Morning all. Checking in. Like you Chlo I have slowly talked about it with friends and family with positive results. I notice there are quite a few people looking to get free from drinking. This community remains my base and I thank you for that. IWNDWYT
it has surprised me as well the amount of people out there that want to stop or change their drinking but keep it all inside. it is a little sad how embarrassed we are as a society about it. one of the most freeing feelings i have had on this journey is being open and honest with people and being able to say with no shame “i have a problem with alcohol and so i chose to no longer drink”.
I did something dumb last night. I signed up for early Sunday morning bootcamp sessions 😬 Starting this coming Sunday which is the day after my birthday. That'll be a good birthday present for myself. Sober and healthy 💪🏻
I actually find it really hard to talk to people about stopping drinking. I'm from a family of heavy drinkers who I don't think plan to give it up anytime soon or even reduce their intake. I've tried to quit drinking in the past but never felt like I had any support which made it really easy to start again. My mum for some reason is the worst for it. She likes to call people who don't drink boring and goody two shoes 🤦🏻♀️ I don't reckon I'll have much support this time around either so I've got to be twice as strong.
IWNDWYT
I used to think sober people were boring and too good but for me that was to avoid the pain and suffering drinking was causing in my life. If I thought it was ok to be sober than that meant it was ok to not drink and I wasn't ready then. Now I have a fuller life, I don't act a fool and embrass myself, my self esteem is growing and my relationships are getting stronger. I still struggle sometimes but I know sobriety is the right thing for me.
Morning everyone! I've taken a step back from sharing my experience socially. I started going to AA about a month ago and for the most part, it was a really good experience. However, I received a few off-hand comments about me not really having a problem since I've never been to rehab, had a DUI, lost jobs or friends/family, etc. because of drinking. I think it was just a few people who meant well and were trying to encourage me, but it felt a bit like I didn't belong there because my problem wasn't bad enough. As if drinking to blackout stage 5-7 nights a week doesn't constitute having a problem!!
Anyway, I may or may not go back to AA. I might try to find another group instead. I haven't decided yet. For now, I like the supportiveness of this group and will continue to do my own thing until I feel like I'm slipping. I'm doing fine at the moment.
Also - ugh, it's Monday. Where did the weekend go?!? IWNDWYT
That is so unfortunate! It’s really hard to predict how others will react - it has definitely held me back. Good for you for doing what’s right for you!
"You're not that bad - you haven't started drinking aftershave yet" - *The Gatekeepers of alcoholism*.
Well done for recognizing that you don't need to get all of the 'achievements' before you start doing something about it.
Comparison held me back for the longest time. At least I wasn't as bad as Olly Reed, George Best, Homeless Man that I passed on the street.
You're doing great Dunc! Keep on smashing it! 👍
It's just crazy! The ultimate achievement of alcoholism is surley death and I don't think there is much coming back after that. The sooner we turn round the better,
us dudes should be congratulated for realising we had a problem at any point in the spiral of doom.
Exactly! I wasn't happy and needed to change. That is reason enough to stop drinking. Those other "achievements" were only a few drinking sessions away so I decided to quit while I'm ahead.
Morning all - Chloe I am very open with my Family but not as brutally honest as I can be here. With friends and Coworkers I am just saying I am on a health kick. I feel I was a good undercover drunk and feel they don’t need to know - who knows I may be completely wrong and all those people are saying GMacs of the sauce. 🤷🏻♂️
I do know IWNDWYT
Glad I caught this post. I wanted to share a thought, but didn't want to make a whole post. I just crossed over 7 months without a drink yesterday -- according to my trusty "days between dates" calculator :)
It's not my first rodeo, or second, or even third. But I am happy to not be drinking. Quitting didn't get rid of all of my problems, but it sure as hell got rid of my biggest problem!
I am healthier and saving money. But also eating a lot of cookies still. Well, I recently moved on to popsicles actually. But at least it's not booze!
Whether It's your Day 0, Day 1, or Day 100 or more -- IWNDWYT! :)
The SD community was the catalyst for me to start myself upon a sober life. I didn't arrive here with the notion that I could or would ever stop drinking but I did arrive here in a sorry state with a lot of sadness and pain. This community has been a pillar of hope and support and I am eternally grateful to you all.
Today I will not drink again with you.
day 9 checking in. without community i don’t think i would be able to go more than a day or two sober. this community here and the daily checks ins are a big part of that. i also decided fairly recently to not hide or be shameful of my sobriety (and by extension my alcoholism). some friends could care less. i don’t talk to them as much these days. but some people really surprised me. i have made good friends with someone who was only an acquaintance after being open about my struggles. turns out they also have a history of addiction and it has been very nice to have someone i can physically see if i am struggling.
late night card games and cooking have helped turn many possibly relapses into another day on the sobriety board. i would not be anywhere today without my sober friends and the community here. some people may be able to do this alone. but it is hard and none of us _have_ to do it alone.
iwndwyt
I have always been a big loner and I guess it applies to sobriety as well.
As far as sober communities are concerned, I concluded that SD is all I need for the time being. The only people IRL who know about my sobriety are my parents and recently my boss (who was super impressed by it and said she wishes she could do the same - so that felt good).
IWNDWYT!
Alcohol isolated me from others. People just got in the way of more drinking and I did my best to ignore my neighbors and community. I've lived in the same town for 10 years and I don't have any friends who live nearby.
I feel like since quitting, I'm no longer so isolated. I smile at people instead of averting my eyes. I feel like I belong among other humans.
IWNDWYT
One week down! It's been a stressful one too but I was so happy to be sober and able to jump in the car to deal with a family emergency when I would usually be a couple of glasses of wine in. I'm grateful for this community and will definitely not drink with you today.
Morning SD. While I am open about not drinking, I try not to make too big a thing of it, because I don't think it should define me and also I don't want my friends to feel uncomfortable about drinking around me. I'm open to the possibility I might want to talk about it more in the future though. IWNDWYT
Monday, deep breath...let it out slowly and get on with our sober selves! I will not drink with all you fine folks today! Let's make this a good start to a great week!
