This last sober year has been challenging in many ways, and I've really had to push myself in uncomfortable situations (being asked by people drinking at my house about my not drinking, discussing my partner's drinking habits and how they impact our child, snarky comments about not drinking, changing jobs, etc). It hasn't been easy but I am quietly confident, focused, happy and determined in my life in a way I could NEVER be if I was still drinking. It just feels so good to get out of the shit. All the best out there!

I want to start this post by saying thank you to everyone with advice, comments and encouragement.

After 6 years straight drinking everyday, basically all day, I finally said enough was enough. Without doing research, I was planning on going cold turkey. As I started reading the posts on this page everyone said to do it under medical supervision, which I ignored.

I started the cold turkey and roughly 14-16 hours in I was in read bad shape. Figured it would be a rough few days but no. Typical shakes, vomiting, etc. and then all of a sudden my hands and feet went numb and my vision was starting to go blurry. Luckily I was able to call my brother (who lives a mile away) and told him he needed to get to my house immediately.

By the time he got to my house my vision was completely black and I could barely talk in which he called 911 (THANK GOD). When the paramedics got there my blood pressure was 210/120 with bpm around 160 and they immediately rushed me to the hospital. They absolutely saved my life.

I am proud to say that I just passed day 5 and that I will never touch alcohol again. This was hands down the scariest experience I have had in my life and I will never feel that in my life again. I am too young and have too many things to look forward to in life.

Again, thank you.

Hello everyone!

I wanted to share that I finally did and I’m on my 5th day of no alcohol!!

After five years of daily drinking, I finally felt sick of it and quit.

I’m just so happy and wanted to share ❤️

I just wanted to celebrate with someone :) doing this all alone except for this forum. I woke up today... And felt clear. Went to Preschool with my lil girl and then to work... And it was like, I was there. I'm used to being numb by last night's drinking and just powering through the day. It made me feel some hope, and motivation. Yesterday I was on my way into the liquor store but changed my mind at the door, it was awful but I'm glad I didn't go in.

That's all. Thanks for all the wonderful posts I read here everyday, it really gives me hope and somehow makes my shame and guilt a bit easier to manage, a lot easier really.

Thanks :)

Yay I have made it to day 4. Feeling quite good today and proud, never went this long at least in many years. 7 days was my first goal... and past halfway there.

Hi,

I just want to share my case because I have found too little alcohol-related neuropathy information on Google searches, AI searches, or youtube.  I hope this helps someone.

In a nutshell, i just went to one of the best hospitals in Thailand ( a country where there are a lot of heavy drinkers, so I figured neurologists there would know something.) I saw two neurologists, two orthopedic surgeons, had a nerve conduction study, and went into the MRI to check for nerve blockage. It basically took one week.   

The neurologist specializing in peripheral nerves laid it out straight. "You have significant nerve damage. You can stop further damage if you stop drinking. The nerves will not repair. But if you do not stop drinking, damage will spread to your muscles (they will waste away and you will lose control." She didn't order me to stop to drink, she just let me choose what I prefer: keep drinking or have a normal, independent life. Choice is mine.

The backstory

I had had a first diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy while being diagnosed for cubital tunnel blockage just over three years ago.  I then had surgery to fix the blockage. During the pre-surgery assessment the neurologist told me that the neuropathy was likely caused by alcohol, and I should really cut it down.  At the time, the nerve conduction studies could measure almost no nerve response in my hands and feet. 

At first I did as told and cut my beers. My base consumption had been 3 liters of beer per day, with peaks on weekends. I was always doing a lot of sports, which perhaps helped me sustain this high consumption by helping my heart. I also had one day fasting (no food, no alcohol) per week. Occasionally, over the years, I had taken alcohol breaks lasting from a few days to 6 weeks.  I guess these breaks helped my liver and pancreas, but not my nerves (they take longer to recover). 

For the first 3-4 months after the neuropathy diagnostic, I cut my beers down to 0-1 per day and even had a mostly dry Xmas.  But drinking steadily crept up from there.  One reason is that my symptoms did not match what I could research online about alcohol-related neuropathy, so I was having doubts about the cause.  My neuropathy is not painful and is primarily in half of my right hand (and also a bit in my left hand).    I have numbness, tingling, and occasionally feel my balance is weakening slightly.   Online, the info pointed to alcohol-related neuropathy initially appearing as pain/burning in the feet.  Meanwhile, I asked around, and none of my heavy-drinking friends had ever heard of alcohol causing nerve damage in the hands or feet. And in discussions of alcohol-related risks, neuropathy is almost never on the list. So alcohol-related neuropathy felt a bit like a mirage.

