re: Quitting Drinking

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To those of you have completely quit drinking how did you do it? How did you go about telling friends and family? I decided yesterday that this is something that I need to do in my life. Nothing really bad or anything happened like that, but it was getting out of hand. Simply saying the words "I have a problem, and I need to stop" out loud has really helped me a lot. Any words of encouragement and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

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Never been a problem for me, but if it is for you a close of friend who had a drinking problem (like you, caught it early) and he swears by a few boards on reddit. As I understand it people support each other there but don't know how it works since I only go to reddit to look at the sports subs. When I did check this out for an hour last year my God I stopped drinking for two months just to "give it a rest" (note that because of other health issues I almost never drink at all, maybe a scotch on my birthday and that's it for a year).

I would spend an hour reading this -
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Because if you don't stop now you will posting here...

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The quitting is the hard part. The friends/family wouldn’t have to be told, they would notice. I would say something like “trying to get in shape for the summer” or “running a 5k in June” if they’re bugging you. Better yet, pick a 5k to actually run 6-8 weeks from now and start training for it, so you’re not lying, and to have something positive to focus on.

I've never had a problem. People know I don't drink and no one has ever tried to push it on me. I don't judge or make a big deal of it and neither do they. I will say it gets hard to hold a conversation as people get drunker, so I usually make it an early night.

Keep it up you will never regret it once you do a full reset on goals in life and who you truly want to be as a person to family and others. Day by Day and month by month you will get your full confidence back and be the man good people want to be around.
I’m ona similar path and feel better than I have in 20 plus years and I’m early 40s with a long Healthy Happy life ahead god willing.
Good luck and stay away from drinkers. If your lady is find a new one unless it’s an occasional glass of wine or something social.

I’m also in firm belief that most people that do drink envy people that don’t drink and have happy social and successful lives.
Also there isn’t a reason to explain anything to others than you don’t want to. It affects everyone differently and your choice to live life without adding additional problems to it should be commended and never looked down on at all.
In fact I always looked up to people who didn’t drink for whatever reason and it didn’t matter why. It could have been they learned a lesson the hard way but they learned or just hated feeling like crap an ruining their next day.

So my Dad has not had a drink in 30 plus years. Over the past 3 years I've cut back a good bit. I'll drink some beer with crawfish, or have a bourbon during an LSU game. Nothing on weekdays. I just don't really see the allure of partying that hard and staying up late anymore. I have just as good of a time having a few drinks and just shooting the shite by a bonfire.

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Any words of encouragemen

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Enjoy missing out on 2 day hangovers. I haven’t “quit” but I have quit “drankin!” The hangovers are just too debilitating. They take a full 1.5 days to shake.

Speaking of shake. You said advice too. If you are having “shakes” at any point. You probably need medical follow up. Quitting cold turkey is not advisable for some. Not without medical monitoring. Only you can say if that’s you. If not, good luck and god bless.

Get a hobby. Or throw yourself into a hobby that involved beer but leave out the beer. See how much better you are at it. Fishing and golf come immediately to mind.

Delta 8

I never responded to this, but thank you for all of the responses and encouragement. Today marks one month since I last had a taste of alcohol, and I am very proud of myself. My life is a lot better, I have lost weight, sleep better without snoring, don't spend as much money, have more energy, and am just generally happier. There have obviously been a few tough days and evenings, but I have made it 30 days. My wife has been very supportive in this with me and has not had anything to drink at home this entire time. She only drank at the Garth Brooks concert which I did not attend. I have a piece of paper on my night stand labeled "consecutive days without drinking," and I put a tally mark on it every night right before I get in bed. I will tell you that this is my favorite part of the day. When I put that first tally mark a month ago I felt very overwhelmed and the thought of doing without for the rest of my life was very daunting, The first 5 days went really slow, but then I made it to 10, 15, 20, and now 30 days. It isn't nearly as difficult and have kind of gotten used to going without. I have started drinking a lot of sparkling water which gives me the sensation of enjoying a special beverage but without alcohol. I haven't really been to any big social events since stopping, but I will get back to that when the time is right.

Thanks again for reading and for all of the encouraging words!!

Congrats, man.