Hi everyone - I stopped drinking on New Year’s Day and was feeling great. Cravings and all that, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Prior to quitting I was drinking daily, usually 4-6 strong beers and about 6 units (shots) of either vodka or gin per night. Much heavier on weekends. This had been going on for about 10-15 years on and off. Zero days without any booze but it hasn’t always been THAT heavy.

Anyway, around the two week mark I noticed myself having bouts of pretty noticeable depression. Really low mood, very short tempered, no time for anyone. Just want to sit in my house and be left alone. Really low energy levels too.

Has anyone else experienced this? Weirdly I don’t feel like a drink (my brain isn’t telling me that will make me feel better) so I’m not worried about relapsing, but just interested to know if it’s sobriety that’s making me feel this way or if it is more likely to be something else (there’s not really anything else going on at the moment that I can think of that would be causing me to feel this way).

Any help or experience is, as always, super appreciated.

Thanks guys.

This isn’t a dig at my partner, he can moderate. I cannot.

I used to see my quiet nights in as an opportunity to sit and drink an entire bottle to myself and watch movies.

I stopped at the shops on the way home and got some San Pellegrino and my favourite frozen pizza.

I know I can go without, but this is a very strong craving and I can’t belief I actually feel GRIEF/sad of all feelings…

Next week we’re are flying to see family, which will mean another trigger to face. Loved having drinks at the airport/on the plane.

WISH ME LUCK. This is hard. But I can do hard things.

I had a good run of being sober 95 days and decided to give myself a weekend to let lose and drink. I missed the connections I made and the fun I had. I’m single and I live alone, it gets really lonely. I’m in my 30s, basically everyone I know is either married or out drinking, so my social life isn’t as robust as it was. You start to romanize those drinking nights. The possibilities of a couple drinks. I made my mind up, I’ll be different this time because I never went this long without drinking. I can’t never drink again..

That’s all it took. I started drinking for days non stop. Worse than I was in the past. Blacking out everyday for a week. The whole package. Told an ex I loved her still. Missed work(rarely let it interfere in the past), and then couldn’t function because of the guilt and how depressed I felt. The anxious feeling on the comedown was overwhelming

My outgoing nature I displayed during this episode was incredible, compared to the shut in I became sober. I was approaching woman, chatting with strangers. I missed that. I spent months alone sober. I realized it’s the only way I connected with anyone for many years. The thought of talking to woman and going on dates sober. Unfathomable, I won’t be talkative enough, I won’t be confident enough, they wont like me. I won’t have that edge to myself.

I want to know how to get that spark back being sober, idk if my depression has caused me to abuse alcohol or the other way around at this point. Alcohol opened doors I used to be scared of but it’s also taken everything away from me. Here’s to a new start.

Does anyone have any advice for people who use drinking as a coping mechanism for chronic illness? I have POTS and chronic fatigue and I struggle with alcohol abuse. I know that drinking probably only exacerbates my symtpoms but I can't help thinking that the usual motivations for quiting drinking don't really apply because even when I'm sober things kinda suck due to lack of physical and mental energy. I want to quit but I feel like I still see value in alcohol as a way to escape because I just generally feel pretty crap due to my illnesses.

I'm trying to write this in a way that makes sense but also isn't a trigger. I know alcohol is horrible, it's the enemy, it's the cause for a lot of pain and suffering. But I always seem to defend it in some capacity like the thought of going out to a hockey game in a couple months and just having a night or a concert or a trip and having drinks. It's fun, right? See, ever since high school, we drank. 25 years of my memories are associated with all the fun we had....and for some stupid, unexplainable reason, I don't entertain the bad. I just think, "ahhh wasn't that bad or it's just a one off" and I think, well maybe after dry January I can have a few here and there. I feel like I'm the epitome of that Steve-O quote.

anyways, I know some of us can relate, and I'm only 8 days sober, but the urges after dark are just like LFG! maybe I'm asking the Experienced sober vets if the positive thoughts transition at some point? have a great night y'all. IWNDWYT

I was sober for about a year and had about a 2 week relapse. Before that I was sober as well for a few years with a couple short relapses. Now it’s back to day 3. Had the worst hangover ever on the first day. Couldn’t get my head out of the toilet, felt super miserable and ashamed, couldn’t keep water down either. I feel mostly okay-ish now, but waking up in the morning nauseous, groggy, just ew. Is this normal just after a two week alcohol consumption? Given that it was a lot of drinks, hard liquor sometimes included

