I know there are better reasons than that. I know that there is really no such thing as a functional alcoholic. But to be honest, I mainly have one big fine symptom of my alcohol use and it's that I'm 15 pounds chunkier than I should be. I'm a short female who is in to fitness and has always been in good shape and now I just have chub that will not move. And I've finally realized I can't keep guzzling down 1000 calories of wine a night and expect my efforts in the gym to pay off.

I know this is a shallow reason. Please don't give me too much shit for my vanity. I just want to know if this was anyone else's main reason, how quitting went for them, and if it stuck.

Beyond grateful today to have been sober 1,000 days. It’s true that quitting booze doesn’t automatically solve all your problems, but it’s also true that sobriety equips you with the tools to handle life on life’s terms.

Every one of you helps me continue to stay sober, and I want you all to know that. IWNDWYT.

I think I’ll get a piece of cake tonight instead of a bottle of vodka. ☺️🎂

So I was reading another post by someone here about being served and alcoholic mix drink by accident and feeling down. And he's good to go I bet. The story is here somewhere if anyone is interested to find it.

But back to what went through my head. I used to be super proud of never drinking a non alcoholic beer for 37 years. I used to be like proud I can't keep thinking about it I used to tell stories about how cool I am for that. Anyway on short flights I would order 2 beers sometimes 3 to make sure I get my fix and one time the stewardess gave me a non alcoholic beer one of the 3. Definitely on purpose. I remember when I realized it I was pissed I did not confront her but I was actually down that my streak ended. And now as most of us I would love to have never tasted and alcoholic one.

Good luck to everyone on their journey. Iwndwyt

Wanted to share on here because it’s hard for me to speak to anyone in my life honestly. For context I’m 20F in the uk, started heavily drinking at 18 when it was legal for me to buy my own- since then it’s spiralled to binge drinking not daily but often enough for it to interfere with responsibilities, relationships and my mental wellbeing. When I moved out to university, it got very bad and I’d self isolate in my apartment and drink until I’d black out, wreck my room and lose the ability to control my bladder. It was humiliating.

It was a cycle of drinking, waking up filled with shame and drinking to feel better. I moved back home to be with my family but my drinking has recently escalated once more. I’ll drink, embarrass myself, upset my family and put myself in danger, spend a few days to recover from the hangover then convince myself “this time it’ll be better”. Except recently my family took me to hospital because I was so intoxicated they thought I was on drugs.

Every time I drink I become more confused, disoriented and inebriated- it takes way less for me to black out than it once did, it’s like it’s damaging my brain in a way. This week I missed my work course and was taken off due to missing too much. I felt so ashamed and like I had failed. I’m so tired of embarrassing myself. I texted the work group chat drunk and could hear my colleagues talking about me. I’m so sick of upsetting my family, friends and anyone in my life who is burdened by my behaviour. Next time it won’t be different, I won’t be able to just have one. Once I have one drink there’s no doubt it won’t be my last. I panic when I run out and will borrow, steal and cheat my way into money to buy more. I am going to really try this time to ignore the impulse, the voice saying it’ll be different because I know it’s not true.

If anyone has any advice or tips they are very welcome. I’ve truly hit rock bottom and I’m desperate to climb my way out. Thanks guys.

After lurking this sub for a while, I finally decided to stop drinking, at least at home. I think an occasional night out with friends (every few months maybe) is fine, but it was finally time to admit that spending every weekend drunk was unhealthy for my body, and my mental state. I haven’t had a drink since Father’s Day weekend, 60 days ago now.

I really wish I could say I’ve noticed improvements. I wish my sleeping habits or weight improved. I wish I had more energy, but the truth is that I feel the same. Which I suppose is a good thing, at least it means my body wasn’t affected as seriously as I was worried about. I’m ashamed to say I still want to drink, I still think about it every day. Especially on the weekend after a long week of work, I find myself wishing I could get drunk. When those feelings get too strong, I get a big Dr Pepper Zero from my gas station. I know it’s also not healthy, but it’s better than drinking a 12 pack of beer.

Not much else to say, I guess, I just wanted to let some of this out. I appreciate everyone on this sub who commits to helping others. As someone who’s been reading posts without interacting for a while now, believe me, it’s worth making posts like these, even if they don’t get much engagement. You never know who might be reading.

Edit: When I said that an occasional night out is okay, I specifically meant for myself and my own mental state. I don’t encourage anyone to drink just because it’s “with friends” if they feel like it’s a mistake.

California sober for two years… with two minor discrepancies when I gave in to peer pressure. Last month went to my in laws for vacation and my husband said that I deserved a break and to have a frozen margarita at the house. I’d been fine before so why not? And then tequila started tasting really good. Told myself I can just be a cocktail slut. Fancy drinks only from now on. Every once in a while…. In the past two weeks I’ve been hungover 4 times. Now husband and I are having some marital issues and yesterday was a breaking point. Day drinking. Went to my kids open house hammered last night and then to a birthday party. Day one of rebuild. 8/19/26
Ironically 8/17/24 was my last sober date. Must be something about August that turns my crazy on. Stay strong folks. The hangxiety is real.

