Im 35 and I can completely relate to this. 5 weeks sober today and have never felt better. My anxiety has gone, constant dread has gone, hating myself has gone. I haven't smoked cigs in 5 weeks, haven't taken any drugs in 5 weeks, haven't made a fool out of myself in 5 weeks, haven't disappointed my family in 5 weeks. Every part of my life is slowly starting to fix itself. Even went on a family vacation and didn't drink (everyone was super proud of me). I really believe that I will never drink again.
@liliyapetrenko615 Well done👏. If I was you I'd just set myself a daily goal, just tell yourself that your not going to smoke today, don't worry about tomorrow but as long as your heads hits the pillow tonight without lighting up a cigarette then that's a win, then when you wake up in the morning tell yourself the same thing. Small goals like this add up to huge achievements
I started drinking since my teenage, got addicted to alcohol. Spent my whole life fighting alcohol addiction. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Alcohol addiction actually destroyed my life. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.
Thanks for sharing your story. That's rough I sympathize. Save your health save your mind. Life is better without heroin, cocaine, alcohol and cigarettes. And you have more money in your pocket. God bless everyone who has rejected the devils intentions to be addicted to alcohol and cigarettes etc which can cause so much damage to health. I will pray for you all.
Hey mates! Can you help with the source? I suffer severe anxiety, panic and depression and I usually take prescription medicine, but they don't always help. Where can I find those psilocybin mushrooms? I'm really interested in treating my mental health without Rxs. I live in Australia don't know much about these. I'm so glad they helped you. I can't wait to get them too. Really need a reliable source 🙏
Mushrooms are very medicinal. This is why anybody familiar with psilocybin and any other kind of fungi will tell you, "They are alive." They have a very ancient wisdom. To my experience, all mushrooms have always said, "Pay attention to your life. How you think, how you feel, and what will you do with the information that you always knew, but now are seeing in this point of view." This is why mushrooms are so respected in tribal cultures. This mental health treatment works for me too. Half micro doses do the trick for me. At least a few days at a time with lengthy time in between. Never addictive. Thank you for sharing this point!
After three months of sobriety, I felt a mental fog starting to lift. After six months of sobriety, I rarely had an anxiety attack. After a year of sobriety, my anxiety attacks had disappeared entirely. After two years of sobriety, I have lost ninety-three pounds and feel alive and positive about ninety-eight percent of the time! The largest takeaway from two years of sobriety is: It is not about the alcohol. It was about taking on my own demons and learning how to forgive, especially the person staring back at me in the mirror... Do not be afraid to create the best version of yourself. You are worth it. I heard someone explain the definition of the word discipline and it has imprinted in my mind, especially on the days where I feel less than adequate. And, the definition is this: Discipline - Promising your future self a better life...
This story is so similar to my own. My anxiety was crippling. If only I knew this in my 20s that alcohol was the cause of almost ALL my problems. I’m only one month sober and already feel great. Watching videos like these is helping me see that there is even more beauty to be had in a life of sobriety. So thank you for sharing.
21 days sober today. I’m a 44 year old musician. Always surrounded by alcohol. I’ve played two shows in the past three weeks completely sober and I felt more aware . Less anxiety. I sleep better now and drink plenty of water. My face is slimmer because I’m not bloated by alcohol. I’ve lost 4 pounds. That’s just three weeks of cutting out the sauce . Clearer skin and I have so much energy. I don’t miss being depressed and hungover. Thanks for the video and I wish the best for you. Congratulations on your sobriety!
@@joshfeatherstone8546 Congrats!! I'm on day 11 right now and while I see more energy at times, other times it feels like I got hit by a brick. Just woke up from a nap actually lol. I'm hoping that's just normal for the first couple weeks, and it gets better after? I started using my exercise bike yesterday also so maybe that's the trick given time. Anyway, congratulations again!!
Being sober eventually brought back feelings I hadn’t experienced since early childhood. Real, warm joy. Like a guttural sense of excitement or anticipation for life even if only for brief moments here and there. The kind of feeling you’d get as a kid on your way to your best friends house. I experienced these moments where flashes of long-forgotten feelings suddenly hit me and it was like smelling a scent you haven’t smelled in years. It felt so good naturally and highlighted how the counterfeit warmth of alcohol is so devious. It’s good to know that the childhood spirit lives on even if we lose sight of it and it just needs polishing through clarity to come back to life.
Thats incredible to hear! I've had a few of those experiences myself where I'm just filled with unexplained joy and excitement. It's not all the time for me, but I do appreciate it when it happens =). Thank you for sharing your experience
I'm turning 40 next month and I just completely wasted my 30s being a drunk party girl. Now I'm broke, living with my parents and have a list of health problems thanks to alcohol. I'm only 6 days sober so far, but already feel energized and motivated to get my sh*t together.
Hey, Turning 40 sounds old but in the big picture of life, you are still young and realising what you have means that you're in the right minds state to start your journey of sobriety. I basically binge drank, and also abused ciggarettes & weed all through my late teens through to my late 30s... A near successful suicide attempt and or a DUI didn't even stop me but one day after waking up one summer afternoon (in the middle of the kitchen floor at my grandmother's house wearing a winter jacket, a touque with no pants on - just my underwear 🙄😒) I realised something needed to change.... I was 38... January 1st 2025 will be my 7 year anniversary of no alcohol... don't get me wrong as life is still hard, but it's more manageable WITHOUT alcohol... less drama, less regret, less shame, less self hate and less anxiety too... you can become your best self without alcohol... Also, living with you're parents at this age isn't anything to feel ashamed about either... take advantage of it to save money and get your independence back... you can do it 💪 I know you can
I'm 61 young lady and am 18 days sober for the first time in 45 years. You might not believe it but 40 leaves you a lot of time to turn things around but you need to stop drinking for good. I promise you that if you can make it to day 15, start eating right and exercising a bit you will be amazed at how much more positive an attitude you will have. It's like a miracle. Good luck.
It’s not just the alcohol. It’s the vapid interactions with people, the dangerous situations, risky hookups and debilitating hangovers. The alcohol is bad, but it’s also a type of self-abuse with the situations you end up in.
It’s all super shallow. I went to some family members house after being absent for years and getting on track and sober and everyone was generally having a few drinks and I was completely out of place. I couldn’t stand the smell of it and I could tell everyone was under the influence of alcohol and not actually being their true selves.
37 days sober and I’m really proud of myself. Yesterday was my first time going to a party and not having a drink. Honestly I liked it better. I felt more present in conversations and the best part…no guilt, no low vibrational frequency, and NO HANGOVER today. I’m so glad I finally figured it out. It only took 50 years! 😂
Being sober at parties you realize how annoying and boring drunk people are. You soon get over your friends yelling the same old bullshit in your ear …
I quit for an entire year and I felt amazing. I introduced alcohol back into my life to see if I can enjoy it moderately, but even when I only have two or three drinks, I feel TERRIBLE. I'm ready to quit again for good.
@@NO_OPEC_NO_PROBLEM I have! It's a lifesaver when I'm out at the pub with my friends. It's so funny, too, because I'll have a single NA beer and be completely done. Anytime I try for a second one, I instantly regret it. To me, they're so filling! Haha!
15 years sober. Started at 14 and between that, porn, and video games life was about fun, pleasure, and escape. The result was deep depression and spiritual distress. God took the alcohol addiction away and saved my life.
I was powerless over my own addiction. Even the desire to quit was a miracle from God. I was saved from my sin and death first, a Christian conversion, after many years of pursuing pleasure and running from the God whom I was very convinced was every bit of what he revealed of himself in the Bible as we know it. He's patient and he gives us what we desire, even when we reject him. I ended up in depression and addiction that was deep enough that I figured the only way out was meds or death. The doctor rejected my request for meds. He wanted counselling but I needed a fix now, I had already been dealing with this internally for far too long. In the depths I remembered God's offer for freedom from sin and death, if only I'd hand control of my life and eternal destiny over to him. Exactly how much of a role I played in my own salvation, that's a tough one for me sometimes, but I think that if he had not chosen me first I would reject him still. After that moment, that day, I figured I could manage my alcoholism with this newfound zeal for God and my desire for holiness. I'd continue to hang out with my same friends and be a faithful witness for what Jesus had done in my life. They saw a change but one expressed confusion over why I was still getting drunk if I was following Jesus now. That stung pretty deep, as I didn't desire for it to end in drunkenness every time I had one drink. That began one of the greatest struggles of my life, and what I still recall as the darkest. My dad was concerned enough for me that he sent me to a good counselor but the guy refused to just call me out on my real issues. After months of struggling, prayer, scripture, but refusing to live without the bottle, I eventually handed it to God. He didn't force me or pry my fingers open, but he took it from my hands when I released my grip. I vowed to never touch another drop if he'd remove the desire from me. A switch went off and I've been convinced by 15 years of experience that he's removed it so I can be closer to him and so I can walk with others who are in the same dark hole, running from God and clinging to the bottle. You may not get it, that's up to the Spirit to reveal to you how you're powerless over your sin, but I'm convinced of it. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to think through all of this, it's been a while.
@@djcraigg69That's a weird way to look at life. Everything good that happens is thanks to God and everything horrible that happens somehow is the fault of humans. If God made everything and everyone, then sure thank God for the good things, but God also sure loves creating a lot of evil and terrible things. It's idiotic to not blame the creator for it's creations.
I'm 42 and been a daily drinker for probably 20 years or more. Never had any "big problems" but I've come to realise it's been really an anchor around my neck for all these years. I don't sleep well, I'm not motivated, I'm not really depressed but also never really happy (except when drinking those first two drinks), all these things you say... I need to stop or at least cut down significantly. But every time evening comes around I reach for that drink again. I need to watch this video every day.
20 years alcohol has wreaked havoc on your neurochemistry, your serotonin and dopamine are out of whack. Stop drinking and please just go heal. Your brain will begin to heal over a year..only if you dont touch a drop.
The only way to quit is to really change your thinking about alcohol. You have to reach a point, and it’s different timing for everyone, where you realize alcohol is taking more than its giving. If you approach it from the perspective that it’s a good, fun thing, and that you’re making a sacrifice to give it up, you’ll keep on going back to it. When you finally get so tired of the hangovers, anxiety, weight gain, shame of embarrassing yourself and doing dangerous things (like drunk driving), fear of losing your job, opportunities and relations, etc etc, you’ll start seeing it for what it is. A great book to read is How to control alcohol by Alan Carr. I also heard that there was a study done (not sure where or by whom, I forget) but they say that those who can complete 30 days of sobriety will have far less drinking days throughout the rest of the year. So, if you’re afraid you will never be able to give it up for good, try 30 days first. It’s reasonable, and doable.
21 days sober. Lost 6 lbs. Feel good. Better sleep. Much less anxiety and i dont feel depressed everyday. I dont miss it, some days i dont think about it. I was drinking a 30 to 40 beers a week which is considered heavy for females... Plus eating garage. It took me a long time to get to this point. Many fails but im happy to be where i am. Dont give up! Get control of your life.