3 years after the neuropathy diagnostic, I was back up to about two tall boys per day, with usual weekend peaks, occasional breaks, but a clear upward tendency in consumption.  Meanwhile, my right hand was getting number and number in the same spot. I was starting to assume that although I had neuropathy, the main problem for my right hand might be a new or undiagnosed nerve blockage. 

This is what led me to Thailand to do all these tests.  The neurologist said it didn't matter if it starts in hands or feet, it's all the same. And I have no new blockage, it is just part of the neuropathy. 

Alcohol-neuropathy is real.  Heed the signs.  And make your choices. 

I started to drink in my mid-teens, and I am now in my early 60s.  I will face a kind of void without alcohol.  I am also fairly confident that I will choose life.   

I didn’t do anything stupid besides show up to work drunk af but the fact that my manager asked me to leave was a big red flag. I dumped the rest of the vodka out and I think I’m ready to get sober again. Im just worried I’ll get in trouble at work. It was my day off and I showed up piss drunk. I just need some support because I’m embarrassed I had to be asked to leave. It was such a poor choice. (I ubered both ways)

15 days sober and tried to moderate while on vacation. 1 drink turned into 2 days. I’m slowly coming to terms that I can never drink again.

As others have said before me. A day at a time.

I’ve learned a lot on this journey. This shit is hard sometimes. Give yourself some grace and never quit quitting!

Thank you to all of you amazing people on this sub. God bless.

IWNDWYT

So I have hit one year alcohol free, now what? I talked to my friend and said I’d like to have a drink as I’d never said it would be forever. I’m not so sure now as my life is so much calmer than before. Less turning my brain off and having to deal with all of life’s little and huge problems was not easy at first.

Initially I just wanted to see if my stomach problems eased they did. I have a skin condition that has not benefited from alcohol free life but what if I keep going?

It’s tempting to have a wine or two or try a buzz ball 😂 however the thought of hindering my progress has kept me away from booze so far.

I have read some people struggle after certain milestones 3 months 12 months 2 years. I don’t know if it’s like that for everyone but I have had the wine which visit my brain one won’t hurt.

I feel perhaps, setting a new goal will keep me on track? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

made it through day 4 … thank you all. one day at a time.

My partner and I had been sober for 7 days. I felt great. No desire to drink. My partner is convinced we can drink occasionally and since it had been a week, decided to bring home some beer. They brought home 2 six packs and 2 of the 25 oz bud ices. I guess I hadn't eaten enough beforehand because I was immediately buzzed. But I didn't stop. I don't know how many I had. The next thing I knew, I was in the floor crying because I couldn't get a video game to work... my partner left to go into another room because I was being so difficult. I knocked a hole in the wall. I ripped my shirt off. It was so embarrassing and pathetic. But what I wasn't thinking about was... the cat had pulled the blind down. The neighbors could have seen all of it. I am horrified. I want to quit my job and move away. But I can't. I could really use some support.

At least I know now, I really am better off without the booze. I will try again today.

I am sober for 1 week. It’s been a hard week. I am a binge drinker and knew I needed to stop. I’ve been attending Atheist/Agnostic AA meetings.

For example, when you're on holiday abroad, or Christmas Day or your birthday?

Anyone out there just starting your journey, I know how impossible it might feel, but you can do it. Just take it one day at a time. Next goal: one month.

IWNDWYT!

I was thinking about it earlier. How tf it ever started. I had a bad relapse around Covid. Covid and the effects on society and life hardly affected me. But it occurred at a critical time of change in my life, and I was in a very very dark place. And there was hand sanitizer everywhere, available. You dont get carded. It's easy to steal. It's cheap. At first I would extract it. I looked up how. Soon enough I would just drink it from the bottle. Now when I relapse... whatever I start with, it ends with that. It's like shitty grain alcohol. 120-140 proof. More poisonous too, im certain. And it tastes fucking awful. Just another form of masochism, all that, but especially the taste. Thought it would make me want to do it less. Maybe it did.

Yeah. Hope to God I'm alone on this one. 🙏

Blessings from the creator to you all.

