this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2026
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Stop Drinking
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This is a place to motivate each other to control or stop drinking. It is also a place for non drinkers to discuss and share.
We welcome anyone who wishes to join in by asking for advice, sharing our experiences and stories, or just encouraging someone who is trying to quit or cut down.
Please post only when sober; you’re welcome to read in the meanwhile.
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That's another thing that scares me. I was drinking for my entire adult life, so I really have no idea what being myself sober will be like.
That's going to be a little tough at first, but you'll get used to it pretty fast!
To help that proces going, try to find some things to do.
Summary of my proces (if it's okay if i share that):
first couple of weeks/months: i made sure to clean up my house (and keeping it that way) and took some longer showers. Made a little walk as often as i think i could handle. Started eating more veggies and fruit, preparing them is just as helpful as it is for your health! After a while i felt more in control just by doing such simple things.
After the first years: i started doing charity work and moved to my own appartment! Within the second year of being sober i managed to also quit smoking. I kept doing the things i listed above, without adding much to it. Now, i felt really in control, but i often had a hard time enjoying the sober life.
I'm ~5,5 years further. Now i have managed to pickup even more charity work, i workout 4 times a week for over a year now and even more since last week, i'm learning how to play some instruments and make music, i started a diet a year ago and love eating my everyday carrot snack time, i have healthy and good contact with friends and family, i've renovated my appartment and have some money on the bank, i even joined a photography club and go out with my cameras a lot!
Life has become enjoyable again! I still have moment where everything seems dark, but everyone has that. That's okay. I get through that.
And so do you! You have made the first important steps and you've found your true motivation. The hardest part is over. Now, enjoy your new life. If you ever need to talk, i'm (and we are) here.
Your comment just made me tear up -
I used to love to hike, rock-climb, sew, decorate, cook, did charitable work in a youth center, trained for a marathon, learnt the guitar and did photography...back when I didn't drink as much.
I just...stopped doing all those things one by one.
On one hand, that makes me incredibly sad right now.
But on the other hand, I guess I have these things to return to. It kinda feels like waking up from a long sleep. I still have 3 guitars, 5 cameras and my camping gear laying around and collecting dust.
I hope it is the good kind of feeling sad, i hope i didn't make you feel like crap... If so, im truly sorry!
If you enjoyed all those things then, try them out again! But only continue if you feel happy doing them. Don't force it. Take it slow, and just experience it! Whatever you feel, that's okay :)
With 3 guitars and 5 cameras, i'm sure you can pickup the love you had for them again. Creativity is what i love most, and what helps me out the most.
No, you didn't make me feel bad, I'm just grieving a bit for the time I wasted.
And now my cat snapped me out of it, by toppling over the empty beer cans that still stand next to my desk.
She wants me to clean up, I guess. Thanks for your support and kind words!
I'm glad to hear it (grieving is okay), and happy to help. And you better listen to your cat! She sounds very wise ;)
Goodluck with all!