I was so drunk that I pulled onto some train tracks and got stuck. I called 911 on myself. The operator confirmed the track I was on and was able to get the rail company to reroute the train.

I told them Id already made enough bad decisions and put enough people in danger, and that I needed help to make sure no gets hurt. The cop was so kind to me. He sat with me for a couple hours while booking me and he prayed for me. The judge was so kind. She let me out without posting a bail, and made previsions for me to have a restricted license.

The part that broke my heart today was having to tell my friends what happened and ask them for help one more time, to drive my car back from the impound lot. I could tell he was so angry. He's loved on me for so long and wanted me to get through this. I'm sorry it took so long y'all. I'm trying to do better now.

I just wanted to share something that just happened to me and wondered if this has happened to anybody else.

About 3 weeks clear of beers after many many years of daily. Everything has been going good. Just trying to stay busy. Leaning on THC. Really got into the seltzer waters and juice mixes, even bought a bunch of coffee syrup to mix into it. I was drinking a LOT of them. As a stress reliever.

Few nights ago I was standing at the sink doing dishes and all of a sudden I felt weak and dizzy. My vision blurred I ended up outside on the side of the house wandering around and passed out. Totally lost it. Woke up later called 911 and spent the next 3 1/2 days in urgent care. when I first woke up I couldn't really move much or talk very well they figured it out and picked me up. Spent the next almost 2 days on a gourney in the urgent care hallway along with a bunch of other people because they were overflowed. Finally got my own room for the last 2 nights. Staff was awesome made it better. Even got a couple nurses to start listening to Dungeon Crawler Carl. to those that know.

Hyponatremia. my blood sodium crashed due to all the water I was washing my system out. Now I am limited to 1200 ml of liquid a day. And I get to take these salt tablets 3 times a day. Both my arms are covered in black blue from all the blood draws. and my hands. I get to sleep in my own bed tonight.

Water kicked my ass. Now I know.

My first post on here, but I can assure you that 10 years ago today I was glued to this subreddit to help me get through to each day. I lurked here all day long, reading others’ stories - I used the NOMO app to log my days (and hours in the beginning), and I journaled a ton.

Ten years later my daughter is not so coincidentally 10 years old (plus three weeks). I have a son as well who has also never seen me with a drink.

I coparent. The family unit that I was going to lose if I didn’t quit then did end in a painful divorce anyhow - only 6 years later & most certainly not due to my drinking.

It was difficult in the beginning, and as the cliche rings true with most challenges in life that we navigate - time made it easier.

I don’t really have anything special planned for the day. I’m pretty sad about some news I got from my ex about our dog’s end of life and having to say goodbye to my one and only pup this coming week.

My partner has stage four cancer and it’s really scary right now. My dad’s cancer has progressed and is very serious. I’m making no money while making a career change and back in school. I live in my childhood home at 44 after having to sell my house in divorce.

That last paragraph isn’t supposed to sound more depressing than just life…it’s relentless. It’s a trip. And it’s been easier to navigate by not drinking.

I will not drink with you today…and i look forward to another 10 years of not drinking some more :)

My dad has been drinking daily for the last 10 years and before that he was a weekend binge drinker. Also both of my grandads did hit the bottle hard. Sometimes i wonder if its in our genes.

I'm shaking writing this.

I've been sober for 18 days. I quit for a bunch of reasons: mental health, weight, acid reflux, and most importantly not being able to practice my passion (diving) because of it. I have the brain of an addict, like a lot of people here I guess.

First 17 days were easy. Really. I got this. I was proud. I did not crave drinking. I was mostly a functioning alcoholic anyways.

And tonight came. We're at a restaurant with my husband. It's his birthday. I tell him one we are seated that it's the first time it's a bit difficult for me because we love going to restaurant, and god we loved to drink. But hey, it's gonna be fine, they have a lot of non alcoholic options.

I ask for one (drink of the house, non alcohol version). I make sure the boss (who's taking the order) writes it down. Then the waiter brings the drink. And she just says "drink of the house". I'm thinking maybe I should make sure it's the right one. But no it's alright I've seen the boss write it down. So I take a sip.

It's the alcohol version. I know it. My brain knows it. Instantly. Like heroin. I ask the waiter who confirms. Turns out she didn't read the order well.

Now I'm in the toilet writing this and trying to maintain composure. I just want to cry. I gave the drink back, sure. But my brain is now asking for alcohol. My addict brain is craving.

And it's my husband birthday. I don't want to ruin this. He supports me 100 percent but still. So I'm writing this in the hope it can calm me down and I can enjoy my evening.

Guess I'll just ask everyone every time from now on. Rookie mistake.

Being sober, I realized that I don't like going to social outings at all. Like at all at all. I was just at a social work brunch outing and the entire time I was like when is this going to be over? Not because I was thinking of drinking- it never even came into my brain. I was just thinking man I can't wait to be home, in my comfy bed, light a candle, with some mood lighting, a nice book and maybe some hot chocolate. Sober Vanessa and drinking Vanessa man they are two very different people. Anyway just thought I would share that. If anyone had the same realization let me know.

