Sobriety

[TkoK83Spy]

I use terms like "sobriety" a little lightly because I never truly had a drinking problem, because I decided to leave it behind before it ever got to that point. Next summer will make 20 years since I last drank and I really haven't missed it. There are days when the going gets tough that I think about it but I also know that it's times like that when I don't need to lose my composure.

Absolutely, that would be the worst time for it. Which is when things really started going downhill with my wife. Have a bad day at work, her being on my case about drinking or not doing something...so foolish me would grab the bottle and just make matters worse. Thankfully we have a camper we keep on the side of the garage when we're not on a trip, because I was forced to spend a few nights there over the summer/fall.

It's odd for me, I was always fine as a beer drinker. But for whatever reason I turned to liquor out of the blue for a few months literally almost ruined my life.

[RocketJ]

Good for you, buddy! It’s been close to 20 years since I had a drink.....didn’t drink every day but I’m one of those people who couldn’t seem to stop at a reasonable amount. When it became obvious that I had a choice of stopping completely or risking the loss of my family, perhaps my job, and certainly my driver’s license....one day I just said no more. Life is better in every respect, and the longer you’re sober the more you realize and appreciate it. Stay tough and be confident that you did exactly the right thing! We are all 100% supportive.

[SkullBouncer]

Well RIGHT ON, RICK. Congrats, and Welcome Back. :cool: :cool:
I had my last drink in 2009 immediately before being admitted to a VA Hospital. Some on here may remember some of it, and as said by others, it was one of the best moves I've ever made. The very night I was discharged I attended my first AA group. Amazing bunch, helped me stay on track.

My old man was a really bad drunk, couldn't hold a job, real mess of a father. I could never have understood his demons without my own bouts with being a drunk but I never got too close to where my dad had been at. My Dad sobered up at the age of 36, and got his single engine rating in a Piper Cherokee 140. Used to take me flying, but that man SCARED THE **** OUTTA ME in that damned thing, haha made him a good pilot and I eventually acclimated. Even being sober, in his case the demons clung on until my enlisted years in the USN. Our entire relationship changed from then on. He passed at the age of 74, and we had found peace and respect between us in the latter years for the positive.

Godspeed to all others sharing their stories. Thanks, guys / BRUCE :spyder: :spyder:

[Evil D]

I use terms like "sobriety" a little lightly because I never truly had a drinking problem, because I decided to leave it behind before it ever got to that point. Next summer will make 20 years since I last drank and I really haven't missed it. There are days when the going gets tough that I think about it but I also know that it's times like that when I don't need to lose my composure.

Absolutely, that would be the worst time for it. Which is when things really started going downhill with my wife. Have a bad day at work, her being on my case about drinking or not doing something...so foolish me would grab the bottle and just make matters worse. Thankfully we have a camper we keep on the side of the garage when we're not on a trip, because I was forced to spend a few nights there over the summer/fall.

It's odd for me, I was always fine as a beer drinker. But for whatever reason I turned to liquor out of the blue for a few months literally almost ruined my life.

I've had exactly three beers my entire life and I didn't finish one of them. I just never got a taste for it. I was always a hard liquor drinker. My mother had a thing for Bacardi 151 and she loved a good run and Coke on card playing nights (not that she had anything close to a drinking problem). When I was a kid I'd wake up on Saturday morning after all the adults stayed up playing cards and I'd find what I thought was half empty glasses of Coke on the kitchen table and I'd drink them. I spent many Saturday mornings drunk off my rear lol. When I was older and in my drinking days I had a thing for rum and of all things Segrams 7.

Ultimately I just looked at the situation and realized a lot of people around me were destroying themselves by living a certain type of lifestyle, and I looked at myself and the direction I was on and I knew I'd be just like them if I didn't make a commitment to take a different path. I think everyone makes a similar choice at some point in life whether they realize it or not, to stay on that path or step over to the next one. Some people like you and I are conscious enough to be aware of it. You should use that awareness to your advantage and keep on disciplining yourself and make sure you don't slip back into old habits. Once you get far enough down that path it's awfully hard to get off it.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I once heard a case about a man who became an alcoholic after his daddy and his friends would put drops of whiskey on his lips at age 3 or 4 years old, and he would roll around drunk on the floor.

