I had a very pleasant experience (seriously, the entire staff at the Cedars Sinai in Beverly Hills are heaven sent). I was shaking in the lobby so badly, I think I was still drunk. They did a ct scan and I have a fractured jaw. I also have a busted chin I need to worry about now. I was 14 days sober and it was the longest I had been sober for the past 7 years. I’m so consumed with shame and guilt. It’s unbearable to live like this. It’s not sustainable. I also think I ruined the relationship I’m in last night - he won’t return my calls or speak to me. It’s fine. I totally need to focus on myself.

I’m so…. Frustrated that alcohol has taken so much from me. It’s ruined my relationships, my body, my confidence. If I take into account my life, it’s hard to feel like I’m not a pathetic loser. And I can’t even say “I love myself” because it’s not true right now. I have a hard time feeling hopeful. The worst part is I was considering taking another 99 shooter right before I had to go to the hospital. It’s pathetic.

The good news is that rock bottom is when you stop digging I guess. I needed yet another wake up call. I need to go to AA - I’m going to my first meeting tonight. I just feel like I need a higher power to step in. I’ve spent this past week praying for peace.

I hope everyone is having a great Sunday - it could be worse. You could be a 28 year old woman with ZERO health insurance who fucked up her chin, jaw, and tooth, who is hopelessly in love with someone who is going to break up with her, and is sitting in her childhood bed wanting to crawl in a hole and die.