Quitting Alcohol

[Customweld]

There is lots of great support in this thread. I've been meaning to cut it out myself. I'm shooting for the first sober weekend in 15 years.

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

If my drinking simply consisted of me having a beer or two that I liked with a meal each day, I wouldn’t be in this position now. I like the taste of pizza, but I don’t eat a dozen large pepperoni’s everyday.

Very well said.

There is lots of great support in this thread. I've been meaning to cut it out myself. I'm shooting for the first sober weekend in 15 years.

Right on, buddy. It does really have a positive affect.

I weld as well. And I'll tell you. My welds have improved greatly after I stopped drinking when I'd work on my own stuff. Hahaha

 

[ChrisA]

Like Jason Isbell says, "it gets easier but it never gets easy"

 

[Customweld]

Very well said.


Right on, buddy. It does really have a positive affect.

I weld as well. And I'll tell you. My welds have improved greatly after I stopped drinking when I'd work on my own stuff. Hahaha

I'm not nearly talented enough to be a welder. It just happened to be the brand of my first jetboat. I've never considered my self as a hardcore drinker. On the weekends though, I can flat get after it. Wake up the next morning feeling like a sack of assholes and do it again. I'm extremely adamant about driving under the influence, so my poor wife of 25 years has had to drive my miserable butt around on the weekends. I always have my chores and work taken care of before I start, but it has become an institution and is time to change.

 

[*zap*]

Like Jason Isbell says, "it gets easier but it never gets easy"

I think that after enough 'dry' time and enough 'sober' time it does indeed get easy. I have zero desire to drink or get high. But it is not a quick change and you need to do more work on yourself than just stopping a bad habit.

 

[bbassi]

I think that after enough 'dry' time and enough 'sober' time it does indeed get easy. I have zero desire to drink or get high. But it is not a quick change and you need to do more work on yourself than just stopping a bad habit.

Amen Brother. No one or no thing could make me go back now.

 

[505Wapiti]

This thread has been awesome and as others have said, kudos to the OP for posting. I’m pretty sure everyone who reads this thread in its entirety will benefit in some way or another. Even the guy that popped off about not having self control and how alcohol is good for you. Many times comment such as those are likely just moments of self justification and hopefully the responses will generate a bit of introspection.

I could write a trilogy about the affects that drugs and alcohol had on my life for approximately 35+ years, but I will spare everyone the time. In short it wrecked my dad and my parents marriage, not to mention had a profound impact on me growing up. I remember looking at my dad at 10 years of age and thinking “I will never be like you” and thinking how this really blows because boys are supposed to look up to their dad. Thank God for my grandfathers because they made the difference. It wasn’t without resistance on my end though, as I spiraled down the same path before decided hell would freeze over before I continued the cycle. I decided to break it and never looked back.

Good things can truly come from the bad if we allow it. Today I have an amazing wife and two wonderful boys and I’m sure I wouldn’t be the husband or father I am today without that experience. Our Father above and His Son can fill any void that nothing in this world will ever substitute. By the Grace of God I’m where I am today, along with the many wonderful people he placed in my path.

I view this forum as a similar blessing. Thanks to those who have shared their experiences!

 

[rickyfarrell10]

3 1/2 year sober now. My life has change tremendously since I got sober. I was your true alcoholic/addict from the time my eyes open till I blacked out. It wasn’t my choice to get sober but it was the best thing that could of happened. I wouldn’t change it for nothing. I became a better father, husband and hunter. I still hunted , still a father and a husband but I missed so much because it was all I ever thought about. It took a while for the fog to clear. Im not gonna lie, it’s hard. There is some days after work, when I want a “cold one” but I know I can’t just have one. Like other have said find an AA meeting, get a sponsor and work them 12 steps thoroughly. Remember these 10 2 letter words. “if it is to be it is up to me”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jason HTX]

Y'all made me look up dates. I think I'm at 9 weeks now after going on an 8 month bender, which for me is 6+ beers a day...every day for 8 months.

I don't white knuckle it when I'm sober, I don't want alcohol. I honestly don't even think about it for days and days on end.

What I do think about is how grateful I am to not be driving intoxicated, daily risking a 2nd DUI, how nice it feels to be 20 lbs lighter, how wonderful it is to not wakeup hungover every single day, how healthy it feels making conscious food decisions, how empowering it is to KNOW that I'm in better shape for hunting season.

