Alcoholism Support Group

Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.

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The gifts of sobriety

Kevin105
Kevin105

Seems rather quiet on this site lately and thought I'd start a discussion on the gifts that sobriety has brought into each of our lives.  Yes, there are likely many, but if you could focus on just one to share it with the group I thought it might give hope to others and perhaps benefit the writer as well.  


Here's mine: the ability to endure hardships without alcohol.   Over the decades that I was drinking, alcohol and eventually self pity became constant companions during trying times.  Divorce and the separation from my daughter were initial triggers, but it soon spread into less trying circumstances.  I remember even stopping to have a couple drinks before visiting my mother, who lived out of town, just to calm my nerves before a weekend visit.


Yes, during this pandemic I've gotten a bit stressed out at times, but I'm able to gather myself, filter out the overwhelming flow of hysteria in the world, and wake up sober every day.  I'm really thankful for this gift, especially now.


How about you? 


 

finallyawakenow
finallyawakenow
It has been very quiet. I’m sort of surprised as I figured folks would be wanting to connect in any form. I can only hope that everyone is finding that in other ways and not retreating into isolation too much.
Other than my work being slow I haven’t been affected by the goings ons in the world. I’m in the country on a dead end dirt road surrounded by state forests with trails from the back door. Lots of walking. Increased the garden from last year so that’s been keeping me busy too.
I’m thankful everyday for my sobriety. There are so many aspects to it but if I had to pick one benefit it’s this: the chance to get to know myself. Without alcohol and tv (gave that up three years ago) I have been given the opportunity to be honest with myself this started off as a pretty intense wake up call. Now, 30 months later, I have a quiet confidence that I’m becoming the person I am meant to be. All my life I have felt immature even though I am a skilled craftsman and provided for my family. It was a spiritual/emotional immaturity that I wasn’t aware of until I took responsibility for my behaviors (actions)
The path I’m on now was hidden until I admitted to myself that it was time for a change.
Sobriety =change
Community Leaderbobinmaine
bobinmaine
Thankyou both for coming here today. I totally agree.

God Bless
Kevin105
Kevin105
appreciate your comments finallyawakenow, having the chance to finally get to know yourself and becoming the person you truly want to be. what a gift that is!
girlmom41
girlmom41
Thank you for this post. I am new to the website and still struggling with drinking. I got on here right now because I really want a drink. Reading your post helped. It is nice to read what you are grateful for with sobriety. Just wanted to say thank you
Kevin105
Kevin105
good hearing from you girlmom41 and glad you found our forum here! please be assured that we all have struggled like you on the path to an alcohol-free life and glad you found some hope in our comments. we support one another no matter where a person is at in their recovery and look forward to hearing more from you more in the future. wishing you the best! Kevin
finallyawakenow
finallyawakenow
@girlmom: welcome! I hope you were able to find some relief from the urge. I said that bit about knowing myself because I found alcohol to be very lonely. It kept me at a distance from others but even worse from being my own best friend. And that loneliness kept me drinking to forget about that pain. Terrible cycle. Give yourself a gift and find a new direction. It is the best thing you’ll ever do for yourself:)
Kevin105
Kevin105
on this topic, an unexpected gift from not drinking for me has been the financial gain from not spending so much on alcohol and associated costs when out drinking/partying. i think a put a conservation number of about $6,000 a year that I save. i had not idea how much my addiction was costing me financially, let alone physically, emotionally and in relationships.
Shiney
Shiney
not having a fuzzy, deluded, confused, negative,
memory loss, toxic addicted brain.........................it is becoming clear, positive, hopeful, grateful and joyous, I have learnt to process logically and find my happiness again.........................phew, what a beautiful relief
Shiney
Shiney
As David Bowie would sing..........................Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes....................................:)
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