5 days sober, wish me luck. Been binge drinking for nearly 30 years and I’m so over it. Excited to become the best version of myself and the man my family deserves.
Same feeling, im also done with it :D ive relapsed a couple times but every time i do, i learn that i rly dont like how it takes me on a ride. Bin sober and exersizing for 4 months now and ive never bin happyer. Drinking raw milk now instead of beer ^^
I’m 7 months sober, too many bad things happened over the years. Almost every bad thing that has ever happened in my life was connected to alcohol. Enough.
I'm a veteran, was actually addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. Alcohol and cigarettes addiction actually destroyed my life, i suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with cptsd. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 6 years totally clean. Much respect to mother nature the great magic shrooms.
I love hearing great life changing stories like this. I want to become a mycologist because honestly mushrooms are the best form of medicine (most especially the psychedelic ones) There are so many people today used magic mushrooms to ween off of SSRI medication- its amazing! Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death buddy, lets be honest here.
Can you help me with the reliable source 🙏. I'm 56 and have suffered for years with addiction, anxiety and severe ptsd, I got my panic attacks under control myself years ago and they have come back with a vengeance, I'm constantly trying to take full breaths but can't get the full satisfying breath out, it's absolutely crippling me, i live in Germany. I don't know much about these mushrooms. Really need a reliable source!! Can't wait to get them
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.
I'm 42 and to me, alcohol is not cool anymore. The only reason I was hanging on was for social reasons. As non-drinkers start to approach drinkers by the numbers, it'll become much more acceptable among the general population. Imagine planning a weekend around physical activities, eating healthy food, and maintaining quality sleep - with friends. Huberman and Chris both gave me the most compelling reasons to stop - and now Mark Manson, who I have followed for years. I have no problem telling people it's just bad for my health. That's a good enough reason and it's the truth.
I quit at 43 a year and a half ago. It had stopped being fun when I reached 38 but I held on trying to recapture the fun. The health benefits far outweigh any loss in social activities.
Mark, Chris, and every other classic party guy with a similar backstory in this quasi-manosphere space found it incredibly easy to give up alcohol because they used it to augment a lifestyle of constant casual sex in their 20s that was no longer really desirable in their 30s. For the rest of us who use booze to deal with actual mental suffering and didn't have a particularly privileged or fun sex-filled 20s, it's a far harder drug to give up. These podcasters seem out of touch with the actual lives many live; not all of us spent our 20s in a carefree state racking up notch counts.
I quit drinking on Christmas day 2018 (4 years, 6 months and 17 days ago). Not drinking alcohol was the easy part personally, it's what came after that was tough. I had to face every hardship in life head on, I had to admit and correct my financial situation, I had to accept that I don't have a close group of friends anymore, I had to find new things to do and other ways to spend time. But you know what? I wouldn't change it at all
@@crashbangwhallopwhatavideo I idolised ‘the Reed’ for many years. Me and my pals used to have a phrase ‘going full Reed’ meaning we were getting fucked up. But unfortunately time has come for me to stop. Even Ollie would understand, he spent many years trying to get sober himself. And unfortunately eventually it killed him. Very sad
I’m 40 and coming up on 3 years sober. Was a really heavy drinker before. I can’t say quitting made me feel healthier, although obviously I stopped having hangovers. But my life is definitely better without alcohol. 100%. No hangovers, no shame, no lost days, no blackouts, no drunk arguments, no wasted money over nights I didn’t even enjoy anyway.
"No hangovers, no shame, no lost days, no blackouts, no drunk arguments, no wasted money over nights I didn’t even enjoy anyway." Exactly described why I quit. It's nice to wake up and actually like who you are.
I made it 15 days and drank last night. Now I'm dealing with a horrible hangover. I've been puking for 8 hours straight, can't even keep water down. Hopefully I make it longer than 15 days this time. Shamefully that is my current record for the last 10 years or so.
Or read ‘this naked mind’ by Annie grace. Both my wife and I read it in a week and stopped drinking instantly, that was 6 years ago… I was very in love with beer before that.. best decision I ever made, you can do it, if I can, you can.
@@ReapingTheHarvest Dont blame urself for the relapse just keep going buddy, personally exersize is the main thing keeping me off booze because id be not gaining as much for all the hard work i put into it. And the diet would go back to Liquid carbs :p. If you want to quit you can mate, its not you thats the problem, alcohol is really a disgustingly addictive drug
Right on man! I’m approaching 2 years myself, and it’s easily one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. A couple books that helped me understand alcohol addiction and change my mindset around the substance: This Naked Mind by Annie Grace, Allen Carr’s Quit Drinking Without Willpower, and the audio book Alcohol Explained by William Porter.
@@btkindonesia137 I don’t disagree just that a friend of mine, a 30 year alcoholic finds it easier to drink that AF beer in social situations so not to feel he is being left out or making others uncomfortable. I don’t judge him for it. It’s great to have my friend back and not have to explain his blackouts to him anymore
I'm 35. Been a big party animal since 18. Since COVID I've been essentially a daily drunk. Been trying to kick alcohol for the last 4 months. Today, I realized I'm an actual addict and that I'm not someone who can drink and do drugs without having my entire life completely destroyed.
When I first quit I had the same mindset of alcohol like "it makes fun things more fun, it makes boring things less boring." Then after about 2 years of sobriety I started to notice the deeper reasons I used to drink like self-inadequacy, fear of failure, needing control over everything. The alcohol helped me ignore those things. So it became even MORE important to stay sober well past the 2 year mark. Still working on self-improvement today after 3.5 years sober, it's tough but it's good!
I will be sober for 40 years in September after a crazy time in the punk scene in San Francisco in the 70s and early 80s. (It was fun but it almost killed me!) Turned my life around completely from almost losing my dead end job to running programs to help others with substance use problems. Try it, you’ll like it.
What a great conversation, and I've noticed this exact thing myself. I drank myself stupid for 15+ years, and thought I would never find my way out of the.... cycle that is addiction.. Alcohol especially is one that you can find yourself lost inside before even realizing it. I made the decision to quit on Dec 28th 2020, and it's been the best (almost 3 years) I could have asked for. I've healed relationships that I had previously tarnished from alcohol, I lost 100+ pounds.. and more importantly, I was able to make decisions on my own accord again, not having this nagging need to always "have a drink" was the most freeing experience I've ever felt. If you struggle with alcohol, please know you can stop, you just have to get pissed off about it. - End Rant
I drank off and on my whole life. Totally quit 8+ months ago!! One of the most life positive choices I've ever made! And yes, I am still feeling and seeing mental/emotional/physical healing happening. My 43 YO son quit recently too. My 21 YO granddaughter doesn't drink at all! God bless!
Never was a big drinker, but both you and Huberman made me realise it's probably better to just quit anyway, for both short and long-term health. Been sober for a few months now
Same. Been drinking every 2-3 months on occasion, but sometimes I would overdo it and felt like shit day after. Today I decided to drop it completely, so let’s see.
Booze is awful. Hands down the worst intoxicant. Turns the person into someone else, someone awful. Quit drinking about ten years ago. Best thing I’ve ever done.
