Addiction & Recovery
Related: About this forumYesterday was my 6th anniversary of sobriety
Somehow I missed it. I don't really keep track of dates. I must say, it's been an interesting journey.
To all those new to recovery, if I can do it, you can too. Just hang in there. Someone gave me some great advice early on, and I'll always be grateful to her for these words of wisdom:
Don't focus on who you were, but who you want to be.
Dennis Donovan
(24,735 posts)Never felt better!
NoMoreRepugs
(10,483 posts)AloeVera
(1,801 posts)Almost 15 years for me. Life is beautiful sober. Keep reaching for who you want to be, it's the journey that matters.
bullimiami
(13,982 posts)marble falls
(61,994 posts)sinkingfeeling
(52,962 posts)SheltieLover
(59,449 posts)multigraincracker
(33,955 posts)I was self medicating for childhood trauma that I didnt realize until I found a great psychiatrist that solved those feelings. Have never found the need for those drugs after that.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,595 posts)Next Saturday, I'll have 34 years of freedom from alcohol addiction and a 77th birthday coming in November.
It's been one hell of a ride.
Jokingly, I'll say I never intend to repeat 90 meetings in 90 days ever again.......
FalloutShelter
(12,712 posts)No mud no lotus, Baby!
Clouds Passing
(2,053 posts)Every day, I love my sobriety more. I hope you feel that way too.
Be true to your spirit.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,595 posts)Hope you can treat yourself to something special. Maybe a sobriety pocket token or some carry-out food.
We need to be grateful to ourselves on occasion!......
bleedingulcers
(55 posts)nothing less!
joshdawg
(2,709 posts)6yrs is a looooong time.
FWIW, 27 years for me.
Dear_Prudence
(816 posts)Congratulations!
if..fish..had..wings
(804 posts)yonder
(10,002 posts)Thanksgiving Day, to be exact and boy howdy, am I ever thankful.
twodogsbarking
(12,228 posts)bif
(23,882 posts)I have a bowl of ice cream every day I make it through without a drink!
LoisB
(8,501 posts)AllaN01Bear
(22,968 posts)Ramsey Barner
(669 posts)rurallib
(63,148 posts)What did you give up and how did you finally do it?
bif
(23,882 posts)My family did an intervention (which I have mixed feelings about, frankly). I then went into a rehab facility for as long as my insurance would cover it. I think it was three weeks.
rurallib
(63,148 posts)Rorey
(8,513 posts)I think most of us would be resistant to something forced, but ultimately YOU were the one to make the decision to stop. I'd say you really did your own intervention (but let them pat themselves on the back if it makes them feel better ).
bif
(23,882 posts)I kept saying to myself, "You guys decided I needed to quit, not me." And if I had made the decision, I would have moved on a lot more quickly. But ultimately, I've realized it's for the best.
And literally, for the first five years, I thought about booze every day. Then something happened around the five-year mark where I stopped thinking about it. I've actually adopted a superiority attitude about not drinking. It's kind of funny, but if you told me I'd feel that way 6 years ago, I'd laugh at the thought.
Rorey
(8,513 posts)And that's what matters.
RainCaster
(11,503 posts)I heard at last night's meeting someone say that we should repeat that 90 in 90 thing everytime you move to a new town. That way you will more quickly learn the personalities of all those who are here to help you.
bif
(23,882 posts)RainCaster
(11,503 posts)bif
(23,882 posts)I do SMART meetings.
SMART works, too I've seen. AA did it for me.
bif
(23,882 posts)onecaliberal
(35,638 posts)That is great advice for anyone.
NNadir
(34,532 posts)TommieMommy
(1,029 posts)AltairIV
(638 posts)Congratulations!
Permanut
(6,606 posts)Coming up in 30 years in a couple of weeks. Life is good now one day at a time.
ChazInAz
(2,769 posts)Forty-three years, and my day is the Ides of March...fitting for an actor!
catrose
(5,234 posts)DemonGoddess
(5,071 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(154,014 posts)rzemanfl
(30,272 posts)When I worked for a living, I had an appointment book with me all day every day and didn't miss dates.
Congratulations.
Danmel
(5,212 posts)Wishing you continued success and good health.
johnnyplankton
(446 posts)For anybody who's just getting sober, it gets better. Just not right away. But it's SO worth it.
orangecrush
(21,509 posts)Joinfortmill
(16,330 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,747 posts)I had an accident that put me in the hospital for 20 days. I fell and my head hit the concrete and I had a traumatic brain bleed and and don't remember what happened for a week. Then spent the rest of the 20 days in a rehab hospital. No one told me, but I decided to quit everything I was doing, which was mainly drinking a lot of bourbon. It's been surprisingly easy to do so far. Has this happened to anyone else? It was literally a near death experience, and I wasn't even drinking that evening.
Rorey
(8,513 posts)For my daughter, it took the words of her doctor telling her that she would die if she didn't stop. She had some very rough attempts at quitting. It was hell being at her bedside in the ER, knowing I was going to lose my "little girl". She's in her 40s, so not a little girl, but she'll always be MY little girl.
Rorey
(8,513 posts)My daughter is an alcoholic. She hasn't had a drink in at least 4 years. I think that maybe the reason that she didn't note the date of her first day of the rest of her life being sober was because she had tried and slipped quite a few times before it became "real".
My oldest son is also an alcoholic, and he has never even attempted to quit as far as I know. I stopped believing I could be an influence quite a few years ago. I love him, but it's his choice. I had to accept that. I also accept that I probably will outlive him because of his choice.
I love your words of wisdom. It's great advice for everyone. No matter how much any of us dwell on the past, we can't rewrite it. Experiences, good or bad, are lessons.
WmChris
(216 posts)The promises will materialize if we work for them. Keep trudgin the road to happy destiny. 🫠
sdfernando
(5,363 posts)So glad you took the journey and I'm proud of how far you've come! One step at a time, one day at a time...and look where you are now!....Congrats!!!!
louslobbs
(3,416 posts)N/T
10 Turtle Day
(420 posts)Life is so much better with a clear head! I celebrated my 35th in the spring. Not with a drink but with reflection on how good my life is and how none of it could have happened if I were still drinking.
bif
(23,882 posts)Rhiannon12866
(221,049 posts)And it's been my job for 2 AA groups to order and pass out anniversary coins - so here's yours! Well done!!!