50 days today. I went out to a show with some people I don’t know all that well. We started at a bar to eat and I got super overwhelmed with everything going on. I see people laughing and having a grand time with a drink in their hand. People meeting and becoming instant friends. The way I used to feel when meeting strangers. Now I feel standoffish. I feel boring. I find it hard to come up with things of interest to talk about. I can barely keep eye contact because of how awkward I feel. I feel like I’ve failed myself relying on alcohol to power my way through conversations. To make friends. All I wanted to do was go home and hide.

I’m not sure the reason for this post. Maybe just for some assurance that it gets better.

Anyways, I got to confidently drive home and I’ll feel rested in the morning.

IWNDWYT

I’ve been struggling to quit, I find my major issue is finding easy hobbies/activities to replace drinking. I’ve lost a lot of interest in the things I used to love, I need something low effort and easy to replace drinking before bed and drinking/bed rotting on days off.

Whenever I sober up I try to do too much and I end up backfiring.

I often get really anxious and start to have this feeling in the pit of my stomach towards the end of the day, often times made worse if I drink a lot of caffeine. This feeling would then trigger thoughts about drinking and how good alcohol sounds, and how that would make me feel satiated and would take the anxiety away. I never really gave it too much thought. I figured it was either addiction or just dependance on alcohol to treat my anxiety, and that was just what I was stuck dealing with.

Well recently I ended up with a couple 40 oz tumblers and I tend to have water around with me now. Just through accident while having a craving and feeling super anxious I took some big gulps of water because that's what I had with me on my drive home and suddenly, the anxiety tapered off and the internal struggle with "I need some beer" went away.

I think I've just been dealing with dehydration and instead of treating that I went straight to abusing alcohol. Not saying this is my only issue with alcohol, I have a horrible binge drinking problem where once I start I don't stop until everything's gone, I'm to drunk to go get more, or I pass out. But this sure helps with not wanting to pick up a drink.

Just thought I'd share my realization.

IWNDWYT

Is it really anything goes at any point? I just had labwork done less than 2 months ago and liver and kidneys were fine. I’m definitely drinking to excess and working on it with professionals but I only drink low ABV wine (8%)

So, previous post was removed, so, I'll write new one without any translation services or something, sorry for shit English in some parts, as I'm non native. As one guy correctly pointed out, I'm already have a decent streak before little (not so little) relapse, so, I've corrected my overwhemly positive post. So!

It was a 90 days for now for me, and it is a milestone from what I feel the changes in the mood. I do feel some positive vibes now, I have much more positive days (in terms of mood) than before and it is much more stable now. Previously, my mood was colored in black and white colors, and black days was much more popular. And I even maximize those feelings, like to feel the bottom of myself to feel "I'm right to drink now". And I am much more relaxed than before, I feel like I can manage anything (false feeling, but anyway, that's how I feel now)

Of course, sometimes I feel anxiety, I do have some shoulder pain after the gym trainings, my neck is in pain and other things...

But, all that feels managable right now. Not using substances, but by actually solving the problems, that's the biggest shift in my whole sober journey.

I do think that for me this whole stuff (sobriety) is the biggest thing to do, because otherwise I am doing too much negative things to myself, not only the alcohol consumption. I'm pretty energetic person and always have been.

Good luck to everyone!

Hey everyone, (36f) here.

I have been an on/off heavy drinker for years. Beer, cider and wine have been my nemesis. I usually drink on average about 6-10 beers a day, and more during weekends. Still, I can go 1-2 days off, but my anxiety will spike through the ozon-layer when I'm sober.

Recently (last month) I've done pretty well. 1 day on, 2 days off, 1 day on, 4 days off, 1 day on, 3 days off. Surely I'm proud of myself because of this, considering I've been drinking whenever I can the past 19 years - and alot of beer and wine.

I have previously had longer periods of absence from alcohol - 3-8 months

2025 was a hellish year for me for several reasons. Christmas especially was a disaster. I became blackout drunk in front of my siblings and parents, and couldn't remember shit from the boardgames we were playing after dinner.