Booze makes me more social, flirty, loving, and present in the moment. I think the disinhibition tends to unleash what was already below the surface. So if you are a shitbag, it makes you more of a shitbag. If you're a cool person, it allows you to just flow more freely.
@@ZombieRommel it did that for me too for the first ten years or so. I’ve also seen it make despicable dirtbags into charming social butterflies. That’s the thing, it’s effects are completely unpredictable. I’ve seen a super happy drunk suddenly try to fight everyone at the bar, and a guy who just tried to fight the bar ten minutes prior telling everyone how much he loved us all. I played a guy in pool for ten bucks, he clearly lost, and swore up and down he didn’t lose and that I lost the bet. You know what I think, I think you’ve probably had three drinks in your life, and have never been around anyone who has had too much, or is a regular drinker. Your post is too naive to be taken serious.
As soon as I quit drinking I was able to achieve all the things I’d talked about when I was still drinking. I’m someone who wouldn’t do ANYTHING hungover. Would literally just sit eating watching tik tok. Also, once you remove something as harmful to your health as alcohol or smoking it spurs you on to optimise other parts of your health. I’ve gotten really really into longevity and sleep now too. I quit when I was only 22, (24 now) and whilst socialising was tough for the first few months I know nothing but socialising sober now. I’ve gone to several nightclubs, concerts, dates sober. Id strongly recommended a few books to help remove the brainwashing around alcohol and hear similar stories to yourself. - Allen Carr’s easyway to quit drinking - Both of Catherine Gray’s quit alcohol books (probably the most entertaining with some brilliant advice) - Alcohol explained 1 and 2 by William Porter - The sober survival guide - Kick the drink easily
Or go to AA… That’s how this drunk started out and now have 7 years sober. It’s free and unaffiliated with any causes or corporate interests. No authors claiming to have the answer and capitalize on it… It’s only about the fellowship and keeping people sober. You don’t need to be religious, but open to a higher power outside of yourself. The whole idea is to get outside of yourself, some how. We’re all the cause of most of our own issues, or we at least play some part. I don’t go every day like I used to but it saved my life. For some of us, we have to change almost everything in our lives and patterns to become sober and stay sober. It has little to do with the substance, it’s inside you deep down in there. The challenge of maintaining sobriety is dealing with your self and forgiveness of your self. Best of luck to you and keep up the healthy lifestyle 😊.
3 days sober today. Drank natty light 15 packs 4 times a week. No energy, felt terrible all the time, but brain tricked me into it everytime I started feeling better.
Will be going on 8 years in a couple months. Breaking those chains was the hardest but best thing I’ve ever done. Congrats to all, and my best wishes for all who are still struggling
I did two years sober about 7 years ago. That was on what I would now call the “willpower method”. Then I started drinking again and it was way worse than the first time. Then October 2021 I decided to read Allen Carr’s book on quitting alcohol. After that I can honestly say I will never drink again. It kinda just disgusts me now that I ever did it. Keep it up to those of you that decide to quit whatever route you take to get there.
I predicted this would happen 20 years ago. I got sober because of an alcohol problem, and from the sober perspective it was striking to me how many people that were considered "normal" drinkers had their lives revolve around alcohol. The amount they gave up for it was astonishing. They could be shooting hoops, rowing a boat, playing music, learning a new language, etc., but most would rather spend a significant portion of their income and basically all their leisure time addicted to having that drink in their hand and a face to talk at. The only reason it is not completely obvious to everyone is because so much of our economy is unprofitable without creating and supporting alcohol usage, so it gets a pass on mass media and public scrutiny.
Weed is like this. There are so many people who spend all of their free time baked. Their whole lives are devoted to weed, and it’s a tragedy. It’s regarded as normal and okay. Effed up, man.
Both of these comments are very interesting. Based off of my own habits, and I know I’m not alone, I would bet that a sizable chunk of the sugar industry is propped up by drunk people buying dessert.
@partiellementecreme 13 days sober after 10+ years of being stoned every second of the day. Still waiting to feel normal again, more time in the day than I know what to do with. Looking back at my life it's a shame how complacent weed made me!!
@@Wugazii Give it time and stick with it. There is a lot of trial and error to habit change. It's hard to predict what will work now that everything is completely different with your neurological states. When I quit weed it is REALLY hard to get back into playing music. Sometimes you have to force certain things that don't feel comfortable at first. I would suggest forcing yourself into new situations that allow you to interact with people that have good things going on with their lives. It will suck at first, but if you keep at it, it will be the most fruitful habit change. Look into the science behind the concept of "reference groups" in psychology. You will learn that you're not that weird, and that all sorts of people with different traits and tendencies are finding ways to succeed and enjoy life, so why not you? Good luck.
I'm so surprised and glad that there is this turn around regarding drinking alcohol! Thank you for normalising quitting, Chris (and Mark). I'm 16 months sober and I cope much better with my anxiety, I have more energy and generally happier, oh, I and dropped 4 stone in weight - don't sleep very well still though. This quitting alcohol might just save The West.....
@@phattjohnson I'm an old experienced guy by now, but you could also say, it takes one, to know one. Been there, done that - but not since 89.. The right choice, but it has it's down sides.
Thanks for the discussion guys. I just made the decision on Thursday to cut out drinking indefinitely. I’m 53 and on Thursday my cardiologist said I have some blockage and require an angiogram. My father died at 54 of a heart attack. After my last couple of beers on Thursday evening, my heart rate was elevated for a couple of hours and I realized that’s not going to be good for my heart. (I would normally have up to 15 drinks a week, never more than three in an evening though, but based on what you said, I may have been a “heavy” drinker.) I like what you said about your productivity improving when you gave up drinking. I can see that happening for me. Thanks for the conversations Chris.
I took 3 years off, decided to drink socially again this summer and I’m basically at the point where I’m considering going back to abstaining altogether again for pretty much every single reason mentioned in this video. His experience was eerily similar to my own. When you take a long break and get used to operating at 100% mentally and physically, even a handful of drinks on a Saturday night - while not enough to give a horrible all day hangover the next day - will still leave me feeling more groggy, anxious, and bloated / gross / less productive. I’ve gained some weight and don’t feel as optimal as I did before I began drinking again and I’ve only been consuming about once per weekend on average the last few months, and some weeks I’ve gone without at all. So yeah. I can relate to all this 100%.
I've been sober since 2001. Now I'm 45, and I can honestly say that I would have died if I didn't stop drinking. My life got so much better. It is nice to see more people walking up to the danger of alcohol.
July 1st will be 6 months for me!!! Never looking back. I've done enough damage at 36 years old. Quitting drinking is the best decision I've ever made.
Wow. I'm 37 and have "mostly" given up drinking for all of the above reasons and some! Bad health, bad behaviour, wasted time, wasted money, fake happiness, day drunking my life away and an impending sense of running out of time in life has smacked some sense into me this year, it's been a long time coming. I'm still yet to pay off debts and act upon a career change to increase earnings and start saving and investing but I'm already in better shape and the ball is rolling toward a bright future which was uncertain just a few months ago. The less drink is in our lives the better our lives become. We can do it.
