Thank you, you’re so right!

im sober. that's it, that's all im content with, because every single part of my life is shit thanks to my drinking. but im not making it worse, im not suffering through trying and failing to quit. im sober, and things will get better if i just keep trying and moving forward. iwndwyt!

Thank you for your comment – it really did help. It's hard for me to *really* trust that it will get better when people who say it live in a – at least when it comes to alcohol – different culture (i.e. USA, where only about 50% of people drink, vs 80% in countries like yours or mine). So it really gives me hope when someone who understands a bit more says it.

The most I've managed to do of sobriety was about 30 days, similar to doing dry january but a different month (btw in my country people usually do dry february bc that's the shortest month of them all :D I think that says a lot lol) – and it was pretty horrible in that I kept looking forward to finally being able to drink again. maybe that was the problem, knowing that it's temporary.

So you are 17 days AF. I researched a lot during the early weeks. I read that cortisone spikes caused sleep interference. My sleep took about 4 weeks to get better. In the meantime you may just have to suffer through. Last night I slept 9 hr straight. Didn't even wake for a bathroom trip. I hope you give yourself time to let your brain adjust.

I did dry January a couple of times before quitting and I honestly feel like the learnings from those shorter periods of sobriety helped me when I was ready to put it down for good. The moments of clarity and calm, the brighter eyes and brighter mood, gave me something to look forward to. Any time you spend sober is building that muscle. I think you should feel proud of 25 days and take stock of what you were able to accomplish sober during that time. Take care and IWNDWYT.

I drank bcs I’m an alcoholic and didn’t have the needed power to not drink on my own willpower.

Oh OP I gave in last night just 2 x glasses of fizz and I feel like shit it’s really not worth it stay strong IWNDWYT 💪

Congrats!!, keep going one foot in front of the other, I remember when I was drinking, 1 year 4 months sober, and watching Steve O on podcasts talking about sobriety and I was thinking “how in the world is he doing that, Im not as strong” fast fwd and here we are, obviously hasn’t been easy had to get hospitalized and then 35 days in rehab but there’s also very good and introspective days that make me grow spiritually so for all of that and for Your 4 months Im thankful and IWNDWYT

Well, you have trained your body over the period of 12 years, and like most things (not just sleep, but your new life), it will take time to adjust.

Undoing all that is going to take time.

Be patient... Things will, and do change.

Your body is used to the same thing for the so long it’s adjusting

I’m not speaking for myself but the people I do know who get good sleep have a routine. 8pm shower, have cup of tea, turn off all lights, turn off phone, read book, etc. I think that would help. And nice sheets and a weighted blanket and a story line for bedtime. Waking up in the middle of night, I’ve heard this is what ancient humans did? So don’t be hard on yourself, although it’s all easier said than done. I hope you get good sleep

I fear you just ride the first bit out. At least that’s what I did, but someone else might have better advice than me. I could not sleep at all. Same experience

Weeks? HAH! The most recent stint of binging was about a month and a half, I'd taken a month break before that after withdrawing at home solo. It's a whole lot of fun puking, then realizing you have to piss, then feeling a turtle poke it's head out between your cheeks.

Aaanyways, I had to have ~5 standard drinks whenever I woke up every day, go to work, suffer after like 5 hours muscle my way through the next 3, then I'd go home and binge like...12 standard drinks.

Yup, a fools errand. 

Get your flair! IWNDWYT 

short term memory
way better. mentally sharper in general. iwndwyt

I concur, life IS beautiful without alcohol.

Walking, puzzles, mahjong, sourdough baking, and researching 70s rock bands (rabbit hole style).

I also have 2 dogs that I did not have when I was drinking. They are an absolute delight and the center of my life.

Putting those in pocket, thanks. 

Just gotta keep trucking eventually you'll get it down

Amazing well done

❤️

IWNDWYT!!💃🏻💃🏻

I got through it, all that matters now is moving forward. I'm 29 so I'm honestly happy that this was my "Road to Damascus", glad to get it out of the way at a young age instead of being a 55 year old heroin addict like my deceased father.

Your metabolic rate generally doesn’t change. We lose/gain mostly by basic calories in vs calories out. (Some medications or thyroid issues aside).

Losing 17lb in two months would suggest you consumed 17*3500=59,500 calories in deficit over two months; or roughly 1k calories in defiict.

The flip side is a food IPa is 150-200 calories each and a shot of bourbon is 100 calories.

So you are skipping 3 x 200 =600 calories of beer a night and two shots of hard alcohol =200 calories the math all kinda works out.

Congrats!