[Bill1170]

I use terms like "sobriety" a little lightly because I never truly had a drinking problem, because I decided to leave it behind before it ever got to that point. Next summer will make 20 years since I last drank and I really haven't missed it. There are days when the going gets tough that I think about it but I also know that it's times like that when I don't need to lose my composure.

Just like David, I never had a drinking problem, but I decided 33 years ago to make that a hard pass, and have never once regretted excluding intoxicants from my life. Getting sober is more important to someone who has been in alcohol’s grip than I can fully appreciate. Much respect to anyone making that choice.

[TkoK83Spy]

I use terms like "sobriety" a little lightly because I never truly had a drinking problem, because I decided to leave it behind before it ever got to that point. Next summer will make 20 years since I last drank and I really haven't missed it. There are days when the going gets tough that I think about it but I also know that it's times like that when I don't need to lose my composure.

Just like David, I never had a drinking problem, but I decided 33 years ago to make that a hard pass, and have never once regretted excluding intoxicants from my life. Getting sober is more important to someone who has been in alcohol’s grip than I can fully appreciate. Much respect to anyone making that choice.

Good for you Bill, that's great! I can honestly say, even 3 months in I definitely appreciate the difference. Now tonight, we're going to our neighbors for a party. My wife said she's totally fine if we just stay home, but I don't want to hold her back from having fun with our friends. One things that's nice about getting older (being 35) is knowing that our friends in the neighborhood are aware of what I'm trying to accomplish. I know I won't have to worry about anybody saying "oh it's just one beer, it's just a shot, come on man it's new years" None of that kind of thing, where as if I were in my early 20's I'm sure peer pressure would be an issue.

I don't really want to say it's a test for myself, but it will be the first time I'm around a bunch of people having drinks. I'm curious to see how I feel about it. I'm sure it will be eventful seeing the situation through a difference lens, instead of being part of it. I feel good about it and am honestly excited to see how it goes.

[Doc Dan]

I rarely drink, and then only a half of one. I am not against it as long as it is not a problem, I just stopped drinking years ago, except on a rare occasion (wedding toast, etc.).

I am glad to see you are getting yourself straightened out. Good for you.

[Jazz]

My son in law always asks me if I want a beer, glass of wine, etc., and it makes me want to yell at him, but I stay calm and say no. Some people don't respect things like this.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Jazz, I agree with you my friend. People need to respect you and others and your wishes on these things.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Regarding non-alcoholic drinks, when it comes to "fake beers" that have a taste and feel similiar to the alcoholic ones, do those whom have had problems with this drink those or do they tend to stay away from that?

[Jazz]

Thanks, Spyder. :cool: I don't drink the nonalcoholic ones. Too tempting for the real thing, and there is a tiny bit of alcohol in them, which I don't want. Probably still fattening too.

[xceptnl]

Congratulations Rick. Stick with it! I too have endured struggles in my life that I have traced back to drinking. I have now been sober for over 16 months and it has been the best decision I ever made. As others said, one day at a time.

[JD Spydo]

Regarding non-alcoholic drinks, when it comes to "fake beers" that have a taste and feel similiar to the alcoholic ones, do those whom have had problems with this drink those or do they tend to stay away from that?

That's interesting that you bring that up SEF. Because on occasion I get a twelve pack of Old Milwaukee non-alcohol beer and that 12 pack will usually last me a month or so. Especially in the summertime I love the taste of a good beer and I've found that Old Milwaukee, Lone Star, Coors Cutter and a couple I've gotten at the health food store tastes about as good as the real thing.

When you think about it the only thing that is really bad about beer is the alcohol. But yeah I do like a non-alcohol beer every once in a while. Like I said I probably don't get over 2 to 3 of the 12 packs of non-alcohol beer in an entire year but I do like the tastes of it especially with certain foods like Mexican, Chinese, Thai ect.