I am very thankful that you did this conversation with Mark. I read his books and they changed my life. Thank you Chris, for your contribution to my life and my well-being.
“If you took something fun, it made it more fun. If you took something boring, it made it less boring.” Exactly what it was for me too. But sobriety makes you question what made something fun to begin with. And it makes “boring” into an opportunity. You never want to waste a boring moment.
I'm 37, and i've been sober nearly 11 years now. I've had so many comments from coworkers, 'oh did you ever drink', 'are you religious', 'do you not like the way it tastes'.... it's literally the most socially executable drug, but at the same time one of the most dangerous.
I'm 59 and have been drinking since I've been 13, it was nothing back in the late 70's early 80's for alot of us to drink, we grew up where it was a badge of honor to see how loaded you got, the problem is I can't seem to stop, it's part of my daily existence come dinner time it's time for a drink, it's just so hard to cut back, I'm glad the younger generations are quitting or not starting. The problem is if your a smoker there's stuff out there to help you quit, if you are addicted to drugs there's thing's out there but if you addicted to alcohol your told to go cold turkey and go to meetings, it's not easy. I'm done with my confession!
Hey man I hear ya on 70s & 80s big time drinker here. I'm 64 you can stop I was heavy fat 300 lbs heavy drinker gin, vodka. Found keto diet and lost 130 lbs decided to quit the booze it's been 6 years now it was easier than I thought it's my badge of honor don't give up on the idea.
Older, in good health, and noticed a big change when I cut way back on my drinking - no drinks if I have to work the next day - and I'm ready to take this step to quit. Thanks for the video.
I wish more people would talk about "it's not the hangovers". I slowly over the course of a decade became a heavy drinker but I almost never had hangovers. You build a tolerance that you truly can't understand until you quit long enough. After not drinking for a year even a single glass of wine, drank just to see, affects me now.
Stopped drinking last December and this year has been my absolutely best year in every aspect of my life. I accomplished more major goals in 2023 than the last five years combined. Makes you really think.
I do relate to this stuff. I was a member of the 'Dead by We're 21 Club' as a teenager. I am now 61 and feel a failure in life given my teenage goal! That said it has taken me a hell of a long time but the no alcohol message has even reached Boomerland. I think what hits me is that I need to be more productive as time is running out.
I quit the week before Huberman posted his video. I watched it and realised I had been self medicating with booze, both my parents got cancer so I just went into self destruct mode. I did some really dumb shit, luckily I didn't hurt anyone or get a criminal record. I then went to a psychiatrist who put me on meds. It turned out the binge drinking on the weekends was severly affecting my mental health. My doctor has now stopped the meds. It was clearly the excessive alcohol consumption week in and week out. My resilience, problem solving, recovery and even concentration has improved. 8 months and going strong. 🤙
I quit 08-20-2015 and haven’t looked back, alcohol nearly ruined/ended my life and looking back I never even enjoyed it, it was just easier to transition into adulthood with a “pacifier” available everywhere to quell all those pesky feelings of worthlessness, instead of doing actual work on bettering yourself. I can party sober better than any alky, my social anxiety is gone because I’ve become immune to it from exposure. I try not to be an annoying teetotaler, but it’s hard to not push people towards sobriety when it’s made my life so great.
DON'T push - be an example, and use "the power of suggestion". It's pretty effective. I stopped in 89 - no probls since, no fights - but also "no" kitty cat.. :/
Partied hard from 16-29 knowing the whole time that this can't possibly go on forever. Started a proper career at 29(kind of late in life) and went into work severely hung over a couple times. Pulled the plug on drinking, except for a couple drinks for old times sake, never looked back. 64 now, would hate to have been a life long drinker. Would be so disappointed with myself.
I’ve hit up the ‘I only drink if it’s a really good bottle of wine’ strategy for the once or twice a year occasion and as someone who went from a bottle a week to a bottle a year it has been life changing. More energy. More focus. More money, too!
So glad to hear this is a trend-in-the-making. Honestly, I was worried about the media stories I was seeing how Millennials were going to the hospitals with serious liver damage at young ages because of over-drinking.
Thank you for this video. It's been a long and tough few days and despite saying it for years, I really am ready to go sober. I'm more than happy to put this new time and money towards something healthier and better in the long run. 31 years old and this should have happened sooner. I appreciate all the other comments on this video, love seeing all the encouragement and openness
I did Dry January and kept going. It’s now November and I don’t miss drinking at all. I had the same story as you guys I was a party girl …and it’s so true about it becoming a trend. There’s really good non-alocoholic booze, which helps!
Am 23, and coming up for one year sober. Had a night out for my birthday last year, and, having failed to pull, considered calling a very toxic ex girlfriend. The next morning, feeling like shit and remembering how close I came to doing something quite so catastrophic I decided it was time to do something different. Many thanks for discussing your experience with quitting, and reaffirming that despite the opinions of some of my friends, I was right in the decision I was making. Life has got infinitely better in the last year. Keep up the good work dude!
I wish my sister and brother-in-law would listen to this. They've convinced themselves that they don't drink too much, despite their poor health, weight gain, and daily drinks...
It took me years of thinking / fantasizing about quitting before I actually did on 12/1/23. My goal then was 180 days and now I'm going to push that out a bit further. I tracked my drinking for a while and found I was putting away 40-50 drinks a week regularly. starting to lie and sneak, etc. I have robbed myself of many of the benefits the past 150 days because I have continued smoking weed chronically - that I finally stopped 4 days ago and am committed to going full sober. I thank you both and Huberman and all the others that promote this lifestyle change. Now, what to do with my stash of rare whiskey....
I just reached 2 years sober on May 18th after 20 years of heavy drinking pretty much daily. For a while I didn't think it was possible for me to quit because I developed such a physical dependence, but with detox and a strong desire to have a better life it is possible! Best thing I've ever done for myself 😊
1030 days booze free.. never had an issue with it, just decided the week before my son was born that it’s not something I want him to see as normal in the home. Now 33 y o better shape than my 23 self & have no plans of drinking again. Well done to everyone in the comments 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I attempted to go sober last year around this time and went clean for about two months. I said I was gonna start clean in 2023 and only again started my journey this past month and I have been one month clean. It’s definitely a journey and I wish everyone success and patience if they decide to go down this route. I most certainly need it :)
I love being sober. Going on 3 yrs for me. Every day gets better and better. Work life has gotten much better, but more importantly I’m a badass Dad present for my two kids.. and husband!
I hope if times are ever tough you can find a quiet moment to recognise you have improved the physical and mental health of most probably thousands of people around the world by guiding them to reduce or quit their alcohol intake. I’m one of those people. Thank you.
I took a 90 day break clarity focus was 100% sleep was great handling everything that needed to be handled decided to drink it wasn’t worth it, going to retire alcohol your video resonated with me. Keep it up.
I didn’t quit alcohol altogether but I significantly cut back. Great decision and I feel so much better all the time. My exercise routines are much more effective now. There’s definitely something to it.
I'm in a similar boat where I've flirted with the idea of quitting. Wouldn't call myself a heavy drinker, it's more like a time filler/social thing to me. Events I like to go to have alcohol ingrained and I enjoy a good cask ale and a chat but I don't miss it if I have something better to do. Basically didn't drink at all during covid. Really don't enjoy it without the social aspect. Gone backwards since moving to a city, but been going back towards moderating it more. Might end up with me quitting, we'll see...