It’s crazy all the positivity and the similar things we all can relate to in this feed. I’ve been a drinker for 20 years. It’s time to stop for me. I’m hanging up the drinking gloves, today is day 3 sober. I know i got a long road ahead of me but i fell in my heart i can do it. Thank you all in this feed for the positive vibes. I don’t feel alone anymore.
I'm stopping NOW . Appreciate you sharing your story. Outwardly, I seem fine, hitting the gym and appearing put-together. However, I'm grappling with inner struggles and challenges. Turning to alcohol offers a quick escape, but the aftermath is brutal. This has reached a juncture where it's impacting my life. I'm determined to achieve one week of sobriety, then two, and eventually a whole month.
Man so true! What am I stupid? Talk about shoveling shit up hill! I'm 62 never had any big drama But didn't like my behavior and my friends are still doing the same things they always do. So I unplugged. jumped ship! Hit the gym and found that there was no more room for alcohol anymore. It's my best life
I'm getting sober, haven't been drunk for some over 2 weeks now closing in 3 weeks... There has been triggers but I just let it pass. Nothing bad is heppening.
I'm glad you talked about how negatively alcohol affects our mental health, thank you! I saw one therapist after another but never was honest with them about my drinking. I'm now 3 1/2 years sober and have not felt the need to make a therapy appointment because like you, I no longer have 97 problems!!
Congrats on your sobriety, brother! Thank you for sharing your journey. I'm 34 days sober today and going strong! After more than a decade of daily binge drinking and feeling like absolute dog shit all the time (but never blaming alcohol for it), I finally decided that enough was enough and gave it up for good. 34 days on, and already my life has improved drastically.
A lot of these sobriety videos mention timelines that don't work for everyone. Some people talk about experiencing benefits in 1-2 weeks. I experienced some benefits but still really struggled and concluded that maybe alcohol wasn't the problem. Hearing that it took you months is exactly what I needed to hear.
I can relate alot to this. Especially because to most people my drinking may look "socially acceptable" i have tried many times to stop, ive gotten a few months in but always went back, im about 2 weeks without it, but really going to try and make it stick. Same age as you so can be hard because i feel like most of my friends are caught up in the drinking, its such a staple of what everyone does. But gotta stay strong. And just stop. I know i feel way better when i don't drink, like everything you said is true, but i guess i forget how bad it is after a night out than its like i have to start and stop, can be super annoying. But this time gonna be different! Thanks for posting dude was a solid video
I ruined my 20s through alcoholism. Ruined might be too strong of a word, but I should have stopped when I was 24/25. My late 20s was so anxiety ridden.
@@paulhamrick3943 Oh 100% man, alcohol is so bad for anxiety and depression. I only recently found cannabis to be just as bad and was giving me terrible panic attacks at night.
This is possibly the very best video I have ever seen about alcohol. The entire young generation should watch this yearly and find out early in life about their anxiety, depression, insomnia, & living a normal life and maintaining it. This would save so many lives & families ❤
To whoever see’s this, keep going! Sometimes it takes an event to really rock your world for you to finally stop and say, “I’ve gotta kick this habit forreal this time.” You’ve got this! Great vid
I quit drinking for 4.5 years and relapsed last December,about 9 months after losing a loved one. I never got back to anywhere near where I was once and I thought I had a grip on it all. It’s not the terrible trouble I could potentially put myself in that has made me decide to quit again but all the reasons you stated in the video. The anxiety, depression and being short tempered no matter how little I drank never went away, thank you for this. In the beginning when I first quit, I didn’t tell anyone, just became a ghost and replaced the habit. It wasn’t until months down the road I saw how it really affected my mind-no matter the amount. I remember hearing this when I first quit, the beginning might be hard because you’re forced to deal with things without your vice. Imagine you’re driving a car and all the things you’re avoiding with alcohol are in the backseat & you slam on your breaks then everything flies to the front for you to deal with head on. Once that initial clean up is over (usually a view months down the road of sobriety) things don’t feel so dark anymore. Much love and respect to your journey,may you continue to be blessed significantly.
Thank you for taking the time to share part of your story. I can def agree with that analogy. Once I quit there was def a lot of things for me to deal with. I hope your journey continues to be a great one on the up and up =)
Almost 10 months sober here. About 3-4 months into abruptly quitting drugs/alcohol, I STARTED feeling insane anxiety. I quit drinking in August and had my very first panic attack in November. I realized that I've had anxiety and depression for most of my life, but alcohol was my coping mechanism and way to suppress the symptoms (but we all know alcohol makes it worse in the long run). I realized it was time to start taking my mental health seriously, started therapy, and now I'm dedicated to working through my mental health issues for the first time in 10+ years. It's starting to work. Thank you for sharing your story, it was so well-articulated and relatable!
I’m coming up on 500 days sober. I became a very hardcore alcoholic. I destroyed everything worthwhile in my life. He’s right, I had 99 problems and quitting alcohol and all mind altering substances, 97 of my problems went away. Alcohol is dangerous and those that fall into it are not wise. Almost everyone I know who is in prison or has went to prison has gone because of an alcohol related charge.
And the prison thing is sad. Usually people drink to run away from their mental health or some trauma from the past. They shouldn't get locked up. Alcohol has a massive influence over media and most people have been brainwashed since birth to see alcohol as something good.
I am 10 days away from my 5th year sober…. If I can get sober, ANYONEEEEEEE can! 🥹 I hit rock bottom and I still wasn’t done…. I’m here to tell you…. IT CAN BE DONE AND YOU CAN BE HAPPIER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN! Great job and good luck to anyone on this path! 🤍🩷
I can relate to everything you have said. I’m 63 & have known for a couple of decades that my alcohol problem was in fact a HUGE problem. Long story short - ugly DUI, then my family shipped me off to Ft Lauderdale where I stayed in treatment for four months. I am so thankful to almost be at 5 years sober & I can’t even explain how when I finally put the bottle down, life improved. Life still happens, but I’m just not turning to alcohol for pain relief, and that’s another win for not drinking!! Congratulations to you on two years. It’s wonderful. Our higher power watches over us. He knows what we need all the time way better than we know what we need! It’s a very real struggle and anyone out there who is facing it. It’s hard, but most hard things are worth it and I get to live out the rest of my days sober & in control of my life! If you can’t control your behavior, believe me, there’s someone out there who will!
One strong takeaway I hope people take away from this, is patience. It took you almost 4 months before you really started to notice the massive differences you were experiencing. I too began to feel HUGE differences in how I felt, emotionally and physically once I broke past the 3 month mark. As someone whose lead up to quitting was very different, I often would expect the results to be immediately apparent and didn’t know that it would get progressively better over time. I had a bad relationship with alcohol, my parents are alcoholics and it had a massive impact on my childhood. my past substance use issues with hard drugs made me more alert to the grip of addiction. I just didn’t think I could be, just be, without something and for me that was alcohol. But I too was stuck in a fucked up cycle and it went from weekend use to daily. Now almost a year off it, I can’t believe that it was the catalyst to change and growth, that had been holding me back from reaching nearly every goal I set.
Wow. I JUST hit the 3 month mark and it seems like a cloud has lifted. i kept hearing that it would get much better, and I was getting impatient. But, over the last 2 weeks or so i9 have felt like I am finally seeing all the ways i am just BETTER without alcohol. Like s switch went off. Happy for your year, and I am looking forward to getting to my first year.
Get sober...first things first. Then get your life in order. Work on finding out the reasons why you drank. Find outlets that are healthy including meaningful relationships to fill the void of alcohol. This can all be done. Its possible. Starts with getting sober. If I could do it anyone can. It's not easy though. Nothing good is easy.
@Krim138 awesome. I mean awesome!!!!!Congrats. Steady as it goes. Everyone has a different timetable but my advice is don't bite off too much. Be grateful everyday for the opportunity to be sober. Give yourself the love and respect and pride you deserve to yourself. Sound selfish??..lol. Not at all. You got this.
@@timothyslaughter476 great advice! The longest ive went is 50 days and I loved it was the best I ever felt. God has removed my meth/coke addiction away and now It's time to break the last chain. Marijuana helps also too haha!
I really needed this video!!! This really hits home especially the trying anything else EXCEPT giving up alcohol. I've done the same as you, exercise, eating extremely healthy but continuing to drink booz. This is day 1 for me. This is a great video mixed personal experiences and facts. Thanks!
That crippling fear and anxiety and the withdrawals. The alcohol was my solution for all of it, and it made things 10x worse. Waking up depressed, sad and sick all the time. Stuck in that loop. I felt everything you described.
My own body started rejecting alcohol in the past 3 years. I would drink almost daily and would wake up in the middle of the night in a panic with high heart rate which landed me in the ER at least 4 times. I hated feeling like this and my anxiety afterwards was out of control. The next 2 days after drinking I felt horrendous. I’m truly done with it. It’s not worth feeling dreadful afterwards.
These sobriety videos are so valuable as one of the problems with quitting drinking is how much a part of one's social fabric it can be. Without a sense of community quitting, it can feel impossible.
@@ThatOneGuy-hp2pbyes it gets better. At 13 months now and life is still life but I’m doing great, my kids are doing better, I went back to school, I’ve lost 15 pounds, ran a marathon. The suck passes 😊
i've never heard anyone who's in been in the same situation as me, you hit every point i went through, right down to the insomnia and trips to the ER. thank you for sharing sir. 3 years sober, november 7 2020 is my sober birthday
Inspirational story. I'm 50 and I quit. Forever. My alchoholic friend died and I realized that alcohol is a huge problem for me. The anxiety and mental health issues are off the chart here as well. It's been enough.
Your story resonates especially the ‘feeling deeply unsatisfied’ part I too was consistent living super healthy, except for the alcohol bc I didn’t want to give that up. And I would use it in times of anxiety too, to not face things or to numb my hypersensitivity that I just naturally have. I am an antenna😂 and that’s a good thing ( I realize now) and I don’t wanna numb that, I’m 45 days no alcohol and I’m proud of myself and I’m never looking back. I have a really strong ‘why’ - I want to make the decade of my 60s unbelievable and a complete life upgrade I’ve listened to this video a number of times and it always hits Thank you
I like your remix of 99 problems! A bit lengthy but you can make it work. People don’t realize that the lingering feeling of alcohol lasts far beyond the next day or two. It lasts for weeks, the lethargy and anxiety. Alcohol saps your spirit and leaves you as a shell of yourself. We use alcohol to socialize, but we shouldn’t need it to be around people we genuinely like. If you need alcohol to enjoy some people, they’re probably not your people and you’re better off investing your time and energy elsewhere. Drinking friends are not usually real friends anyways for when times get tough. I’m happy for you! No better feeling than being grounded and centered.
