DITTO to all of the above, HOWEVER this year I decided to try and change things. In total I have been sober in 2007 for about 2 months (not consecutive) 3rd day sober this month today. I felt exactly as you have described BUT when I stopped, albit I relapsed you feel great - you wake up, or shold I say get up as no sleep is an early problem. Fight, and Fight one night, ether at home or at a function and see how you feel. At worst it will be a 4 - 5 hour experiment
Good luck - Les

There is life without drinking. At first, it's difficult but as we work the program each day....you will find it easier and before you know it......sober fun life.

I am only 11 days sober but today I am good, and calm. Why you ask..because I turned it over to my hp finally. And found a calming peace today. Doesn't mean we still struggle, we will but we have the tools to help us get through the bumpy ride.

Good luck.

You'd be amazed what you're capable of when the fog lifts in sobriety. SOBER= Son Ofa Bitch Everything's Real. I don't know how old you are, but I was in my 20s when I got sober and I didn't know of any other way of having fun; that and all my 'friends' drank too.

In sobriety I have developed friendships that I never thought possible, friends who genuinely care about me. In my addiction they could care less; in fact I ran into an old drinking buddy after I was sober about 2 1/2 years who casually invited me out that weekend, not even realizing I'd been gone all that time.
As you start to re-build your life you realize how rewarding it is to live a sober life. Today I have a sober husband, 2 beautiful children, a house in the suburbs, a respectable job....none of these things were ever reachable to me when I was drinking. I encourage you to give AA a try, you have nothing to lose and SO MUCH to gain.

I could have written everything you've said myself. It's kept me from getting well for so long. But, I do believe that I am uncomfortable "socially sober" because I don't do it. Being uncomfortble isn't a bad thing. It's a signal of change. Anything new is going to feel uncomfortable and soon we will find ourselves able to open up and be the outgoing spirits we have been in the past but this time without any chemical help. That gets me excited. It's just going to take some time and practice. I can't imagine it well yet either but have you ever seen that person at the party who is really social and seems happy and isn't drinking? I always wanted to know why they could be that way and here I was probably not half as entertaining after 5 or 6 drinks as I thought I was, lol. Drinking tends to isolate people after a while too. It's a matter of time before the social value is lost because your in your house drinking alone for some people. Hang in there and try not to think too far ahead. I can't imagine everyone sober is miserable but I know a lot of "drunks" who are (myself included).

i can't imagina my whole life without alcohol wither... that is why i do it one day at atime... and been doing this sucessfully since feb 1 2006

I know what you mean! Even though it HAS been 14 years for me, I started going for therapy for depression a year after I quit. I started drinking when I was 14 to mask the depression and give me confidence and when I quit at 32, I had a LOT to learn. I guess the ticket is to be with people that feed you goods and positives. I have no one but alcoholics and negative people surrounding me. :( BUT...I'm still sober. :)

i definatly know what you are saying, i drank for almost 30 years, been sober almost 90 days, and yes i miss that cold beer or crown royal on the rocks and i miss my billiard playing buddies and team BUT.....Going back to all the pain i caused my wife, daughters and family or the thought of that my luck is about to run out and end up killing someone, out ways the alternative..... thats what keeps me away from that first drink and the desire to live sober and change my old habbits and activities. sorry if i rambled hope this helps, thankx for letting me share

Oh thank goodness I am not the only one! I am always thinking about drinking whenever I am doing anything! Always thinking, "wouldn't this go better with a few beers?" i am so envious of people who just live their lives without alcohol and still enjoy themselves so much. I always thought they must be 'Boring' and not have an interesting life, but now I am starting to think differently...

Oh yeah, that sounds familiar. It is overwhelming to think about, so don't. Take it one day, one minute at a time. I found some good friends already, and I'm pretty new to the program. I even surprise myself sometimes on interactions with people, and I'm sure you will do the same. Give it a chance and a little time. And don't fret if those thoughts pop up, they will. Stay focused.

I too could not imagine my life without booze. It used to be my "friend". Then, gradually, then not so gradually it became my enslaver then my murderer. I was dying, slowly then quickly at the end. It stole my life and I had no where to run and nowhere to hide.
Finally so sick, with 35 yrs. given to drinking, I got sober with lots of help[treatment and a.a.], then one day at a time I was able to slowly start to learn to live. It's been almost 2 yrs. and I have some hard days, but my learning to enjoy things and life without booze is an amazing discovery every day.
And the most amazing thing of all as a.a. promises, I was, along this journey relieved of the compulsion to drink! 2 years ago I couldn't have imagined that in my wildest dreams. The little devil rocks my boat here and there but I have tools and a program and a higher power to battle that devil whenever he pokes his ugly little head up!
YOU CAN GET SOBER...AND LIKE IT! Good luck!

That's why alot of people die from this disease.

To be honest 100%, life is 100% more enjoyable without drink and the buzz is fantastic.

Its not at first, but as time goes by and you discover the delights of sobriety I can assure you it was all worth the effort.

As one of the biggest drunken party animals, I can safely say I miss it not one bit.

But before I found this I had all the excuses under the sun to stay drunk, honestly there is not one

Trickey

it was difficult at first as i had to grieve the loss of drinking but after slowly getting my head cleared it became more clear that it wasnt the bing sober part of it but the recovery end of it and living in the solution . service work is a biggie for me and its ben 3.5 years now with no booze

When you are sick and tired enough of being sick and tired you might see things a little differently. Alcohol will kill an alcoholic - it just will. How you do, or do not see your life, does not change that. Alcohol does not care - it is an equal opportunity killer. - and alcoholics have three choices (1) get sober and live happily - or at least more so (2) go insane (3) die.

It really is cause and effect - no more no less. You can think about it - mull it over - rationalize it - put it off - exucse it - laugh about it - joke about it *(I did that a lot) - but the bottom line is if you are an alcoholic and you drink - it will kill you or drive you insane. It is just that simple.

Last night I was at a party. The Christmas lights were shining and the candles were lit. There was tons of food. Everyone was laughing and joking. It was an AA birthday meeting and the following potluck dinner. I don't know everyone yet and I was still a tiny bit uncomfortable but its getting to where I have friends there and I feel loved for the *real* me. The certainly loved the dish I brought - I think someone licked the gravy off the bottom!