@@NightLife094 great idea. Today is 1 year, 1mont, and 1 day sober for me. I thank God that I'm finally free of the alcoholic jail I was trapped in! No more hangovers, better mood, clarity, peace of mind, more money, better sleep, and less regret are just some of the benefits I've experienced so far. I would encourage you to take on the challenge of a sober life. It isn't always easy, but I'm grateful and am certainly never going to poison myself again with alcohol. Watching my mother die from liver failure due to excessive drinking helped push me in the right direction. Good luck on your journey! I wish you success
I had to give up alcohol after years of abuse, until it eventually seriously damaged my health. Only that stopped me. It would have been much harder if not impossible to do this myself even though I was running a business, had a busy family etc. My life has improved immeasurably and it's been a hard battle. Not to stay stopped, but to get my health back and stick around for my Wife and kids. Arguably, to make and take a decision before that damage is done is harder BUT WORTH IT, so well done. The marketing people for alcohol in the UK are so powerful, they are everywhere, alcohol is everywhere. People are silently encouraged to drink at home where it is cheaper to do so. Fake parties marketed on television, showing people necking spirits as if it's the nectar of the gods. It's horrific. Bear this in mind, when I did stop after being helped in hospital to detoxify and stabilise (yes, at this point I was still managing to work until I couldn't), I realised it wasn't just my liver I'd pickled, you effectively sit all of your organs in formaldehyde and pickle them, including your brain. Alcohol is nothing more than flavoured ethanol once it's processed and it's terribly damaging. All alcohol is processed in the same way, it doesn't matter whether it's from the finest grain in the islands of scotland, from the finest appellation in France or a strong chemically produced cider that's never seen a real apple, it's all processed the same way. Thats why they had a cirrhosis epidemic in France. They though every glass of wine was healthy, until they went yellow and blew up like bowling balls. I knew I had a problem, and at one point it was fun, until it wasn't for the last five years. Get counselling wherever you can, and don't become the next statistic. Change your life, and I promise you whoever reads this now. It will get better, everything will improve given time and patience, and you will learn a better, more enjoyable life. I took my friend for breakfast yesterday, at 60 he has given up alcohol after his wife threatened to end a 35 year marriage. Now after six months, his main problem is keeping her off him. It's more difficult to fake a headache when you've not got a hangover, and he doesn't want to put his heart at risk by engaging in such frivolity. Apart from this side effect, he and his Wife are loving life, have bought a caravan and are forever on holiday with the extra money they now have to budget with. I don't leave many of these messages around, but I do hope someone might see it and make the changes. I promise that you won't look back.
Well done. Your loved ones must be relieved too. It's so awful to love someone that is doing what you were. Watch as they destroy themselves and the impact it has on everyone around them. As they kill themselves slowly.
I’m day 768! I think i found chris somewhere in the first 200 days. Many of his interviews Really inspired me to keep going. I love that more people are waking up to sobriety!
Sober since 4th July 2011 now 46 years old still feel like 30 getting up in the morning is easy full of energy getting things done but you will not believe how much I had to justify myself
If it is a trend. I'd say the best trend I've seen in a long time. Did a year sober last year, after 365 days was back straight into old ways. Sober 9 days now and won't go back. Let's goooooo!!!
I'm 13 days free of alcohol. Only drank in the evening, but never too much. I've amazed myself by just how easy it is to do. I'm feeling more energy now and struggling to sleep is improving too.
I’m 61. Been a drinker most my life. Not heavy, but regular. Got to where is was drinking every night when in my late 50’s, kids grown had more time. Became non productive after 7-8pm. Spent $150-$300 month on alcohol, at least. Then last year I saw my daughter in law so drunk she became unresponsive and had to call paramedics. As I watched I made a decision to be a better man, influence. I have always been kind of a health nut, ate decent, worked out regularly, but never would give up the alcohol. Neither did my other gym buddies. Then I watched several videos on effects of alcohol. 30 day challenges. Watched Hubberman’s video. It was enlightening. Gave it a try. Went three days, then had a beer. Made a second attempt. Made it 4-5 months. I’d say I have had 10 drinks in the past year total. Lost the desire to drink. Started noticing more just how immature and ridiculous people act when drinking. Had yearly physical two weeks ago. Lab work has not looked this good in 40 years. Doctor said in particular, my triglycerides were great, because I quit alcohol. Crazy thing, this is the same guy that told me every year, two drinks a day was fine. He was dead wrong. Made decision to be a healthier person, more productive person, better person, better example to my grown kids, and returned to God. What I also found was my energy level went up and my memory improved drastically. Went from 187 to 160 in a few months. Just because I quit drinking. I’m 170 now, because I am where I want to be. Best decisions I have ever made to get my relationship right with God and stopping alcohol. Want to find out who your friends are? Tell them you quit drinking, found Jesus and went back to church.
Drinking was a huge part of my identity in my early to late 20s, maybe the core of my identity, I was a barfly, but when I turned 29 or so it was obvious to me just how negatively it was affecting my state of mind, but for me I tapered off in my 30s and now I only drink a couple drinks per week (as in one drink Friday night and one drink Saturday night). It’s also not uncommon for me to go for weeks at a time with zero drinks. I think the English speaking world has a binge drinking problem. In contrast, in southern Europe it’s uncool to get wasted. We need to be more like those cultures, enjoy alcohol in moderation and that way maybe you don’t have to draw a hard line once you hit your 30s.
Interesting, I can’t seriously say that alcohol has made any drink I’ve had taste any better… people usually drink for the effect, so alcohol in moderation doesn’t make any sense either in my opinion.
sober for almost 9 years now! so proud of myself. life is just better sober and after a while drunk people become pathetic. everybody who wants to try: go for it!
I'm 27, and the longest I've gone sober is probably around 9 or 10 days, I'm hoping to actually reset my mind going forward but it's easier said than done - to anyone else thinking about stopping, if you have to consider it, do it, best of luck!
Glad i quit drinking for once and for all after many years of off and on trying with "moderation" and all that bullshit. Been 4 years and best thing i ever did. Probably saved my life so maybe now i can get old enough to lose my mind and die like a potted plant in a nursing home rather than driving head on into a semi truck.
2022 was my alcohol-free year. I had some problems that year, ncluding the death of a loved one, and not having alcohol to turn arround was tough. However, i did understood why i don't need in my life
510 days off alcohol today. Don't miss it at all. Grateful I drank plenty in my 20's when it was FAR easier to recover. Later in life... Whoa. Not so fun. Stays with you for days. Compounds fast and negatively, for weeks into months. Stopped being fun.
Gen Z here: 22 y/0. I obviously cannot speak on behalf of my entire generation: but especially in the US the future is so grim it drives many to drink. I chose not to after a reality check after one too many and my life has never been better. I see some people my age constantly drinking and their skin is bad, their sleep is bad, their routines are bad, their health is bad, their finances are bad. Alcohol tastes horrible, makes you feel disconnected and ungrounded, is expensive, and causes disgusting hangovers and truly scary health detriments. Its literally poison.