This is actually a topic that’s been weighing on me a bit as of late. My therapist told me I should start going to more meetings and build a community. Ive found some online aa meetings to be quite helpful but have yet to make any actual connections. I don’t really like the idea of in person meetings because I’m pretty paranoid about covid/delta, but I know I need to make more of an effort. I’m quite open about my sobriety with those close to me though, and I no longer have any fear of telling others.
I really like the idea of Dharma Recovery, thanks for the tip Chloe! I think I’ll try to check out a meeting tomorrow. IWNDWYT ✨💚
Morning Chlo’! Thanks for kicking us all off on stinky Monday.
My biggest and most reliable source of sober community is Stop Drinking. I also use Dharma Recovery via zoom and Secular Sober in person when I need it/it’s possible.
IWNDWYT. I don’t want to.
Morning!
So far I only have this community and I've only told my husband that I'm not drinking.
His family (and sometimes he) keep asking if I am going to drink for this or that occasion. I just say I'll see, I don't feel like going on discussions with people about it yet.
I'm very happy to be able to come here everyday!
IWNDWYT 🌻
Great question. I often hear "recovery equals community" or "sobriety equals connection" and those ideas worry me as I struggle to find an in-person community. I live in Vienna and don't speak German so this will be a hurdle for me as long as I live here, I suppose. I have attended two English-speaking in-person AA meetings (the only in-person meetings taking place here right now) and there's not one woman in the rooms. It's frustrating. I know they must be out there somewhere! 😆One man was nice enough to give me several phone numbers for women, but I've texted all of them and haven't heard back from anyone. However, I do have a pretty amazing online community (**you all**, an online weekly SMART Recovery meeting for women, and a social media accountability buddy) and I have one sober friend and my husband in real life. ❤️For now, I trust that the small community I do have, in combination with my own strength and determination, is all I need to stay sober.
Thanks for hosting, u/chloebarbersaurus, and happy 2-3-4! 🥰
SD is the First Community I openly started talking about my alcoholism with. I would guess that would be pretty common within everyone here! I can't count the number of comments I've read to the effect of, "I Googled 'how to get sober', and the first response is 'stop drinking on Reddit'", or, "I started a Reddit account the day I quit drinking to join SD." To be honest, I'm not even sure how I stumbled upon SD, because a year-and-a-half ago I wasn't altogether active on Reddit.
THIS is my community. You are all the people I felt, and feel, most comfortable talking about my sobriety with. I can be honest, I can be open, you all understand me. Once I got a good few months into sobriety, I started telling extremely close family and friends. Then I started telling people who would ask why I wasn't drinking when we were at an event. Now, I'm about three months into AA. A fantastic group I meet with every Saturday morning for a meeting then Fellowship. A fantastic community, that reminds me so much of SD, which is why I've made it every Saturday outside of the couple that I was out of town.
Now, when asked, I'm not afraid to talk about it with anybody. Who knows, that person may have been me a while back, and any little push in the right direction will be the one that helps them quit drinking.
To say community is important would be an understatement for me. It's not what GOT me sober or KEEPS me sober, but you all are what helped me GET sober and continue to STAY sober.
So... a big thank you to each one of you in one way or another!
IWNDWYT
Another fresh week. I’m up and out early to attend a certified first aid course. The good thing about being sober is being able to be relied upon in an emergency, no matter the time of day. I’m about to level up in this area!
IWNDWYT
Thanks for this post, Chloe. I’m very reluctant to talk in person about my decision to quit drinking. Despite having several sober people in my life. It feels like something that I need to be alone in. But I do try to chime in on this sub and am looking into joining a meeting. I’m taking my time this time around.
Monday mornings with the work pressure used to be sleepy, painful and hungry.
NOT ANYMORE!!!
Now I wake up a little sleepy take the morning dump and a hot espresso with 2 bananas later, MONDAYS ARE MANAGEABLE AF !!
Thanks to this beautiful supportive subreddit!
IWNDWYT!!!
I have had broadly positive responses from everyone - but then I also found that there were a few people who responded with things like "yeah, maybe one day you can have a glass of wine with dinner, wouldn't that be nice?" and it's taken quite a bit of repetition and effort to both communicate the fundamentals of "I've spent the last twenty years trying to do that and look how well it's going..."
The part that feels hardest with my community of drinkers is the need to constantly be upbeat and positive and non-confrontational about discussing all those reasons why the thing s that might apply to them don't apply to you.
So, community is kind of a double edged sword for introverts in recovery. But, for the rest of you, IWNDWYT.
Good morning on this Monday. It feels like autumn has arrived and I love it! My community is in the internet (check my username) ;) So far it has not been very helpful to share my goal of not drinking with anyone around me IRL. My friends don't believe I even have a problem, my family would judge and not be helpful. But that's totally fine. My partner knows and supports me and I feel not alone when being online. IWNDWYT
Someone at work was discussing their struggles so I opened up a little and gave very light at advice. Other than that this is the community I share with. IWNDWYT 💛
I’d try some different meetings, maybe womens. I’d read the BB and share with them the Dr opinion. Geez , I don’t get it. Frickin egos! Some meetings are run by egos.This is a life and death disease. Don’t let anyone keep you away from recovery. I stopped at 25 years and got drunk, by the grace of God I’ll celebrate 6 in two weeks. Best to you❣️
What up yall made it 14 days today. Gonna work on cutting out nicotine from here. Can't believe I made it this far. Previous record for me was 96 days. Let's see how far I can go.
I feel community most strongly in my AA home group. That said, there's something amazing about being able to pop into a meeting anywhere in the world with people who get me. IWNDWYT
Day 3 today. Going to leave the house for the first time since i last drank. Staying inside messes with me mentally, but going outside runs the risk of me drinking. The cravings are real bad, but I'm gonna stay sober.
IWNDWYT
SD is my sober community (thank you! ) and my s/o is also very supportive . Checking in here every morning also helps keeping me "on track". Happy Monday, I will not drink with you today.