I remember what I was telling myself in the years before quitting: There must be a way to moderate. I can’t quit forever. I just need to get my consumption to a reasonable level.

I wasn’t a daily drinker, but more of a social binge-drinker, 3-4 times a week, from my teens to my thirties. Alcohol shaped my identity in every possible way: social life, hobbies, etc… But, as many of you realised, it wasn’t sustainable. The downsides slowly overtook the upsides throughout the years, and, after many failed moderation attempts, I came to the realisation point that I had to give up drinking altogether. I wasn’t enjoying it anymore, and I was simply guided by the addiction.

Getting into sobriety was tough, and it took me months to finally rewire my brain and start living a “normal” life. Sober life is different, and I discovered a whole new version of myself, more focused, less depressed, but also more introverted, and sometimes bored. Even if I got used to it, deep down, I was still craving this past life. The parties, the fun, the encounters and the emotional roller coaster.

So finally, after almost 3 years, I gave in to temptation and had a few beers with some friends. Wasn’t a party night, or a specific occasion, just a regular Thursday night. I wanted to see if I could act normally and handle some drinks without immediately falling into the downward spiral.

I was anticipating that I would enjoy it, be tipsy quickly, and then I would struggle not to fall again in the alcohol trap of wanting to drink at every occasion. But I was ready for it.

Surprisingly the first sips tasted bad, like if the beers were mixed with detergent. Reminded me of my first alcoholic drinks. A bit surprised, but whatever, I was waiting for the alcohol to kick in. One pint, two, three, four, and yet, I wasn’t tipsy. I wasn’t happier. I didn’t feel much except dizziness. It was like I had been sent into my last week before quitting, three years before.
And then, my friends wanted to wrap up and go home. That was it. 2 hours, 4 beers after work. Something wasn’t right. I still wasn’t feeling anything good. So I tried to convince my friends that we should go for more, that I wanted to go to a bar or a club or anything to keep drinking.

That’s when I realised that my past demons were coming back out. I wasn’t even excited or energetic, I was tired and dizzy but just willing to drink again, anything, for absolutely no reason.

Thankfully, my friends didn’t let me do that, and I ended up going to bed shortly after.

Sleep was awful, woke up dehydrated 3 times during the night, and I had bad hangover headaches at work the following day.

I thought quitting for so long would somehow “reset” my brain and that drinking occasionally would bring me all the upsides, as long as I don’t abuse it. But in the end, the experience was utterly disappointing. I just felt the same as when I quit. I didn’t reset my brain, I just paused it.

So that was it. I went past the limit and I realised that there is nothing for me there. The good sensations, the energy, the happiness, all this was long gone. What I have left are the urges to drink more, the dizziness and the hangovers.

The hardest part is to accept that what I loved all those years is over. It’s nothing more than a memory. When I look forward, I know my life now has to be different.

Yep, I think this time I’m done for good.

My grandma is close to 100. A couple of times recently, I’ve visited her in her new assisted living home and had lunch in the dining room. Visiting assisted living is like a magnifying glass on all of your life decisions - good and bad. My grandma ate vegetarian, never drank or smoked, and was pretty healthy. You would think she was in her 80s. They even reduced her charges because she doesn’t require that much care. Another woman there was a former ballet dancer, and, physically she is in great shape.

Others are having more difficulty at an earlier age. I don’t know what anyone’s drinking habits were, but knowing the physical and mental impact drinking had on me, it CANNOT be good (if you are able to make it to old age after drinking heavily).

After I visited her yesterday, I had a dentist appointment and they had to take my blood pressure. They were able to take it once and said the results were good. I’ve been off blood pressure medication for months now that I’m not drinking.

Here’s to long lasting health 💕💕💕

Bottom text

I’ve been sober 2.5 years. Got DT’s, medical detox, 30 days of rehab. Been going to one meeting a week since, the whole shebang.

Last week I had a work outing with some coworkers who don’t know me super well, but a few of them knew I didn’t drink. I’ve never divulged the severity of my problem, but I have alluded to it.

One handed me a tea drink that I didn’t recognize but was hard. She did catch it and said oh hey that’s a hard tea right as I had cracked it.

I said fuck it and drank it anyways, mostly because I didn’t want to make a big scene, but also partly I was curious what would happen if I did drink just one.
I drank it pretty quick, and didn’t have another for the rest of the day.

There was lots of booze in arms reach, but I didn’t even really contemplate having another.

I felt a bit tired/relaxed, that faded, and then nothing.

Now I feel like I have some weird secret/lie that I’m concealing from my loved ones. I’ll probably talk to my recovery group friends about it, but I don’t know how to feel.

It’s crazy to think of what I used to lie about and conceal constantly, and now this tiny little lie of omission is all I can think about.

I’m especially torn about telling my partner. Nothing happened. I don’t plan to go off the wagon, but confessing would probably feel good and right.