Like others here have said, can totally relate. 42 years old, sober about 8 months and wish I'd quit at 30. By the time I was 40, I had the shakes and crippling anxiety, felt like a total shell of myself, especially in public. Hell, even when I drank socially I was still anxious. It's like the booze turned on me. Since I've stopped drinking my anxiety is way better and have lost weight without changing much diet wise- alcohol puts on the weight, it is what it is, not matter how much you work out or how clean you eat. Sure, there's plenty of times I miss it- at airports/on long plane trips, vacations at the beach, etc, but it passes. Otherwise, I drink my seltzer and coffee and it's all good. Honestly it was like I looked forward more to holing up and drinking then actually doing it- those first couple of drinks were a blast but I couldn't stop. Anybody reading this that's younger, do it sooner rather than later, your life will drastically improve- you'll look and feel better. Actually it doesn't matter what age you are, it's never too late to improve ourselves. Great video!
This video is very important for me. Thanks for making it. I thought I was somewhat unique, it's funny I have the exact same panic sometimes from just looking up at an open sky or wide open space. This is exactly what I needed to hear to stop drinking.
You could take this verbatim and I would swear it's me talking. It amazes me how many people go through this with alcohol and never see the light. Sober three months next week. Thanks for sharing.
Amazing video and exactly where I'm at in life now. I'm 28 now but previously I had fun with alcohol in my early/mid 20s when I didn't have 2-3 day hangovers and fog, no weight gain and no anxiety etc. Now I'm completly done with it. I use shrooms occasionally or in social setting if I'm trying to not be completly sober which is way cheaper and less taxing on the body. My life is really taking off in terms of finances, work and fitness now thanks to giving up alcohol. I feel like I finally have my life back after 2 years of either recovering from alcohol or drinking alcohol.
Approaching the one-year mark and it's been a transformative journey. I started off as a moderately heavy user, hitting it up 1-3 times a week, but going relatively hard on each occasion. But let me tell you, stepping back from it has been like putting on a new pair of glasses-suddenly, you see life from a whole different perspective. Initially, I was gunning for just a 30-day hiatus, but that felt so empowering, I stretched it to 90. Fast forward to today, and there's no looking back. It's an experience you've got to feel for yourself to really get it.
Coming up on 2 years sober in October, I'm 31 now, same exact story here all the crippling anxiety, the loss of a true sense of self and values, the pains, all of it was that way for me as well and I honestly know this story is so so much more common than people know because when your living it u feel like there's just something wrong with u but it happens to so many people and we are not alone in those feelings, anyways thanks for this video and I hope it inspires lots of others to leave booze behind for good, I know it changed my whole life and outlook and it sounds like it did yours as well!
Great video! Thanks for sharing! I'm 60 years old and was drinking heavy the past 6 years and i'm VERY early in my sobriety journey and i am on day two of my first 30 day challenge and when i get to day 30, i think it would be very silly to go back to drinking. Like you said, 3 hours of fun is NOT worth days of feeling like crap. Thanks again. You got a new subscriber here. Enjoy your weekend! -Bob
Thank you for sharing! I couldn't relate more to this lol, I thought I was doing everything "right" by exercising more, eating healthier, spending more time outside in nature, meditating, self-help resources, etc etc. Refused to believe I had to remove alcohol to feel better because I loved drinking. But NOTHING helped until I stopped drinking!!! And now I'm better equipped to deal with my problems!
This is by far the best sober video i've watch, and i've watch aaaaa bunch.... I've quit for 3 months a couple years back and i've made all the realisation that you mentioned. All the same things! When I started back i noticed that just one or two drinks brought me back into that fog for days but little by little i've sunk back into that fog permanently for years. My drinking became a problem quickly again and i forgot all about these realisations. I have to quit for health reasons and it felt like an obligation so i'm back watching sober videos and yours reminded me of how good i felt when i was out of this fog a couple years back. Thank you for that!
To anyone reading this - You got this! Just have a strong mindset and the correct people around you and you'll be happier than ever! I hope you are having a fantastic week! ☺
As I’m typing this I’m like 2 weeks sober I’m 28 and alcohol was my coping mechanism just wanna get my life back on track and be human again. The hangovers the anxiety the stories of what you did last night . The people and things I hurt. I made the decision to get sober and ima keep on going day by day. Thanks for your message stay strong brother
I recently hit my "rock bottom moment" with constant dull ache in my left upper abdomen under my rib, tons of scans and blood tests later revealed normal blood work but mild fatty liver and pancreas. Scared the hell out of me thinking it might be cancer and I've completely quit drinking. Already started eating better and losing weight. Going to stay completely off alcohol forever now, I want to be there for my kids and wife as long as possible.
I stopped drinking due to panic attacks for 1-2 days after drinking. I’ve never been so happy I’ve done something in my life. I’ve never felt like I relate to a video like this before. I’m glad you’re improving your life and feeling better brother!
The panic attacks got out of control for me too to the point of feeling like i was going to pass out like you. Went to the ER and called the ambulance twice they found nothing wrong I am realizing it is the alcohol. Thank you for the video!
I drank every night, function well as a teacher, but had heart palpitations, panic attacks, and just assumed that it was something wrong with me inherently. I'm sober for three months now, and immediately I felt better (no heart issues or panic attacks) and although there is still stress, I have hope and feel on top of life now. Alcohol IS the issue.
@@timshenk4731 3 months that's amazing! ☺️👏👏👏. And yes we don't realize the damage alcohol causes the last time I drank I didn't drink that much ,drank water and ate, still woke up in the middle of the night with an anxiety attack and racing heart. I'm afraid to drink at this point and really hope I don't.
10 to 15 shots of bourbon every night for the past 7 years. I had withdrawals every day. Almost crippling anxiety. Somehow, held a job. 3 days sober anxiety is 10% of normal. No dizzy spells, no fantom heart attacks. I feel hope for the first time in years. 100% a cycle of drinking to feel good again. Only to wake up the next day, same as the day before.
Wow I am so impressed by your ability to articulate your experience which is so much like my own and I’m sure so many others! You have an amazing talent for speaking! Thank you for speaking to the anxiety caused by alcohol! I had that too and justified my drinking by telling myself “I’m just self-medicating my anxiety. It’s better than Xanax or another benzo.” Little did I know it was the cause of my anxiety! I’m almost 9 years sober and I also feel that solid rock strength inside me like you talk about. I love it! Thank you! ❤
3 weeks sober. 100% agree with “I’ve got 99 problems and alcohol caused 97 of it”. For only 3 weeks, I’ve been able to fix MOST of my problems. My depression is slowly fading away. Although I feel that “there is no circumstance in which I’d drink not even a sip anymore”. For the experienced folk, does this state of mind persists? PS : I’ve been heavily drinking for 11 years. Most of my adult life.
It's really up to you if you wanna keep that state of mind 👍😁. It does keep getting better but there is a series of ups and downs. Just stay the path and all will be clear in time
I can so relate. I never equated my anxiety/panic attacks to alcohol. I believed it was from trauma and abusive relationships. Like you I was down to drinking very minimally but now that I gave that up…the mental clarity and anxiety is almost gone!! Thank you for sharing this valuable information!! 🙏❤️
Man I resonate with this hundred percent. I'm 45 now but I really started having these thoughts around 40. The loneliest, hangovers, depression, lack of joy..... It got to the point where just drinking didn't even feel good anymore in itself. I literally quit about three months ago. I feel physically healthier. I do still struggle sometimes with mental urges but I think that has a lot to do with wanting to be social again. Which I find kind of difficult now sober. Even my friend group has dramatically dropped off. Realizing they wouldn't really friends in the first place they were drinking buddies. I guess drunks love company. 🤷🥴
You may have good friends who still drink. Don´t write people off just because you stopped drinking. If they are friends then they will understand if you tell them you decided to not drink.
Loved all of this video. I was right where you were and at 53 decided it was time to try a long stretch and 7 months later have experienced all you speak about. Nailed it. The statement “no longer serving me” is a powerful one. My body feels so much better too! Not sure if I’ll never have another glass of poison- but not really wanting any and don’t miss it. And my wife is so much happier too. Thanks for sharing. Great stuff. Congrats on your sober journey
I’m 3 weeks without anything to drink and feel great I’m 58 and this is the longest time since I was 13 with nothing to drink.all my friends and family drink so this isn’t easy . thanks for sharing it helps to keep me on track
It’s like all your words i so deeply feel for myself. Deeply unsatisfied, stuck, all my problems are caused by alcohol. I’ve been eating super well except the alcohol. On and on. I just gotta stop. I have to sit through the withdraw symptoms and get over the hump of getting through the initial misery of sobriety till I get to the joyful state of sobriety again.
This was really great!! I’m now 32 and had to let it go!! Therapy definitely helped me! I’m ready for a good life and family! Alcohol can not be apart of it 🙌🏾
Literally crazy how much this resonates with me. I struggle with anxiety induced derealization feelings. Funnily enough similar to your falling into the sky feelings, i will feel just overwhelmed by the world, its colours and random stuff. I did everything to help it, ate healthy, walked 10k steps every day in nature and went to the gym. Same as you i did help, but not immensely. I used alcohol for the past 2.5 months basically every day to cope. And I used it in two ways, long nature walk and workout = I felt great after = a beer or three as a reward for a good day. On the other hand I'll feel awefull and so out of it some other day = no worries, a beer or three will fix that tonight. I now came to a point where my anxiety, derealization and alcohol "fixing" it starts to blurr. I'm still anxious after drinking and feel I need more to really subdue the anxiety. Meanwhile my sleep sucks majorly. So many forums and video's tell stories of relieving stress by all the other methods other than cutting of alcohol. Don't get me wrong, cutting off alcohol is a huge subject in these video's, but not like you described it. It's rarely talked about how a small, but consistent amount, of alcohol in your life can slowly deteriorate your mental state over time. Thanks for this video! I'm already doing the other stuff right, time for alcohol to go as well.
Yessss!!! So many people are unaware and don't realize how alcohol slowly deteriorates your mental states over time without you realizing it!! I'm glad this video found you and you are starting your journey towards the rest of your amazing life =D. Best wishes!
@@SammyStarkExactly. You don’t have to be a raging alcoholic; just having that poison introduced in your system at some point every 24 hours, and that’s what drinking is. Even just a glass of wine (and who has one, not me) It’s crazy we don’t frame it like that. But I have now, and I’m stopping.
The first 10 minutes of this video is literally my daily life. Random, nonsensical depression, anxiety, body pain. But when i dont drink for several days on end, i immediately feel better....then i drink again and the cycle starts all kver again. All while i openly acknowledge what my issue is! This cideo kets me know im not alone and that if i can stop foe weeks, cold turkey...i can stop all together. Im a beer guy who knows i dri k to much but a 12 pack dont make me black out......i have a problem and i k ownthe fix...this video just confirms my suspension and i thank you for this video! I drastically needed to see this. Not even therapist helped me.
Inspiring story! Thanks for the share … I’ve been the same way where I’ll go for a month but then rebound. But have yet to go long term with it. Deal with all the same issues you mentioned, so time to do things right. God bless
Wow, the way you're describing the symtoms of the hangovers and the effects on your mental health is exactly how I've felt the last few years. Thanks for the video! Time to try living life without alcohol for a bit.
