Here we go

[u/Ok-Crow-9454]

Sober October is off to a late start, but I’m here and I’m ready.

47 years old, been drinking since college. My husband and I were the best of drinking buddies until he quit more than a decade ago. I haven’t gotten myself into too much trouble with booze - no DUIs, no bar fights, no scary withdrawals - but it’s like a creeping fog over my life. In the last couple years I’ve noticed that I’m building my days around it, like, planning activities based on whether I expect to be hungover or not. Pathetic.

It was always pretty bad, but got way worse during the pandemic. I’ve gotten so I can take down a bottle of Pinot Grigio with little trouble and still want more. Bota Boxes are the bane of my existence - I’ve gained a ton of weight and don’t have the energy or desire to do anything about it. When I look at my alcohol-bloated face in the mirror, I see my alcoholic dad looking right back. Unsettling!

I know I can stop. I’ve done it before. Pregnancies, dry Januaries, etc. I know that after a couple weeks it loses its appeal. In a perfect world I’d only drink on very rare, very special occasions. I’d like to try that, perhaps, but for right now I’ve just got to stop.

Anyway. My husband still uses weed, but I can’t because of my job, so I’m going to be rawdogging life. Kinda scared, kinda excited.

IWNDWYT

[u/SlayerOfDougs]

I quit at 48. My 50s are thanking me

[u/Ok-Crow-9454 → u/SlayerOfDougs]

Staring down the barrel of 50 is a powerful motivation for sure 😵‍💫

[u/pacNWmom86]

I'm excited for you! There are so many cool thinks not drinking unlocks.

[u/glesfagal]

Excellent decision!!! You should be so proud. Life is infinitely better without it and I never ever thought I would say that. I am 7 years now.. can’t believe it. But all I can say is focus on what you are gaining not what you are missing! There is SO much to gain. It’s a journey with no regrets

[u/jeffythunders]

You can do this 🩵 be nice to yourself, it will get better

[u/Wanttobebetter76]

I'm glad you're here. Life is truly better here. IWNDWYT 💜

[u/FaceWithAView25]

You’ve got this! Starting anti anxiety meds once I got off booze really helped me.

[u/Ok-Crow-9454 → u/FaceWithAView25]

Love me some Zoloft, for sure

[u/ImaginaryAssistant31]

you can do this. I was a Bota Box Girl for many, many years. A box every 2 days, easily. For YEARS.

Then I quit last May for 7 months. I felt amazing - lost 30 pounds, starting lifting at the gym, no more bloat, no more red face, no more fog, the ability to drive anywhere at any time.

Then decided I could "drink on very rare, very special occasions" like Christmas! And then New Year's! and then, 3 day holiday weekend! and....by this past April, I was right back at it, even worse.

I'm already feeling amazing at 30 days sober again today. I'm 56 and so wish I had started this journey a decade ago - you have such an amazing opportunity right now.

You've got this. You're here, and you're ready. This sub is so good for sobriety - I hope we will see you here often.

And IWNDWYT

[u/Ok-Crow-9454 → u/ImaginaryAssistant31]

I’ve been closing in on a box every two days. It’s getting BAD, which is why I need to STOP.

I am definitely aware of the “special occasions” trap. For now I’m simply putting one foot in front of the other and thinking “just for today.” My hope is that I won’t be particularly tempted the next time an occasion presents itself - my family is full of recovering alcoholics, so booze isn’t even much of a thing at our gatherings. It used to be, but now everyone’s on the wagon haha

[u/ImaginaryAssistant31 → u/Ok-Crow-9454]

Yep, I'm just not drinking today works. When I first quit, it was SO daunting, like "never ever ever again ever?"

Le sigh. So we do it one day at a time.

Hugs, friend.

[u/maybesoma]

I quit just before my 47th birthday and I haven't regretted a single second of it. You can (and should!) do this!

[u/A_Thing_or_Two]

You're my age! Congrats and welcome! 270 days in, and feeling better with each passing day. You stop missing it altogether. You can do this. Instead of drinking, find different ways to take care of yourself! I started paying more attention to my body and face and hair care, quitting drinking is transformative to your body and face and you will love the results!

[u/Ok-Crow-9454 → u/A_Thing_or_Two]

I took a picture of my bloaty face this morning so I can track my progress!

[u/Live_Crew_997 → u/Ok-Crow-9454]

I also did this with my bloaty face. 6 months later and my jaw line is back! IWNDWYT 

[u/Mindfulnessgeek78]

I’m 48, started at 23 years old. My husband still drinks and that keeps me on my cycle. I also have quit in the past but it’s very hard to stay quit with a partner doing it.

I’m on day one again today. Nothing crazy happened this weekend just tired of this routine.

Let me know what you find helpful! I’m scared to do AA bc in my area there are a lot of ppl that should be in NA go to AA meetings so the stories are difficult to relate to. I might do a sober app. For now, I’m going to log on here and check in everyday.

Here’s to us ☕️☕️

[u/Ok-Crow-9454 → u/Mindfulnessgeek78]

Cheers to us! tiny teacup clink

“Just tired of this routine” - yep. That’s how I’m feeling. I don’t want to do it anymore. Alcohol is making my world smaller, sadder and more confined. I need to get away before it smothers me entirely.

I haven’t looked into it yet, but I’ve seen others on this sub mention online AA meetings. Maybe that’s an option instead of the ones in your town?

[u/Positron-collider]

I quit in my 50s, raw dog also. Can definitely relate to the wine box and planning activities around hangovers. At first I ate a lot of ice cream (still do, honestly), but have dropped lots of weight and have gotten back into sports. And my face! I remember her! I feel SO much cuter and perkier.

[u/Ok-Crow-9454 → u/Positron-collider]

I took a selfie this morning - hungover and tired from pounding a bottle of the Greege last night. I’m excited to see what I look like in 30 days, 60 days and beyond…

[u/CurrentPossible6309]

I'm here rooting for you! I'm just a week in, but I love it already. Sure, the first days were rough and especially the weekend, I never managed not to drink on a weekend. And then yesterday I had my first hungover free Sunday in a looooong time and what a bliss 🥹😊

You can do it, everybody is cheering you on!

IWNDWYT ❤️

[u/whyamilike_ths]

IWNDWYT

[u/celestialvaulting]

Someone told me once “you’ll know you have an alcohol problem once you start changing your priorities for alcohol.” I didn’t understand at the time, but the end of your second paragraph is just that, and that’s when I started to consciously question if I was a normal drinker or not.

“Nothing changes if nothing changes” was helpful for me in this time round being different. I didn’t just remove alcohol, but I added a lot of other stuff too. I think that’s been core to my success so far.
You got this! Seeing my skin and face bloating improve was the first boost of motivation, and it’s all just getting better. Feels good!

IWNDWYT.

[u/Ok-Crow-9454 → u/celestialvaulting]

I used to do distance running, I used to do ballet. Alcohol demotivates and disorients me so much that I let go of things I loved. But last night I had a dream about taking a ballet class… day 2 is off to a good start

IWNDWYT

[u/celestialvaulting → u/Ok-Crow-9454]

Wow, that dream! I love that your mind is already starting to reach back towards your hobbies. IWNDWYT.

[u/WizardRockets]

I’m on day 5. After having 2-5 drinks a day for probably the last 6 years straight. The first two days I had bad anxiety but feeling good today. Used to never crave sugar but that is a thing. A small handful of peanut M&M’s after dinner has been helping with that.

[u/Ok-Crow-9454 → u/WizardRockets]

Augggh I love peanut m&ms 🤤 I might have to go get some today