Same. I easily go through a pack of Orbit peppermint a day since I quit chewing.
Quitting Alcohol
- Thread starter Stubborn_bowhunter
- Start date
Same. I easily go through a pack of Orbit peppermint a day since I quit chewing.
Lockdown made me realize that the positives I was getting from alcohol (levity, temporary euphoria, whatever) were getting weaker and weaker, and the downsides (post-drinking irritability, increased depression and anxiety, poor sleep, etc) were getting stronger and stronger. There was also a pretty clear feedback loop where feeling sort of shitty meant I wanted a drink, which lead to me feeling shitty later, which led to wanting a drink.
It's not that "I don't drink anymore" now, but it's a drink once every couple weeks / once a month instead of almost every night. Whatever it is, never beat yourself up about it, that mindset is unhelpful IMO.
It's not that "I don't drink anymore" now, but it's a drink once every couple weeks / once a month instead of almost every night. Whatever it is, never beat yourself up about it, that mindset is unhelpful IMO.
CorbLand
WKR
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2016
- Messages
- 7,819
As long as it spearmint, I will chew it.
eamyrick
WKR
I was 7 years Sober in April. After years of throttling up and down and “trying to drink less” I stopped cold Turkey on Sunday after yelling “I hate my life” because my 6 week ole baby boy was crying. There is a short PowerPoint by Rational Recovery (I think that’s the name) and the one line mantra is “I’ll never drink again and I’ll never change my mind.” Stopping definetly changed the course of my life and now my Dad is two years sober also which has been an added blessing.
I’ve never met anyone that stopped drinking cause things were goin good.
Kicked the can six years ago. I soon realized why I drank the way I did. You know, the thirty is not enough but ones to many. Different for everyone for sure but, I realized what a genuinely pissed off human being I was. I had to damage a lot of shit to come to the conclusion this wasn’t working out and I seriously needed to take a real long look at myself. To be honest, quitting was crazy easy. I did five months of AA, which gave me some fresh insight. But, not for me. I just looked around and realized this was not the life I wanted and dealt with the issues that kept me stuck in my head.
I found it came down to a mentality. Simply put, I had a decision to make. My family and what was important. Or, a life of chaos. That was one of the easiest decisions of my life. People drink Everywhere I go. And I could give two shits. I’ll open their beer. Doesn’t do a thing to me or for me. I just don’t want or need it. And I can still make an ass outta myself stone sober.
in my small opinion. I believe we make shit way more complicated than it needs to be. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves who we are and run with that answer. Change is a bitch sometimes. But NOTHING good comes easy. I’ve learned more about who I am in the past six years than the previous 39. I will never look back and life has never been better. You will never regret your decision to stop.
Kicked the can six years ago. I soon realized why I drank the way I did. You know, the thirty is not enough but ones to many. Different for everyone for sure but, I realized what a genuinely pissed off human being I was. I had to damage a lot of shit to come to the conclusion this wasn’t working out and I seriously needed to take a real long look at myself. To be honest, quitting was crazy easy. I did five months of AA, which gave me some fresh insight. But, not for me. I just looked around and realized this was not the life I wanted and dealt with the issues that kept me stuck in my head.
I found it came down to a mentality. Simply put, I had a decision to make. My family and what was important. Or, a life of chaos. That was one of the easiest decisions of my life. People drink Everywhere I go. And I could give two shits. I’ll open their beer. Doesn’t do a thing to me or for me. I just don’t want or need it. And I can still make an ass outta myself stone sober.
in my small opinion. I believe we make shit way more complicated than it needs to be. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves who we are and run with that answer. Change is a bitch sometimes. But NOTHING good comes easy. I’ve learned more about who I am in the past six years than the previous 39. I will never look back and life has never been better. You will never regret your decision to stop.
- Thread Starter
- #126
OP
This was really profound. Thank you for sharing your story, man.
The "life of chaos" part really spoke to me. I've definitely been on and off that path.
And I'm done walking it.
*zap*
WKR
Find the reasons that you drank and fix that chit. Abstinence does not fix us.
