New to DrinkFree

[Knoxx]

Hello All,

I am new to DrinkFree, and I am not afraid to talk about my journey and what brings me here today. Alcohol has been a giant staple in my life. My entire twenties have been controlled by alcohol, and this has brought along multiple legal issues and health concerns. I just turned thirty, and I am done letting alcohol control my life. I am currently learning that there is more to life than partying and running to alcohol when I am having a bad day. Everyday is a new adventure, and I am just happy to be here. My current goal is to find new new hobbies and find out what I am really interested in.

[SoberDrunk1]

Its great that you have had that awakening that alcohol is running your life at a young age. For me it happenned at 42 after several years of trying to moderate. At the end I too concluded that alcohol is not working for me. My shrink suggested AA and came into the rooms in 2006. There i learned that certain people cannot do it on their own. Becaues they have lost the choice in drink. Meaning, the mental faculty is not capable of staying stopped. But if they are sincere and apply the principles laid out in the 12 steps, they may recover from the seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. I am not sure if you have tried moderation and staying stopped on your own. You can read the chapter on More about alcoholism in the book Alcoholics Anonymous and learn more about it. Visit AA.org to access the online version of the book.

[Knoxx in reply to SoberDrunk1]

Yes, I am glad it has hit me early. I noticed that my twenties were rougher than it should have been, and it was all because of my decisions to consume alcohol. It is necessary for a change to better myself and supply a better life for my child. I am able to stop drinking on my own, but there are definitely moments where I find myself in a space where I really want a drink, and I refuse to give in. I wish to find more hobbies to take my mind off of it completely. It is a hard transition, but i will find a way to make it through.

[SoberDrunk1 in reply to Knoxx]

Only time can tell if you can consciously find new hobbies and stay on top of it. The book AA talks about how after a few days, months, the mind forgets the sufferring and humiliation of even a week or month ago. We are without defense against the first drink. The mind comes up with peculiar mental twists, reasoning why you need a drink or how you are not going to drink in excess. But after we take that drink all bets are off. If you are alcoholic, there is something that happens after we put that first drink in our body. The mind and body wants more. Then we drink to excess beyond our control.

[Isinatra]

Hello, Knox and welcome. There’s one thing you didn’t share….have you stopped drinking or are you trying to control your drinking? That can make a difference on how people can give their support. Indeed, life is sooo good without alcohol. 👍🏼

[Knoxx in reply to Isinatra]

Hi Isinatra. My main goal is to make better decisions when dealing with alcohol. Alocohol has always been a enormous factor in my life. Everyday needed a beer or a shot to something just because. At this point in my life, I am able to look back and see that alcohol did nothing for me but put me is worse situations than what I started out with. I have cut back on drinking A LOT. The all night binges are not good for my physical or mental health overall. I try my best to drink responsibly now, but I want to find things I enjoy that don’t involve drinking, so I can push alcohol out of my life even further. I have never been out with friends and just stayed sober, until this year. It felt completely strange, but in a good way. I was proud of myself. I want to find out what I enjoy about myself without any influence from drinking. It is going to be an anxious, but amazing journey.

[HeavyFoot]

Hi Knoxx. You are so fortunate to have come to this realization early in your life. Pursue it 👍

[Knoxx in reply to HeavyFoot]

Yes, it is a blessing. It is necessary for my progression in life. If I continue to drink like I use to, I do not believe I will be here much longer. It is time to make myself accountable and make changes in my life.

[Hidden]

30 great age to discover the harm alcohol does, to yourself and family. Try reading Annie Grace books

[Knoxx]

It is funny to hear that I discovered all of this at a young age. I thought I was late to the party, in my opinion. It feels great to have people that have been on the same path as me and have so much advice to give. This will definitely help me in the long run, andI will try my best to help as many people as I can. I will definitely look into Annie Grace and her books.