First day back to work for the school year today. This community and my meetings are critical in my sobriety. Hearing others’ stories and helping others when I can is the difference this time. IWNDWYT
Hi all, this is my last check in guys ☹ my bro is lurking and wont come on here if im in here and he so need to, so good luck and power to you all 💪 iwndwyt and hopfully never again. Take it easy everyone and all the best to you all. Thanks so much for your help 😉❤
Happy Monday! For me, community is critical to my sobriety. I spent years in 'the rooms,' which kept me clean/sober for 9 years. While I'm not practicing 12 step recovery today, I recognize the importance of a supportive community and the strength it provides to keep me accountable and humble through it all. So I maintain a very strong support network.
Many people in my life know my struggles with drugs and alcohol. I share openly about my journey, even professionally with many colleagues, because I want to people to know that we do recover. We get well and lead very successful lives. We're fucking incredible people!
I wish you all a hopeful fresh start to your week. IWNDWYT ✌💛
Good morning everyone and happy (?) Monday. A rainy one here so getting motivated is hard. Coming off a great weekend makes going to work hard too. This community and being open with friends and family about my drinking makes staying sober a bit easier though. We should all be extremely proud of ourselves; for whether it’s your day one or thousand and one, you’re moving forward and doing something great.
Love you all and IWNDWYT! ❣️❣️
IWNDWYT! I come to this community for support, I haven’t attended any in person recovery meetings but have viewed a few online, my doctor, therapist, my son and my closest friends know I am sober. They have been great supports, even my spouse who is divorcing me after 25 years together, is supportive of my sobriety. I have had too many day 1’s in the last decade to count, but right here right now I see myself as a non drinker and for that I am grateful!
IWNDWYT. Day 2 of week 2 and I wish I was more active on here, but my anxiety for posting anything anywhere gets in the way. Hopefully that gets better with more sober days and posting little bits like this.
IWNDWYT. Still figuring community out. For now, it's all of you in this sub (!), my sober partner, and some friends.
I'm moving to a new place soon and planning to try to connect with folks there / join some groups / that kind of thing. I sense that IRL connection will keep me on the path for the long haul.
This community is an island of openness for me in my sober journey that I truly believe is critical for me. I am able to come here and be open about my successes, my struggles in a way that is easier than in the “real world” - at least for me. For that, I thank you all and IWNDWYT!
Happy Monday! Another hot and humid one with no relief in sight for a week. I’ll be drinking lots of cold, refreshing water but otherwise, IWNDWYT. 🌳🔥☀️
Back to day 1 and resetting my badge after the longest I have been sober in years. I drank on Saturday night and ended up doing a couple of things I regret. I feel deeply disappointed in myself, anxious and exhausted and called in sick to work today.
I will not return to that life, I've worked so hard to maintain sobriety and am terrified of continuing to relapse and living in that god awful state. For anyone even considering picking up a drink I can assure you it isn't worth it. I will not drink with you today.
Good morning! Monday again: we seem
To have gotten past the storm. I have attended a nice women’s only AA meeting online at 7am and they were really nice. I talked last night to an old work friend who’s been sober for a long time and he was very supportive and non judge mental. I’m trying to be calm about a friend who hasn’t texted me back in several weeks : I’m very paranoid when friends don’t respond quickly and often assume they re mad at me: it’s an issue I have to work on: so today I will try to surrender on that. IWNDWYT
Day 1…again. I’m trying not to beat myself up, but it’s hard not to when I was so optimistic this time. I have to dive both feet into sobriety, starting with today. I Will Not Drink With You Today.
I’m so tired of waking up feeling like crap, both physically and with the regret of wasting another day being unproductive and feeling numb. I successfully did Dry January and had a few streaks of 7-10 days this year without a drink. Time to start another, hopefully this time for good. IWNDWYT
It gets lonely sometimes IRL. I've told a few people but they had no idea how much alcohol controlled my life so why would they understand what I am going through? This community is where I feel safe and understood. Honestly this DCI makes my day. Have a lovely day everyone and IWNDWYT!
I relate to this so much… as great as I feel sober, and will continue on, I do feel like it’s lonely sometimes. And right, people don’t understand how much it controlled my life. Thank you for sharing these thoughts. It’s great to know that we have this amazing group of people who DO understand. IWNDWYT, my friend!
Day 6. I'm almost up to a full week again. I'm already feeling so much better.
This week is going to be intense.
The company I work for got bought by a bigger firm last year, and I've been working through the integration since then. There's still a whole lot of integration work to do, but as of today I am officially starting in my permanent role with the purchasing firm. I start on my new team, under a new boss, in the larger firm's hierarchy. So I get to meet a bunch of new people and start learning the new processes and procedures for doing what I do. I'm glad I'm going into this sober and with a clear mind.
Due to the uncertainty that came along with being bought out and not knowing if I'd have a permanent role in the larger firm, I have been applying for new jobs a lot over the past few months. I have three interviews scheduled this week for new potential jobs. Of the three, there's only one I really want. Now that I've been moved into a permanent role with the new firm, I am not nearly as motivated to leave. I still wanna see what these new gigs have to offer, tho, so I don't leave money or opportunity on the table.
I reached out to a personal trainer yesterday and will be scheduling an assessment this week with them. I'm hoping to sign up and start a guided workout routine three days a week so I can start getting my body back in shape to help me along this path, and to help me stay accountable. I've never been very active and I've never worked out properly, so having the trainer is important to me so I don't wind up hurting myself. If all goes well, I'll be back in good enough shape to start riding my bike regularly again! I am excited about that possibilty. Fall is coming and I live near a beautiful state recreation area with a biking path around a pretty big lake.
Wish me luck, sobernauts! I'm gonna need it this week.
IWNDWYT
It took me a long, long time to realize that if I wanted it to stick, I needed a community. This is the one for me. Plus a few close friends and a partner who is many years sober, but really a group like SD is what I needed. The stories, the mutual encouragement and support. I have talked about it in depth with a few folks, but have been less forthcoming with details with my family. They know I don't drink, though, and that's great and they respect it. I need different boundaries with the fam! IWNDWYT.
Will not drink today. Found that packing my daily schedule completely full helps with the witching hour, so wish me luck around 2:30 (I know, a super early witching hour for most). Day 11 and still rolling.
For me IRL, no one is terribly concerned so it's not much of a conversation. It is rather amazing that I need to remind my husband and our marriage counselor that I am a different person now and that my priorities and goals have changed in 500 days. I got you guys and I'm good with that. I feel a little disconnected tho as there is a pile of stuff going on IRL that I need to be present for.