ChrisA
WKR
How do you figure that out? Any examples? Do not want to/will not do AA or talk to therapist. I'm a stubborn enough sumbitch to go cold turkey and have but alway seem to find a reason to jump off.
Time for a change here, been going on far too long, well over half my life; can smoke down beer and liquor like nobodies business. Potential medical issues are what scares me plus the feeling like shit and not getting things done; hard to do much with a beer in one hand and a F**k it attitude.
Oh, I'm a midwesterner too so like the others have posted previously, anything social requires beer.
Quit a couple years ago for 64 days, and no drinks for about 60 days during basic training. Otherwise, been getting after it nearly daily, kinda threw caution to the wind when covid started and really put the hammer down.
On a roll now though, day 4 without any booze, Hooray!
Best wishes,
Chris
@ChrisA
always easier to solve someone else’s problems, but being honest about why you got off the wagon is a good place to start. Look for those triggers that make you want to grab a drink. Is it an adjunct to the social setting? Is it boredom? Hate your job/wife/house/etc?
ask yourself what you’ll miss by ditching booze. Ask yourself what you gain by drinking. Those things you aren’t getting done - why is drinking more important than getting those done?
the pernicious thing about alcohol is that it will shape your thoughts to feed your drinking - like opioids. Your body will physically alter itself searching for the dopamine drip.
In my case, it was essentially a case of wondering why did not physically feel as well as I grew older when I had a couple drinks. Because drinking was never a quantity issue, when I had a crap night of sleepy or felt sluggish, it took me a while to put 2 and 2 together that my body was naturally telling me it couldn’t process booze like it did when I was in my 20s. Bodies change over time and that was a lesson itself. The habit part when cooking i mentioned above was a good example that drinking (even just one or two) can be so easily combine with another activity that they become one and the same. When you open a beer, do you even know you do it, or is it so automatic after opening the fridge door that you don’t even realize you’ve done it until the can is empty? Intentionally Replacing the drink with something healthier was the first step in breaking the association between booze and cooking for me. The result is feeling better and that’s a good enough motivator for me.
Hard to offer any solid advice as I’m no pro, but the best place to start is, as Socrates said: Know thyself. Being self critical is important. Doesn’t mean you beat yourself up, but just means you call your own shit.
Socrates also said: The unexamined life is not worth living. Not some subtle reference to suicide, he meant one shouldn’t just go through life doing things without knowing WHY they do them. that’s why we have what is called the Socratic Method: continually asking questions that go deeper and deeper until you get to the root the issue.
Id start there…start knowing yourself and see what you find.
always easier to solve someone else’s problems, but being honest about why you got off the wagon is a good place to start. Look for those triggers that make you want to grab a drink. Is it an adjunct to the social setting? Is it boredom? Hate your job/wife/house/etc?
ask yourself what you’ll miss by ditching booze. Ask yourself what you gain by drinking. Those things you aren’t getting done - why is drinking more important than getting those done?
the pernicious thing about alcohol is that it will shape your thoughts to feed your drinking - like opioids. Your body will physically alter itself searching for the dopamine drip.
In my case, it was essentially a case of wondering why did not physically feel as well as I grew older when I had a couple drinks. Because drinking was never a quantity issue, when I had a crap night of sleepy or felt sluggish, it took me a while to put 2 and 2 together that my body was naturally telling me it couldn’t process booze like it did when I was in my 20s. Bodies change over time and that was a lesson itself. The habit part when cooking i mentioned above was a good example that drinking (even just one or two) can be so easily combine with another activity that they become one and the same. When you open a beer, do you even know you do it, or is it so automatic after opening the fridge door that you don’t even realize you’ve done it until the can is empty? Intentionally Replacing the drink with something healthier was the first step in breaking the association between booze and cooking for me. The result is feeling better and that’s a good enough motivator for me.
Hard to offer any solid advice as I’m no pro, but the best place to start is, as Socrates said: Know thyself. Being self critical is important. Doesn’t mean you beat yourself up, but just means you call your own shit.
