SOBRIETY

[Sleazy]

@Monolithic Flick i fell you 100. i'm not sure what was more destructive to my life. for me my career and family were doing so good that it kind of masked the impacts a bit. i know weed made me way more antisocial though and i'm pretty sure it causes mental health problems. i was experiencing so much anxiety and my mind would race so bad. liquor was having more direct effects on my health. weight, energy levels, sleep and then all that compounds causing problems in relationships and many other places in my life. just feel fortunate to be enjoying sobriety so much. it's the new high for sure.

[Benicio El Toro]

Haven't had anything since I broke my leg in Missoula on Labor Day. All in all, I've drank 3 times in the last 3 months. Being immobile for the last month has actually made it way easier. Used to love sitting at a bar, even if I was just there for food. Now that doesn't even sound appealing. Gives you way more time to focus on things you've had on the back burner. That's my favorite aspect of sobriety. Probably helps I'm jobless bc of the injury but regardless. I'll take it.
Edit- Coming to this thread really helps me as well. Just reading y'all's stories is always inspiring.

[mfweeno]

It’s been a really challenging few days of keeping willpower against booze. I flew out to a charity golf tournament sponsored by the company I work for. I have awful flying anxiety so I was very tempted to order a drink on both flights to calm my racing thoughts. Most of my colleagues are pretty enthusiastic drinkers as well, so there was a lot of beer and wine flowing the entire time. They know I don’t drink so there wasn’t peer pressure, but I did feel a little left out in a way.
I know these kinds of situations would have triggered me to drink in the past, so I’m fucking proud that I kept my commitment to myself. “Playing the tape forward” was a very helpful technique - imagining doing stupid shit in front of the company, waking up hungover as fuck, and the crushing regret I would have felt if I gave in were all motivators.

[Burt Ward]

It’s been a really challenging few days of keeping willpower against booze. I flew out to a charity golf tournament sponsored by the company I work for. I have awful flying anxiety so I was very tempted to order a drink on both flights to calm my racing thoughts. Most of my colleagues are pretty enthusiastic drinkers as well, so there was a lot of beer and wine flowing the entire time. They know I don’t drink so there wasn’t peer pressure, but I did feel a little left out in a way.
I know these kinds of situations would have triggered me to drink in the past, so I’m fucking proud that I kept my commitment to myself. “Playing the tape forward” was a very helpful technique - imagining doing stupid shit in front of the company, waking up hungover as fuck, and the crushing regret I would have felt if I gave in were all motivators.

Good work. Comraderies gained from shared drinking sessions are one thing I occasionally miss, but if you have a problem with the piss, it defs ain't worth it.

[Sleazy]

It’s been a really challenging few days of keeping willpower against booze. I flew out to a charity golf tournament sponsored by the company I work for. I have awful flying anxiety so I was very tempted to order a drink on both flights to calm my racing thoughts. Most of my colleagues are pretty enthusiastic drinkers as well, so there was a lot of beer and wine flowing the entire time. They know I don’t drink so there wasn’t peer pressure, but I did feel a little left out in a way.
I know these kinds of situations would have triggered me to drink in the past, so I’m fucking proud that I kept my commitment to myself. “Playing the tape forward” was a very helpful technique - imagining doing stupid shit in front of the company, waking up hungover as fuck, and the crushing regret I would have felt if I gave in were all motivators.

Way to go

I watched a YouTube video about a lady on a business trip who got so drunk they would let her on the plane and she got arrested, hog tied and carried out airport kicking and screaming and pissed herself. Normal looking business lady

Here’s the video, pretty hilarious but imagine being this being your blackout experience: https://youtu.be/NAKgpEYS62A?si=VbSWGTnCM8s_4IMu

[Boomerforums]

I beat heroin fentanyl meth crack coke pills rcs. Then i beat the big one... Smoking cigs. Now I have a chill pill every now and then. But managed to get hooked on the 7oh, made it 24 hours but folded

Anyone else fuck with this shit be honest?

I'm getting ads for Suboxone and sublocade it's fucked they promote that shit lol insanity, sounds good but I would never fold like that

[Benicio El Toro]

Definitely stay away from that. Making it 24 hours is a great start, I'm sure you didn't quit cigs first t. Stay strong. Try try again.

[Boomerforums]

I'll make it out I'm just curious if anyone else has done it

Gives about the same problems as oxy for me

[Boomerforums]

Shit has gone really upriver around here if I'm the only one doing vape shop opiods

[Benicio El Toro]

Thought I'd invite a couple people over last night since I'm couch locked. Thought about feeling like shit this morning. Thought about getting sweaty for no reason. Thought about increasing my anxiety. Thought about making my whole body bone dry with dehydration. Thought about having that ringing sensation in my gums most of the morning. Thought about not being able to think with my nerves going ballistic. Thought about not doing a fucking thing. Thought I better not. Proud of myself. Proud of y'all.

[No-pants Pee Hands]

At 27 days without a drink or coke. Last June would have been a year without alcohol since I was probably 15, the reason I’d gotten back into drinking was just a shit storm of life struggles, judgement from people, and hoping family and in-laws would have my back at probably my most vulnerable point in my life. Things with my wife were going well at the time but I think feeling left out of the social scene and also the gossip kind of made it easy to make that excuse to go back. I’m currently just couch surfing while trying to bring myself back and also learn more about myself

[Maccat]

Definitely stay away from that. Making it 24 hours is a great start, I'm sure you didn't quit cigs first t. Stay strong. Try try again.

Quitting cigs was hard. I ate way too much candy to get over em. When I found out other friends did the same to get over harder substances I was shocked but not surprised. I know sugar affects similar parts of the brain, but for me and a few friends it did work out.

Just passed two months dropping pot. Shit was the worst for me killing my motivation and essentially greasing the gears for every other bad habit I have. It’s crazy to think you can’t live without something until you realize you can. Replacing a bad habit with a good one helped.

Everyone struggling, just take it moment for moment, a day at a time. The good days add up to something great.

[Sleazy]

Replacing a bad habit with a good one helped.

Everyone struggling, just take it moment for moment, a day at a time. The good days add up to something great.

wow, love this!

[No-pants Pee Hands]

Expand Quote

Replacing a bad habit with a good one helped.

Everyone struggling, just take it moment for moment, a day at a time. The good days add up to something great.

[close]

wow, love this!

[ham_mah]

Hi everyone, back with some remarks after one month of sobriety:

Quality of sleep has improved a lot and circadian rhythm is starting to maintain itself; I naturally navigate to bed around 11 pm and wake up between 7-8 am. Used to sleep max 6h while still drinking and constantly woke up during the night. First two weeks however, felt like it took forever for me to wake up or then I just had brain fog through the day. Now it's finally getting better and at times I actually feel bit overstimulated and frankly, quite looney. Overall, expressing emotions comes more naturally and even laughter feels more genuine, although I tend to snap easier especially in sports.

Social encounters involving alcohol haven't bothered me as much as in the past and absolutely no problem sticking in n/a's while hanging with my buddies, but no support to be expected from there. I've been to some parties/gigs where in the past would've definitely gotten drunk, as most of the people attending did. Main issue I've encountered is that I feel being "too present" quite exhausting. I mean, I enjoy chatting but after a while it's not only dull but bit confusing too to have the same conversations over and over again. Around midnight I usually bounce, since after that the main goal for most is to get pissed or to hook up.

As of having more time to spend, productivity hasn't increased as much as I was maybe hoping for but definitely have gotten more things done and mandatory stuff I find unpleasant has been easier to cope with. In general have felt more active and energetic, still trying to fix an exercise routine and slowly getting there (which I'd better since sugar craving is insane). Constantly need to keep reminding myself that it's not a sprint, but rather a marathon. Planning on stepping back on the board as well.

Oddly enough, it has been rather easy not to drink considering that I used to get hammered every weekend, sometimes during the week too and knock down few beers almost daily. Only couple times I've had the urge to down a bottle of booze, but it has passed as fast as occurred. Beer I haven't really missed thanks to the n/a's, not even the buzz. I guess for the past few years alcohol has been merely a means of escape to me; moments I feel worried or anxious about something are the moments when the impulse of drinking it off appears.

Well that's it for now. Gotta stay focused since experience has shown that the more comfortable I get with being able not to drink, the easier it gets to slip back to the old habits. Hope y'all doing well, keep it up!

[Boomerforums]

This is how I got off 7oh cause I know I'm not the only one taking it

All you gotta do is taper to 5mg then use pseudoindoxyl tabs for a couple days to get your mind off the 7oh, use it like Suboxone

Then you can use regular kratom if your a pussy but it's not necessary if you taper to 5mg

Taper taper taper, had minimal discomfort

[Monolithic Flick]

@Sleazy  I didn't want to cross threads but it was awesome to see your skate video knowing how cool you are on this thread.  Kudos to you all around.  Great stuff.

