Tomorrow will be one year since I quit drinking. It has been the best decision I have made in my life. There are no second thoughts or second guesses. I am truly grateful to have achieved what seemed completely impossible the same time last year. I am here to share what has worked for me and hopefully it will help someone on this forum
1) 30 day isolation. The first thirty days are by far the hardest and I decided to completely shield myself from the outside world. Phone off, no going out, no birthdays, parties... Just a lot of posting on MWO. It really helped to know that people were going through the same emotional up and downs as me
2) 15 minute rule. At first it is really hard to imagine a lifetime of sobriety, so instead I allowed myself the possibility to drink again, however, I would have to sit down and think for 15 minutes before buying a drink. To be honest cravings never last that long, thinking about pros and cons, remembering all the horrible things that I did drunk put me off every time, for the duration of a year. By the end of those 15 minutes I would always decided that not drinking is a long term solution to happiness and no amount of alcohol is worth sacrificing it. The longer I went AF the more I had to lose by giving in and the easier it became to say "NO".
3) Social situations. Knowing how to react to peoples questions about your sobriety. It was very hard at first and I had to come up with excuses. However, nowadays I am happy just saying "I don't drink" "Why?"
"I just don't"
Most people don't ask again and those that have a problem with it are usually the people that you don't want anything to do with.
Those are the main points that got me through the year. I am a lot happier and more level. I have more disposable income. I feel proud. People can now rely on me.
It is a journey definitely worth taking!!!!
Allan
1) 30 day isolation. The first thirty days are by far the hardest and I decided to completely shield myself from the outside world. Phone off, no going out, no birthdays, parties... Just a lot of posting on MWO. It really helped to know that people were going through the same emotional up and downs as me
2) 15 minute rule. At first it is really hard to imagine a lifetime of sobriety, so instead I allowed myself the possibility to drink again, however, I would have to sit down and think for 15 minutes before buying a drink. To be honest cravings never last that long, thinking about pros and cons, remembering all the horrible things that I did drunk put me off every time, for the duration of a year. By the end of those 15 minutes I would always decided that not drinking is a long term solution to happiness and no amount of alcohol is worth sacrificing it. The longer I went AF the more I had to lose by giving in and the easier it became to say "NO".
3) Social situations. Knowing how to react to peoples questions about your sobriety. It was very hard at first and I had to come up with excuses. However, nowadays I am happy just saying "I don't drink" "Why?"
"I just don't"
Most people don't ask again and those that have a problem with it are usually the people that you don't want anything to do with.
Those are the main points that got me through the year. I am a lot happier and more level. I have more disposable income. I feel proud. People can now rely on me.
It is a journey definitely worth taking!!!!
Allan
ants:
. Congratulations on an achievement that all of us here know is hard-earned and well-deserved!
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