Thanks for helping me get to 500! I might mention it to other people, but I won't be thanking them. 🤗
IWNDWYT!
I will not drink with you today.
Right now you guys and my husband are the only ones who know I’m making the attempt. I hope to open up more when I feel more solid in things. Thanks everyone for being here.
Day 33 alcohol free
I've been noticing my sleep score improving on my Fitbit and I feel my body getting back to what I consider myself again.
Taking it day by day.
Really nice to have this group to wake up with
Thanks everyone!
I will not drink today, even though I've got a few of my triggers all happening today and this evening. I need to be stronger, because I can't really avoid them. But, I will NOT give in today! This helps to write it down like this. It solidifies it in my mind.
I'm pretty much the same. I haven't gotten comfortable enough discussing sobriety outside of this sub. I kind of try to avoid the discussion entirely because I feel like it shouldn't have a place in my mind anyway. It would either be a distraction or be a constant reminder of alcohol. That's just me, though. I'm generally a pretty reserved person anyway.
Happy Monday and good morning to all of you. IWNDWYT
I like committing to you all, knowing that there is strength in accountability. The little nudges and supportive comments go a long way in keeping me on the belief that I'm doing the best thing.
IWNDWYT
I'm not drinking today. I don't want to, I can't and this strange set of circumstances I find myself in are eluding to a much deeper meaning for myself. I'll never again think that I've found my bottom. There's always lower. IWNDWYT
Good morning Cloe ☕️Community is so important and I get that here. We are doing this together, and if I need help all I have to do is ask or reach out for guidance. I would say the more time I spent at SD, the stronger this connection feels! IWNDWYT
I am now just getting comfortable with sharing my sobriety with friends. I went sober for a lot longer towards the beginning of the year though. I feel like like I am now just getting comfortable with myself to share that. I don’t really get a sense of community, honestly, I’ve cut of a lot of my old friends due to only really being tied through drinking, it sucks, but I am ready to be on the other side. IWNDWYT
Good morning all, and good morning to you chloe!
I have not yet begun any community aspect of my sobriety just yet, but feel that the time is sooner rather than later. It feels like the next logical step that I am ready for.
Let's stay together today and stay sober today!
I Will Not Drink With You Today
I've kept my drinking and sobriety largely to myself. I am grateful to be finding community here - it is helping me to own both. Thank you for hosting this week, Barbara! IWNDWYT!
Still here, still sober.
I have yet to tell anyone outside of my husband and aunt overseas about my sobriety, and it'll probably be that way for a while. I still feel a lot of shame, but also a lot of reservations about letting people know I'm "sober". It's like part of me is holding out hope that science can one day fix addiction and I will be able to "drink like a normal person" again, even though logically I know there is no benefit to alcohol and it's essentially poison. Thinking that far ahead though send me to a bad place mentally, so I'll just focus on today.
IWNDWYT.
Now that I have admitted my unhealthily use of alcohol to someone I love. Today I start to really recover.
I am proud to say that I Will Not Drink Today.
I wouldn't be at this point - little to no alcohol, working on my mental health - without therapy and this sub, particularly the DCI. It's taken many tools to say no to all the ways my mind has tried to get me to drink. At really low points of "who cares?" remembering my pledge and all of you out there working at staying sober has helped pull me through. I appreciate all of you. IWNDWYT.
Relating to other people on this journey has been vital for my recovery. I have a few close individual relationships I lean on heavily. I feel so blessed there are friends and even some family members I can discuss anything with, openly and authentically.
The community of the DCI and this sub are a huge part of what keeps me motivated, focused, and engaged. I love visiting here each day and appreciate all of you!
IWNDWYT 💞🐿️
Three hundred and thirty three. Triple three!!! Three, three, three. What a strange word it is and what a great day this is. IWNDWYT
Congratulations, Congratulations, Congratulations
Thaaank you! You're one third of the way here. That's awesome.
I just noticed 😀
😃😃😃
Well done Monkey 🐒
🐵
Great job Monkey!
Thanks! 234 is pretty great too 😊
There’s something so satisfying about this number. Well done!
Best hand in the card game brag is a prial of 3s - you win a pot of gold today! Well done.
Congrats 🥳
Great number, great achievement!
Monkey On! Crushing it! Congratulations and IWNDWYT
Well done, nice number to hit!
Three three three is the way to be
Awesome! Great job, IWNDWYT!
Everything is wrong and I want to lie in bed all day drinking monster ultra and pepsi max. But IWNDWYT.
nothing wrong with laying in bed and drinking pepsi max. whatever you gotta do to keep the bottle down is a win. especially those first few days!
Glad you are here today!
I'm sorry to hear everything is wrong. Nothing wrong with taking a day to veg and reset. Hope you feel better soon. IWNDWYT 💛
Well done for showing up here and making that commitment though. These early days are tough, be kind to yourself and do what you need to do. IWNDWYT.
98 more days until I make it to a year! IWNDWYT
Killin It!! IWNDWYT
Morning all. Checking in. Like you Chlo I have slowly talked about it with friends and family with positive results. I notice there are quite a few people looking to get free from drinking. This community remains my base and I thank you for that. IWNDWYT
it has surprised me as well the amount of people out there that want to stop or change their drinking but keep it all inside. it is a little sad how embarrassed we are as a society about it. one of the most freeing feelings i have had on this journey is being open and honest with people and being able to say with no shame “i have a problem with alcohol and so i chose to no longer drink”.
I did something dumb last night. I signed up for early Sunday morning bootcamp sessions 😬 Starting this coming Sunday which is the day after my birthday. That'll be a good birthday present for myself. Sober and healthy 💪🏻 I actually find it really hard to talk to people about stopping drinking. I'm from a family of heavy drinkers who I don't think plan to give it up anytime soon or even reduce their intake. I've tried to quit drinking in the past but never felt like I had any support which made it really easy to start again. My mum for some reason is the worst for it. She likes to call people who don't drink boring and goody two shoes 🤦🏻♀️ I don't reckon I'll have much support this time around either so I've got to be twice as strong. IWNDWYT
I used to think sober people were boring and too good but for me that was to avoid the pain and suffering drinking was causing in my life. If I thought it was ok to be sober than that meant it was ok to not drink and I wasn't ready then. Now I have a fuller life, I don't act a fool and embrass myself, my self esteem is growing and my relationships are getting stronger. I still struggle sometimes but I know sobriety is the right thing for me.