[Sleazy]

Hi everyone, back with some remarks after one month of sobriety:

Quality of sleep has improved a lot and circadian rhythm is starting to maintain itself; I naturally navigate to bed around 11 pm and wake up between 7-8 am. Used to sleep max 6h while still drinking and constantly woke up during the night. First two weeks however, felt like it took forever for me to wake up or then I just had brain fog through the day. Now it's finally getting better and at times I actually feel bit overstimulated and frankly, quite looney. Overall, expressing emotions comes more naturally and even laughter feels more genuine, although I tend to snap easier especially in sports.

Social encounters involving alcohol haven't bothered me as much as in the past and absolutely no problem sticking in n/a's while hanging with my buddies, but no support to be expected from there. I've been to some parties/gigs where in the past would've definitely gotten drunk, as most of the people attending did. Main issue I've encountered is that I feel being "too present" quite exhausting. I mean, I enjoy chatting but after a while it's not only dull but bit confusing too to have the same conversations over and over again. Around midnight I usually bounce, since after that the main goal for most is to get pissed or to hook up.

As of having more time to spend, productivity hasn't increased as much as I was maybe hoping for but definitely have gotten more things done and mandatory stuff I find unpleasant has been easier to cope with. In general have felt more active and energetic, still trying to fix an exercise routine and slowly getting there (which I'd better since sugar craving is insane). Constantly need to keep reminding myself that it's not a sprint, but rather a marathon. Planning on stepping back on the board as well.

Oddly enough, it has been rather easy not to drink considering that I used to get hammered every weekend, sometimes during the week too and knock down few beers almost daily. Only couple times I've had the urge to down a bottle of booze, but it has passed as fast as occurred. Beer I haven't really missed thanks to the n/a's, not even the buzz. I guess for the past few years alcohol has been merely a means of escape to me; moments I feel worried or anxious about something are the moments when the impulse of drinking it off appears.

Well that's it for now. Gotta stay focused since experience has shown that the more comfortable I get with being able not to drink, the easier it gets to slip back to the old habits. Hope y'all doing well, keep it up!

Really enjoyed this post. I was surprised at how long it took to get the alcohol out the first few weeks. It’s also interesting to read how the extra energy can be overwhelming. I also felt really bored and lonely at first.

On the late nights and repetitive conversations… my wife shared “I know now if it’s only not boring because alcohol it’s probably boring” and that made a lot of sense to me. Once it gets boring I bounce.

@Sleazy  I didn't want to cross threads but it was awesome to see your skate video knowing how cool you are on this thread.  Kudos to you all around.  Great stuff.

Appreciate that man!

[EDMUND]

I haven’t gotten into any trouble with alcohol besides my own discomfort, didn’t start drinking until my early-mid twenties, and would rarely drink to get drunk, yet still, the 1-3 drinks most nights of the week have started to feel off. I’ve only ever taken off for single months at a time. I want to do three months this time, which feels ambitious. I’m one week in.

Writing this here because even though my drinking is on the mellow side abstaining feels difficult.

[Maccat]

Day one, week one is always tough. Every day forward is another day with that in the rear view. Soon enough it’s so far back you can hardly see it, much less be affected by it.

Keep it going, enjoy the calories on something equally fun.

[Sleazy]

I haven’t gotten into any trouble with alcohol besides my own discomfort, didn’t start drinking until my early-mid twenties, and would rarely drink to get drunk, yet still, the 1-3 drinks most nights of the week have started to feel off. I’ve only ever taken off for single months at a time. I want to do three months this time, which feels ambitious. I’m one week in.

Writing this here because even though my drinking is on the mellow side abstaining feels difficult.

i've shared this in here a number of times. i was a 2-4 drink a night drinker and below is what my sleep looked like over a year where I did a dry 30, then moderated to only weekends and the quit drinking. it fucks my sleep and energy levels up so bad.



other things for me:
- stopped snoring
- lost 15 lbs for good (even though i drink 2 NAs most nights and eat a pint of halo top)
- rarely get tired and now. if i do get tired i find it really annoying because its so rare
- all my relationships have improved when i honestly thought they were all great going into this but i guess there's always room for improvement
- my skate session good to bad ratio flipped from 7 bad sessions out of 10 to 3 bad sessions out of 10. this didn't happen for me till month 9 but really enjoying skating more now
- can work long hours without being miserable. i worked 6:30am-10pm yesterday and wasn't miserable. note i work from home and take long lunches and do a lot of walks with dogs. when i was drinking i would have been so annoyed to work that long.

[EDMUND]

Thank you both for the responses.

I’m similarly sensitive… existing in a perpetually tired, subtly hungover state even from the low-volume drinking has depressed my skating over time. I feel alienated from our natural, cat-like reflexes. It’s great to hear things changed for you there.

[NoComply180]

Coming up on 2 years no booze for me. I’ve definitely replaced the habit with halo top ice cream, diet soda, NA beers…and a pretty steady 5-7 day/week habit of 5-20mg of THC these days. I’m not sure if it’s actually manageable and better than drinking overall, but that’s how I feel right now. Trying to keep an eye on it. It doesn’t dominate my mental space or have me planning my day around it like booze did, but even in low doses it’s definitely some escapism.

[steve]

Coming up on 2 years no booze for me. I’ve definitely replaced the habit with halo top ice cream, diet soda, NA beers…and a pretty steady 5-7 day/week habit of 5-20mg of THC these days. I’m not sure if it’s actually manageable and better than drinking overall, but that’s how I feel right now. Trying to keep an eye on it. It doesn’t dominate my mental space or have me planning my day around it like booze did, but even in low doses it’s definitely some escapism.

Good for you, dawg. I hit 10 years off the booze at the end of September. I'm around 5.5 years off drugs and shit. I smoke weed most days. Not getting fried all day long (ok, ok, if I'm painting a house, working outdoors, or skating at 9am a rip and coffee can be nice  ) but definitely and consistently find extraordinary benefits and negligible downsides around using herb to ease muscle/soft tissue aches, have more fun playing guitar, zone out while working out, or just take the level somewhere else. For me, it's just weed. I enjoy and appreciate the shit out of it. Choosing, for whatever reasons, to not blaze for days, weeks, or months isn't a problem and happens from time to time.

Weed isn't for everyone, perhaps due to over consumption or underlying mental health or psychiatric concerns, but in my 10 years off booze and half that with the harder shit, i've learned that it's about finding out who you are, who you want to be, and going about what works best for the person walking in your shoes (you!).

I see/hear a lot of people express some sort of shame, guilt, or self questioning because they're not NA/AA sober and I think it's really unfortunate. I say this because you mentioned escapism and I don't know that it matters or if when we're measuring levels of "escapism" we're considering what metric we hold ourselves up against. The more we learn, the more apparent it becomes that Social Media/Internet/Phone/AI/Gaming (screen time!) related things all hit the brain in ways similar to drugs. I think that's a form of escapism, for sure. For some people, that variety of escapism/use/habit/addiction is acceptable and works, but outside many, but not all, health concerns, I'm not sold that it's all that different regarding the hooks of addiction and escaping both the exterior and our internal experiences.

Anyways, this is all just my opinion and experience. It doesn't matter, so I really want to say, dude,

2 years is fucking sweet. keep it up

[offkilter]

My drinking buddy from work and I made a pact to do Sober October, which he bailed on after about 5 days. I’m still rolling with it and it’s a bit of a tough pill to swallow because I was always just a beer or two a day, not doing dumb shit type drinker, but I haven’t felt this good in a really long time. Realizing that the constant slight headache, low energy state I have been in for years (I’m currently 31) was something I just became accustomed to but isn’t how it has to be.

I quit weed after 15 years last year too which was a huge improvement in my mental state and energy levels. Hoping I can stay sober off the booze too just one day at a time.

[Sleazy]

My drinking buddy from work and I made a pact to do Sober October, which he bailed on after about 5 days. I’m still rolling with it and it’s a bit of a tough pill to swallow because I was always just a beer or two a day, not doing dumb shit type drinker, but I haven’t felt this good in a really long time. Realizing that the constant slight headache, low energy state I have been in for years (I’m currently 31) was something I just became accustomed to but isn’t how it has to be.

I quit weed after 15 years last year too which was a huge improvement in my mental state and energy levels. Hoping I can stay sober off the booze too just one day at a time.