I quit alcohol altogether in March after a few wines made me stop feeling good. From my personal experience, it wasn’t as difficult as I would have thought, and I’ll explain. Firstly, I didn’t build a social life around drinking. Drinking was something I did at home for various reasons, not at bars, house parties or restaurants. I lost zero drinking buddies, because I had never had any to begin with, so the social rejection or FOMO from quitting alcohol wasn’t there for me. Secondly, I drank because I was bored. It’s an escape valve to relieve social anxiety or the feeling like there is nothing going on with your life. So my challenge has been to replace drinking with a hobby that stimulates my mind. Learning a language is really the ultimate hobby in many ways, because you teach yourself discipline, good study habits, new ways of thinking, and you get opportunities to connect with new people. You’ll inevitably make new friends, and you might even meet your future partner/spouse. Thirdly, I quit because of a sense of shame I felt. Not because I abused alcoholic, but for the conflicted feelings I had from knowing so many people who did abuse alcohol, some of whom died from the addiction. It just didn’t sit right with me to drink, and I respected myself less for doing it. Anyways, that’s my experience, but I know many of y’all have a lot more of an uphill battle in quitting. You can absolutely do this, and if getting out of this addiction or habit helps you love yourselves more, then it’s totally worth it. Chin up!
You laid it all out perfectly. I work from home, so my favorite thing to do was go to a bar in the afternoon and get some social interaction… then I started running, working out, etc… I have lost a few friends now because we are going different directions. I’m all about self-improvement. And my closest friend definitely has a VERY BAD drinking problem. So now we have grown apart, but that’s ok with me. I’d rather be alone than damage my body on purpose just for some friends.
@@jeltoninc.8542 You won’t be alone, though. Replacing drinking with confidence-building and self-improving activities will inevitably lead to more quality friendships sooner than later. It’s those who surround themselves with others that aren’t positive influences, who eventually become all alone.
Learning a language is the ultimate hobby for me too. Just never put those words together. Thank you. It stimulates my mind and relieves boredom just as you said...word for word.
Dude you speak very well. I am about to stop it on a permanent basis, it's got to the point where it takes away significantly more than it could ever bring.
Great video! In my 40s I really see how it messes with my fitness and hormones. Avoid it as much as I can. It helps living in Utah, least drunk state. I feel like it is less expected in social situations which makes it so much easier too!
@@SammyStark Yeah lots of health nuts here haha! LDS presence is definitely a factor, but it really doesn’t stop people from buying at the state liquor store.
@@SammyStark Zion, the Uinta Mountains, the Wasatch front and back. Tons to do, in every season. I love skiing but the thing that made me really want to be here were the summers when I would come visit my uncle. Gorgeous summers here. Definitely check it out!
I quit drinking in 2012. Hardest thing I ever did. I was near death. I went from being a drunk loser with no money, to a healthy business owner with money in the bank in about 2 years. You can do it people. Sobriety is easier than you think.
I’m 44 and you have described my life so far. I’m at that stage where I feel/tell my friends that Iv not stopped forever, but want to go 6 months without alcohol. Looks like I should just stop and not go back!
Went 8 months sober and experienced all of this. Felt great. Went on a date and started drinking again. One day a week. Felt like shit. 2 weeks sober again. On to a year.
Man, you describe my exact situation. I’m 30 as of recent. This is day one for me. . You gained a new sub today bro 💪🏼 Thanks for the uplifting content
Your story is SO relatable, and I thank you so much for sharing. This is exactly my issue as well. A couple beers here and there on a week night, or maybe not at all, weekend binges, but everyone does that right? 🙄 Nevermind the fact that my anxiety and depression is terrible, I am in a constant state of shame, my weekends are always destroyed, I avoid people I spoke to drunk because I feel like an idiot for being so erratic when we spoke, etc. I can pin point at least 3 days post drink that I feel like crap. Even if it isn't a sick feeling, it's an I don't want to do anything feeling. No motivation, just tired and solemn. When you explained how you had a vision for the person you wanted to be, and the drunk version of you just didn't match that, I felt a light bulb go off. I feel like I deal with my own personality pitfalls just fine when i'm sober, but drunk me? She may as well have done no work at all. She's irrational, emotional, short tempered, apathetic, and sometimes cruel. None of that is true for sober me- I'm chill, composed, driven, empathetic, stoic, and kind. The difference is night and day. So why let the other version out anymore? It comes down to this- I must accept that I have outgrown alcohol. It doesn't fit the life I'm trying to make. It doesn't fit the person I've become. It no longer serves me. Thank you for sharing your story. My journey to quit only began this week, but hearing stories like yours helps in knowing that not everyone affected by alcohol is a standard drink everyday alcoholic. Sometimes you don't fit that stereotype. Doesn't mean you need to keep doing the thing that doesn't serve you just because on some level it's seen as socially acceptable and normal. It's time to create my own normal.
Hell yeah girl!! I loved every bit of this you wrote here. Thank you for sharing with me and best of luck on your journey. I know the driven empathetic kind version of you is gonna win and come front and center stage for the rest of your act =)
This is exactly what I was going through and I thought I was losing my mind. I’m 45 days sober and I still have anxiety but way better. I’m so glad I decided to quit. I sleep better and I have more energy. I’m happier!
Loved your talk. I related to all of it. A six pack and Call of Duty to feel a bit better. Ha! That has been my 30s and 40s! Ive done several 30 day no alcohol stints in the last couple of years. Every time I go back I feel horrible, even after a couple of drinks. Now in my late 40s, my body just doesn’t handle alcohol anymore. I need to try a longer stint like you did. The song at the end of your video…loved it. Neffex…looked them up and I love their music! I’m a new fan!
I really identified with this video. I’m 42, have not drank for 6 weeks and I’m starting to feel the same way as you. I found what you had to say inspiring and genuine - so thanks!
Your video showed up in my feed this morning, great video thanks. I'm currently struggling with alcohol. I know the damage it is doing, I'm around alcohol all the time. End of the month I'm going across country to stay with a friend in a cabin for a month. My friend doesn't drink - my first thought was how do I bring alcohol and not look like a drunk! I hate it, everything about it. Now my thought is I will be around someone who doesn't drink, now is the time to start my process of quitting. As a person who has no family, no kids & very few friends it seems like it was always there for me. I've survived some crazy events that should've ended my life, I believe I am still here for a reason. Even if it is to simply be here for myself & start enjoying life. Congratulations on learning this while you are still young, I wish I had stopped years ago! Thank you for sharing your story.
Recovering alcoholic here, for me the anxiety, lack of sleep, guilt, feeling like shit, lack of motivation, co existence with other disorders and ruining relationships
This is an eye opener! I stopped drink during the week a while back. And for me it has been a good thing but I never thought that drinking on the weekend could possibly be contributing to my anxiety and depression. Maybe since I do feel better from cutting back, I never thought I could actually change my mood. I also suffer from sever insomnia. It’s a lot to think about but my emotional health is worth a try.
I think the alcohol industry has given us a story of fun, glamorous & luxurious lifestyles with alcohol. You can have the same thing without alcohol. It’s too risky and 50 percent of violent deaths are alcohol related! 😮 I picked up again after I quit for a few years. I’m quitting again starting today!
The changes that happened after 1000 days SOBER! (Vid below )
th-cam.com/video/N0gjEUwEU4o/w-d-xo.htmlsi=HFS7nlCqbp1YMPa3
Im 35 and I can completely relate to this. 5 weeks sober today and have never felt better. My anxiety has gone, constant dread has gone, hating myself has gone. I haven't smoked cigs in 5 weeks, haven't taken any drugs in 5 weeks, haven't made a fool out of myself in 5 weeks, haven't disappointed my family in 5 weeks. Every part of my life is slowly starting to fix itself. Even went on a family vacation and didn't drink (everyone was super proud of me). I really believe that I will never drink again.
Great work so far, keep going and never give up! 💪
update us in 6 months. the first couple months are easy.
Keep going! I’m almost at three months no alcohol ! The anxiety is gone but I can’t stop smoking cigarettes;😢 any advice?
@liliyapetrenko615 Well done👏. If I was you I'd just set myself a daily goal, just tell yourself that your not going to smoke today, don't worry about tomorrow but as long as your heads hits the pillow tonight without lighting up a cigarette then that's a win, then when you wake up in the morning tell yourself the same thing. Small goals like this add up to huge achievements
Kick ass
I started drinking since my teenage, got addicted to alcohol. Spent my whole life fighting alcohol addiction. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Alcohol addiction actually destroyed my life. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.
Thanks for sharing your story. That's rough I sympathize. Save your health save your mind. Life is better without heroin, cocaine, alcohol and cigarettes. And you have more money in your pocket. God bless everyone who has rejected the devils intentions to be addicted to alcohol and cigarettes etc which can cause so much damage to health. I will pray for you all.
Hey mates! Can you help with the source? I suffer severe anxiety, panic and depression and I usually take prescription medicine, but they don't always help. Where can I find those psilocybin mushrooms? I'm really interested in treating my mental health without Rxs. I live in Australia don't know much about these. I'm so glad they helped you. I can't wait to get them too. Really need a reliable source 🙏
Yes reach out Ali shroom
Mushrooms are very medicinal. This is why anybody familiar with psilocybin and any other kind of fungi will tell you, "They are alive." They have a very ancient wisdom. To my experience, all mushrooms have always said, "Pay attention to your life. How you think, how you feel, and what will you do with the information that you always knew, but now are seeing in this point of view." This is why mushrooms are so respected in tribal cultures. This mental health treatment works for me too. Half micro doses do the trick for me. At least a few days at a time with lengthy time in between. Never addictive. Thank you for sharing this point!
How do I reach out to him? Is he On Facebook
After three months of sobriety, I felt a mental fog starting to lift. After six months of sobriety, I rarely had an anxiety attack. After a year of sobriety, my anxiety attacks had disappeared entirely. After two years of sobriety, I have lost ninety-three pounds and feel alive and positive about ninety-eight percent of the time! The largest takeaway from two years of sobriety is: It is not about the alcohol. It was about taking on my own demons and learning how to forgive, especially the person staring back at me in the mirror... Do not be afraid to create the best version of yourself. You are worth it. I heard someone explain the definition of the word discipline and it has imprinted in my mind, especially on the days where I feel less than adequate. And, the definition is this: Discipline - Promising your future self a better life...
This story is so similar to my own. My anxiety was crippling. If only I knew this in my 20s that alcohol was the cause of almost ALL my problems. I’m only one month sober and already feel great. Watching videos like these is helping me see that there is even more beauty to be had in a life of sobriety. So thank you for sharing.
That's awesome my guy!! Glad you found value in the content!
I too will be one month sober on July 1st. But plan on drinking again on july3-6 for a Vegas trip. Then going back to sobriety
I swear your right
I love this video it makes me feel like I’m not alone on this journey
Quit until you quit
21 days sober today. I’m a 44 year old musician. Always surrounded by alcohol. I’ve played two shows in the past three weeks completely sober and I felt more aware . Less anxiety. I sleep better now and drink plenty of water. My face is slimmer because I’m not bloated by alcohol. I’ve lost 4 pounds. That’s just three weeks of cutting out the sauce . Clearer skin and I have so much energy. I don’t miss being depressed and hungover. Thanks for the video and I wish the best for you. Congratulations on your sobriety!
