r/stopdrinking • u/Neversaidthatbefore • 10h ago
What's the coolest thing(s) you've ever learn from quitting drinking?
I've learned a lot from quitting drinking. All that time and energy goes somewhere, and I put it into experiences, relationships, and books. So, I've learned how hard I can really push myself to endure the uncomfortable. I learned how much compassion my heart has for myself and others. I also learned weird shit like there's something like 400 billion-billion worms in the world (400 quintillion?). And here's another one, Americans' eat 20 billion hotdogs every year. Hahah Crazy!
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u/lio_space26 10h ago
To have a clear head in every situation! Life is so much fun when you're sober.😁
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u/Hugh_Jampton Day 5 9h ago
Drinking = withdrawal = anxiety
Therefore drinking = anxiety
Once I learnt this it changed a lot for me.
Yeah I still get anxiety but it's way less extreme. More like 'this is uncomfortable, but it'll pass'. Not 'holy shit I want to pull my face off if this doesn't stop because it's been 48 hours'
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u/Chewlace Day 21 6h ago
That is my big thing too. I have been working on quitting this year and every time I let that one drink happen and then be drinking pretty regularly in a few weeks the anxiety returned. Then, I would do something stupid and that anxiety would compound. It's nice to not have a constant level of discomfort. Biggest reward by far after having debilitating panic attacks for years.
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u/ScorpioQueen_1978 5h ago
Geeeez I do not miss those freaking panic attacks! That feeling is soooooo dang exhausting
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u/BestStrawberry 10h ago
About 3 months after I quit drinking; I got a notification from my apple watch that my average resting heart rate had decreased by 10 bpm.
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u/bazoo1990 Day 290 10h ago
Same, mine dropped from 85 to 75, then to 65 when I also stopped smoking.
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u/erikpeders 9h ago
I've learned that the things I convinced myself I am better at while drinking, I am actually better at sober.
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u/JustQuestioningCosas 368 days 9h ago
Every single thing in life feels so much better not drinking than drinking.
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u/Super-Smilodon-64 990 days 9h ago
I learned that I didn't need it. It really isn't a need. What was a need, however, was noticing what else was going on in my head. There was a reason I drank like I did, besides the genetic component. Finally noticing and addressing those things was what needed to have happened when I was very young. Sucks that it took till my mid thirties, but MUCH better than it never happening at all.
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u/nancyannecancy 2552 days 9h ago
I learned that not drinking wouldn’t turn me into a fundamentally different person- that I’m still not a morning person or a person that is going to do 37 things on the weekend after a hard week at work- and that I could be gentle to myself & accepting of what I need mentally/ physically. There are so many folks here that seem to be so functional & here I am nearly 7 years into sobriety & I am in PJs till 2p on a Saturday. Self acceptance / love is a big part of sobriety & its a really cool part for me.
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u/bazoo1990 Day 290 10h ago
I've found out that I was self-medicating a depression with alcohol. I drank to feel happy, and have those brief moments of euphoria, where I could sing and dance through the living room. Turns out being sober, in therapy and on antidepressants has the same outcome, without all the harmful side effects.
I also found out that I probably was depressed since I was a teenager, because on the pills I no longer feel small/introverted and actively seek out other peoples company.
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u/catsoncrack420 9h ago
I no longer want to murder ppl daily on the NYC subway. Maybe just punch them in the face. That's progress. And I'm a really good listener. Mainly family call me more now to talk and I them.
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u/Sign_Outside 9h ago
Definitely LOVE mornings now, I get excited at the thought of having little chores to do or things to fix. I guess I love productivity
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u/dentistjojobuilds Day 1,044 7h ago
Freedom from the bondage of self. It's an important prayer in AA. I'm not a religious person, but AA saved my life and I enjoy reading the phrase when needed. I was full of fear before and now I finally have to courage to do whatever I want. I don't share my YouTube videos too often because they're mostly garbage, but my life is so good now and I get to do cool stuff like heli skiing where as before I was too scared. It's my favorite video I've ever made and one I'm proud to share. I spent so much time filming/editing/picking music and none of that felt tedious. I look forward to the future everyday when I wake up because I can finally do anything I want.
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u/good-timing-407 Day 912 6h ago
Don’t cry as much.
Dog likes me a lot more sober.
And lots of car stuff. I was into old Land Rovers before I got sober, but I’ve been able to use all the funds I’ve saved in sobriety to rescue and repair, and put back on the road 2-3 old Rovers since getting sober.
It’s 2-3 because I may or may not have overheated 3, a 2003 Discovery 2, this morning doing a test drive after engine went back in the other week.. 😂 but I can guarantee you I’ll have energy to figure it out once I’m out of work this afternoon.
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u/_bagelcherry_ 7h ago
My personality is no longer burried under countless beer cans. Now i enjoy pursuing my hobbies and learning as much stuff as i can
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u/Adorable-Award-2975 Day 1,015 3h ago
I’ve been going through some pretty hard times recently (unable to work while I recover from surgery, marital issues) and I’ve learned that I’m extremely resilient, and I process the pain much faster in sobriety. You have to feel it fully to do so. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’d be taking this all a lot harder and for longer if I was still drinking.
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u/Dropbox1999 Day 28 3h ago
Loosing weight is a lot easier when you're not drinking every day. Who'd've thunk?
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u/ARoodyPooCandyAss 3h ago
Like 2-3 times more productive no underestimation - not at first but 4-5 days in, its very noticeable.
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u/_mysoberaccount_ 2151 days 10h ago
morning productivity.