Quitting Alcohol

[survivalistd]

I put drinking (and many other things) in the rearview after putting my hope and faith in Christ and truly following Him. Drinking was nothing but an escape, to numb how I was really feeling. I was never fully satisfied, completely at peace, or truly content until I started following Jesus Christ and reading the Bible. Money, sex, hunts, alcohol, trying to write a #1 country song, anything this world offered always came up short. I had a Jesus size hole in my heart that only He could fill. I found that He is the answer and I don’t miss the old me at all.

Amen brother

 

[OregonSteeler]

Next month it'll be five years since I started this thread. Five years sober. Five years of learning to deal with the storms of life without running away to a bottle.
It's the best gift I've ever given myself.

I don't spend as much time posting on Rokslide as I used to, but I'm still lurking and reading through these posts.

I appreciate all of you!

Here's something I bought with money I saved not drinking. (Or at least I tell myself that to justify the purchase)

View attachment 1086438

I wouldn't say this thread you started was the main reason I quit, but it's sure been an influence. I remember initially reading this thread after I just stopped drinking (I believe it was around Feb or March of 2023) and asking myself, what do I REALLY get out of drinking.....and haven't had a sip since. Kinda like the straw that broke the camel's back.

Thank you for starting this thread. I've always loved being a part of it and hearing the stories, both happy and sad.

Here's to many more sober years!

 

[mitchman]

I'm not much of a drinker but I know even if I have just a few I can feel it going up the hill the next day

 

[CRJR45]

Good job OP ! And everyone else who is doing better.

 

[Silver Wings]

I’ve never been a “problem” drinker, but I’ve more or less quit alcohol in pursuit of improving my overall health. That said, I check in on this thread just to read the stories of guys getting sober and changing their lives for the better.
Well done, fellas…well done!

 

[Threadsnipe]

I can’t quit. I can only abstain for a little while

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Thanks again! Your thread pushed me over the edge as well to quit for good, over 4 years now. Don’t miss it one bit! Keep up the good work gents.

 

[CRJR45]

I can’t quit. I can only abstain for a little while

You CAN quit ! For good . It’s not easy but I think you need to change your mindset.
Just by saying -I can’t quit- you set yourself up to fail .
If you can abstain for awhile, you can abstain for good .

 

[IsThisHeaven]

I quit drinking February when I also started eating right. I’m down 40 pounds since February along with significant (for me at least) improvements in my health metrics (BP from 122/82 to 110/62, etc.) and no more days wasted being hungover.

I check in on this thread regularly even if there are no new posts. The stories really help keep me headed in the right direction and keep my mind right. Also good to know I’m not the only one.

I read a post above where a guy said something to the effect of anytime something got difficult he ran for a bottle. That was me too. Since February I’ve had a few rough days. I’ve gotten through each of them just fine without taking a drink. I’ve noticed the more rough days I get through without a drink, the less I think about drinking the next tough day I have.

Anybody reading this like me who thinks there’s no way to get through bad days or difficult times without a drink (or many) you can. A year ago, the thought of not being able to take the edge off when I had a bad call at work that day or ran into an idiot parent at a kid’s game with a glass of wine or vodka and soda would have been terrifying. I’m to the point now where the thought of having a drink rarely crosses my mind.

 

[Will_m]

I’ll tell you what’s tough for me—not the bad times, but the good times.

Having a cold beer after a hard day working in the heat, a couple of cold ones on the sandbar during the summer or a drink around the campfire at night is really hard to beat.

Problem is that as soon as it wears off, I kind of feel worse than if I had nothing at all. Plus, the only thing I want after one is another one.

There’s probably folks out there that don’t have that problem. I wish it were me. But if you are like me, don’t even bothering playing the game because it will just end up with a hangover and cost more than the benefit you get.

 

[peterk123]

I’ll tell you what’s tough for me—not the bad times, but the good times.

Having a cold beer after a hard day working in the heat, a couple of cold ones on the sandbar during the summer or a drink around the campfire at night is really hard to beat.

Problem is that as soon as it wears off, I kind of feel worse than if I had nothing at all. Plus, the only thing I want after one is another one.

There’s probably folks out there that don’t have that problem. I wish it were me. But if you are like me, don’t even bothering playing the game because it will just end up with a hangover and cost more than the benefit you get.

A non alcoholic beer hits the spot every so often.

 

[DCWrinkler]

Next month it'll be five years since I started this thread. Five years sober. Five years of learning to deal with the storms of life without running away to a bottle.
It's the best gift I've ever given myself.

I don't spend as much time posting on Rokslide as I used to, but I'm still lurking and reading through these posts.

I appreciate all of you!

Here's something I bought with money I saved not drinking. (Or at least I tell myself that to justify the purchase)

View attachment 1086438

Money well spent!!

 

[hoosierhunter11]

I’ll tell you what’s tough for me—not the bad times, but the good times.

Having a cold beer after a hard day working in the heat, a couple of cold ones on the sandbar during the summer or a drink around the campfire at night is really hard to beat.

Problem is that as soon as it wears off, I kind of feel worse than if I had nothing at all. Plus, the only thing I want after one is another one.

There’s probably folks out there that don’t have that problem. I wish it were me. But if you are like me, don’t even bothering playing the game because it will just end up with a hangover and cost more than the benefit you get.

I feel you on this one! I need to work on my mindset around certain social events and the association with alcohol.

 

[LFC911]

A non alcoholic beer hits the spot every so often.

I really like the new Mich Ultra Zero Lime

 

[BishBeCool]

I can’t quit. I can only abstain for a little while

You can. You’re allowed to quit this brother

 

[Aussie Dan]

Im 41 now, started drinking at 14, drank fairly heavily til I was about 28, then I stopped for a few years, then 1 or 2 every now and then turned into ill only drink heavily on special occasions, and then I hooked up with a woman whose whole family drank a lot.
Looking back now, I should've seen how bad that would be.
That relationship ended and I spent probably 6 months drunk most days except on work days. Then I quit, cold turkey again.
Sure enough, new woman (been 2.5 yeads now), who isn't much of a drinker but still has 1 or 2 every few months and im pretty much in the same boat now.

This last year I have had some health issues, namely a busted knee and a random tonic clonic seizure that caused my car license to be suspended, my guns were taken into storage and forced me to put my business on hold for 6 months while dealing with the seizure stuff.
I can count on one hand the amount of times that I have had more than 3 drinks in one sitting in that time, which is crazy to me because I have traditionally used alcohol as a coping mechanism when things get rough and while trying to cope with childhood sh!t.

So I definitely haven't "quit" yet, but i definitely feel like im on the way back to quitting for good. I know that i have the full support of my future wife.
I have even considered going to a church for the first time in over 25 years, but thats another baby steps situation for me.

Thank you to all who have posted, you have inspired some serious introspection and forehead slapping "duh" moments in myself.