It's always rough. I hope you have a good motivation. Any day is a good day to start. More power to you.

Hello Beth1975,

The best day to start getting sober is always TODAY.

If you find that it is a struggle, don’t be afraid to look for help.
Happy New Year.

You are amongst people who have all been in your shoes. If you need any advice or encouragement, don't be afraid.

God Bless

Beth, when you've drunk the fun out of drinking, any day is a good day to stop. Feel good while other act afool!

It's the perfect day to start. Just one day at a time. Day 1 almost over. And no hangover tomorrow!
Meetings helped me tremendously. Good luck!

great job welcome and don't look back a lot of folks want to help you . mainly You are not alone RL

Nikki2 said what I was going to: it's the perfect day to start. You'll wake up to a new year, already sober and ready to kick butt. I just quit again the other day, and I'm starting off the new year with a meeting in the morning. Good luck and best wishes.

Looking back at the last 2 and a half years, I've found it was not rough at all! What worked for me and still works to this day is practicing fundamentals and being consistent. Staying committed also worked, but none of that made sense until I admitted with everything inside of me that I could not drink alcohol like others who didn't crave it once they started.

I pray, I read literature that is inspiring and teaches recovery, I talk to other alcoholics, I learned and practice the steps in everything I do, I focus on being unselfish as a leading motive, and I go to meetings. All in all it takes no more than two hours a day to stay sober, and I have found sometimes even less than that.

Praying takes 30 seconds, reading takes 10 to 15 minutes, going to a meeting an hour, talking with another alcoholic can be brief or an hour as well, and helping others with an unselfish attitude doesn't take a great amount of time either. I thought it was going to be rough because I thought I was going to lose my sure bet way of getting relief, but what I found was God wanted me to lose my own character so I could have a life that is far from being rough, it has now become very simple and very easy. I complicate things, but I see that if I practice the fundamentals of recovery, and make it a priority, my life is easier than most who don't even have alcoholism.

You can do it!

Thank you all for the advice and words of encouragement. I only drink in the evening but it's definitely binge drinking. I black out almost every night. I just need to remember how much better I feel sober.

My husband continuing to drink is going to be the biggest obstacle. =(

Hello Beth1975,

Alcoholism is a bit like tightening a bolt with a ratchet tool. The ratchet makes pretty slow progress but it exerts great pressure and crucially, it never gives up anything it has gained. Alcoholism can build up slowly too, starting with drinking only in the evening but like the turning of the ratchet, it is progressive and it holds on to what it gains.

Therefore, I would urge you to treat it as an extremely serious problem. Regardless of what your husband does, it is up to you to do whatever it takes. That may or may not include getting outside help. Rule nothing out and you will succeed.

Definitely treating it as a serious problem. I wasn't minimizing the situation by stating the time frame. Drinking 3/4 a bottle of Jameson between 8pm and 10pm is binge drinking and a big deal. It's just frustrating that I can't control 2 hours of my day.

Good luck and let God light you the way.

If you can, Go to an intensive out patient therapy (OPT). It will really help.
It will be worth it.

Best of luck.