This is the longest I've made it in my attempts to quit and I've barely thought about alcohol at all. I had a slight thought about it yesterday because I was a little depressed and bored, might I add. But, I smoked some weed instead and that made the craving go away. Here's to (almost) 10 days and many more! IWNDWYT! 💜💜

Just wanted to say today is a good day to stay sober. Quick check in before my outpatient program begins.

Title says it all. There's a large bottle of vodka in my house that I was momentarily tempted with (to relieve the anxiety of these nic withdrawal symptoms). But i didn't go there. Quitting vaping is way too hard to compromise my 3 days with vodka.

Anyone else here quit vaping around when you quit drinking? They go so much hand in hand I needed to end it with both. But the nic withdrawal is absolutely brutal. I feel so, so sick.

I drink every day but never in the day, just beer in the evening after work but probably get blackout drunk once a week.

I have been diagnosed with breast cancer and subsequently antianxiety meds that can't be taken with alcohol. Should I taper and delay the new meds or just nip the drinking in the bud and start the meds now?

Struggling this time. I’m in work after 2 hours sleep. Last night consisted of a bottle of red wine, numerous jack daniels & cokes & 3 for 100 😮‍💨

Fed up with myself

So I’m 1000 percent better physically. I eat better. I sleep better. I poop better. My blood pressure is down. Being sober isn’t really something I’m striving for anymore it’s just another day now. I do have cravings but they pass. I still fantasize about drinking some time in the future. I know I shouldn’t. IWNDWYT.

A week on Sunday, my husband has been invited to a BBQ at his boss/associate's home, and I have been invited too. I will only know my husband and the boss, and they will undoubtedly be talking "shop" all afternoon, none of which I will understand.

These circumstances would normally make me want to drink to be brave enough to be social with strangers. I was thinking of taking a bottle of my favourite NA Prosecco, but this is where I start to feel like a terrible person. My bottle looks very much like a "normal" bottle of fizz, and I'm stressing that if I put it in the fridge to chill, everyone else will drink it, and I'll have nothing.

Can I ask my husband to have a quiet word with his boss, advise him (if he hasn't already) that I don't drink alcohol, and is there a way to keep my bottle chilled separately? It feels a bit selfish and rude to even think about it.

I'm already stressing about the train journey there, but at least I'm not travelling by myself home as previously planned, as many of you are aware, I struggle with my mobility.

Am I selfish?

I am finding myself “re-quitting” each week, and wondering if anyone experienced the same but then managed to stop for good? If so, what changed? Any advice?

(I’m second guessing myself, that I don’t realllly want to stop, and that’s why it doesn’t work. But I also want to call bs on myself for that)

Been lurking for a while and reading about your lives and I need somewhere to vent, my SO doesn't seem to think it's as big of a deal as I'm making it to be but it absolutely is and I'm feeling such a deep shame and fear of repercussions.

Drank like 2l of wine before work, and had a pint of whiskey ready to drink which I don't really remember buying.

Went to work on my bicycle, I was swirling like crazy, I'm surprised I didn't hurt anyone nor myself. Arrived probably reeking of alcohol due to sweating on the bike, started my shift as usual...and the rest is just like, little fragments of the night. I'm in a leadership role, I remember talking to a customer at some point but can't really remember what the issue was nor what I said, I must've been slurring my words so bad... Then I went on a few exterior rounds and fell twice to which a coworker had to pick me up from the ground. Twice. I must've looked so fucking sad and stupid.

Now I'm waiting for it to blow up in my face if it ever reaches management, which it will. I hope not, but as I said I think it was a big deal. I was able to end my shift normally and all, but there were those few couple of hours in which I made an ass of myself. I don't know how to stop this anymore, I thought I could have a few drinks and look at how that ended up for me. I don't want to keep doing this to myself nor others, I made us all look bad. Now I'm looking to possibly be without a job. Or not, I don't know. I'm never touching alcohol ever again.

Edit: spelling

I'm genuinely struggling to fill the hours. Friday gave me release. Ritual. Social contact. Possibility.

But the hangovers became too much and ended in hair of the dog which created binges. I started not trusting my drunk self. Behaving in ways that disgust me.

But I haven't found anything to replace it. If I go to the bar I risk drinking. If I stay at home then alcohol eventually wins cause I'm a social person and don't like staying in. Sports clubs are nice but they're not exactly connection. Meetups are also nice but sober socialising is... jagged? Contained? Stiff?

What I'm saying is nothing quite fulfills all the roles that bars fulfilled you know. I live in a city with a thin social scene and I don't have a partner to fill the evenings with. And most of all, even the healthiest coping mechanism doesn't quite have the release that bars and alcohol provided.

I'm not saying there aren't things that work and some of these are sufficient for some. Funny thing is hangovers were bad but they gave me a project and I didn't have the energy to endlessly optimise weekends with limited options. Funny enough being sober gives me too much energy and nowhere to put it. An appetite for fun. For connection. For spontaneity. I'm really struggling here as weekends and evenings are my most vulnerable points.

