re: I made the decision to go sober today.

You don’t have to think about being sober forever- just today

Say that every day

You should be very proud. This is a big step. You will actually get a lot of good advice here. Suprisingly, or perhaps not at all suprising, there is good sobriety on the OT. You can do this and its worth the work. message me at marc@mmtlegal.com if you need to talk.

quote:

---

ColdTurkey

---

quote:

---

You should do cocaine about it.

---

Doesn’t check out.

Have club soda and lime/lemon at the house...
Drink it every night as a routine.

Then if you go out for drinks with someone, order club soda/lime. No one notices, no one cares.

I made seven months a week ago. It’s a big life change for sure.

I struggled with stuff to do early on, because I was a regular fixture at bars. But seven months later, I can’t believe I didn’t make this decision years ago.

I’ve gotten back into fishing and hunting, use my weekends to travel to new places just to say I did instead of laying in bed feeling miserable, have a weekly tennis match with some guys from AA, read books at night instead of passing out, and have picked up some benign hobbies (like putting together massive lego sets). I’ve also lost 70 lbs in the last 8 months (fatty to normal size).

AA has been super helpful for me finding a life away from the bar, and working a program helps. Best decision I ever made.

quote:

---

When socializing carry a bottle of water in your hands. It gives you something to have in your hands (instead of beer/booze) and keeps people from offering you a drink.

---

Truth! This is a great suggestion. I'm almost 60, and I've never been a big drinker. Many drinkers are not satisfied if anyone is abstaining. I used to say "no" 25 times a night, sometimes 5 times in a row to the same idiot. Eventually I learned to carry a glass with no alcohol in it.

Good for you!!!!! I've been away from alcohol for 5 yrs+. I drink ONLY water. I even gave up soda pop. Feel much much better. I found out I'm diabetic so I use that as motivation to stay away from sugar. Pray to God for strength and you will find all the support you will ever need. Good Luck and God Bless.

quote:

---

. For those who have done this, what are some things you did to ensure you stayed away?

---

You just have to want sobriety badly enough to quit. Nothing ensured sobriety except thousands of decisions made since that time, not to drink. "Keeping busy" is fools gold.

quote:

---

. Many drinkers are not satisfied if anyone is abstaining. I used to say "no" 25 times a night, sometimes 5 times in a row to the same idiot.

---

see this a lot on here but don't recall seeing it much if at all in social settings, had a get together in FL a couple of weeks ago with several couples, one of which didn't drink, was a non-issue, no one got tipsy, tried to push booze on the non-drinkers, the non-drinking wife even made some really good frozen drinks for us

quote:

---

Have club soda and lime/lemon at the house...

---

Yep, Club Soda has been my standard since the day I quit drinking.