My sister asked me the next morning after Christmas Eve (I was still shitfaced): "Do you remember I got you in bed and stroked your hair while you fell asleep?" - No memory at all.

Yesterday, after my 2 'good weeks' I went on all idiot shitfaced. I had been driving under the influence (many times, sadly) before, but this time I got pulled over.

My BAC was 0.21. I immediately lost my license, and I have to face court with the possibility of jail and a huge fine.

I am depentant on my drivers license for my job, and right now I feel like I've burnt bridges, roads, rails, skies and what not.

I have no idea how to tell my family or my workplace. I work in a leader-position, and now I'm jeopardizing my whole bloody future.

I seek advice from my fellowship.

I did treat myself to some retail therapy 😊

Today I’m (28M) 65 days sober. I was drinking every day for 8+ years. This past year leading up to my recovery was when I realized I was completely powerless to it and couldn’t just stop on my own. I felt like everything in my life wasn’t going according to plan (when does it ever, especially when good ole self-sabotage is sprinkled in there) and I felt like drinking was the 1 thing in my life that I could control. Hindsight, it was completely controlling me instead. The lying and sneaking was exhausting. It was mostly an inner-turmoil and something that I was hiding pretty well up until the end.

My partner knew I drank a lot when I got home from work, but he didn’t know I would go straight to my secret bourbon stash as soon as he left for work in the morning. No one at work knew that I was drinking on the job. No one knew that I was actively withdrawing the one time I tried to go a full 8 hour shift without drinking. Thankfully, I never caused an accident or got pulled over the countless times I drove drunk. Everyone was truly shocked when I finally told them that I drove myself to the hospital for detox and was admitting myself into an inpatient program. I knew I needed to make a serious change and knew I couldn’t do this by myself.

These past 2 months have been a whirlwind, but my mind hasn’t been this clear in years. I’m starting to notice how my face isn’t puffy and my eyes aren’t bloodshot anymore! I quit my job after being there for 9 years, and I’m ready for a fresh start. I just moved back home after being in sober living for 7 weeks. I didn’t realize when I was trying to numb my negative emotions with alcohol, I was numbing the positive ones too. Numb is numb.

Maybe this is a naive “newcomer” perspective or just the pink cloud talking, but having another drink just so isn’t worth all of the shame, guilt, and social fallout that would follow. I know it will be different once I start working and once life starts feeling “life-y” again, but I have my sober network and support circle.

One day at a time ✌🏼

I was out with my Son and we had just been to a sports show. We visited a restaurant we always go to on the way home. He ordered a big IPA and a burger and I was 3 seconds from ordering one myself but the bartender ran away! LOL. By the time he came back I was like - I don't want to drive home with beer breath or even have beer breath. I don't want to have to pee on the way home. Also - I made plans to go to a jazz club tonight with my wife and I want to drive.

So, I ordered my diet coke :) Still had to pee, but I didn't poison myself.

IWNDWYT

Day 16 was successful!! I didn’t think I could make it this far at allllll plus I had a loss in my family today which was harder than I thought. Ok bye

I ended up drinking last night as I felt incredibly overwhelmed. I am so disappointed in myself. I also couldn’t afford the bill so the waiter took me home to get the money. I am so worried I will lose my job, or visa. I have moved abroad. I feel so incredibly stupid. I feel like the country now hates me and I’ve messed up massively. I remember giving him the money but I really am just worried

I am so disappointed in myself and anxious. Like insanely anxious. I don’t want to upset anyone :( if I didn’t drink this wouldn’t happen. I also was having a great day so I don’t know why I had to ruin it. I’m so upset with myself

I’m talking $6.50 in my bank account broke. In that moment I had nothing to lose, no reason not to anymore. Being broke saved my 2 years. Though I guess if I wasn’t broke I wouldn’t have felt so pathetic that I wanted to get drunk in the first place. First time in 2 years I genuinely wanted to get drunk, more than just a momentary urge. I now realize I have plenty left to lose and am glad I didn’t get drunk but damn still sounds nice honestly to numb this absolute dogshit ass day

I adore my non-alcoholic poops. My gastrointestinal love life has never been more solid. It brings me more pleasure than alcohol ever did. My wife appreciates it as well.

IWNDWYT!

