It's been 39 days

[Mergee]

It's been 39 days sober and I thought I would be happier by now. I went to a concert last weekend, first sober concert for me. Watched everyone as they danced around with drinks in their hand. Makes me feel like there's a secret.. well not so secret club, that I am not allowed to be a part of. I'm not sure if I want to be a part of it, but I definitely don't like not being able to. I tried to enjoy the concert, I think I did enjoy it a bit. But I do miss feeling free like I can do anything I want without fear of judgement. I feel less fun and like a bore. It was nice for week 3 and 4 but now I'm back to feeling unhappy. I'm hoping this will pass as well. I'm not giving up

[Bittmorgana]

Hi Mergee,

I’m 49 days drink free. I have been out 1 week ago to a pub for the first time since stopped drinking and I have sent my mind to it. I have truly enjoyed my self, felt free of not relying on it. Everyone was hangover but I was feeling great the next morning! I think it gets easier and it takes time to get used to it. I have also started Couch25K at the same time and stopped smoking so I’m pretty sure that exercise helps a lot! I’m very happy and proud of myself and you should be too! We are only getting healthier and happier (so are our wallets) Have a great day and keep going! Remember to treat yourself with something other than alcohol I perhaps enjoy my cakes a lot

[Smegmer in reply to Bittmorgana]

I'm 6 weeks off the Cigs and 3 weeks off the beer/wine. I have saved £100's already ! £13 a pack of Cigs ! Lungs feeling better already and I'm cycling 10 mile runs, slowly, but I'm doing it.

[Bittmorgana in reply to Smegmer]

That’s great! Keep going. We can do it

[DicCarlson]

Remember when you were 10 or 12 years old? There was no booze and everyone had fun, well - playing! Embrace exercise and sport - running, cycling, hiking. It is so satisfying to NOT have something like booze with a hold on you! Discipline is Destiny! (a NYT bestseller book)

[SoberDrunk1]

I stopped drinking and on my shirnks advice I visited my first AA meeting 2006 september. There I learnt a lot about alcoholism. Drinking aside if one is an alcoholic, they simply cant handle life since, we along we have used Alcohol as a cruch. So, all the emotions comeout unglued. We get restless irritable discontent. You can add boredom, anxiety and all the new age jurgons. But most of the problem drinkers manage to get passed this. But alcoholics will keep going back to booze. If after a few months, you cant beat the emotions, you may want to consider reading the book alcoholics anonymous and see if you can relate to the stories. Especially the chapter More About Alcoholism: aa.org/sites/default/files/...

[Jampacked]

Hi MergeeI think its all about emotional sobriety. Emotiona are no longer subdued by alcohol so they run riot. We are used to numbing them which we cant now do. Your body will be healthier but your addictive voice will still be chatting in your ear. I bet your addictive voice has told you that you are 'fixed and can moderate' and that 'everyone else is having fun and you are not'. I think learning to understand the addictive voice will help. I listen to a sober podcast at least twice a day. I read quit lit regularly and talk to people in the sober community regularly. There is a huge instagram community. To be honest looking at others achievements can be pretty conclusive. People tend to arrive day 1 of being sober at the end of their tether, and in a few months they are climbing Snowdonia and looking serene . I am 90 days in and am developing new non alcohol based events and hobbies. Sadly just not drinking isn't always enough we have to re-educate and reprogrammed ourselves. It sounds awful but actually it is fabulous and very, very worth it. Read up and connect. It's still early days.

[Jimbo92]

It’s hard. I’ve been on this group for a year or so now and I thought I’d be sober by now😅It’s not easy whatsoever. I still struggle with weekends and holidays, events etc etc. I think a massive thing is your social group, unfortunately sometimes you do have to make changes and if your pals can’t go out with you without boozing then maybe it’s time to look for something else.

Hope everything goes well