People think your life needs to be falling apart before you think about whether alcohol is a good idea or not but you hitting on what I feel is more interesting which is just about living healthier, feeling better, better moods, more energy, ect. It’s more like “should I start working out” situation for me.

Weed was also really bad for my mental health so good to hear more people talking about that these days.

[NoComply180]

Expand Quote

Coming up on 2 years no booze for me. I’ve definitely replaced the habit with halo top ice cream, diet soda, NA beers…and a pretty steady 5-7 day/week habit of 5-20mg of THC these days. I’m not sure if it’s actually manageable and better than drinking overall, but that’s how I feel right now. Trying to keep an eye on it. It doesn’t dominate my mental space or have me planning my day around it like booze did, but even in low doses it’s definitely some escapism.

[close]

Good for you, dawg. I hit 10 years off the booze at the end of September. I'm around 5.5 years off drugs and shit. I smoke weed most days. Not getting fried all day long (ok, ok, if I'm painting a house, working outdoors, or skating at 9am a rip and coffee can be nice  ) but definitely and consistently find extraordinary benefits and negligible downsides around using herb to ease muscle/soft tissue aches, have more fun playing guitar, zone out while working out, or just take the level somewhere else. For me, it's just weed. I enjoy and appreciate the shit out of it. Choosing, for whatever reasons, to not blaze for days, weeks, or months isn't a problem and happens from time to time.

Weed isn't for everyone, perhaps due to over consumption or underlying mental health or psychiatric concerns, but in my 10 years off booze and half that with the harder shit, i've learned that it's about finding out who you are, who you want to be, and going about what works best for the person walking in your shoes (you!).

I see/hear a lot of people express some sort of shame, guilt, or self questioning because they're not NA/AA sober and I think it's really unfortunate. I say this because you mentioned escapism and I don't know that it matters or if when we're measuring levels of "escapism" we're considering what metric we hold ourselves up against. The more we learn, the more apparent it becomes that Social Media/Internet/Phone/AI/Gaming (screen time!) related things all hit the brain in ways similar to drugs. I think that's a form of escapism, for sure. For some people, that variety of escapism/use/habit/addiction is acceptable and works, but outside many, but not all, health concerns, I'm not sold that it's all that different regarding the hooks of addiction and escaping both the exterior and our internal experiences.

Anyways, this is all just my opinion and experience. It doesn't matter, so I really want to say, dude,

2 years is fucking sweet. keep it up

hey, thank you so much for this really thoughtful reply. I agree with everything you said. And congrats to you on 5.5/10 years off hard shit and booze. I hope to join you there some day!

[Monolithic Flick]

I think about this thread often.  I think it is one of my favorites on the internet.  31 days of no alcohol today.  I've gone much longer before but as a moderate drinker always reserved 'the right' to go back to it. I'm going to try and stay completely off it now.  As mentioned probably too many times (forgive me), it just does me no good even at moderate levels so why bother?

Peace and strength to all of you.

[Sleazy]

I think about this thread often.  I think it is one of my favorites on the internet.  31 days of no alcohol today.  I've gone much longer before but as a moderate drinker always reserved 'the right' to go back to it. I'm going to try and stay completely off it now.  As mentioned probably too many times (forgive me), it just does me no good even at moderate levels so why bother?

Peace and strength to all of you.

first month is hard, way to go man!

moderating was way harder for me. none of the benefits (weight loss, sleep, energy, etc...) and for me alcohol was always on my mind.

[fakie nollie]

I think about this thread often.  I think it is one of my favorites on the internet.  31 days of no alcohol today.  I've gone much longer before but as a moderate drinker always reserved 'the right' to go back to it. I'm going to try and stay completely off it now.  As mentioned probably too many times (forgive me), it just does me no good even at moderate levels so why bother?

Peace and strength to all of you.

I feel this. Just ended 9 weeks no beer on Friday. It was fun having 3 beers with a friend. Drank again yesterday (5 across 4 hours) and woke up unmotivated, tired and depressed.

Ive come to the conclusion that im too easily affected by the day-after affects of alcohol to use it more than on special occasions. I don’t enjoy casual drinking and my body/ brain don’t enjoy the depression.

Fun fact: I started this thread on a burner account where, at the time, I thought it was hilarious to write in all caps and pretend I was hard of hearing (even though I’m reading…?). I was clearly drunk most days I posted with it. That account was quickly banned for being annoying as fuck.

I’m happy to see this thread be a space for people to get support and share experiences.