For me, it was looking at everyone getting drunk and showing their worst selves. I was too sick to join in, so I got to see the full s***show as it was. If not all heavy drinkers in my life had problems when they were sober too, so it got annoying to be involved in their chaotic lives. A lot of the drinking was a work social thing so it was easy for me to be spiraled in. By cutting them out, my lifestyle got sober and performed better at work (and found better workplaces that DON'T rely on alcohol). Now I barely drink, and if I do drink (1 glass of something a week or two), it's to genuinely enjoy the taste and art of the beverage.
I'm in college at the moment and happen to be in a fraternity. Getting let off the leash and I get to make my own decisions at a young age and with all the influence, per usual, I drank alot. From freshman year to about mid junior year I drank so so much. 30 rack of beer in a night, staying up until 6 am, drink on a random Tuesday, party every single weekend, etc etc. After completely dropping it and stepping away, my life in every single facet has improved considerably. My peers give me so much flack for this. I feel bad for them as they continue these patterns without any sign of stopping. But I can't help but step back and see how my life is now vs then. I'm not really even the same person. Being in a fraternity and not drinking definitely has its challenges, but mostly, it's the lack of support and understanding from friends. Alcohol is a very weird drug...
Your entire responsibility in college is to get out of it with your degree. You go to class, you do your homework and you pass your tests and get out. You’re doing the right thing by not drinking. Hang out with the people that add to your life, dont hang out with the people that will divert your attention from the end goal. You did well.
Hello you beauties. Watch the full episode with Mark here - th-cam.com/video/6gJsi6wMGmE/w-d-xo.html
5 days sober, wish me luck. Been binge drinking for nearly 30 years and I’m so over it. Excited to become the best version of myself and the man my family deserves.
I had the same problem. 4 years sober now. Best decision of your life. Good luck.
@@matthewstall3902 congrats man. Day 7 and I’m committed to making this stick. Success stories like yours are great motivation.
@@McGnarly76good luck mate, i've been sober for over 3 months now. It won't be easy but life gets a lot better!
Same feeling, im also done with it :D ive relapsed a couple times but every time i do, i learn that i rly dont like how it takes me on a ride. Bin sober and exersizing for 4 months now and ive never bin happyer. Drinking raw milk now instead of beer ^^
The first 2 weeks fucking suck, if you can get through them you should be okay (Source: I quit drinking 4 and a bit years ago)
I’m 7 months sober, too many bad things happened over the years. Almost every bad thing that has ever happened in my life was connected to alcohol. Enough.
Wow same like seriously
Good on you
Congrats
Saaaame
Yup ✔️
“Alcohol is the only drug where if you don’t do it people assume you have a problem.”
Couldn’t agree more.
Apart from sugar!
@@erickehr4475and caffeine
@@erickehr4475 sugar is not a drug tho. Your body runs on glucose.
@@trainedbyradYour body does not run on exogenous glucose. It is not essential and proven to be more addictive than cocaine.
Coffein, especially coffee.
I'm a veteran, was actually addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. Alcohol and cigarettes addiction actually destroyed my life, i suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with cptsd. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 6 years totally clean. Much respect to mother nature the great magic shrooms.
I love hearing great life changing stories like this. I want to become a mycologist because honestly mushrooms are the best form of medicine (most especially the psychedelic ones) There are so many people today used magic mushrooms to ween off of SSRI medication- its amazing! Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death buddy, lets be honest here.
Can you help me with the reliable source 🙏. I'm 56 and have suffered for years with addiction, anxiety and severe ptsd, I got my panic attacks under control myself years ago and they have come back with a vengeance, I'm constantly trying to take full breaths but can't get the full satisfying breath out, it's absolutely crippling me, i live in Germany. I don't know much about these mushrooms. Really need a reliable source!! Can't wait to get them
YES very sure of mycologist Pedroshrooms. This treatment worked for me. Helped me got rid of my anxiety and BPD.
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.
Where do I reach this dude? If possible can I find him on Google
I'm 42 and to me, alcohol is not cool anymore. The only reason I was hanging on was for social reasons. As non-drinkers start to approach drinkers by the numbers, it'll become much more acceptable among the general population. Imagine planning a weekend around physical activities, eating healthy food, and maintaining quality sleep - with friends. Huberman and Chris both gave me the most compelling reasons to stop - and now Mark Manson, who I have followed for years. I have no problem telling people it's just bad for my health. That's a good enough reason and it's the truth.
Huberman had me thinking, also sober.
I quit at 43 a year and a half ago. It had stopped being fun when I reached 38 but I held on trying to recapture the fun. The health benefits far outweigh any loss in social activities.
Mark, Chris, and every other classic party guy with a similar backstory in this quasi-manosphere space found it incredibly easy to give up alcohol because they used it to augment a lifestyle of constant casual sex in their 20s that was no longer really desirable in their 30s. For the rest of us who use booze to deal with actual mental suffering and didn't have a particularly privileged or fun sex-filled 20s, it's a far harder drug to give up. These podcasters seem out of touch with the actual lives many live; not all of us spent our 20s in a carefree state racking up notch counts.
Same. When I occasionally do drink, all it does is remind me why I quit drinking. Also those few extra pounds just kind of fell off when I quit beer.
@@ronanmahony7048 So you're the male version of a cat lady with boxed wine. I always knew it was projection.
I quit drinking on Christmas day 2018 (4 years, 6 months and 17 days ago). Not drinking alcohol was the easy part personally, it's what came after that was tough. I had to face every hardship in life head on, I had to admit and correct my financial situation, I had to accept that I don't have a close group of friends anymore, I had to find new things to do and other ways to spend time. But you know what? I wouldn't change it at all
I can relate to that.
Good on you absolute respect for leaving it behind I’m 7 days sober today and never want to go back to it
Good for you. That's an entire life overhaul. 😊
Go vegan.
1 year sober last week. Best thing I’ve ever done. Can be difficult at times though. But 95% of the time I’m feeling fantastic about myself
I recently hit one year sober myself back on September 6th, congrats!!
Wonder what Oliver Reed would make of you...
@@crashbangwhallopwhatavideo I idolised ‘the Reed’ for many years.
Me and my pals used to have a phrase ‘going full Reed’ meaning we were getting fucked up. But unfortunately time has come for me to stop. Even Ollie would understand, he spent many years trying to get sober himself. And unfortunately eventually it killed him. Very sad
I’m about to turn 42 in two months and been sober for 5 years! One of the best decisions I’ve ever made! A truly highlight in my life!
I’ll be where you are in 5 years ! But let’s see - one day at a time !
15 months sober. Thank you God 🙏🏽
good work!
I’m 40 and coming up on 3 years sober. Was a really heavy drinker before. I can’t say quitting made me feel healthier, although obviously I stopped having hangovers. But my life is definitely better without alcohol. 100%. No hangovers, no shame, no lost days, no blackouts, no drunk arguments, no wasted money over nights I didn’t even enjoy anyway.
"No hangovers, no shame, no lost days, no blackouts, no drunk arguments, no wasted money over nights I didn’t even enjoy anyway." Exactly described why I quit. It's nice to wake up and actually like who you are.