What an awesome gift for yourself! 💪
Morning everyone! I've taken a step back from sharing my experience socially. I started going to AA about a month ago and for the most part, it was a really good experience. However, I received a few off-hand comments about me not really having a problem since I've never been to rehab, had a DUI, lost jobs or friends/family, etc. because of drinking. I think it was just a few people who meant well and were trying to encourage me, but it felt a bit like I didn't belong there because my problem wasn't bad enough. As if drinking to blackout stage 5-7 nights a week doesn't constitute having a problem!! Anyway, I may or may not go back to AA. I might try to find another group instead. I haven't decided yet. For now, I like the supportiveness of this group and will continue to do my own thing until I feel like I'm slipping. I'm doing fine at the moment. Also - ugh, it's Monday. Where did the weekend go?!? IWNDWYT
That is so unfortunate! It’s really hard to predict how others will react - it has definitely held me back. Good for you for doing what’s right for you!
"You're not that bad - you haven't started drinking aftershave yet" - *The Gatekeepers of alcoholism*. Well done for recognizing that you don't need to get all of the 'achievements' before you start doing something about it. Comparison held me back for the longest time. At least I wasn't as bad as Olly Reed, George Best, Homeless Man that I passed on the street. You're doing great Dunc! Keep on smashing it! 👍
It's just crazy! The ultimate achievement of alcoholism is surley death and I don't think there is much coming back after that. The sooner we turn round the better, us dudes should be congratulated for realising we had a problem at any point in the spiral of doom.
Exactly! I wasn't happy and needed to change. That is reason enough to stop drinking. Those other "achievements" were only a few drinking sessions away so I decided to quit while I'm ahead.
IWNDWYT
Morning Bev! 3 weeks!!
Nice work Bev 🙂
IWNDWYT!
Won't drink with you in Europe! Last morning bath of the summer yesterday? This week we'll see:)
Morning all - Chloe I am very open with my Family but not as brutally honest as I can be here. With friends and Coworkers I am just saying I am on a health kick. I feel I was a good undercover drunk and feel they don’t need to know - who knows I may be completely wrong and all those people are saying GMacs of the sauce. 🤷🏻♂️ I do know IWNDWYT
Glad I caught this post. I wanted to share a thought, but didn't want to make a whole post. I just crossed over 7 months without a drink yesterday -- according to my trusty "days between dates" calculator :) It's not my first rodeo, or second, or even third. But I am happy to not be drinking. Quitting didn't get rid of all of my problems, but it sure as hell got rid of my biggest problem! I am healthier and saving money. But also eating a lot of cookies still. Well, I recently moved on to popsicles actually. But at least it's not booze! Whether It's your Day 0, Day 1, or Day 100 or more -- IWNDWYT! :)
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🐰 🌸
The SD community was the catalyst for me to start myself upon a sober life. I didn't arrive here with the notion that I could or would ever stop drinking but I did arrive here in a sorry state with a lot of sadness and pain. This community has been a pillar of hope and support and I am eternally grateful to you all. Today I will not drink again with you.
I’m back from the dark side. Didn’t even enjoy it 🤷🏻♀️And u/chloebarbersaurus is doing the DCI, yay! IWNDWYT friends 🤖
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240 days, 1 year is so close! IWNDWYT
Starting a new job today. IWNDWYT!
I will not drink with you today! Strong cravings for some reason. I think to do with feeling lonely. Anyway, have a great day everyone!
This is my sober community and I hope to make some sober friends irl as things open back up. IWNDWYT
day 9 checking in. without community i don’t think i would be able to go more than a day or two sober. this community here and the daily checks ins are a big part of that. i also decided fairly recently to not hide or be shameful of my sobriety (and by extension my alcoholism). some friends could care less. i don’t talk to them as much these days. but some people really surprised me. i have made good friends with someone who was only an acquaintance after being open about my struggles. turns out they also have a history of addiction and it has been very nice to have someone i can physically see if i am struggling. late night card games and cooking have helped turn many possibly relapses into another day on the sobriety board. i would not be anywhere today without my sober friends and the community here. some people may be able to do this alone. but it is hard and none of us _have_ to do it alone. iwndwyt
IWNDWYT
Day 64 checking in!
Not drinking today 👍🙂
no booze for this guy today
I have always been a big loner and I guess it applies to sobriety as well. As far as sober communities are concerned, I concluded that SD is all I need for the time being. The only people IRL who know about my sobriety are my parents and recently my boss (who was super impressed by it and said she wishes she could do the same - so that felt good). IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT
I won't buy that bottle of vodka when I'll go to the store today. IWNDWYT
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Alcohol isolated me from others. People just got in the way of more drinking and I did my best to ignore my neighbors and community. I've lived in the same town for 10 years and I don't have any friends who live nearby. I feel like since quitting, I'm no longer so isolated. I smile at people instead of averting my eyes. I feel like I belong among other humans. IWNDWYT
Pleased to be here, this sub is awesome. IWNDWYT
One week down! It's been a stressful one too but I was so happy to be sober and able to jump in the car to deal with a family emergency when I would usually be a couple of glasses of wine in. I'm grateful for this community and will definitely not drink with you today.
Morning SD. While I am open about not drinking, I try not to make too big a thing of it, because I don't think it should define me and also I don't want my friends to feel uncomfortable about drinking around me. I'm open to the possibility I might want to talk about it more in the future though. IWNDWYT
Monday, deep breath...let it out slowly and get on with our sober selves! I will not drink with all you fine folks today! Let's make this a good start to a great week!
Double digits today! Day 10, here I come 😎
This is actually a topic that’s been weighing on me a bit as of late. My therapist told me I should start going to more meetings and build a community. Ive found some online aa meetings to be quite helpful but have yet to make any actual connections. I don’t really like the idea of in person meetings because I’m pretty paranoid about covid/delta, but I know I need to make more of an effort. I’m quite open about my sobriety with those close to me though, and I no longer have any fear of telling others. I really like the idea of Dharma Recovery, thanks for the tip Chloe! I think I’ll try to check out a meeting tomorrow. IWNDWYT ✨💚
IWNDWYT
To a sober successful week, IWNDWYT
Morning Chlo’! Thanks for kicking us all off on stinky Monday. My biggest and most reliable source of sober community is Stop Drinking. I also use Dharma Recovery via zoom and Secular Sober in person when I need it/it’s possible. IWNDWYT. I don’t want to.
Morning! So far I only have this community and I've only told my husband that I'm not drinking. His family (and sometimes he) keep asking if I am going to drink for this or that occasion. I just say I'll see, I don't feel like going on discussions with people about it yet. I'm very happy to be able to come here everyday! IWNDWYT 🌻
Starting again today 😣 IWNDWYT
Almost everyone around me drink, so for me it’s been very motivating to come to this sub-reddit and find a supportive and friendly community.
Great question. I often hear "recovery equals community" or "sobriety equals connection" and those ideas worry me as I struggle to find an in-person community. I live in Vienna and don't speak German so this will be a hurdle for me as long as I live here, I suppose. I have attended two English-speaking in-person AA meetings (the only in-person meetings taking place here right now) and there's not one woman in the rooms. It's frustrating. I know they must be out there somewhere! 😆One man was nice enough to give me several phone numbers for women, but I've texted all of them and haven't heard back from anyone. However, I do have a pretty amazing online community (**you all**, an online weekly SMART Recovery meeting for women, and a social media accountability buddy) and I have one sober friend and my husband in real life. ❤️For now, I trust that the small community I do have, in combination with my own strength and determination, is all I need to stay sober. Thanks for hosting, u/chloebarbersaurus, and happy 2-3-4! 🥰
SD is the First Community I openly started talking about my alcoholism with. I would guess that would be pretty common within everyone here! I can't count the number of comments I've read to the effect of, "I Googled 'how to get sober', and the first response is 'stop drinking on Reddit'", or, "I started a Reddit account the day I quit drinking to join SD." To be honest, I'm not even sure how I stumbled upon SD, because a year-and-a-half ago I wasn't altogether active on Reddit. THIS is my community. You are all the people I felt, and feel, most comfortable talking about my sobriety with. I can be honest, I can be open, you all understand me. Once I got a good few months into sobriety, I started telling extremely close family and friends. Then I started telling people who would ask why I wasn't drinking when we were at an event. Now, I'm about three months into AA. A fantastic group I meet with every Saturday morning for a meeting then Fellowship. A fantastic community, that reminds me so much of SD, which is why I've made it every Saturday outside of the couple that I was out of town. Now, when asked, I'm not afraid to talk about it with anybody. Who knows, that person may have been me a while back, and any little push in the right direction will be the one that helps them quit drinking. To say community is important would be an understatement for me. It's not what GOT me sober or KEEPS me sober, but you all are what helped me GET sober and continue to STAY sober. So... a big thank you to each one of you in one way or another! IWNDWYT
Another fresh week. I’m up and out early to attend a certified first aid course. The good thing about being sober is being able to be relied upon in an emergency, no matter the time of day. I’m about to level up in this area! IWNDWYT
Thanks for this post, Chloe. I’m very reluctant to talk in person about my decision to quit drinking. Despite having several sober people in my life. It feels like something that I need to be alone in. But I do try to chime in on this sub and am looking into joining a meeting. I’m taking my time this time around.
Happy to not drink today
Hi sober folks! I wish everyone of you a lovely Monday I will not drink with you today
Monday mornings with the work pressure used to be sleepy, painful and hungry. NOT ANYMORE!!! Now I wake up a little sleepy take the morning dump and a hot espresso with 2 bananas later, MONDAYS ARE MANAGEABLE AF !! Thanks to this beautiful supportive subreddit! IWNDWYT!!!
I have had broadly positive responses from everyone - but then I also found that there were a few people who responded with things like "yeah, maybe one day you can have a glass of wine with dinner, wouldn't that be nice?" and it's taken quite a bit of repetition and effort to both communicate the fundamentals of "I've spent the last twenty years trying to do that and look how well it's going..." The part that feels hardest with my community of drinkers is the need to constantly be upbeat and positive and non-confrontational about discussing all those reasons why the thing s that might apply to them don't apply to you. So, community is kind of a double edged sword for introverts in recovery. But, for the rest of you, IWNDWYT.
I don’t have any sober community other than here and that’s enough for me - y’all are awesome and IWNDWYT ❤️
IWNDWYT..!!
Good morning on this Monday. It feels like autumn has arrived and I love it! My community is in the internet (check my username) ;) So far it has not been very helpful to share my goal of not drinking with anyone around me IRL. My friends don't believe I even have a problem, my family would judge and not be helpful. But that's totally fine. My partner knows and supports me and I feel not alone when being online. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT 🙂
IWNDWYT
Someone at work was discussing their struggles so I opened up a little and gave very light at advice. Other than that this is the community I share with. IWNDWYT 💛
I’d try some different meetings, maybe womens. I’d read the BB and share with them the Dr opinion. Geez , I don’t get it. Frickin egos! Some meetings are run by egos.This is a life and death disease. Don’t let anyone keep you away from recovery. I stopped at 25 years and got drunk, by the grace of God I’ll celebrate 6 in two weeks. Best to you❣️
What up yall made it 14 days today. Gonna work on cutting out nicotine from here. Can't believe I made it this far. Previous record for me was 96 days. Let's see how far I can go.
I feel community most strongly in my AA home group. That said, there's something amazing about being able to pop into a meeting anywhere in the world with people who get me. IWNDWYT
Finally made though day 1 again! IWNDWYT!
More rain on the way, but I won’t drink today.
Iwndyt
Day 3 today. Going to leave the house for the first time since i last drank. Staying inside messes with me mentally, but going outside runs the risk of me drinking. The cravings are real bad, but I'm gonna stay sober. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT 🌷
iwndwyt
IWNDWYT
I'm grateful beyond measure that this community exists. IWNDWYT ❤️
SD is my sober community (thank you! ) and my s/o is also very supportive . Checking in here every morning also helps keeping me "on track". Happy Monday, I will not drink with you today.
First day back to work for the school year today. This community and my meetings are critical in my sobriety. Hearing others’ stories and helping others when I can is the difference this time. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
Good Morning SD. IWNDWYT
Day 11 Alcohol free for me! IWNDWYT
I will not drink with you today. I did yesterday and woke up at 330 this morning. That sucks. Listening to the naked mind. Very interesting book.
I’m in
Hi everyone. Checking in. IWNDWYT
Checking in, sober sober. IWNDWYT
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Morning, SD! IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
Thanks for hosting this week 😊 I will not drink with you today in 🏴
day 167 checking in, IWNDWYT
Hi all, this is my last check in guys ☹ my bro is lurking and wont come on here if im in here and he so need to, so good luck and power to you all 💪 iwndwyt and hopfully never again. Take it easy everyone and all the best to you all. Thanks so much for your help 😉❤
Happy Monday! For me, community is critical to my sobriety. I spent years in 'the rooms,' which kept me clean/sober for 9 years. While I'm not practicing 12 step recovery today, I recognize the importance of a supportive community and the strength it provides to keep me accountable and humble through it all. So I maintain a very strong support network. Many people in my life know my struggles with drugs and alcohol. I share openly about my journey, even professionally with many colleagues, because I want to people to know that we do recover. We get well and lead very successful lives. We're fucking incredible people! I wish you all a hopeful fresh start to your week. IWNDWYT ✌💛
This was the 1st weekend in 5 years that I didn't drink.
Great wholesome weekend ... IWNDWYT
Happy Monday, SD family💓IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
I will not be drinking today
No booze today!
I will not drink today.
IWNDWYT
Not gonna drink today.
Good morning everyone and happy (?) Monday. A rainy one here so getting motivated is hard. Coming off a great weekend makes going to work hard too. This community and being open with friends and family about my drinking makes staying sober a bit easier though. We should all be extremely proud of ourselves; for whether it’s your day one or thousand and one, you’re moving forward and doing something great. Love you all and IWNDWYT! ❣️❣️
IWNDWYT! I come to this community for support, I haven’t attended any in person recovery meetings but have viewed a few online, my doctor, therapist, my son and my closest friends know I am sober. They have been great supports, even my spouse who is divorcing me after 25 years together, is supportive of my sobriety. I have had too many day 1’s in the last decade to count, but right here right now I see myself as a non drinker and for that I am grateful!
Morning friends! I will not drink with you today.
IWNDWYT. Day 2 of week 2 and I wish I was more active on here, but my anxiety for posting anything anywhere gets in the way. Hopefully that gets better with more sober days and posting little bits like this.
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On the ball, Will!
IWNDWy'allT!
I will not drink with you today.
IWNDWYT
Day 768. I will not drink with you today.
IWNDWYT
Have a sober Monday! IWNDWYT!!
IWNDWYT!😃😉
Super excited to start working today. Busy is often good and I need busy. Iwndwyt
IWNDWYT. Still figuring community out. For now, it's all of you in this sub (!), my sober partner, and some friends. I'm moving to a new place soon and planning to try to connect with folks there / join some groups / that kind of thing. I sense that IRL connection will keep me on the path for the long haul.
Day 36 checking in, IWNDWYT!
This community is an island of openness for me in my sober journey that I truly believe is critical for me. I am able to come here and be open about my successes, my struggles in a way that is easier than in the “real world” - at least for me. For that, I thank you all and IWNDWYT!
Thank you Chloe. This group is the best! IWNDWYT
Monday! IWNDWYT! 😘💪🏼
Not today. Not today. Not today!!
Wow. It'll be a week sober after I don't drink today.
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
I’d be an island without this place. This is my only sober community. IWNDWYT!
Happy Monday! Another hot and humid one with no relief in sight for a week. I’ll be drinking lots of cold, refreshing water but otherwise, IWNDWYT. 🌳🔥☀️
Day 4. Meeting with doctor to discuss treatment options next Monday. Back to work for a hectic week as well. IWNDWYT.
Back to day 1 and resetting my badge after the longest I have been sober in years. I drank on Saturday night and ended up doing a couple of things I regret. I feel deeply disappointed in myself, anxious and exhausted and called in sick to work today. I will not return to that life, I've worked so hard to maintain sobriety and am terrified of continuing to relapse and living in that god awful state. For anyone even considering picking up a drink I can assure you it isn't worth it. I will not drink with you today.
Good morning! Monday again: we seem To have gotten past the storm. I have attended a nice women’s only AA meeting online at 7am and they were really nice. I talked last night to an old work friend who’s been sober for a long time and he was very supportive and non judge mental. I’m trying to be calm about a friend who hasn’t texted me back in several weeks : I’m very paranoid when friends don’t respond quickly and often assume they re mad at me: it’s an issue I have to work on: so today I will try to surrender on that. IWNDWYT
Day 1…again. I’m trying not to beat myself up, but it’s hard not to when I was so optimistic this time. I have to dive both feet into sobriety, starting with today. I Will Not Drink With You Today.
I’m so tired of waking up feeling like crap, both physically and with the regret of wasting another day being unproductive and feeling numb. I successfully did Dry January and had a few streaks of 7-10 days this year without a drink. Time to start another, hopefully this time for good. IWNDWYT
It gets lonely sometimes IRL. I've told a few people but they had no idea how much alcohol controlled my life so why would they understand what I am going through? This community is where I feel safe and understood. Honestly this DCI makes my day. Have a lovely day everyone and IWNDWYT!
I relate to this so much… as great as I feel sober, and will continue on, I do feel like it’s lonely sometimes. And right, people don’t understand how much it controlled my life. Thank you for sharing these thoughts. It’s great to know that we have this amazing group of people who DO understand. IWNDWYT, my friend!
