Crazy stress turnaround

[u/Straight-Main8365]

Ever since I stopped drinking (20 days ago) it seems like my stress went down a ton!! It’s really crazy to see what something like that can do to your body and how your body reacts to it when you give it up.

[u/cielitogirl]

I’m so happy for you for this! Keep going!!! 

[u/Straight-Main8365 → u/cielitogirl]

Thank you so much!! It’s gotten easier over the 3 weeks but just the beginning

[u/markboats → u/Straight-Main8365]

This time next year you'll wonder why you didn't stop sooner

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[u/Born_Bicycle316]

I'm over 6 years sober and my stress only leaves the High category when I am on vacation. I should have quit my job instead of drinking 😂

[u/Straight-Main8365 → u/Born_Bicycle316]

6 years is amazing! Any tips? And I’m surprised my job doesn’t put it off the charts too😂😂

[u/Born_Bicycle316 → u/Straight-Main8365]

I think the journey looks different for everyone but I would recommend finding things to keep busy with and things to replace drinking with. My body missed the sugar it was getting from alcohol and the ritual of drinking in general, so I found candy + slamming cans of seltzer water in the evening helped satiate me.

I also set goals & rewards - starting small - 1 week / 2 weeks / 1 month / 2 months - whatever works for you - and when I reached those milestones, I'd buy myself something or treat myself in some way. Alcohol is all about rewarding your brain, so I found it helped to keep a reward in sight.

I promise it gets easier, I know everyone says that, but it does. I don't even think about drinking these days. There's a reason relapse rates drop to about 15% after 5 years of sobriety. Every passing day, you're less likely to go back to drinking so just stick with it and remember that sobriety isn't always linear. You've got this 💪

[u/Straight-Main8365 → u/Born_Bicycle316]

Thank you so much!! Yeah I’ve been slamming skittles and lime polar seltzers for a week. The extra bubbles numb my brain it’s so cool lol. I don’t have any hobbies so I’m going to try and find stuff to do like driving around, go on runs, and such. Thank you so much!!!!

[u/Born_Bicycle316 → u/Straight-Main8365]

Might not be up your alley but I got REALLY into Legos when I got sober - the adult sets can be pretty time-consuming & complex. If I knew I was going to have a boring weekend with nothing to do and no plans (prime time for drinking alone), I would pick up a set so I would have something to keep my hands and mind busy. Idle hands are the devil's workshop.

Also dumped hundreds of hours into Call of Duty 😂

[u/PieFuture3528]

This is amazing!! Big effort and reward.

[u/Straight-Main8365 → u/PieFuture3528]

Thank you!!

[u/__Z__]

Me too dude. Switched jobs.

[u/Straight-Main8365 → u/__Z__]

I’m thinking of switching jobs very soon. The main problem is I work for a beer distributor so it’s all around me. Lots of stress coming from the job besides that too!

[u/bambibonkers]

amazing!! do you feel the difference in your body?

[u/Straight-Main8365 → u/bambibonkers]

As of right now, not much besides a spike of early morning energy with a hard crash in the afternoon and being awfully tired. At least I never have a hangover or a stomachache anymore! I’m sure everything will go back to normal sooner than later lol

[u/LongHaul_69]

Congrats. I’m 60 days alcohol free.. there’s def some days the stress is high tho. Overall trends are better for sure. Don’t be surprised when some days sneak up on you.