I made it 15 days and drank last night. Now I'm dealing with a horrible hangover. I've been puking for 8 hours straight, can't even keep water down. Hopefully I make it longer than 15 days this time. Shamefully that is my current record for the last 10 years or so.
@@ReapingTheHarvest keep trying man. I highly recommend the book 'The easy way to control alcohol' by Alan Carr. That really helped me.
Or read ‘this naked mind’ by Annie grace. Both my wife and I read it in a week and stopped drinking instantly, that was 6 years ago… I was very in love with beer before that.. best decision I ever made, you can do it, if I can, you can.
@@ReapingTheHarvest Dont blame urself for the relapse just keep going buddy, personally exersize is the main thing keeping me off booze because id be not gaining as much for all the hard work i put into it. And the diet would go back to Liquid carbs :p. If you want to quit you can mate, its not you thats the problem, alcohol is really a disgustingly addictive drug
I am at month 8 of no alcohol. Had a alcohol free beer twice in that time. Best decision of my life
Right on man! I’m approaching 2 years myself, and it’s easily one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. A couple books that helped me understand alcohol addiction and change my mindset around the substance: This Naked Mind by Annie Grace, Allen Carr’s Quit Drinking Without Willpower, and the audio book Alcohol Explained by William Porter.
I just drank 3
Bottles of wine
Good on you. That AF beer to me, just a waste of time..
Having alcohol free beer was the best decision of your life? Be careful, sounds like a slippery slope…
@@btkindonesia137 I don’t disagree just that a friend of mine, a 30 year alcoholic finds it easier to drink that AF beer in social situations so not to feel he is being left out or making others uncomfortable. I don’t judge him for it. It’s great to have my friend back and not have to explain his blackouts to him anymore
I'm 35. Been a big party animal since 18. Since COVID I've been essentially a daily drunk. Been trying to kick alcohol for the last 4 months. Today, I realized I'm an actual addict and that I'm not someone who can drink and do drugs without having my entire life completely destroyed.
I’m sorry to hear you got addicted to alcohol 🍺 and wishing you all the best.
Yes drugs and alcohol suck the life out of a person.
@@jeltoninc.8542 very true and well stated
Great first step, sounds familiair. Was toying with the idea of stopping for a while and then decided 3 weeks ago to just do it.... You'll get there!
I quit it 35 years ago, and am enjoying a good life I could not have otherwise. I’m so glad to see more young people walk away from it.
Almost 7 months sober now at 25 years old! Absolutely loving it. Pros have outweighed the cons by far imo
Im 28 and been sober for 4 years. best decision I ever made.
It's not a trend, it's a new lifestyle.
When I first quit I had the same mindset of alcohol like "it makes fun things more fun, it makes boring things less boring." Then after about 2 years of sobriety I started to notice the deeper reasons I used to drink like self-inadequacy, fear of failure, needing control over everything. The alcohol helped me ignore those things. So it became even MORE important to stay sober well past the 2 year mark. Still working on self-improvement today after 3.5 years sober, it's tough but it's good!
Haven't had a single drink in two years. Life is much better teetotal.
I will be sober for 40 years in September after a crazy time in the punk scene in San Francisco in the 70s and early 80s. (It was fun but it almost killed me!) Turned my life around completely from almost losing my dead end job to running programs to help others with substance use problems. Try it, you’ll like it.
Excellent. Thank you 👍
Wow.. 40 years. That's amazing, thanks for sharing your story.
What Would Jello Do?
Cool did you see the Sex Pistols there in 78'?
What a great conversation, and I've noticed this exact thing myself. I drank myself stupid for 15+ years, and thought I would never find my way out of the.... cycle that is addiction.. Alcohol especially is one that you can find yourself lost inside before even realizing it. I made the decision to quit on Dec 28th 2020, and it's been the best (almost 3 years) I could have asked for. I've healed relationships that I had previously tarnished from alcohol, I lost 100+ pounds.. and more importantly, I was able to make decisions on my own accord again, not having this nagging need to always "have a drink" was the most freeing experience I've ever felt. If you struggle with alcohol, please know you can stop, you just have to get pissed off about it.
- End Rant
I’m 41, stopped drinking at 35, was very functional, but best decision ever, life is so much better!!! Well done guys 🙏
I drank off and on my whole life. Totally quit 8+ months ago!! One of the most life positive choices I've ever made! And yes, I am still feeling and seeing mental/emotional/physical healing happening. My 43 YO son quit recently too. My 21 YO granddaughter doesn't drink at all! God bless!
Never was a big drinker, but both you and Huberman made me realise it's probably better to just quit anyway, for both short and long-term health. Been sober for a few months now
Same. Been drinking every 2-3 months on occasion, but sometimes I would overdo it and felt like shit day after. Today I decided to drop it completely, so let’s see.
Booze is awful. Hands down the worst intoxicant. Turns the person into someone else, someone awful. Quit drinking about ten years ago. Best thing I’ve ever done.
Booze CAN turn people into something awful, but fortunately that's not the only side-effect else nobody would touch it :P
Make the call. You got a guy? Leads to more for me. More unproductive. More intolerant. More tardy. More unreliable. More More More. Ugh
Fuck that
Nah, definitely not the worst drug.
Booze makes me more social, flirty, loving, and present in the moment. I think the disinhibition tends to unleash what was already below the surface. So if you are a shitbag, it makes you more of a shitbag. If you're a cool person, it allows you to just flow more freely.
@@ZombieRommel it did that for me too for the first ten years or so. I’ve also seen it make despicable dirtbags into charming social butterflies. That’s the thing, it’s effects are completely unpredictable. I’ve seen a super happy drunk suddenly try to fight everyone at the bar, and a guy who just tried to fight the bar ten minutes prior telling everyone how much he loved us all. I played a guy in pool for ten bucks, he clearly lost, and swore up and down he didn’t lose and that I lost the bet.
You know what I think, I think you’ve probably had three drinks in your life, and have never been around anyone who has had too much, or is a regular drinker. Your post is too naive to be taken serious.
As soon as I quit drinking I was able to achieve all the things I’d talked about when I was still drinking. I’m someone who wouldn’t do ANYTHING hungover. Would literally just sit eating watching tik tok. Also, once you remove something as harmful to your health as alcohol or smoking it spurs you on to optimise other parts of your health. I’ve gotten really really into longevity and sleep now too.
I quit when I was only 22, (24 now) and whilst socialising was tough for the first few months I know nothing but socialising sober now. I’ve gone to several nightclubs, concerts, dates sober.
Id strongly recommended a few books to help remove the brainwashing around alcohol and hear similar stories to yourself.
- Allen Carr’s easyway to quit drinking
- Both of Catherine Gray’s quit alcohol books (probably the most entertaining with some brilliant advice)
- Alcohol explained 1 and 2 by William Porter
- The sober survival guide
- Kick the drink easily
Thank you for sharing. You're amazing!