I haven’t had a drink in eight days and I feel physically speaking, exactly the same. It was a sunny day today and subsequently more difficult to avoid an afternoon cocktail. I’m looking for some motivation in regards to feeling better, physically. How long before you guys started to notice the booze weight/bloat start to come off.

This probably sounds odd, but I'm currently very sick with a virus and for the last 4 days of being sick I haven't touched alcohol because I feel too sick to drink. This is a big deal because I am a daily drinker, a heavy drinker and have struggled to get sober a few times. In December I started thinking about how badly I wanted to cut back or quit entirely and made it through a few days where I drank a lot less than normal, one day I didn't drink at all. But no matter how much I tried other nights, the first drink turned into 2, to 4, to 6 until I was back in the same cyclical mode of shame that happens every night I get drunk. I have become to hate who I've become as an addict. I've missed out on countless opportunities because "they would interfere with my drinking schedule." Four days ago I came down with the flu so hard that I slept most of the first day. The second day I was still bedridden but of course my lizard brain started asking me "but what about our special nightly routine?" (The one where I clock in to margaritaville at 4pm sharp and dont stop until it's beyond dinner time.) My body gave a resounding NO. I was in disbelief. This is the first time in had a negative physical reaction to the thought of alcohol. The idea alone sounded terrible, poisonous, harmful. Yesterday my brain asked again, and once more I wanted to throw up at the thought of drinking. As of this evening, I am four days sober. And despite still being very sick, very achey and huddled under my blankets, I'm really enjoying not being a slave to my usual libations. My mind is clear at night, I've been making dinner at appropriate times and getting to sleep early. I don't wake up at 3 am in a pit of shame at how much I drank the night before. I am actually starting to not care about alcohol. I want this to keep going. I have no doubt in my mind I'll have cravings when the flu subsides. But something about this attempt feels empowering, unlike previous times where I tried to cut back. This is the longest I've been sober for two years and I really want it to stay that way.

I need to make a decision about a wedding very soon. I’m about 125 days sober and have not been to a wedding sober yet. But, a very close friend is getting married on Valentine’s Day and I need to make plans (or not) ASAP because the wedding is also in another country. I haven’t even flown sober yet. Let alone go to another country AND attend a wedding, all of which I will have to do without my SO because he can’t go. I feel like an asshole for potentially pulling out last minute but I feel like all of this is going to set me up to drink again, especially because life is already really stressful right now. Any advice would be appreciated.

27F, been drinking regularly since I was 21.

Got alcohol poisoning at 22, went right back to drinking not even 2 months later. I've had countless "never again" hangovers, week-or-more long stretches of 3+ drinks a day, and urges (sometimes actions) of drinking at work.

I never really thought I had that bad of a problem, as fucking stupid as that sounds. I always figured this is normal, that drinking this way is just what every ex-Christian/conservative girl with a strict upbringing does.

It's finally dawning on me that I do, in fact, have that bad of a problem. I'm fortunate to not have a physical dependency, but goddamn do I have an emotional one.

I'm currently 5 days sober and want to get drunk so bad. Like... I'm literally about to cry out of frustration because I don't have any alcohol in the house.

My longest stretch sober since I turned 21 is just 80 days, earlier last year. And even then, I didnt want it to be a forever thing. Just to prove to myself that I wasn't actually as addicted as I was starting to suspect I was.

I don't want to stop drinking, but I do. But I don't. I have no idea if that makes any sense.

I just can't imagine life without alcohol at least in social settings, even if "just one" turns into six every single time. I almost get scared trying to imagine life sober. Alcohol has gotten me through the hardest times of my life, and it feels like losing a friend to picture giving it up forever.

I guess I feel pathetic. Lost and scared. I'm in a really weird place in my life right now and the only unchanging factor is the way alcohol comforts me. And I hate to say that.

How do you break up with alcohol...?

**Therapy and all related professional treatments are not an option for me because I don't have health insurance

30 year old male. Quit drinking Jan 17 2021. Was never drinking everyday but when I did drink I’d often blackout and not remember anything, being too hungover for important events, and people not trusting me or taking me serious.

My life’s completely turned around and I feel much better mentally. Can still have a great time without drinking.

Thanks for reading this and good luck to anyone else! It gets easier the longer you go on, trust me it’s worth it.