[ChrisinHove]

Regarding non-alcoholic drinks, when it comes to "fake beers" that have a taste and feel similiar to the alcoholic ones, do those whom have had problems with this drink those or do they tend to stay away from that?

That's interesting that you bring that up SEF. Because on occasion I get a twelve pack of Old Milwaukee non-alcohol beer and that 12 pack will usually last me a month or so. Especially in the summertime I love the taste of a good beer and I've found that Old Milwaukee, Lone Star, Coors Cutter and a couple I've gotten at the health food store tastes about as good as the real thing.

When you think about it the only thing that is really bad about beer is the alcohol. But yeah I do like a non-alcohol beer every once in a while. Like I said I probably don't get over 2 to 3 of the 12 packs of non-alcohol beer in an entire year but I do like the tastes of it especially with certain foods like Mexican, Chinese, Thai ect.

I used to enjoy zero/low alcohol beers when I was younger and sportier: training hard then quaffing full strength beer in the bar afterwards made little sense (nor did sugary muck, expensive water etc). I’m more than happy to drink it now, as well.

[MichaelScott]

My father was a stone drunk from the time he was 15 years old. My sister and I actually grew up in AA clubs starting in 1949. Seriously. I’m as comfortable in an AA meeting as the drunks who are there. My dad sobriety lasted until 1960. The family had pretty much been destroyed during that period. And we never established any kind of meaningful relationship. This was not really because of the alcohol it was because my dad had his own issues that he never manage to deal with successfully. So I don’t really blame the drink I blame the man. Alcohol was his excuse for not being a responsible man, husband and father.

I drank in the Navy as most of us did. Was it a problem? Only on rare occasions. These days I may have a beer or glass of wine in the evening, or I may not.

My long and deep association with drunks convinced me that alcohol is not a “disease” — that’s the easy explanation and removes all personal responsibility. Like Master Yoda said, “Do or do not. There is no try.”

[Crux]

I recently gave up my dear friend Rum and while sad, it certainly has cut down on stupid posts and awkward situations. I drink beer but only a couple brands. Since I can't drink a lot in any given time frame I've done so much better. Congrats on your accomplishment, I'm sure it was not an easy one.

[TkoK83Spy]

I recently gave up my dear friend Rum and while sad, it certainly has cut down on stupid posts and awkward situations. I drink beer but only a couple brands. Since I can't drink a lot in any given time frame I've done so much better. Congrats on your accomplishment, I'm sure it was not an easy one.

Yea I totally understand about the stupid posts, which is why I was banned. Very embarrassing to think back about the stupid things I said or tried to argue about.

It's weird, it's been easy because I know it was definitely because of the hard liquor. As I said in the original post, I've always been a beer drinker and typically like IPA's and various craft beers. Yes, I do miss the taste of some of those beers and they weren't really the problem. But, making a promise to myself and my family I do feel a great sense of accomplishment thus far. Everyday feels like a win. I'm in good shape because I exercise regularly and eat well but I've actually lost about 4lbs since I stopped, and I'm sure that's water weight. No more occasional beer bloat either.

[TkoK83Spy]

My wife and I sat down last night and began crunching numbers, factoring in the average I would spend on alcohol each week/month...and it was rather disgusting that it would average around $200/month just drinking at home (higher end beer and liquor)...not including going out for a couple drinks while having lunch/happy hour a couple days a week. Since my run at sobriety, she has also cut back on wine herself. She was typically a glass or two each night after work. Now she's even cut back to just the weekends.

With me being totally cut off and her cutting down as much as she has, we figured that over a 4 month period we will have enough money saved from cutting out and scaling back to knock off an additional month off our mortgage! This could lead to 3 additional payments towards the principle in 1 year!! We were shocked, and obviously pretty excited about that! Gives us both that much more motivation to keep up the good work.

[Mom3ntuM]

Thats a fair bit of Money m8.
I admire your decision stop drinking, one i don't think i would able to make.
Keep up the Good work