Or go to AA… That’s how this drunk started out and now have 7 years sober. It’s free and unaffiliated with any causes or corporate interests. No authors claiming to have the answer and capitalize on it… It’s only about the fellowship and keeping people sober. You don’t need to be religious, but open to a higher power outside of yourself. The whole idea is to get outside of yourself, some how. We’re all the cause of most of our own issues, or we at least play some part. I don’t go every day like I used to but it saved my life. For some of us, we have to change almost everything in our lives and patterns to become sober and stay sober. It has little to do with the substance, it’s inside you deep down in there. The challenge of maintaining sobriety is dealing with your self and forgiveness of your self. Best of luck to you and keep up the healthy lifestyle 😊.
3 days sober today. Drank natty light 15 packs 4 times a week. No energy, felt terrible all the time, but brain tricked me into it everytime I started feeling better.
how did it make you feel daily, anxiety, nausea, fatigue?
Thank you for using your influence to better us all.
Will be going on 8 years in a couple months. Breaking those chains was the hardest but best thing I’ve ever done. Congrats to all, and my best wishes for all who are still struggling
I did two years sober about 7 years ago. That was on what I would now call the “willpower method”. Then I started drinking again and it was way worse than the first time. Then October 2021 I decided to read Allen Carr’s book on quitting alcohol. After that I can honestly say I will never drink again. It kinda just disgusts me now that I ever did it. Keep it up to those of you that decide to quit whatever route you take to get there.
I predicted this would happen 20 years ago. I got sober because of an alcohol problem, and from the sober perspective it was striking to me how many people that were considered "normal" drinkers had their lives revolve around alcohol. The amount they gave up for it was astonishing. They could be shooting hoops, rowing a boat, playing music, learning a new language, etc., but most would rather spend a significant portion of their income and basically all their leisure time addicted to having that drink in their hand and a face to talk at. The only reason it is not completely obvious to everyone is because so much of our economy is unprofitable without creating and supporting alcohol usage, so it gets a pass on mass media and public scrutiny.
Weed is like this. There are so many people who spend all of their free time baked. Their whole lives are devoted to weed, and it’s a tragedy. It’s regarded as normal and okay. Effed up, man.
Both of these comments are very interesting. Based off of my own habits, and I know I’m not alone, I would bet that a sizable chunk of the sugar industry is propped up by drunk people buying dessert.
@partiellementecreme 13 days sober after 10+ years of being stoned every second of the day. Still waiting to feel normal again, more time in the day than I know what to do with. Looking back at my life it's a shame how complacent weed made me!!
@@Wugazii good for you man, keep it up. I smoked a lot when I was young and don’t regret moving on to better things.
@@Wugazii Give it time and stick with it. There is a lot of trial and error to habit change. It's hard to predict what will work now that everything is completely different with your neurological states. When I quit weed it is REALLY hard to get back into playing music. Sometimes you have to force certain things that don't feel comfortable at first. I would suggest forcing yourself into new situations that allow you to interact with people that have good things going on with their lives. It will suck at first, but if you keep at it, it will be the most fruitful habit change. Look into the science behind the concept of "reference groups" in psychology. You will learn that you're not that weird, and that all sorts of people with different traits and tendencies are finding ways to succeed and enjoy life, so why not you? Good luck.
I'm so surprised and glad that there is this turn around regarding drinking alcohol! Thank you for normalising quitting, Chris (and Mark). I'm 16 months sober and I cope much better with my anxiety, I have more energy and generally happier, oh, I and dropped 4 stone in weight - don't sleep very well still though. This quitting alcohol might just save The West.....
Most use it as self medication - when you stopped, you probl "just" had to handle things, and found out, that you actually could.. Win win !
@@CONEHEADDK was definitely self medicating. Thanks ☺👍
Well done. The anxiety was probably partially controlled by the drink, so now its out you can deal with it. Good for you.
@@CONEHEADDK Nailed it in one my person!
@@phattjohnson I'm an old experienced guy by now, but you could also say, it takes one, to know one. Been there, done that - but not since 89.. The right choice, but it has it's down sides.
Thanks for the discussion guys. I just made the decision on Thursday to cut out drinking indefinitely. I’m 53 and on Thursday my cardiologist said I have some blockage and require an angiogram. My father died at 54 of a heart attack. After my last couple of beers on Thursday evening, my heart rate was elevated for a couple of hours and I realized that’s not going to be good for my heart. (I would normally have up to 15 drinks a week, never more than three in an evening though, but based on what you said, I may have been a “heavy” drinker.)
I like what you said about your productivity improving when you gave up drinking. I can see that happening for me.
Thanks for the conversations Chris.
I took 3 years off, decided to drink socially again this summer and I’m basically at the point where I’m considering going back to abstaining altogether again for pretty much every single reason mentioned in this video. His experience was eerily similar to my own. When you take a long break and get used to operating at 100% mentally and physically, even a handful of drinks on a Saturday night - while not enough to give a horrible all day hangover the next day - will still leave me feeling more groggy, anxious, and bloated / gross / less productive. I’ve gained some weight and don’t feel as optimal as I did before I began drinking again and I’ve only been consuming about once per weekend on average the last few months, and some weeks I’ve gone without at all. So yeah. I can relate to all this 100%.
I've been sober since 2001. Now I'm 45, and I can honestly say that I would have died if I didn't stop drinking. My life got so much better. It is nice to see more people walking up to the danger of alcohol.
July 1st will be 6 months for me!!! Never looking back. I've done enough damage at 36 years old. Quitting drinking is the best decision I've ever made.
Wow. I'm 37 and have "mostly" given up drinking for all of the above reasons and some!
Bad health, bad behaviour, wasted time, wasted money, fake happiness, day drunking my life away and an impending sense of running out of time in life has smacked some sense into me this year, it's been a long time coming. I'm still yet to pay off debts and act upon a career change to increase earnings and start saving and investing but I'm already in better shape and the ball is rolling toward a bright future which was uncertain just a few months ago. The less drink is in our lives the better our lives become. We can do it.
I am very thankful that you did this conversation with Mark. I read his books and they changed my life. Thank you Chris, for your contribution to my life and my well-being.
“If you took something fun, it made it more fun. If you took something boring, it made it less boring.” Exactly what it was for me too. But sobriety makes you question what made something fun to begin with. And it makes “boring” into an opportunity. You never want to waste a boring moment.
I LOVE THIS!! You never want to waste a boring moment 😭❣️❤️✨️
@@anjaxtv Yes yes, Anja 💛
I'm 37, and i've been sober nearly 11 years now. I've had so many comments from coworkers, 'oh did you ever drink', 'are you religious', 'do you not like the way it tastes'.... it's literally the most socially executable drug, but at the same time one of the most dangerous.
Keep going! Don't ever quit on yourself! I'm sober and living life!
I'm 59 and have been drinking since I've been 13, it was nothing back in the late 70's early 80's for alot of us to drink, we grew up where it was a badge of honor to see how loaded you got, the problem is I can't seem to stop, it's part of my daily existence come dinner time it's time for a drink, it's just so hard to cut back, I'm glad the younger generations are quitting or not starting. The problem is if your a smoker there's stuff out there to help you quit, if you are addicted to drugs there's thing's out there but if you addicted to alcohol your told to go cold turkey and go to meetings, it's not easy. I'm done with my confession!