Also its awesome to have the beer budget become the gear budget Haha

 

[jason HTX]

3 1/2 year sober now. My life has change tremendously since I got sober. I was your true alcoholic/addict from the time my eyes open till I blacked out. It wasn’t my choice to get sober but it was the best thing that could of happened. I wouldn’t change it for nothing. I became a better father, husband and hunter. I still hunted , still a father and a husband but I missed so much because it was all I ever thought about. It took a while for the fog to clear. I'm not gonna lie, it’s hard. There is some days after work, when I want a “cold one” but I know I can’t just have one. Like other have said find an AA meeting, get a sponsor and work them 12 steps thoroughly. Remember these 10 2 letter words. “if it is to be it is up to me”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

happy to hear about your success ricky. Reminds me of that Jason Isbell song ..."It gets easier, but it never gets easy."

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

happy to hear about your success ricky. Reminds me of that Jason Isbell song ..."It gets easier, but it never gets easy."

Like Jason Isbell says, "it gets easier but it never gets easy"

Just listened to this song after seeing these posts. Really good, and relatable. Thank you for sharing

 

[Nick87]

One of the big problems for me is I live in a pretty rural part of IL were pretty much everyone I know would be classified a heavy drinker by a doctor. "Stop over for a beer" means we're going to hang out for 4 hours and kill a 12 pack each. "ONE beer" doesn't exist. I can count on one hand the number of people I know that don't drink or drink very little. It's a double edged sword. On one hand it's sort of the cultural glue that keeps things together but it comes at a cost.

This has been the biggest obstacle for me as well. All my lifelong friends and family.

 

[*zap*]

if alcohol is the glue keeping your culture together your in trouble.....just look around and it is obvious.

 

[Anglo-American]

Recently came to the conclusion I want/need to stop drinking. I've seen a few guys on here say they've been sober for years.

I've been pretty strong willed when it comes to kicking habits, but this one has been a one step forward three steps back one. Haha

Those of you who have stopped did you notice many benefits on your hunts, mindset, or physical shape?
Any tips on the process?

Benifits to my overall life, yes.
I didn't have a problem with alcohol but it was sn enabler to other bad choices, and bad company.
My life just got better in any way I'm able to realise.
I got married and we had kids, which is something that I wanted. And we're happily married, etc.
Earned more money at work.
More time for productive hobbies outside of work.

My advice would be don't just not go drinking but instead replace that time with another social activity, but one that doesn't involve drink.

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

My advice would be don't just not go drinking but instead replace that time with another social activity, but one that doesn't involve drink.

I probably should find more social stuff to do. I spend most of my free time in the woods.
I'm actually on top of a ridge waiting to glass bulls right now. Hahaha

 

[Anglo-American]

I probably should find more social stuff to do. I spend most of my free time in the woods.
I'm actually on top of a ridge waiting to glass bulls right now. Hahaha

I'm doing the dishes... F you!
Dude, in all seriousness that sounds like a great way to replace that time/activity.
Small amounts of socialising with other people is an important part of life to. It doesn't have to be alot of people.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

My nephew told me he only drinks a little but when he does he turns into another person and that person, drink a lot.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Both, man. Both. I guess you could say I like the taste a little too much.

Your username is awesome. Lol

At one time in my life I struggled with blacking out. I had to turn to my faith and inner searching. Why was I getting drunk? It was depression and a desire to fit in. I had to not touch it for 8 years. Then I spent a lot of time praying about it. Lots of time soul searching and now it’s one or two. I’m glad I was able to stop. I’m glad I am still able to enjoy a beverage responsibly.

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

My nephew told me he only drinks a little but when he does he turns into another person and that person, drink a lot.

Man, that really hits home for me. I could go weeks without drinking, but when I'd start it really was like that.
That describes it really well.

 

[Dr. Zeus]

I started at a young age and hit it pretty hard every weekend. When I went to line school, I was surrounded by a bunch of guys I didn't know and hardly any women. All we did was get drunk every day after class. After line school, I found my career job and ironically, I had just turned 21. I could finally buy it. So that's what I did. Every night and every day. I started showing up late for work, had HR meetings for being late, and still continued drinking.. Finally it pushed my girlfriend away. I was in denial. I blamed my problems as her loss. I started going to the gym, hoping to get in shape to find another girl. While doing so, I started to care less of finding another girl and more about my personal health and the gains I was making. I was occasionally drinking and when I did, I felt terribly guilty because of all the hardwork I did was being directly affected by alcohol. I ended up going on a friend vacation to texas during my workout period. I refused to drink, but my friends were persistent. I eventually caved, and that's all we did for a week straight. On the ride home, I was so disappointed in myself and my friends. They knew I was trying to better myself, but yet they chased me around with liquor bottles. I ended up not saying a word for the entire 12 hour trip back home.. since that trip, 2 years and 6 months ago, I haven't had a sip of alcohol or smoked another cigarette. I quit chewing last November, and I recently quit drinking coffee 3 months ago. Now I'm engaged to the same girl that had previously broken up with me. We are getting married in exactly month from today.

Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk