Quitting Alcohol

[ChrisA]

Thanks to everyone for sharing some amazing stories of determination, mental strength, and self worth in this thread. Some of them make my deal look like a walk in the park.

Starting another week with a headache almost like a hangover but its probably just the opposite. Sleeping better though and getting more things done on the farm. Probably saved nearly $200 and 10,000+ empty calories already.

Gonna be a great week, other than we need rain bad.

Chris

 

[Donjuan]

Thanks to everyone for sharing some amazing stories of determination, mental strength, and self worth in this thread. Some of them make my deal look like a walk in the park.

Starting another week with a headache almost like a hangover but its probably just the opposite. Sleeping better though and getting more things done on the farm. Probably saved nearly $200 and 10,000+ empty calories already.

Gonna be a great week, other than we need rain bad.

Chris

You got this!

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

Thanks to everyone for sharing some amazing stories of determination, mental strength, and self worth in this thread. Some of them make my deal look like a walk in the park.

Starting another week with a headache almost like a hangover but its probably just the opposite. Sleeping better though and getting more things done on the farm. Probably saved nearly $200 and 10,000+ empty calories already.

Gonna be a great week, other than we need rain bad.

Chris

That's awesome to hear man!
I'm on day 18. Little anxious and moody the last few days.

Trying to process underlying stuff that caused the drinking. Definitely would grab a drink whenever I used to feel like this.

Hope everyone has a good day today.

 

[dtrkyman]

The liver has amazing abilities to regenerate, of course one needs to first stop abusing it and secondly needs a cleanse of some sort to boost it.

Congratulations to any of you keeping off the poison!

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

5 weeks sober today. The first couple weeks sucked the most, but mostly because of external circumstances I couldn't run away from with a bottle.

I had a solo archery antelope hunt in a unit with very few antelope. Saw two legal bucks over 10 days of hunting. They were 100 miles apart too.
Didn't punch a tag, but I felt pretty good about the process. Won't be putting in for that unit again. Haha
I was in my head a lot over those days alone in the desert. Had a lot of time to think about what I want out of life, and what I don't want.

Heard a quote "you're responsible for the effort, not the outcome" that was etched into my mind after a dozen blown stalks on the same herd over 6 days.
It still rings true.

While I was out there I accepted a really good job offer I'd never have even gave it a chance a couple months ago. I get to start in January too, so I can fully embrace my hunting season. Then go into the job with no other obligations to focus on.
It's funny how stuff works out. Learning from my mistake 5 weeks ago has already been positive for me.

Thanks again for all the stories and support, guys.

When I was younger finding hunting saved me from a path of chaos and probably a early grave.
Full circle it pulled.me back from going down that path again this year.
I wouldn't have met the gal who inspired me to pursue a better path than I was on if I didn't have an obsession with hunting.
Wouldn't have applied for the job I just accepted if I didn't meet her.
Wouldn't have gotten sober, and reached out to this community if I didn't get wasted and ruin that relationship.

Now full circle. My obsession with hunting once again has taken me down the better path. I've definitely missed important events because of hunting, but it's ultimately been the biggest saving grace in my life.

That said. If you schedule weddings in September I still ain't going.

 

[ODB]

@Stubborn_bowhunter good stuff

Just know there will be days you want to say eff it and grab a beer. Just come on here instead and vent for a while - it’ll give you something to do with your hands ;-)

 

[HUNT.HARD.82]

I am REALLY happy this thread has gotten traction and I hope the OP gets some strength and feelings of solidarity from our community.

I will offer a short version of my story because I found reading through others above me, I found more things in common with you fellas, and I am humbled by the vulnerability AND stories or redemption and strength being shared here.

I am not an expert on recovery, trauma, or otherwise a teacher for much anything. I am, however, an expert in suffering I feel. This is my story:

I was born an Army brat. Moved around a lot. My dad was a professional warrior and drinker. I don't know what caused what, but the drinking and the Army lifestyle destroyed my family and my dad. My folks got divorced when I was little. My dad bounced between sober and violently drunk, suicidal, murderous, etc. After the Army, he became a cop in a big city with a lot of his other Army buddies. The drinking was part of the culture. Sadly, so was divorce and broken families were all around us. I was not special in that regard. I was the subject of my father's angst, frustration, ptsd from Vietnam, and feelings of shame and failure often.

He was a beautiful man in many ways. Taught me how to hunt/fish/camp/track/drive a truck/smoke a cigar/guns/bows/etc etc. He was my hero despite the violence. But I vowed to never be like him.

Fast forward: I served our country for 10 years. Put my life in harms way to make a difference hopefully. I believed. September 11 happened and I turned 18 right after. I was a warrior and wanted nothing else than to live high speed, low drag. And I did cool shit all over the place, have the t-shirts and stickers and scars to show for it. I didn't believe I could get or experience PTSD because I was a hard M'F***er. My whole team believed the same. That stuff was reserved for "others" not me bro.

Well, I was humbled and hit my bottom couple years back. Alcohol also was a prerequisite for us guys. That, and being shi**y husbands. I found myself crying, panic attack, collapsed in a corner of my bedroom, holding one of my handguns and figuring out when to eat it. I decided I would wait until my wife would leave the house and then I would. She was pregnant. I had/have been suffering nightmares for oh, probably 9 years or so. Images of extreme violence seared into my brain, feeling powerless,. I didn't know what was happening other than I was out of control. I was a stranger to my wife, my family. My work buddies whom I trusted my life with were just as effed up as me. I felt alone, in a hole, with no way out. And i used alcohol all the time to numb sensations of anxiety, boredom, and yes, even fear. I felt AFRAID. At work, I was afraid. At home, I would be afraid. I couldn't turn off my hyper-vigilance. I had to drink to numb that crap. I believed if God did exist, he had no love or want for me. If God did exist, I never saw him fighting my wars. I was truly alone.