💪💪💪💪yesss!
Make that 93 days today ! I was 181 pounds and now I’m down to 165 !
Lets freaking goooooo!!!!@@joshfeatherstone8546
Great work I'm 25 days!! I'm determined to never look back
@@joshfeatherstone8546 Congrats!! I'm on day 11 right now and while I see more energy at times, other times it feels like I got hit by a brick. Just woke up from a nap actually lol. I'm hoping that's just normal for the first couple weeks, and it gets better after? I started using my exercise bike yesterday also so maybe that's the trick given time. Anyway, congratulations again!!
Being sober eventually brought back feelings I hadn’t experienced since early childhood. Real, warm joy. Like a guttural sense of excitement or anticipation for life even if only for brief moments here and there. The kind of feeling you’d get as a kid on your way to your best friends house.
I experienced these moments where flashes of long-forgotten feelings suddenly hit me and it was like smelling a scent you haven’t smelled in years. It felt so good naturally and highlighted how the counterfeit warmth of alcohol is so devious.
It’s good to know that the childhood spirit lives on even if we lose sight of it and it just needs polishing through clarity to come back to life.
Thats incredible to hear! I've had a few of those experiences myself where I'm just filled with unexplained joy and excitement. It's not all the time for me, but I do appreciate it when it happens =). Thank you for sharing your experience
I nearly forgot about this, thank you.
I’m only starting my journey. Your words are so meaningful and positive - thank you ♥️
I felt that the other day and remembered my childhood 😅
That's beautiful
I'm turning 40 next month and I just completely wasted my 30s being a drunk party girl. Now I'm broke, living with my parents and have a list of health problems thanks to alcohol. I'm only 6 days sober so far, but already feel energized and motivated to get my sh*t together.
Hey,
Turning 40 sounds old but in the big picture of life, you are still young and realising what you have means that you're in the right minds state to start your journey of sobriety. I basically binge drank, and also abused ciggarettes & weed all through my late teens through to my late 30s... A near successful suicide attempt and or a DUI didn't even stop me but one day after waking up one summer afternoon (in the middle of the kitchen floor at my grandmother's house wearing a winter jacket, a touque with no pants on - just my underwear 🙄😒) I realised something needed to change.... I was 38... January 1st 2025 will be my 7 year anniversary of no alcohol... don't get me wrong as life is still hard, but it's more manageable WITHOUT alcohol... less drama, less regret, less shame, less self hate and less anxiety too... you can become your best self without alcohol... Also, living with you're parents at this age isn't anything to feel ashamed about either... take advantage of it to save money and get your independence back... you can do it 💪 I know you can
I'm 61 young lady and am 18 days sober for the first time in 45 years. You might not believe it but 40 leaves you a lot of time to turn things around but you need to stop drinking for good. I promise you that if you can make it to day 15, start eating right and exercising a bit you will be amazed at how much more positive an attitude you will have. It's like a miracle. Good luck.
Keep it up! One day at a time.
It’s not just the alcohol. It’s the vapid interactions with people, the dangerous situations, risky hookups and debilitating hangovers. The alcohol is bad, but it’s also a type of self-abuse with the situations you end up in.
Yep that's very true indeed
true. Someone conned me out of money when I was drunk
Well said
It’s all super shallow. I went to some family members house after being absent for years and getting on track and sober and everyone was generally having a few drinks and I was completely out of place. I couldn’t stand the smell of it and I could tell everyone was under the influence of alcohol and not actually being their true selves.
Thank you, this is the scary part
Im a alcoholic who doesn't drink, AA twelve steps have given me a life beyond my wildest dreams. Sobriety rocks
Absolutely. AA saved my life too.
37 days sober and I’m really proud of myself. Yesterday was my first time going to a party and not having a drink. Honestly I liked it better. I felt more present in conversations and the best part…no guilt, no low vibrational frequency, and NO HANGOVER today. I’m so glad I finally figured it out. It only took 50 years! 😂
Heyaaa lets gooo!!! Don't matter when you get there as long as you get there!
3 days sober
Being sober at parties you realize how annoying and boring drunk people are. You soon get over your friends yelling the same old bullshit in your ear …
I just did a month. Way to go.
❤
I quit for an entire year and I felt amazing. I introduced alcohol back into my life to see if I can enjoy it moderately, but even when I only have two or three drinks, I feel TERRIBLE. I'm ready to quit again for good.
Stay strong on your journey friend!
One beer is enough for me to feel shabby the next day. Alcohol really is poison for the body, mind and soul …
I quit today
Have you tried NA Beer? I’m going 6mo no alcohol!! Love the taste of beer, so NA Beer fills the gap.
@@NO_OPEC_NO_PROBLEM I have! It's a lifesaver when I'm out at the pub with my friends. It's so funny, too, because I'll have a single NA beer and be completely done. Anytime I try for a second one, I instantly regret it. To me, they're so filling! Haha!
I am 11 days sober, trying to get rid of my addiction. Never thought this day would come, been drinking since I turned 25 and now I am 33.
Great job! Stay strong.
Keep it up man!!! 1 month sober here :)
🎉 Congratulations I’m a month and a week sober just left the part did a 2 mile run today at the park!! I feel so good right now
damn you started drinking late
I'm three weeks sober and was struggling today but watching this has put me back on track. Cheers 😊
Hell yeah man!!! You got this and it's only up from here 😄😄
15 years sober. Started at 14 and between that, porn, and video games life was about fun, pleasure, and escape. The result was deep depression and spiritual distress. God took the alcohol addiction away and saved my life.
spirituality is cool but you stopped drinking not God. Give yourself credit
I was powerless over my own addiction. Even the desire to quit was a miracle from God. I was saved from my sin and death first, a Christian conversion, after many years of pursuing pleasure and running from the God whom I was very convinced was every bit of what he revealed of himself in the Bible as we know it. He's patient and he gives us what we desire, even when we reject him. I ended up in depression and addiction that was deep enough that I figured the only way out was meds or death. The doctor rejected my request for meds. He wanted counselling but I needed a fix now, I had already been dealing with this internally for far too long. In the depths I remembered God's offer for freedom from sin and death, if only I'd hand control of my life and eternal destiny over to him. Exactly how much of a role I played in my own salvation, that's a tough one for me sometimes, but I think that if he had not chosen me first I would reject him still. After that moment, that day, I figured I could manage my alcoholism with this newfound zeal for God and my desire for holiness. I'd continue to hang out with my same friends and be a faithful witness for what Jesus had done in my life. They saw a change but one expressed confusion over why I was still getting drunk if I was following Jesus now. That stung pretty deep, as I didn't desire for it to end in drunkenness every time I had one drink. That began one of the greatest struggles of my life, and what I still recall as the darkest. My dad was concerned enough for me that he sent me to a good counselor but the guy refused to just call me out on my real issues. After months of struggling, prayer, scripture, but refusing to live without the bottle, I eventually handed it to God. He didn't force me or pry my fingers open, but he took it from my hands when I released my grip. I vowed to never touch another drop if he'd remove the desire from me. A switch went off and I've been convinced by 15 years of experience that he's removed it so I can be closer to him and so I can walk with others who are in the same dark hole, running from God and clinging to the bottle. You may not get it, that's up to the Spirit to reveal to you how you're powerless over your sin, but I'm convinced of it. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to think through all of this, it's been a while.
All credit goes to God
relax@@djcraigg69
@@djcraigg69That's a weird way to look at life. Everything good that happens is thanks to God and everything horrible that happens somehow is the fault of humans. If God made everything and everyone, then sure thank God for the good things, but God also sure loves creating a lot of evil and terrible things. It's idiotic to not blame the creator for it's creations.
I'm 42 and been a daily drinker for probably 20 years or more.
Never had any "big problems" but I've come to realise it's been really an anchor around my neck for all these years. I don't sleep well, I'm not motivated, I'm not really depressed but also never really happy (except when drinking those first two drinks), all these things you say... I need to stop or at least cut down significantly. But every time evening comes around I reach for that drink again.
I need to watch this video every day.
Keep reminding yourself that you want it! Baby steps lead to long term progress. You got this! 👍👍
You are very self aware…. That’s a step in the right direction… whatever that looks like FOR YOU! ❤
Sounds exactly like me brother! We’ve got this!
Man your situation sounds exactly like mine lol, to a T
20 years alcohol has wreaked havoc on your neurochemistry, your serotonin and dopamine are out of whack. Stop drinking and please just go heal. Your brain will begin to heal over a year..only if you dont touch a drop.
Happy for you Bro ✊
363 days no alcohol 🏆
Almost all my problems gone 🥇
AYOOO lets goooo!!!! =D
The only way to quit is to really change your thinking about alcohol. You have to reach a point, and it’s different timing for everyone, where you realize alcohol is taking more than its giving. If you approach it from the perspective that it’s a good, fun thing, and that you’re making a sacrifice to give it up, you’ll keep on going back to it. When you finally get so tired of the hangovers, anxiety, weight gain, shame of embarrassing yourself and doing dangerous things (like drunk driving), fear of losing your job, opportunities and relations, etc etc, you’ll start seeing it for what it is. A great book to read is How to control alcohol by Alan Carr.
I also heard that there was a study done (not sure where or by whom, I forget) but they say that those who can complete 30 days of sobriety will have far less drinking days throughout the rest of the year. So, if you’re afraid you will never be able to give it up for good, try 30 days first. It’s reasonable, and doable.
This story is almost entirely exactly like mine. Alcohol lied to me. It’s the fake best friend that betrayed me.
Same
It’s Satan in liquid form!!!!!!!!!!!
The gaslighting friend!
21 days sober. Lost 6 lbs. Feel good. Better sleep. Much less anxiety and i dont feel depressed everyday. I dont miss it, some days i dont think about it. I was drinking a 30 to 40 beers a week which is considered heavy for females... Plus eating garage. It took me a long time to get to this point. Many fails but im happy to be where i am. Dont give up! Get control of your life.
It’s crazy all the positivity and the similar things we all can relate to in this feed. I’ve been a drinker for 20 years. It’s time to stop for me. I’m hanging up the drinking gloves, today is day 3 sober. I know i got a long road ahead of me but i fell in my heart i can do it. Thank you all in this feed for the positive vibes. I don’t feel alone anymore.
I'm stopping NOW . Appreciate you sharing your story. Outwardly, I seem fine, hitting the gym and appearing put-together. However, I'm grappling with inner struggles and challenges. Turning to alcohol offers a quick escape, but the aftermath is brutal. This has reached a juncture where it's impacting my life. I'm determined to achieve one week of sobriety, then two, and eventually a whole month.
Get after it brotha! You got this!!
Do it! You I'll feel so much better in a couple of weeks and it gets better and better.
Man so true!
What am I stupid? Talk about shoveling shit up hill!
I'm 62 never had any big drama
But didn't like my behavior and my friends are still doing the same things they always do.
So I unplugged. jumped ship!
