Quitting Alcohol

[joehew89]

Just found this thread. If you want a true eye opener on how bad alcohol is for you I would strongly recommend listening to the Huberman Podcast episode titled:
"What alcohol does to your body, brain and health"

Also...I got a new garmin watch about 3 months ago that tracks sleep score, HRV, and all kinds of other stuff. Im an extremely active guy and its unreal how much even just 2 beers will destroy my sleep and recovery. Ive always felt groggy and tried after a night of drinking and moved slower the next day but actually seeing the numbers is crazy.

 

[ChrisA]

Just found this thread. If you want a true eye opener on how bad alcohol is for you I would strongly recommend listening to the Huberman Podcast episode titled:
"What alcohol does to your body, brain and health"

Also...I got a new garmin watch about 3 months ago that tracks sleep score, HRV, and all kinds of other stuff. Im an extremely active guy and its unreal how much even just 2 beers will destroy my sleep and recovery. Ive always felt groggy and tried after a night of drinking and moved slower the next day but actually seeing the numbers is crazy.

I went cold turkey for about 2 weeks before I had the nerve to listen to this podcast. Then finally decided the time was right and listened to it on a long drive home. That was the nail in the coffin for me, and the beginning of an alcohol free rest of my life.

 

[2ski]

I just want to say I'm so ******* proud of all you guys in this thread that have realized you have an issue and have given it up or are in that process. Really ******* proud. Each and every one of you. You guys rock!

 

[Qb9futurehof]

I’ve never really been a drinker , but have some alcoholism in the family. I promise you brother you’ll be far better off if you can kick the habit. I bet it’s an extra hint you can afford to go on a year!

 

[JLH3]

3 months. Athletic brewing IPA’s have made it feel pretty easy. Still drinking beer, but no alcohol, no worrying about driving home after one too many and no feeling crappy when I wake up.

One of the best things is that all my boys have noticed I quit alcohol. I’ve been up front about if they ask. Always nice to be able to model something like this for them.

 

[ODB]

@Breakthrough that’s a great post, and congrats for making it. It’s not easy. You’ve got enough evidence in your post that things need to change. One thing I think about as a father and husband is what I would feel like if I were drunk and out of the blue got a call from my wife or kid in the middle of the night and they were in desperate need of me for something. How the hell would I live with myself when it came out I could’t jump in the truck at midnight and go help because I was hammered? I remember there were several times last year when my kid was in a shitty relationship that had the potential to turn nasty and I felt like I was on 24/7 guard. Barely slept. Constant worry. But grateful I never drank and would at least be coherent if the worst happened. It’s a sobering (literally) thought that in a time of great familial need you have incapacitated yourself.

Everyone seems to find their own motivation to quit. Your post took a great deal of motivation. Look back on it as a great first step and launching pad to the next right decision. Check in often.

 

[eddiewiggles]

A very close family friend, a man I call an “uncle” is struggling to quit. His issue probably much more extreme than most, I think he just marked his 5th DUI, been to rehab twice this year. Once he starts, there’s no stopping. We have never seen him drink or drunk. He will isolate himself and drink until he needs more. I have a very firm opinion on someone who drinks and drives, while I also know he is a good person. I assume he will probably do some jail time for his last DUI. All that to say, I pray for all of you who struggle with drinking. It’s hard watching a man’s life go in the direction that my Uncles has. It’s not something I have ever battled, and I hope I never have to.


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[BigDewberry]

All of the men in my family are alcoholics and I'm no exception. I'm on the road to recovery but damn is it hard watching them waste away. My brother is only a few years older than me and already has multiple DUIs, an alcoholic wife who enables him, and a friend group that may as well be a suicide pact.

My own dad is more concerned with an extra apple martini than he is with watching his grandkids grow up. I've had to drag him back into his room multiple times so the kids don't see what an embarrassment he has become. It breaks my heart seeing them kill themselves for such a stupid reason. I can't even invite them out to hunt because they cant put the bottle down long enough to make a shot. I don't have it in me to plead with my dad to put down the bottle so he can watch my kids grow up anymore. I would rather him be gone then them remember him like this.

All I can say is life is better without it. I guess the positive is I have 2 examples of why I should stay sober in my life. I only quit after finding the reason inside myself. No amount of intervention, hard talks, or whatever people want to call it will make you change.

I suppose all that was to vent and say we all need to support each other.