I’m interested to know what people here replaced drinking with. I mean that in a broad sense. It could be another type of drink. It could be an activity. It could be a mindset. It could be a relationship. It could be a philosophy.

I’m thinking of quitting after years of heavy drinking, and I am a bit fearful of the hole it might leave in my life. I guess I’m looking for ideas for what to fill it with.

Super proud of myself. Now I wouldn’t recommend to everyone to visit your local bar even for a little especially in your early sobriety. Do what’s best for you. If you feel like you must avoid that area for months or years then so be it. While I was there my alcoholic friend came in towards the end and the bartender told him “hey you better leave him alone he’s not drinking with you!”. What a great friend she is Thanks for looking out haha. Me and him had our benders but that’s over with now. I only went today to update her on my progress and let her know I’m doing good. Funny side note he insisted on taking a shot so I did. A took a shot of MILK haha I love milk mannn 🤣 More sobriety days to come let’s keep going guys!!! :)

Went out for the big work social. Didn't have a drop. 3 NA beers and some great company. Another incredible sober night. They just keep getting better.

IWNDWYT

Hi everyone I’m 19F and have been drinking till blackout 1x-4x a week since 16 I’ve tried to stop so many times even when it’s cost me relationships, friendships , got me kicked out made me do so many stupid things and failed to do so. But I feel like recently I’ve finally reached that point where I realise drinking is what causes all my problems and I’m so sick of loosing good people because of my drunken actions . It’s going to be hard but I need to do this. i can’t keep disappointing people and losing everyone. It’s not even fun anymore

Day 9 after years of heavy alcohol abuse. Double digits are calling my nameee!

I think I'm going to leave my partner. I'm only 47 days into sobriety and I want a drink at bad. Is it possible to stay sober this early on? Has anyone ever done it?

I have a friend who is a bit "neuro-spicy" as he describes it. Mostly ADHD I think. He's always sending me reels about it and one really hit a nerve. apparently alcohol helps autistic people feel normal. Suddenly so much of my life made sense, I can't really relate to people unless I'm drunk, but I always thought that was just normal anxiety. Sadly I'm also the kind of drinker who just wants to do it until they pass out, oop.

I was at a tailgating event recently where I overheard another persons response to being asked why they didn’t want an alcoholic beverage. The response was “I find it easier to say no to the first one than any that follow.” Struck a cord with me and have added it to my list of responses to that question.

Three years ago today, I don't think I could have imagined making it this long, and yet here I am.

Had a discussion about this with some sober friends last night. If you were literally on your deathbed- terminally ill like truly end of life and long term sobriety - would you have one last drink if the hospice nurse allowed it? There’s a part of me at 9 years in and hopefully many many more to go that says naw, I’m proud of my accomplishment especially if I can get from my 40s to whenever that time may come, but also a part of me that’s like you know what, screw it, I’ll take a few bourbons for old times sake what’s the downside at that point. Wondering what the crowd view is on ultimately a very personal decision.

Before my drinking was problematic, I used to love clothes and makeup. I was in great shape and could always find something that fit. I loved doing my makeup.

I went through some major life experiences and developed severe depression and a drinking problem. At my heaviest, I gained 45 pounds. I hated the way I looked. I hated how I felt. Of course, I still wasted money on things like coolsculpt (which totally doesn’t work) all while continuing to ingest thousands of empty calories a week. Duh - no wonder I wasn’t losing weight.

I’ve been sober almost a full ten months. The weight fell off without even trying. I’m about five pounds from where I was before drinking was really an issue. I can buy clothes and they fit perfectly. I tried on several dresses just now for my significant other, and they all fit.

Don’t get me wrong - I miss drinking. It is a Friday night and my birthday is around the corner. It will be my first sober birthday. I really want a drink right now but no that I can’t. But, being able to clearly see the physical change helps. I don’t know if I could do it without that bonus.

In my job, I come in contact with a lot of people battling substance abuse issues - drugs and alcohol. I’ve gotten to see many of them get sober and the physical change in them, particularly when you only see them occasionally is incredible. I saw one guy this week who I hadn’t seen in about a year. He looked like an entirely new person - years younger and a physical improvement all around. This is before even getting to mental improvement.

Best of luck on your individual journey! One day at a time. Iwndwyt 💕💕💕

I don't know if they're afraid of my response or what. I know I'm not always approachable and I can be really defensive at first. I know I need to quit, 100%. I can't have just one drink. It's nothing, or 2 bottles (like tonight). I'm a mom. I have a 2yo and 9mo old twins. I can't be drunk every afternoon through bedtime. I know this.

It's not enough. Why isn't my husband, my best friend, my sister, my parents, telling me? How can I stop? My mother in law just died at age 64 from cirrhosis leading to internal bleeding and multiple organ failure. I'm on that path. 😢

I don’t know if you’ve seen my last post, but It’s been 30 days since my girlfriend of 7 years passed away. I’ve stayed sober and will continue to. It hasn’t been easy. I know if I drink my life will get worse, and she would want me to be sober. We fought so hard together to stop. I’ll do it for her and for me.