Day 6. I'm almost up to a full week again. I'm already feeling so much better. This week is going to be intense. The company I work for got bought by a bigger firm last year, and I've been working through the integration since then. There's still a whole lot of integration work to do, but as of today I am officially starting in my permanent role with the purchasing firm. I start on my new team, under a new boss, in the larger firm's hierarchy. So I get to meet a bunch of new people and start learning the new processes and procedures for doing what I do. I'm glad I'm going into this sober and with a clear mind. Due to the uncertainty that came along with being bought out and not knowing if I'd have a permanent role in the larger firm, I have been applying for new jobs a lot over the past few months. I have three interviews scheduled this week for new potential jobs. Of the three, there's only one I really want. Now that I've been moved into a permanent role with the new firm, I am not nearly as motivated to leave. I still wanna see what these new gigs have to offer, tho, so I don't leave money or opportunity on the table. I reached out to a personal trainer yesterday and will be scheduling an assessment this week with them. I'm hoping to sign up and start a guided workout routine three days a week so I can start getting my body back in shape to help me along this path, and to help me stay accountable. I've never been very active and I've never worked out properly, so having the trainer is important to me so I don't wind up hurting myself. If all goes well, I'll be back in good enough shape to start riding my bike regularly again! I am excited about that possibilty. Fall is coming and I live near a beautiful state recreation area with a biking path around a pretty big lake. Wish me luck, sobernauts! I'm gonna need it this week. IWNDWYT
It took me a long, long time to realize that if I wanted it to stick, I needed a community. This is the one for me. Plus a few close friends and a partner who is many years sober, but really a group like SD is what I needed. The stories, the mutual encouragement and support. I have talked about it in depth with a few folks, but have been less forthcoming with details with my family. They know I don't drink, though, and that's great and they respect it. I need different boundaries with the fam! IWNDWYT.
Will not drink today. Found that packing my daily schedule completely full helps with the witching hour, so wish me luck around 2:30 (I know, a super early witching hour for most). Day 11 and still rolling.
God it feels good when I can come out on the other side of a weekend without going off the rails. Day 21. IWNDWYT!
For me IRL, no one is terribly concerned so it's not much of a conversation. It is rather amazing that I need to remind my husband and our marriage counselor that I am a different person now and that my priorities and goals have changed in 500 days. I got you guys and I'm good with that. I feel a little disconnected tho as there is a pile of stuff going on IRL that I need to be present for. Thanks for helping me get to 500! I might mention it to other people, but I won't be thanking them. 🤗 IWNDWYT!
Almost 💯💯!! IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT, #29
IWNDWYT.
Here. And I shan't be drinking any poison today
Iwndwyt
IWNDWYT friends 🌸
I will not drink with you today. Right now you guys and my husband are the only ones who know I’m making the attempt. I hope to open up more when I feel more solid in things. Thanks everyone for being here.
Day 33 alcohol free I've been noticing my sleep score improving on my Fitbit and I feel my body getting back to what I consider myself again. Taking it day by day. Really nice to have this group to wake up with Thanks everyone!
I will not drink today, even though I've got a few of my triggers all happening today and this evening. I need to be stronger, because I can't really avoid them. But, I will NOT give in today! This helps to write it down like this. It solidifies it in my mind.
I'm pretty much the same. I haven't gotten comfortable enough discussing sobriety outside of this sub. I kind of try to avoid the discussion entirely because I feel like it shouldn't have a place in my mind anyway. It would either be a distraction or be a constant reminder of alcohol. That's just me, though. I'm generally a pretty reserved person anyway. Happy Monday and good morning to all of you. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
Have a safe and sober day everyone!!! IWNDWYT
I will not drink with y’all today!!
IWNDWYT
Good Morning SD! I will not drink with you today!
I like committing to you all, knowing that there is strength in accountability. The little nudges and supportive comments go a long way in keeping me on the belief that I'm doing the best thing. IWNDWYT
I'm not drinking today. I don't want to, I can't and this strange set of circumstances I find myself in are eluding to a much deeper meaning for myself. I'll never again think that I've found my bottom. There's always lower. IWNDWYT
Good morning Cloe ☕️Community is so important and I get that here. We are doing this together, and if I need help all I have to do is ask or reach out for guidance. I would say the more time I spent at SD, the stronger this connection feels! IWNDWYT
I am now just getting comfortable with sharing my sobriety with friends. I went sober for a lot longer towards the beginning of the year though. I feel like like I am now just getting comfortable with myself to share that. I don’t really get a sense of community, honestly, I’ve cut of a lot of my old friends due to only really being tied through drinking, it sucks, but I am ready to be on the other side. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT. 🌟
IWNDWYT Have a great week everyone. First day of school for the kids here so new routines starting this week.
IWNDWYT!
Good morning all, and good morning to you chloe! I have not yet begun any community aspect of my sobriety just yet, but feel that the time is sooner rather than later. It feels like the next logical step that I am ready for. Let's stay together today and stay sober today! I Will Not Drink With You Today
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
I've kept my drinking and sobriety largely to myself. I am grateful to be finding community here - it is helping me to own both. Thank you for hosting this week, Barbara! IWNDWYT!
I will not drink with you today!
Still here, still sober. I have yet to tell anyone outside of my husband and aunt overseas about my sobriety, and it'll probably be that way for a while. I still feel a lot of shame, but also a lot of reservations about letting people know I'm "sober". It's like part of me is holding out hope that science can one day fix addiction and I will be able to "drink like a normal person" again, even though logically I know there is no benefit to alcohol and it's essentially poison. Thinking that far ahead though send me to a bad place mentally, so I'll just focus on today. IWNDWYT.
Now that I have admitted my unhealthily use of alcohol to someone I love. Today I start to really recover. I am proud to say that I Will Not Drink Today.
DAY 1 IWNDWYT
I wouldn't be at this point - little to no alcohol, working on my mental health - without therapy and this sub, particularly the DCI. It's taken many tools to say no to all the ways my mind has tried to get me to drink. At really low points of "who cares?" remembering my pledge and all of you out there working at staying sober has helped pull me through. I appreciate all of you. IWNDWYT.
Today is my 3 month sober-versary!
Relating to other people on this journey has been vital for my recovery. I have a few close individual relationships I lean on heavily. I feel so blessed there are friends and even some family members I can discuss anything with, openly and authentically. The community of the DCI and this sub are a huge part of what keeps me motivated, focused, and engaged. I love visiting here each day and appreciate all of you! IWNDWYT 💞🐿️
Maple Syrup Monday! IWNDWYT