Socrates also said: The unexamined life is not worth living. Not some subtle reference to suicide, he meant one shouldn’t just go through life doing things without knowing WHY they do them. that’s why we have what is called the Socratic Method: continually asking questions that go deeper and deeper until you get to the root the issue.
Id start there…start knowing yourself and see what you find.
- Thread Starter
- #130
OP
Well said.
Been reading a lot of stoic philosophy the last few weeks. And it's helped my outlook on life a lot. I definitely recommend Marcus Aurelius: Meditations also.
I've been evaluating a lot, and I found I often
never really processed issues just numbed and ran away from them.
Big, or small. It might not have seemed like it then, but looking back I've always coped with life stuff (good, or bad) using alcohol.
Looking back now though it's pretty apparent.
@Stubborn_bowhunter
ever heard of the Dunning Kruger effect? It’s essentially a look at the relationship between ones confidence and wisdom or knowledge.
at the start we think we know a lot, we are young, cocky, have all the anwsers, bulletproof, etc. the fact is we are largely idiots at that point as we lack true wisdom or deep knowledge. When we realize that we are idiots, we sink down into a kind of depression, knowing we were full of shit for far too long. That’s the point at which we start really learning; when we realize we don’t really have a clue. From there, knowledge and wisdom begin to truly grow - slowly through experience.
if you think about cultures that respect elders it makes a great deal of sense - they in fact largely are much more wise. Our culture nowadays seems to prefer to venerate the young - when in fact they are at the peak of Mt Stupid - see below.
I put a copy of this graph on my kids wall, not to tell her she’s stupid, but to remind her to honestly ask herself where she is on the chart and to keep herself humble and open to more experience.
how it relates to booze…I think we are at the peak of mt stupid when we can’t see the relationship beteeen the booze and it’s negative effects - denial. We’ve got to sink down to that valley of despair and work through it to get back on a positive track to wisdom and kicking a bad habit for good - the plateau of sustainability.
ever heard of the Dunning Kruger effect? It’s essentially a look at the relationship between ones confidence and wisdom or knowledge.
at the start we think we know a lot, we are young, cocky, have all the anwsers, bulletproof, etc. the fact is we are largely idiots at that point as we lack true wisdom or deep knowledge. When we realize that we are idiots, we sink down into a kind of depression, knowing we were full of shit for far too long. That’s the point at which we start really learning; when we realize we don’t really have a clue. From there, knowledge and wisdom begin to truly grow - slowly through experience.
if you think about cultures that respect elders it makes a great deal of sense - they in fact largely are much more wise. Our culture nowadays seems to prefer to venerate the young - when in fact they are at the peak of Mt Stupid - see below.
I put a copy of this graph on my kids wall, not to tell her she’s stupid, but to remind her to honestly ask herself where she is on the chart and to keep herself humble and open to more experience.
how it relates to booze…I think we are at the peak of mt stupid when we can’t see the relationship beteeen the booze and it’s negative effects - denial. We’ve got to sink down to that valley of despair and work through it to get back on a positive track to wisdom and kicking a bad habit for good - the plateau of sustainability.
Bowhunter93
FNG
Good luck man, you will enjoy it.
Lowg08
WKR
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2019
- Messages
- 2,233
I haven’t drank in nearly 12 years. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I believe the Lord helped me though. I got saved and asked him to take it from me. I don’t hang out with people who drink. Don’t put yourself in the position. Yes it’s a major change in lifestyle and functionality. I was a functional alcoholic. I now feel better, sleep better and love being a non drinker. Friends will go away but it’s ok. If you have to drink to be friends your not really friends. Message me anytime. I’ll help where I can.
Scoot
WKR
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2012
- Messages
- 1,636
Chris, I'm not asking this to be a dick, I'm being serious-- how's that working for you? Sounds like it results in a consistent pattern of not achieving what you're trying to achieve. I hope you can either figure out a way to deal with it on your own or you get over your pride and talk to someone who can help. For many, talking to someone or a group of people is a huge hurdle that results in great improvements once they are past it. Good luck!
- Thread Starter
- #135
OP
Being held accountable helps me. I probably won't go to any AA groups. Maybe therapy someday. I told my close family, and friends I'm done drinking. Luckily they support that, but my circle is small.
Even this thread has basically started a group. A bunch of people who can relate to the same issue with different paths in life connected by the love of hunting.
There's 7 pages of people that we can be held accountable by now.
Even posting your story on here is a big step towards working on yourself.
You have already told a group your initial thoughts. It might not be a "normal" one, but it's our group, man!
We're just more comfortable talking to guys who slay animals, and who relate to the same outdoor goals I guess. Haha
Last edited:
nagibson1
FNG
Interesting tidbit on alcohol and sleep:
St. Patrick, patron saint of our drinking holiday here in the Midwest, changed Ireland partly because he was one of the only ones that didn't drink heavily in 5th century Ireland. Druid culture was full of blood, and the vast majority of the economy of Ireland was based on piracy acquired slaves (Patrick was stolen into slavery as a teenager with a group of 1000 people are a gathering in Britton). After escaping slavery and returning to Ireland as a missionary, the Druids and others marveled at how Patrick slept. Literally, seeing how easily and deeply, and peacefully he slept. His conscience was clear and he didn't need to be drunk, and so he could sleep. It was so counter cultural and uncommon, that word spread and people listened to him more.
A few generations later when Europe was falling into darkness and drunkenness, monks in Ireland were copying the learning of western society and saving civilization. (They were not Tee-totalers, just used alcohol in careful moderation. before modern filtration and modern plows, beer was considered nourishment. For example, Guinness was developed by Reformed Christians as an act of religious piety to help with childhood malnutrition and dysentery.)
Now Caffeine, the other everywhere drug, has a different history. And a interesting one. Anyone catch this Joe Rogan clip?:
St. Patrick, patron saint of our drinking holiday here in the Midwest, changed Ireland partly because he was one of the only ones that didn't drink heavily in 5th century Ireland. Druid culture was full of blood, and the vast majority of the economy of Ireland was based on piracy acquired slaves (Patrick was stolen into slavery as a teenager with a group of 1000 people are a gathering in Britton). After escaping slavery and returning to Ireland as a missionary, the Druids and others marveled at how Patrick slept. Literally, seeing how easily and deeply, and peacefully he slept. His conscience was clear and he didn't need to be drunk, and so he could sleep. It was so counter cultural and uncommon, that word spread and people listened to him more.
A few generations later when Europe was falling into darkness and drunkenness, monks in Ireland were copying the learning of western society and saving civilization. (They were not Tee-totalers, just used alcohol in careful moderation. before modern filtration and modern plows, beer was considered nourishment. For example, Guinness was developed by Reformed Christians as an act of religious piety to help with childhood malnutrition and dysentery.)
Now Caffeine, the other everywhere drug, has a different history. And a interesting one. Anyone catch this Joe Rogan clip?:
qwerksc
WKR
My world is a much better place, since I stopped drinking. Oh, I have a great time buzzed, but blacked out, running on instinct and jack and coke? I’ll break shit.
Not an alcoholic, that’s made up shit, realize, if yer ******* up, you created it. Alcohol is just a symptom of yer own dis-ease.
Handle yer shit, don’t blame or **** up anyone else’s life, cuz you are a dumbass who can’t deal with how hard life is…whaaa waa…
Not an alcoholic, that’s made up shit, realize, if yer ******* up, you created it. Alcohol is just a symptom of yer own dis-ease.
Handle yer shit, don’t blame or **** up anyone else’s life, cuz you are a dumbass who can’t deal with how hard life is…whaaa waa…
kentuckybowman
Lil-Rokslider
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2020
- Messages
- 216
There are many who are afflicted by the Dunning-Kruger Effect well into the second half of their lives.
That’s correct. The peak of mt stupid can be a plateau that lasts a long time. Trust me, I feel like I’ve only started coming down from it (about many things) in the last 10 of my 49 years. That’s not to say things have sucked, but wisdom after experience is often hard won.
HUNT.HARD.82
FNG
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2021
- Messages
- 89
pretty awesome how this worked out. ill be checking in daily.
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