Help! I need positives of a sober life to look forward to

[MalbecJunkie]

Day 6 sober, doing OK so far. My main difficulty is not using alcohol as pain relief. I have chronic pain and it was an easy way to numb the worst of it. When I look ahead I'm frightened of being able to bear it.

I need positive things (other than weight loss and a bit more cash) to keep myself motivated beyond these first few weeks.

Please give me stories of how a life free of alcohol is good, or happy, or enriching. I need to boost.

A big well done OP - it really isn’t easy. I stopped drinking just under 3 weeks ago & the crucial thing was that I did it because I decided to & knew that I couldn’t continue pressing the self destruct button. There had been a lot of pressure on me to cut down/quit, especially from Social Services who we are involved with to support us with DD15. DH was extremely worried about my intake ( we’re talking 2 bottles of wine a day) & of course my drinking has impacted on DD but in the end it had to be my decision.
Benefits :-
Lost over half a stone already.
Huge financial advantage - worked out I used to spend over £1K a year!!
I feel like a fog has lifted & I am being daft again, like I used to be. Don’t need wine to have fun.
Better sleep.
Able to cope better with DD ( today was an exception unfortunately)
More appreciative of life. I used to spend a lot of time drinking.
I’ve had quite a few health issues over the last few years & hope that staying sober will help me to get better.

Well done @MalbecJunkie echoing what the others have all said. I am 5 weeks sober and honestly it is so freeing. I didn't realise how much time I spent thinking about when/where I could have a drink. I don't miss, always feeling below par. Yes the sleep is amazing and I truly like myself now. I feel like I can trust myself, I know exactly what I said and to who.

It is the best gift you can give yourself. The early days are hard work but it does get easier.
I highly recommend listening to quit lit on audible. It has really helped me to see alcohol for what it is. It is so freely available and socially acceptable. However, it is not for everyone and I am one of those. I don't have an off switch. I have a lot of regrets but, that is ok. This is another reason for me to stay sober.

You can do this. Plan some nice treats and be kind to yourself.

Everything is your own.

Your evenings, your feelings, your actions, your sleep, your thoughts, your words.

You will be in charge of all of these things, not alcohol.

It's the best.

I love this ❤️

Me too. Alcohol isn't a treat. Chris Evans the dj spoke about alcohol on a podcast. He said that people say that it takes the edge off; he thinks it takes the shine off. I think it is such a good analogy.

474 days (still counting!) sober here.
Honestly best thing I’ve ever done.
Alcohol is a carcinogen - and knowing that if I ever do get cancer I won’t be blaming it on my deliberate alcohol intake is huge for me.
i did not know before I gave up how much better my relationship with my children would be - simply because I now enjoy their company more and have more fun! I’m not rushing them off to bed so I can open a bottle of wine.
I never thought I could give up alcohol and enjoy life - I did the Annie Grace 28 day program and never looked back.

Hope you are doing ok @MalbecJunkie x

Thank for checking in on me, V’s Kitten. My new username is HappyAsAGrig, so I am still posting on the Alcohol Support board under the more positive name.

I’m laid low with Covid at the minute, so alcohol is the least of my concerns just now. Small mercies, I guess.

No hangovers , no wasting the day because you are hungover and tired , no waking up the next day full of anxiety because you either know what you did or don’t know and are worrying , no risk of damaging your body, going out for food or to see friends and knowing that nothing bad is going to happen and you are going to wake up fresh in the morning , no more of the week just being a cycle of a catch up from the weekend and swearing you won’t drink again back to drinking again anyway

Glowing skin and a reduced requirement for make up!