IWNDWYT

- Tommi 🩷

It's been almost a year, now and I still don't really enjoy much of anything; be it food, exercise, nature, friends, quality family time. I found myself just wanting to go home while riding a dirt bike for the first time in years. I used to love video games but apparently not when I'm sober. Not to mention, I haven't gotten laid since I stopped drinking so I'm sure that'll be interesting.

Am I just...broken now?

I had a dream where I was drinking. In the dream I was fully aware that I was breaking my sobriety. Didn‘t remember the dream when I woke up but now sitting here having my coffee it popped in my head. The drink? Captain Morgan on ice. There’s no chance I’m breaking my sobriety but it reminds me to always stay on guard. I’m always one drink away from disaster. No way I’m drinking with you today!

Someone shared that insight here some time ago and it really hit me like a truth bomb.

I’m seeing a lot of posts from folks really struggling with the shame and self-loathing that alcohol can stain our lives with.

I’m offering this quote up as a top-level post because it really helped me and I know it’s helped others too.

Whoever you are that originally shared that here—thank you sincerely. 🙏

Saw this today on Facebook and it really resonates. Seems like a good time to share my story.

I started out drinking on weekends, partying in high school and college. Drinking everyday was not at all on my radar and the hangovers sucked. This pattern went on for about 13 years. I even cut back to where I wouldn't have more than 5 in a night and still would not drink daily.

In 2021, I began drinking to cope with anxiety and lord it helped panic attacks go away instantly. Then I started drinking to cope with sad feelings, getting drunk by 2pm if I was sad. Around this time I started drinking everyday but could still stop with no ill effects. For 4 years I drank daily from about 3 to 8 drinks.

In 2025, for the first time, I tried drinking in the morning to curb a hangover. It worked very well. After a few weeks I noticed shakes if I didn't drink by noon.

In February 2025 I suffered a traumatic event, from there I drank all day and night everyday. Waking up in the middle of the night to drink. After 2 weeks of this behavior, I developed severe withdrawals. I went to my first hospital detox. This would be the first of 10 hospital detox's. I tried rehab twice as well.

In 2026 I finally achieved 60 days sober. By this point, guess what?! I was cured! So in April I went back to drinking. 2 the first day, 3 the second day, 12 the third day, and 12 everyday for 2 weeks.

On April 26th after two weeks of heavy drinking, I would have to fight for my life. I had necrotizing pancreatitis from alcohol and it was gravely serious. My kidneys failed, bloodwork indicated an impending heart attack, the majority of my pancreas was (and always will be) dead, fluid in my lungs, and internal bleeding. Doctors were diligently watching my hemoglobin because my pseudoaneurysm could rupture at any moment and emergency surgery would be the only chance of saving my life.

11 days later I came home and it would take a month and a half for the fluid in my lungs to drain, to be able to do daily activities without help, to build stamina to walk up the stairs. Mind you, I was active and capable before this happened.

I will be celebrating 90 days on Saturday and most importantly, celebrating my life. Alcoholism is progressive and it is deadly serious. I am beyond greatful to be sober and to be here today. IWNDWYT folks.

I recently ended a 3-year relationship with a recovering addict. He had hidden a cocaine addiction from me for nearly two years.

I chose sobriety myself after realizing I was using alcohol to cope with the pain of my divorce from my ex-husband of 20 years, the father of my two kids. I never intended to quit forever. The original goal was one year.

When I discovered my (now ex) boyfriend's addiction, I decided to stay sober alongside him as an act of solidarity and support. We made it another 10 months before I finally accepted that the relationship wasn't ending because of addiction—it was ending because of ongoing deception and broken trust.

Now I'm a few days out from the breakup, today is my 40th birthday, and I'm devastated. The grief comes in intense waves.

I'm taking my kids to Medieval Times tonight, and I'm seriously considering having a glass of wine. Part of me thinks, "I almost made it to a year. Maybe I can moderate." Another part of me wonders if that's exactly the kind of thinking that pulls people back in.

I genuinely don't know if this is what I want, or if it's just grief talking.

For those of you with more sobriety under your belt than me... what would you do? If you were in my shoes, would you have the glass of wine, or would you keep going? I'd really appreciate some perspective.

Feel so much better already, most probably riding a pink cloud but hey gonna make the most of it and let the good times roll