Hit the gym and found that there was no more room for alcohol anymore. It's my best life
I'm getting sober, haven't been drunk for some over 2 weeks now closing in 3 weeks... There has been triggers but I just let it pass. Nothing bad is heppening.
@@petertrudel8240 You are absolutely correct. It's the biggest gift you can give to yourself and it never gets old.
I'm glad you talked about how negatively alcohol affects our mental health, thank you! I saw one therapist after another but never was honest with them about my drinking. I'm now 3 1/2 years sober and have not felt the need to make a therapy appointment because like you, I no longer have 97 problems!!
Lets freaking goooooo!!! Thats amazing and incredible to hear!! I'm happy your on the other side doing better =D
Congrats on your sobriety, brother! Thank you for sharing your journey. I'm 34 days sober today and going strong! After more than a decade of daily binge drinking and feeling like absolute dog shit all the time (but never blaming alcohol for it), I finally decided that enough was enough and gave it up for good. 34 days on, and already my life has improved drastically.
Stay strong buddy! It only gets better =)
How are you doing these days? ❤️🙏
@fidjicz Thanks for asking. I'm doing great! Over a year sober now, and still going strong!
A lot of these sobriety videos mention timelines that don't work for everyone. Some people talk about experiencing benefits in 1-2 weeks. I experienced some benefits but still really struggled and concluded that maybe alcohol wasn't the problem. Hearing that it took you months is exactly what I needed to hear.
I can relate alot to this. Especially because to most people my drinking may look "socially acceptable" i have tried many times to stop, ive gotten a few months in but always went back, im about 2 weeks without it, but really going to try and make it stick. Same age as you so can be hard because i feel like most of my friends are caught up in the drinking, its such a staple of what everyone does. But gotta stay strong. And just stop. I know i feel way better when i don't drink, like everything you said is true, but i guess i forget how bad it is after a night out than its like i have to start and stop, can be super annoying. But this time gonna be different!
Thanks for posting dude was a solid video
I'm glad you found some solid value in the content!! =D
I couldn't agree more!!! I was stuck for years and my mental health kept getting worse. Alcohol has no benefits for me
Alcohol is pure anxiety dude. Great video.
I ruined my 20s through alcoholism. Ruined might be too strong of a word, but I should have stopped when I was 24/25. My late 20s was so anxiety ridden.
@@paulhamrick3943 Oh 100% man, alcohol is so bad for anxiety and depression. I only recently found cannabis to be just as bad and was giving me terrible panic attacks at night.
Facts
This is possibly the very best video I have ever seen about alcohol. The entire young generation should watch this yearly and find out early in life about their anxiety, depression, insomnia, & living a normal life and maintaining it. This would save so many lives & families ❤
I appreciate those sweet words Colleen =). I'm happy you found this video impactful and hope it reaches who it needs to reach =)
To whoever see’s this, keep going! Sometimes it takes an event to really rock your world for you to finally stop and say, “I’ve gotta kick this habit forreal this time.” You’ve got this!
Great vid
I quit drinking for 4.5 years and relapsed last December,about 9 months after losing a loved one. I never got back to anywhere near where I was once and I thought I had a grip on it all. It’s not the terrible trouble I could potentially put myself in that has made me decide to quit again but all the reasons you stated in the video. The anxiety, depression and being short tempered no matter how little I drank never went away, thank you for this. In the beginning when I first quit, I didn’t tell anyone, just became a ghost and replaced the habit. It wasn’t until months down the road I saw how it really affected my mind-no matter the amount. I remember hearing this when I first quit, the beginning might be hard because you’re forced to deal with things without your vice.
Imagine you’re driving a car and all the things you’re avoiding with alcohol are in the backseat & you slam on your breaks then everything flies to the front for you to deal with head on. Once that initial clean up is over (usually a view months down the road of sobriety) things don’t feel so dark anymore. Much love and respect to your journey,may you continue to be blessed significantly.
Thank you for taking the time to share part of your story. I can def agree with that analogy. Once I quit there was def a lot of things for me to deal with. I hope your journey continues to be a great one on the up and up =)
Almost 10 months sober here. About 3-4 months into abruptly quitting drugs/alcohol, I STARTED feeling insane anxiety. I quit drinking in August and had my very first panic attack in November. I realized that I've had anxiety and depression for most of my life, but alcohol was my coping mechanism and way to suppress the symptoms (but we all know alcohol makes it worse in the long run). I realized it was time to start taking my mental health seriously, started therapy, and now I'm dedicated to working through my mental health issues for the first time in 10+ years. It's starting to work. Thank you for sharing your story, it was so well-articulated and relatable!
I'm glad you found value in the video friend!! Best wishes!
I’m coming up on 500 days sober. I became a very hardcore alcoholic. I destroyed everything worthwhile in my life. He’s right, I had 99 problems and quitting alcohol and all mind altering substances, 97 of my problems went away. Alcohol is dangerous and those that fall into it are not wise. Almost everyone I know who is in prison or has went to prison has gone because of an alcohol related charge.
And the prison thing is sad. Usually people drink to run away from their mental health or some trauma from the past. They shouldn't get locked up. Alcohol has a massive influence over media and most people have been brainwashed since birth to see alcohol as something good.
I am 10 days away from my 5th year sober…. If I can get sober, ANYONEEEEEEE can! 🥹 I hit rock bottom and I still wasn’t done…. I’m here to tell you…. IT CAN BE DONE AND YOU CAN BE HAPPIER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN! Great job and good luck to anyone on this path! 🤍🩷
Lets gooo!!! =)
What was the rock bottom? Keep going ❤️🙏
Great post!! Truly relatable👍👏🙌
Staying sober has given me everything that alcohol promised.
I can relate to everything you have said. I’m 63 & have known for a couple of decades that my alcohol problem was in fact a HUGE problem. Long story short - ugly DUI, then my family shipped me off to Ft Lauderdale where I stayed in treatment for four months. I am so thankful to almost be at 5 years sober & I can’t even explain how when I finally put the bottle down, life improved. Life still happens, but I’m just not turning to alcohol for pain relief, and that’s another win for not drinking!! Congratulations to you on two years. It’s wonderful. Our higher power watches over us. He knows what we need all the time way better than we know what we need! It’s a very real struggle and anyone out there who is facing it. It’s hard, but most hard things are worth it and I get to live out the rest of my days sober & in control of my life! If you can’t control your behavior, believe me, there’s someone out there who will!
Congrats on your sobriety as well friend!
One strong takeaway I hope people take away from this, is patience. It took you almost 4 months before you really started to notice the massive differences you were experiencing. I too began to feel HUGE differences in how I felt, emotionally and physically once I broke past the 3 month mark. As someone whose lead up to quitting was very different, I often would expect the results to be immediately apparent and didn’t know that it would get progressively better over time. I had a bad relationship with alcohol, my parents are alcoholics and it had a massive impact on my childhood. my past substance use issues with hard drugs made me more alert to the grip of addiction. I just didn’t think I could be, just be, without something and for me that was alcohol. But I too was stuck in a fucked up cycle and it went from weekend use to daily. Now almost a year off it, I can’t believe that it was the catalyst to change and growth, that had been holding me back from reaching nearly every goal I set.
Good to hear you made it to the other side brotha!. Stay strong and stay on the path. Good things will always be coming =)
Wow. I JUST hit the 3 month mark and it seems like a cloud has lifted. i kept hearing that it would get much better, and I was getting impatient. But, over the last 2 weeks or so i9 have felt like I am finally seeing all the ways i am just BETTER without alcohol. Like s switch went off. Happy for your year, and I am looking forward to getting to my first year.
❤🙏🥳
Get sober...first things first. Then get your life in order. Work on finding out the reasons why you drank. Find outlets that are healthy including meaningful relationships to fill the void of alcohol. This can all be done. Its possible. Starts with getting sober. If I could do it anyone can. It's not easy though. Nothing good is easy.
Facts 16 days sober and I'm staring to get that fire of motivation back in me and the confidence
@Krim138 awesome. I mean awesome!!!!!Congrats. Steady as it goes. Everyone has a different timetable but my advice is don't bite off too much. Be grateful everyday for the opportunity to be sober. Give yourself the love and respect and pride you deserve to yourself. Sound selfish??..lol. Not at all. You got this.
@@timothyslaughter476 great advice! The longest ive went is 50 days and I loved it was the best I ever felt. God has removed my meth/coke addiction away and now It's time to break the last chain. Marijuana helps also too haha!
Love “The drinking me and the me I want to be are not the same.” Truth! Love your pure openness.
I admire you’re honestly brother ❤ I’m sure you’re speaking to a lot of us right now
Currently 6 months alcohol free!
Appreciate that bro!!! Stay strong!!
I really needed this video!!! This really hits home especially the trying anything else EXCEPT giving up alcohol. I've done the same as you, exercise, eating extremely healthy but continuing to drink booz. This is day 1 for me. This is a great video mixed personal experiences and facts. Thanks!
Hey I hope it's get's better :) We're in the same boat...
How is your journey?
I’m 23 and I’m working on quitting. Wish me luck
Luck has been wished!
That crippling fear and anxiety and the withdrawals. The alcohol was my solution for all of it, and it made things 10x worse. Waking up depressed, sad and sick all the time. Stuck in that loop. I felt everything you described.
Hoping things have gotten better for ya and if not then good luck on your journey! Def don't miss those days
My own body started rejecting alcohol in the past 3 years. I would drink almost daily and would wake up in the middle of the night in a panic with high heart rate which landed me in the ER at least 4 times. I hated feeling like this and my anxiety afterwards was out of control. The next 2 days after drinking I felt horrendous. I’m truly done with it. It’s not worth feeling dreadful afterwards.
I get a high heart rate too when i drink.
Same here... once you stop, you become your true self, and thats when good things will happen 🎉🎉
You have just described everthing i am going through , i myself didnt eant to admit it was the alcohol. I am 100% ready to stop 🙌
Best wishes my friend! Good luck on your journey!
These sobriety videos are so valuable as one of the problems with quitting drinking is how much a part of one's social fabric it can be. Without a sense of community quitting, it can feel impossible.
Thank you for sharing, I stopped drinking 8 months ago and the first 6 months was very rough but it’s getting better.
Great job! Keep going.
I'm at 3.5 months. 6 months, ehh??
@@ThatOneGuy-hp2pbyes it gets better. At 13 months now and life is still life but I’m doing great, my kids are doing better, I went back to school, I’ve lost 15 pounds, ran a marathon. The suck passes 😊
This was so good! I connected with everything you said- from the pains to just the inconsistencies in your character! Thank you for this
=) I am glad you found value in the video!!! Best wishes friend.
i've never heard anyone who's in been in the same situation as me, you hit every point i went through, right down to the insomnia and trips to the ER. thank you for sharing sir. 3 years sober, november 7 2020 is my sober birthday
Happy to hear that man!! I think the story rings true for many!
Inspirational story. I'm 50 and I quit. Forever. My alchoholic friend died and I realized that alcohol is a huge problem for me. The anxiety and mental health issues are off the chart here as well. It's been enough.
Best of luck on your journey!!!!