My baby girl was born and that wonderful moment as I held my first child, I felt God's love and presence in our lives. I KNEW HE was with me, with us, with my baby girl. I wept uncontrollably feeling the holy spirit wrap around my family like a warm blanket. That day, my baby girl's birthday, I made several decisions, commitments: I was quitting, I submitted my papers soon thereafter. And I was not going to use booze as a crutch. Most importantly, I needed HELP. I told my wife all these things.

Those decisions didn't save my marriage but it did save my life. My ex-wife and I are loving parents and partners in life, no longer married, but we have a much better relationship now. My daughter has a much healthier father. I am present with her, enjoying my civvie life as much as I can. And I have been working on my relationship between God and I. I have a long road ahead of me but I am so thankful.

Thanks for reading, thanks for sharing. I get renewed strength and hope reading through all of your stories.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Renj24]

Sad, some of you folks have no control. Life is better with a drink here and there. Enjoy a crispy beer or a glass of wine or two. It’s good for you.

Sad that you have to bring other ppl down and make comments like this when they’re trying to better themselves… also sad that you need alcohol to enjoy your life…

 

[Miflatlander91]

6

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

 

[Siscokid10]

Sober 25 days today!!! Basically have been drunk the better part of 25 years and had enough. Lost a 20 year marriage, numerous friends pretty much everything but my job. I know it has only been 25 days but trust me when I say if I can do it anyone can. Find some sort of support and just do it.

Thanks for all the inspiring posts.

 

[hunting1]

Everything in moderation but as I age it definitely affects my weight and sleep. I so give it up or I know a lot of alcoholics and people who have lost by drinking. You will save money as well feel better. Best of luck to you!

 

[Nfish]

Awesome seeing this thread, great to hear these stories. I've been battling alcohol for over 20yrs, quit for a year and thought I had things under control.. I'm sure a lot of you can fill in the blanks there.

Anyhow, I've got just shy of 5 months without a drink now. Feeling great, but I'm learning that the desire will most likely never go away for good. Oh well, I'm much happier, as is my wife. I have two small children and realized being a drunk Dad wasn't the way. Happy with my decision so far.

Good job everyone, and for the freshly sober good luck. You can do it, and its worth it.

 

[timmymac24]

Shocking how many calories are consumed by drinking good work by you guys

 

[tttoadman]

This is a real one for me. I am from a long line of drunks. I have always been a workaholic and then a crazy weekend drunk. I somehow have been married for 32 years. Everyone that knew me in school never thought I would make it to 25. Other than my Gramma, most people in my family were ignorant about it and just didnt understand why I couldnt just be like everyone else. Much later in my life, I ended up being diagnosed with narcolepsy and ADHD combo that created an absolute wrecking ball of a life style. I am a blackout drunk that will be a completely functional life of the party all night, and you would never even know when my brain shut off. Self awareness is 90% of the battle. Your true friends understand you, and will support you. The dumbasses in the world dont matter. I have been sober for a few periods of up to 8 years over the decades, but always seem to find a way to get sucked back in. I have never drank because I was sad or stressed out. I drank because I love it. I can absolutely guarantee that the only reason I am alive is because I have my wife with me. The last time I drank was last January after the wife and I again let our guard down and thought I could manage it. I woke up in a place I didn't know and had know idea how i got there. It was truly terrifying, much worse than it had been in many years. I feel like I have finally got to the end of my rope, and I am confident I can finish my race to the finish line now. Sorry for rambling, but it is inspriring to see that many of us are screwed up, and use the passion for hunting to push some of that addictive behavior onto.

Thanks for the inspiring words everyone.

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

I am a blackout drunk that will be a completely functional life of the party all night, and you would never even know when my brain shut off.

This is how I am. I really wouldn't drink daily. Maybe a couple times a week, but when I did.. I'd binge black out. Then usually wake up to regrets and anxiety.
Final straw was the last time I drank. It ruined something good for me, and I realized it needed to stop.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Are you drinking to get drunk or buzzed or drinking because you enjoy the taste?
I don’t consider myself a drinker, but I will enjoy a beverage. I havent been drunk since 2002 and I have only had a buzzed feeling twice since then, with each situation being a mixed drink that was a bit more potent than it should have been.
So, I don’t consider myself a drinker.

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

Are you drinking to get drunk or buzzed or drinking because you enjoy the taste?

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

Your username is awesome. Lol

 

[*zap*]

Started drinking heavy @ 15 and I drank for the effect, period.

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

Started drinking heavy @ 15 and I drank for the effect, period.

When I was a teenager and I started. I lied to myself that I was enjoying the taste, but it was only to get wasted 100%.

What's the saying? "An acquired taste means it tastes like shit."

 

[Nfish]

When I was a teenager and I started. I lied to myself that I was enjoying the taste, but it was only to get wasted 100%.

What's the saying? "An acquired taste means it tastes like shit."

I will say that I truly enjoy the flavor of certain beers, however, when I was sluggin down 15-30 cheap canned beers a day I was most definitely not doing it for flavor.

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.