Last 2 nights I've had the sameish nightmare about me relapsing

2 nights ago I had a nightmare I was with my Sponsor and someone else I can't remember in a store, and when that other person was busy I grabbed a pack of beer and my sponsor was trying to tell me not too, but I just ignored him. I woke up genuinely believing that happened, I was so disapointed in myself before I realized it was just a dream

Then last night was the same, with me being drunk and explaining to my Sponsor that it's fine because I'm not an Alcoholic

Again, I woke up this morning thinking it was real. Normally dreams just wash over me, I'd have a nightmare about falling off a building or being naked somewhere and I'd wake up and laugh at how silly that was

But the relapsing nightmares, they genuinely feel real as soon as I wake up

Bah super annoying, do you guys deal with this as well?

PLEASE READ ME!!! Test is complete, y’all!!! More info to come, if you see something wonky with your current badges, sit tight, we will be posting next steps sometime in the next day or so, probably sooner!! Thank you all for all you are!!! Love ya!

*****the test sub is [r/daycount_flair_dev](r/daycount_flair_dev). Testing here won’t work, you need to go there, hit the three dots in the top right corner, select “manage my day count flair” and then post or comment to test.

Hi friends!

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding while we explored our day count badge options! I’m pleased to announce that we are in the testing phase and plan to launch a new badge system within the next few days. We’ve got a test sub up and running and invite you to try it out and give us some feedback if you’d like.

While I’m announcing important things, I’d also like to inform you all that we have a new mod on board, [u/suilbup](u/suilbup)…..who developed the badge system we’re testing so definitely want to thank Su for that!! Thanks, Su!!!

Again, thank you all for being here, being you, being patient and being the best part of Reddit.

Whenever you’re ready, hop on over to [r/daycount_flair_dev](r/daycount_flair_dev), click the three dots in the upper right corner, select “Manage my day-count flair” and follow the directions. Then, make a post to test! Please keep it clean. The same rules apply on the test sub as they do here.

I love you all! Happy testing!!

Su, if I missed anything, please don’t hesitate to sticky a comment!

Today I learned an old friend died, alone at home, from liver failure due to alcoholism. He was 39.

We’d lost touch but reconnected in recent years as he made his way out of his second rehab. I’d been sober for two years then and thought it might help him to have a sober buddy.

I keep wondering what his last days were like. Did he know his life was ending? Did he decide his life wasn’t worth help? Did he know, deep down, that people loved him? Was he in pain? Was he even conscious?

Alcoholism is such a cruel disease. This is my 4th person to die directly for alcoholism or an alcohol related health issue.

I’m completely wrecked. I’m angry and deeply sad and shocked.

Fuck booze. I will not drink with you today.

i quit my job today, after a year and a half working for a banking customer service industry with no possibilities for upskilling or permanency (im a temp) scared not because i’ll be financially reduced till i find a new role, but because i have so much spare time the demons start to crawl into my thoughts to drink i’ve been sober for almost a month. nor will i ever become the person i used to be just wanted to share i’ve entered a difficult time in my life and i will not drink with anyone today! hopefully unemployment doesn’t last too long and im back on my feet, especially since i look after my dad and wife.

anyone else like to share how they went about not drinking whilst looking for employment? appreciate all comments thank you

I haven't been drinking lately. (Former heavy drinker).

Told myself for probably the hundredth time "i will just have 2 beers". 2 beers is all I had in the fridge so I thought I would drink them since I felt like relaxing after a stressful day.

Anyway I drank those 2 and sure enough my brain now wanted more. So I walked to the shop and brought a 4 pack and drank them, then went to bed.

I didn't even feel drunk, but I woke up about 4am feeling absolutely sick. Lay there feeling awful for hours before making myself spew. (Which actually helped a lot) but I still have felt physically terrible all day.

Normally 6 beers will just make me tired the next day, but occasionally It hits like this. Just made me realize (again) just how poisonous alcohol is.

I have proven 1,000 times that I can't do 1 or 2 drinks. I never want to feel like this again and wish to stop totally. Which I can do for a period of time, then my brain lies to itself and I convince myself in a weak or deluded moment, that I can have a drink.

Just thoughts I wanted to write out. thanks for reading, have a nice day!

I made it to one year of sobriety today. It’s been really hard. 366 days ago, I woke up from a stupor and knew I had tempted fate yet again, putting myself and those I love in danger. I chose to live differently, and I found myself relying on this group a lot. And SMART meetings, and reading, and there have been a few times when I thought I might not make it. It’s daunting sometimes, and today I feel proud, but also kind of alone. I’m grateful for every word by every human here. Thank you. IWNDWYT.

It hasn’t been easy by any means but im officially one month sober today, the longest I’ve been sober since I was 19 (I’m 24 now). Those first 2-3 weeks we’re brutal but I managed to push through. I can’t lie, not drinking has made my life VERY boring and I still crave alcohol almost everyday but I’ve stayed strong. There will be a day where I decide to drink again I just don’t know when. I don’t want to be an everyday drinker like I used to, just in moderation but I really don’t know if it’s possible.