How are you doing?
Yr comment is exactly me! Except Im 60.
All of it.
Im done too.
Day 45 🙏🏻😊
Your story resonates especially the ‘feeling deeply unsatisfied’ part
I too was consistent living super healthy, except for the alcohol bc I didn’t want to give that up. And I would use it in times of anxiety too, to not face things or to numb my hypersensitivity that I just naturally have. I am an antenna😂 and that’s a good thing ( I realize now) and I don’t wanna numb that,
I’m 45 days no alcohol and I’m proud of myself and I’m never looking back.
I have a really strong ‘why’ -
I want to make the decade of my 60s unbelievable and a complete life upgrade
I’ve listened to this video a number of times and it always hits
Thank you
Great video. 68 days sober today, and have also finally ditched the weed! Just the vape to go!
Thank you for sharing your story. Very motivating ❤
Strong work my guy!! Keep it up 💪💪
❤❤❤ telling my story for me! Im on day one...again ❤
You got this! One day at a time =D
I like your remix of 99 problems! A bit lengthy but you can make it work.
People don’t realize that the lingering feeling of alcohol lasts far beyond the next day or two. It lasts for weeks, the lethargy and anxiety. Alcohol saps your spirit and leaves you as a shell of yourself. We use alcohol to socialize, but we shouldn’t need it to be around people we genuinely like. If you need alcohol to enjoy some people, they’re probably not your people and you’re better off investing your time and energy elsewhere. Drinking friends are not usually real friends anyways for when times get tough.
I’m happy for you! No better feeling than being grounded and centered.
Thank you for your kind words =)
Like others here have said, can totally relate. 42 years old, sober about 8 months and wish I'd quit at 30. By the time I was 40, I had the shakes and crippling anxiety, felt like a total shell of myself, especially in public. Hell, even when I drank socially I was still anxious. It's like the booze turned on me. Since I've stopped drinking my anxiety is way better and have lost weight without changing much diet wise- alcohol puts on the weight, it is what it is, not matter how much you work out or how clean you eat. Sure, there's plenty of times I miss it- at airports/on long plane trips, vacations at the beach, etc, but it passes. Otherwise, I drink my seltzer and coffee and it's all good. Honestly it was like I looked forward more to holing up and drinking then actually doing it- those first couple of drinks were a blast but I couldn't stop. Anybody reading this that's younger, do it sooner rather than later, your life will drastically improve- you'll look and feel better. Actually it doesn't matter what age you are, it's never too late to improve ourselves. Great video!
Thank you for sharing your story 🙏. Glad you're on the other side 😁
This video is very important for me. Thanks for making it. I thought I was somewhat unique, it's funny I have the exact same panic sometimes from just looking up at an open sky or wide open space. This is exactly what I needed to hear to stop drinking.
I'm glad you found value in the video friend! Best wishes on your journey!
Me too brother!
You could take this verbatim and I would swear it's me talking. It amazes me how many people go through this with alcohol and never see the light. Sober three months next week. Thanks for sharing.
Good luck on your journey =)
The guilt and shame is so dreadful 😢
Amazing video and exactly where I'm at in life now. I'm 28 now but previously I had fun with alcohol in my early/mid 20s when I didn't have 2-3 day hangovers and fog, no weight gain and no anxiety etc. Now I'm completly done with it. I use shrooms occasionally or in social setting if I'm trying to not be completly sober which is way cheaper and less taxing on the body. My life is really taking off in terms of finances, work and fitness now thanks to giving up alcohol. I feel like I finally have my life back after 2 years of either recovering from alcohol or drinking alcohol.
Approaching the one-year mark and it's been a transformative journey. I started off as a moderately heavy user, hitting it up 1-3 times a week, but going relatively hard on each occasion. But let me tell you, stepping back from it has been like putting on a new pair of glasses-suddenly, you see life from a whole different perspective. Initially, I was gunning for just a 30-day hiatus, but that felt so empowering, I stretched it to 90. Fast forward to today, and there's no looking back. It's an experience you've got to feel for yourself to really get it.
Coming up on 2 years sober in October, I'm 31 now, same exact story here all the crippling anxiety, the loss of a true sense of self and values, the pains, all of it was that way for me as well and I honestly know this story is so so much more common than people know because when your living it u feel like there's just something wrong with u but it happens to so many people and we are not alone in those feelings, anyways thanks for this video and I hope it inspires lots of others to leave booze behind for good, I know it changed my whole life and outlook and it sounds like it did yours as well!
Glad to hear your story brother. Always good to know you're not alone =)
@@SammyStark I appreciate that, right back at u! 🫡
Great video! Thanks for sharing! I'm 60 years old and was drinking heavy the past 6 years and i'm VERY early in my sobriety journey and i am on day two of my first 30 day challenge and when i get to day 30, i think it would be very silly to go back to drinking. Like you said, 3 hours of fun is NOT worth days of feeling like crap. Thanks again. You got a new subscriber here. Enjoy your weekend! -Bob
Stay strong Bob and good luck on your journey!!
@@SammyStark Thanks so much. You too.
Thank you for sharing! I couldn't relate more to this lol, I thought I was doing everything "right" by exercising more, eating healthier, spending more time outside in nature, meditating, self-help resources, etc etc. Refused to believe I had to remove alcohol to feel better because I loved drinking. But NOTHING helped until I stopped drinking!!! And now I'm better equipped to deal with my problems!
Yes!!!! Excatlyyy!!! Glad you're doing better!
This is by far the best sober video i've watch, and i've watch aaaaa bunch.... I've quit for 3 months a couple years back and i've made all the realisation that you mentioned. All the same things! When I started back i noticed that just one or two drinks brought me back into that fog for days but little by little i've sunk back into that fog permanently for years. My drinking became a problem quickly again and i forgot all about these realisations. I have to quit for health reasons and it felt like an obligation so i'm back watching sober videos and yours reminded me of how good i felt when i was out of this fog a couple years back. Thank you for that!
I'm glad you found value & enjoyed the video!!! Thank you for sharing and best of luck getting back on track. You got this!
To anyone reading this - You got this! Just have a strong mindset and the correct people around you and you'll be happier than ever! I hope you are having a fantastic week! ☺
As I’m typing this I’m like 2 weeks sober I’m 28 and alcohol was my coping mechanism just wanna get my life back on track and be human again. The hangovers the anxiety the stories of what you did last night . The people and things I hurt. I made the decision to get sober and ima keep on going day by day. Thanks for your message stay strong brother
I recently hit my "rock bottom moment" with constant dull ache in my left upper abdomen under my rib, tons of scans and blood tests later revealed normal blood work but mild fatty liver and pancreas. Scared the hell out of me thinking it might be cancer and I've completely quit drinking. Already started eating better and losing weight. Going to stay completely off alcohol forever now, I want to be there for my kids and wife as long as possible.
Same! 🫶👍✝️🙏
Thats whats up friend. Best wishes on your journey!
@@SammyStark thank you! And I appreciate you sharing your story it totally resonates and inspires.
I stopped drinking due to panic attacks for 1-2 days after drinking. I’ve never been so happy I’ve done something in my life. I’ve never felt like I relate to a video like this before. I’m glad you’re improving your life and feeling better brother!
The panic attacks got out of control for me too to the point of feeling like i was going to pass out like you. Went to the ER and called the ambulance twice they found nothing wrong I am realizing it is the alcohol. Thank you for the video!
I drank every night, function well as a teacher, but had heart palpitations, panic attacks, and just assumed that it was something wrong with me inherently. I'm sober for three months now, and immediately I felt better (no heart issues or panic attacks) and although there is still stress, I have hope and feel on top of life now. Alcohol IS the issue.
@@timshenk4731 3 months that's amazing! ☺️👏👏👏. And yes we don't realize the damage alcohol causes the last time I drank I didn't drink that much ,drank water and ate, still woke up in the middle of the night with an anxiety attack and racing heart. I'm afraid to drink at this point and really hope I don't.
@@timshenk4731
Liop
10 to 15 shots of bourbon every night for the past 7 years. I had withdrawals every day. Almost crippling anxiety. Somehow, held a job. 3 days sober anxiety is 10% of normal. No dizzy spells, no fantom heart attacks. I feel hope for the first time in years. 100% a cycle of drinking to feel good again. Only to wake up the next day, same as the day before.
@@jgranger2002 That's great!! ☺️🙏
Wow I am so impressed by your ability to articulate your experience which is so much like my own and I’m sure so many others! You have an amazing talent for speaking! Thank you for speaking to the anxiety caused by alcohol! I had that too and justified my drinking by telling myself “I’m just self-medicating my anxiety. It’s better than Xanax or another benzo.” Little did I know it was the cause of my anxiety! I’m almost 9 years sober and I also feel that solid rock strength inside me like you talk about. I love it! Thank you! ❤
3 weeks sober. 100% agree with “I’ve got 99 problems and alcohol caused 97 of it”.
For only 3 weeks, I’ve been able to fix MOST of my problems. My depression is slowly fading away.
Although I feel that “there is no circumstance in which I’d drink not even a sip anymore”.
For the experienced folk, does this state of mind persists?
PS : I’ve been heavily drinking for 11 years. Most of my adult life.
It's really up to you if you wanna keep that state of mind 👍😁. It does keep getting better but there is a series of ups and downs. Just stay the path and all will be clear in time
I can so relate. I never equated my anxiety/panic attacks to alcohol. I believed it was from trauma and abusive relationships. Like you I was down to drinking very minimally but now that I gave that up…the mental clarity and anxiety is almost gone!! Thank you for sharing this valuable information!! 🙏❤️
Man I resonate with this hundred percent. I'm 45 now but I really started having these thoughts around 40. The loneliest, hangovers, depression, lack of joy..... It got to the point where just drinking didn't even feel good anymore in itself. I literally quit about three months ago. I feel physically healthier. I do still struggle sometimes with mental urges but I think that has a lot to do with wanting to be social again. Which I find kind of difficult now sober. Even my friend group has dramatically dropped off. Realizing they wouldn't really friends in the first place they were drinking buddies. I guess drunks love company. 🤷🥴
You may have good friends who still drink. Don´t write people off just because you stopped drinking. If they are friends then they will understand if you tell them you decided to not drink.
Loved all of this video. I was right where you were and at 53 decided it was time to try a long stretch and 7 months later have experienced all you speak about. Nailed it. The statement “no longer serving me” is a powerful one. My body feels so much better too! Not sure if I’ll never have another glass of poison- but not really wanting any and don’t miss it. And my wife is so much happier too. Thanks for sharing. Great stuff. Congrats on your sober journey
I’m 3 weeks without anything to drink and feel great I’m 58 and this is the longest time since I was 13 with nothing to drink.all my friends and family drink so this isn’t easy .
thanks for sharing it helps to keep me on track
It’s like all your words i so deeply feel for myself. Deeply unsatisfied, stuck, all my problems are caused by alcohol. I’ve been eating super well except the alcohol. On and on. I just gotta stop. I have to sit through the withdraw symptoms and get over the hump of getting through the initial misery of sobriety till I get to the joyful state of sobriety again.
This was really great!! I’m now 32 and had to let it go!! Therapy definitely helped me! I’m ready for a good life and family! Alcohol can not be apart of it 🙌🏾
Literally crazy how much this resonates with me. I struggle with anxiety induced derealization feelings. Funnily enough similar to your falling into the sky feelings, i will feel just overwhelmed by the world, its colours and random stuff. I did everything to help it, ate healthy, walked 10k steps every day in nature and went to the gym. Same as you i did help, but not immensely. I used alcohol for the past 2.5 months basically every day to cope. And I used it in two ways, long nature walk and workout = I felt great after = a beer or three as a reward for a good day. On the other hand I'll feel awefull and so out of it some other day = no worries, a beer or three will fix that tonight. I now came to a point where my anxiety, derealization and alcohol "fixing" it starts to blurr. I'm still anxious after drinking and feel I need more to really subdue the anxiety. Meanwhile my sleep sucks majorly. So many forums and video's tell stories of relieving stress by all the other methods other than cutting of alcohol. Don't get me wrong, cutting off alcohol is a huge subject in these video's, but not like you described it. It's rarely talked about how a small, but consistent amount, of alcohol in your life can slowly deteriorate your mental state over time. Thanks for this video! I'm already doing the other stuff right, time for alcohol to go as well.
Yessss!!! So many people are unaware and don't realize how alcohol slowly deteriorates your mental states over time without you realizing it!! I'm glad this video found you and you are starting your journey towards the rest of your amazing life =D. Best wishes!
@@SammyStark Thank you so much man! You keep doing what you're doing on youtube!!
@@SammyStarkExactly. You don’t have to be a raging alcoholic; just having that poison introduced in your system at some point every 24 hours, and that’s what drinking is. Even just a glass of wine (and who has one, not me)
It’s crazy we don’t frame it like that. But I have now, and I’m stopping.
@@MsSheilaC Great that you're making that realization and on the up and up now =D
@@SammyStark yeah too bad it took so long 😞 but Im using my regret as motivation and a lesson
One of my biggest struggles is alcohol abuse. Still fighting the good fight, ain't giving up.
You got this! One day at a time!
The first 10 minutes of this video is literally my daily life. Random, nonsensical depression, anxiety, body pain. But when i dont drink for several days on end, i immediately feel better....then i drink again and the cycle starts all kver again. All while i openly acknowledge what my issue is! This cideo kets me know im not alone and that if i can stop foe weeks, cold turkey...i can stop all together. Im a beer guy who knows i dri k to much but a 12 pack dont make me black out......i have a problem and i k ownthe fix...this video just confirms my suspension and i thank you for this video! I drastically needed to see this. Not even therapist helped me.
I'm glad this message found you. God speed!!
Inspiring story! Thanks for the share … I’ve been the same way where I’ll go for a month but then rebound. But have yet to go long term with it. Deal with all the same issues you mentioned, so time to do things right. God bless
Wow, the way you're describing the symtoms of the hangovers and the effects on your mental health is exactly how I've felt the last few years. Thanks for the video! Time to try living life without alcohol for a bit.
Best of luck on the journey! No one ever quits & regrets its. It's only good things =)
I quit alcohol altogether in March after a few wines made me stop feeling good. From my personal experience, it wasn’t as difficult as I would have thought, and I’ll explain.
Firstly, I didn’t build a social life around drinking. Drinking was something I did at home for various reasons, not at bars, house parties or restaurants. I lost zero drinking buddies, because I had never had any to begin with, so the social rejection or FOMO from quitting alcohol wasn’t there for me.
Secondly, I drank because I was bored. It’s an escape valve to relieve social anxiety or the feeling like there is nothing going on with your life. So my challenge has been to replace drinking with a hobby that stimulates my mind. Learning a language is really the ultimate hobby in many ways, because you teach yourself discipline, good study habits, new ways of thinking, and you get opportunities to connect with new people. You’ll inevitably make new friends, and you might even meet your future partner/spouse.
Thirdly, I quit because of a sense of shame I felt. Not because I abused alcoholic, but for the conflicted feelings I had from knowing so many people who did abuse alcohol, some of whom died from the addiction. It just didn’t sit right with me to drink, and I respected myself less for doing it.
Anyways, that’s my experience, but I know many of y’all have a lot more of an uphill battle in quitting. You can absolutely do this, and if getting out of this addiction or habit helps you love yourselves more, then it’s totally worth it. Chin up!
You laid it all out perfectly. I work from home, so my favorite thing to do was go to a bar in the afternoon and get some social interaction… then I started running, working out, etc… I have lost a few friends now because we are going different directions. I’m all about self-improvement. And my closest friend definitely has a VERY BAD drinking problem. So now we have grown apart, but that’s ok with me. I’d rather be alone than damage my body on purpose just for some friends.
@@jeltoninc.8542 You won’t be alone, though. Replacing drinking with confidence-building and self-improving activities will inevitably lead to more quality friendships sooner than later. It’s those who surround themselves with others that aren’t positive influences, who eventually become all alone.
Learning a language is the ultimate hobby for me too. Just never put those words together. Thank you. It stimulates my mind and relieves boredom just as you said...word for word.
Dude you speak very well. I am about to stop it on a permanent basis, it's got to the point where it takes away significantly more than it could ever bring.
Great video! In my 40s I really see how it messes with my fitness and hormones. Avoid it as much as I can. It helps living in Utah, least drunk state. I feel like it is less expected in social situations which makes it so much easier too!
Didnt know that about Utah! LOL. Good to know =D
@@SammyStark Yeah lots of health nuts here haha! LDS presence is definitely a factor, but it really doesn’t stop people from buying at the state liquor store.
@@DowntownKate15 Might have to do a utah trip one of these days haha
@@SammyStark Zion, the Uinta Mountains, the Wasatch front and back. Tons to do, in every season. I love skiing but the thing that made me really want to be here were the summers when I would come visit my uncle. Gorgeous summers here. Definitely check it out!
I quit drinking in 2012. Hardest thing I ever did. I was near death. I went from being a drunk loser with no money, to a healthy business owner with money in the bank in about 2 years. You can do it people. Sobriety is easier than you think.
What an amazing progression! =D Congrats
I’m 44 and you have described my life so far. I’m at that stage where I feel/tell my friends that Iv not stopped forever, but want to go 6 months without alcohol. Looks like I should just stop and not go back!
Went 8 months sober and experienced all of this. Felt great. Went on a date and started drinking again. One day a week. Felt like shit. 2 weeks sober again. On to a year.
You got this!
Man, you describe my exact situation. I’m 30 as of recent. This is day one for me. . You gained a new sub today bro 💪🏼
Thanks for the uplifting content
Your story is SO relatable, and I thank you so much for sharing. This is exactly my issue as well. A couple beers here and there on a week night, or maybe not at all, weekend binges, but everyone does that right? 🙄 Nevermind the fact that my anxiety and depression is terrible, I am in a constant state of shame, my weekends are always destroyed, I avoid people I spoke to drunk because I feel like an idiot for being so erratic when we spoke, etc. I can pin point at least 3 days post drink that I feel like crap. Even if it isn't a sick feeling, it's an I don't want to do anything feeling. No motivation, just tired and solemn.
When you explained how you had a vision for the person you wanted to be, and the drunk version of you just didn't match that, I felt a light bulb go off. I feel like I deal with my own personality pitfalls just fine when i'm sober, but drunk me? She may as well have done no work at all. She's irrational, emotional, short tempered, apathetic, and sometimes cruel. None of that is true for sober me- I'm chill, composed, driven, empathetic, stoic, and kind. The difference is night and day. So why let the other version out anymore?
It comes down to this- I must accept that I have outgrown alcohol. It doesn't fit the life I'm trying to make. It doesn't fit the person I've become. It no longer serves me. Thank you for sharing your story. My journey to quit only began this week, but hearing stories like yours helps in knowing that not everyone affected by alcohol is a standard drink everyday alcoholic. Sometimes you don't fit that stereotype. Doesn't mean you need to keep doing the thing that doesn't serve you just because on some level it's seen as socially acceptable and normal. It's time to create my own normal.
Exactly 👌🏿
Hell yeah girl!! I loved every bit of this you wrote here. Thank you for sharing with me and best of luck on your journey. I know the driven empathetic kind version of you is gonna win and come front and center stage for the rest of your act =)
This is exactly what I was going through and I thought I was losing my mind. I’m 45 days sober and I still have anxiety but way better. I’m so glad I decided to quit. I sleep better and I have more energy. I’m happier!
Loved your talk. I related to all of it. A six pack and Call of Duty to feel a bit better. Ha! That has been my 30s and 40s! Ive done several 30 day no alcohol stints in the last couple of years. Every time I go back I feel horrible, even after a couple of drinks. Now in my late 40s, my body just doesn’t handle alcohol anymore. I need to try a longer stint like you did. The song at the end of your video…loved it. Neffex…looked them up and I love their music! I’m a new fan!
One day at a time buddy. Glad you enjoyed the talk!
I really identified with this video. I’m 42, have not drank for 6 weeks and I’m starting to feel the same way as you. I found what you had to say inspiring and genuine - so thanks!
I'm glad you found value in the video and are starting to feel better 😁😁
Great video bro. Im quitting again for the 94th time 😂. Ill keep quitting until i quit
Your video showed up in my feed this morning, great video thanks. I'm currently struggling with alcohol. I know the damage it is doing, I'm around alcohol all the time. End of the month I'm going across country to stay with a friend in a cabin for a month. My friend doesn't drink - my first thought was how do I bring alcohol and not look like a drunk! I hate it, everything about it. Now my thought is I will be around someone who doesn't drink, now is the time to start my process of quitting. As a person who has no family, no kids & very few friends it seems like it was always there for me. I've survived some crazy events that should've ended my life, I believe I am still here for a reason. Even if it is to simply be here for myself & start enjoying life. Congratulations on learning this while you are still young, I wish I had stopped years ago! Thank you for sharing your story.
Best of luck on your journey as well! Stay strong friend!
I've always had that fear of falling into the sky! I know exactly what you're talking about!
Awwwww XD
Recovering alcoholic here, for me the anxiety, lack of sleep, guilt, feeling like shit, lack of motivation, co existence with other disorders and ruining relationships
This is an eye opener! I stopped drink during the week a while back. And for me it has been a good thing but I never thought that drinking on the weekend could possibly be contributing to my anxiety and depression. Maybe since I do feel better from cutting back, I never thought I could actually change my mood. I also suffer from sever insomnia. It’s a lot to think about but my emotional health is worth a try.
I think the alcohol industry has given us a story of fun, glamorous & luxurious lifestyles with alcohol. You can have the same thing without alcohol. It’s too risky and 50 percent of violent deaths are alcohol related! 😮 I picked up again after I quit for a few years. I’m quitting again starting today!
Lets goo!! Get back on the horse! Yeah there's def some mainstream brainwashing going on
I could have written many parts of this video. Truly eye-opening. Thank you for sharing.
@@lisacatlin312 anytime friend!