Hey man I hear ya on 70s & 80s big time drinker here. I'm
64 you can stop I was heavy fat 300 lbs heavy drinker gin, vodka.
Found keto diet and lost 130 lbs decided to quit the booze it's been 6 years now it was easier than I thought it's my badge of honor don't give up on the idea.
@@TheSkite575 that’s awesome. Congratulations 🎉
@@christinegreenwood4093
Thanks
Wish I'd quit 30 years ago
Older, in good health, and noticed a big change when I cut way back on my drinking - no drinks if I have to work the next day - and I'm ready to take this step to quit. Thanks for the video.
Same
I wish more people would talk about "it's not the hangovers". I slowly over the course of a decade became a heavy drinker but I almost never had hangovers. You build a tolerance that you truly can't understand until you quit long enough. After not drinking for a year even a single glass of wine, drank just to see, affects me now.
A year alcohol-free is truly impressive. Keep it up!
I can so relate to your stories, guys.
You just like to be sober, it's sort of you new high.
I am now 3 years 3 months sober. I have to thank Oxford house I lived in for 35 months saving my life and God overall
Stopped drinking last December and this year has been my absolutely best year in every aspect of my life. I accomplished more major goals in 2023 than the last five years combined. Makes you really think.
I do relate to this stuff. I was a member of the 'Dead by We're 21 Club' as a teenager. I am now 61 and feel a failure in life given my teenage goal! That said it has taken me a hell of a long time but the no alcohol message has even reached Boomerland. I think what hits me is that I need to be more productive as time is running out.
I quit the week before Huberman posted his video. I watched it and realised I had been self medicating with booze, both my parents got cancer so I just went into self destruct mode. I did some really dumb shit, luckily I didn't hurt anyone or get a criminal record. I then went to a psychiatrist who put me on meds. It turned out the binge drinking on the weekends was severly affecting my mental health. My doctor has now stopped the meds. It was clearly the excessive alcohol consumption week in and week out. My resilience, problem solving, recovery and even concentration has improved. 8 months and going strong. 🤙
Hello stranger,
I wish you good luck 🤞
I quit 08-20-2015 and haven’t looked back, alcohol nearly ruined/ended my life and looking back I never even enjoyed it, it was just easier to transition into adulthood with a “pacifier” available everywhere to quell all those pesky feelings of worthlessness, instead of doing actual work on bettering yourself. I can party sober better than any alky, my social anxiety is gone because I’ve become immune to it from exposure. I try not to be an annoying teetotaler, but it’s hard to not push people towards sobriety when it’s made my life so great.
DON'T push - be an example, and use "the power of suggestion". It's pretty effective. I stopped in 89 - no probls since, no fights - but also "no" kitty cat.. :/
Partied hard from 16-29 knowing the whole time that this can't possibly go on forever. Started a proper career at 29(kind of late in life) and went into work severely hung over a couple times. Pulled the plug on drinking, except for a couple drinks for old times sake, never looked back. 64 now, would hate to have been a life long drinker. Would be so disappointed with myself.
Love this! 7 months without alcohol today.
I just want to give a shout out to Allen Carr's book " the easy way for women to stop drinking" Helped me a great deal to quit. Thanks❤
I read the other Allen Carr one, “Stop Drinking Without Willpower” and “This Naked Mind” by Annie Grace. Totally changed my mindset about alcohol!
I believe people will look at alcohol like we look at smoking now.
I hope so 🙏🏽
I’ve hit up the ‘I only drink if it’s a really good bottle of wine’ strategy for the once or twice a year occasion and as someone who went from a bottle a week to a bottle a year it has been life changing. More energy. More focus. More money, too!
So glad to hear this is a trend-in-the-making. Honestly, I was worried about the media stories I was seeing how Millennials were going to the hospitals with serious liver damage at young ages because of over-drinking.
Thank you for this video. It's been a long and tough few days and despite saying it for years, I really am ready to go sober. I'm more than happy to put this new time and money towards something healthier and better in the long run. 31 years old and this should have happened sooner. I appreciate all the other comments on this video, love seeing all the encouragement and openness
Brilliant decision! 4 months on how is this going?
I did Dry January and kept going. It’s now November and I don’t miss drinking at all. I had the same story as you guys I was a party girl …and it’s so true about it becoming a trend. There’s really good non-alocoholic booze, which helps!
Am 23, and coming up for one year sober. Had a night out for my birthday last year, and, having failed to pull, considered calling a very toxic ex girlfriend. The next morning, feeling like shit and remembering how close I came to doing something quite so catastrophic I decided it was time to do something different. Many thanks for discussing your experience with quitting, and reaffirming that despite the opinions of some of my friends, I was right in the decision I was making. Life has got infinitely better in the last year. Keep up the good work dude!
"Having failed to pull"...? What
Having the will-power to do one year sober in your early twenties is very impressive. Keep up the good work.
11 months sobriety,lost mum alcohol and brother drugs.i'm 58🎉❤
I wish my sister and brother-in-law would listen to this. They've convinced themselves that they don't drink too much, despite their poor health, weight gain, and daily drinks...
If people want to drink it's their choice, everyone has their vices.
It took me years of thinking / fantasizing about quitting before I actually did on 12/1/23. My goal then was 180 days and now I'm going to push that out a bit further. I tracked my drinking for a while and found I was putting away 40-50 drinks a week regularly. starting to lie and sneak, etc. I have robbed myself of many of the benefits the past 150 days because I have continued smoking weed chronically - that I finally stopped 4 days ago and am committed to going full sober. I thank you both and Huberman and all the others that promote this lifestyle change. Now, what to do with my stash of rare whiskey....
Birthday gift to someone 😆
I lost a good man to alcohol. So proud of you both. ❤
Never started drinking. Something I'm happy about and I think I made the right decision
@@brianmeen2158 That's a fair point. Parties and bars aren't my scenes. I've managed to make many friends through other outlets.
7 weeks sober. Past few days I have wanted a drink but watching and rewatching these videos reinforces why I quit.
I just reached 2 years sober on May 18th after 20 years of heavy drinking pretty much daily. For a while I didn't think it was possible for me to quit because I developed such a physical dependence, but with detox and a strong desire to have a better life it is possible! Best thing I've ever done for myself 😊
Amazing work!
@@Mustlord_Guitar_Ambient Thank you!!
4 years sober from 25 years of binge drinking. I watch videos like these to reinforce my decision.
You're a legend. Keep it up!
1030 days booze free.. never had an issue with it, just decided the week before my son was born that it’s not something I want him to see as normal in the home. Now 33 y o better shape than my 23 self & have no plans of drinking again. Well done to everyone in the comments 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I’m 34 and I’m at almost 3 months sober. I LOOOVE it. Like, truly
Never heard of pmo addiction before
I attempted to go sober last year around this time and went clean for about two months. I said I was gonna start clean in 2023 and only again started my journey this past month and I have been one month clean.
It’s definitely a journey and I wish everyone success and patience if they decide to go down this route.
I most certainly need it :)
cheering you on from canada!
@@jhonadavid appreciate you!!
I just hit 4 months now, that "functioning drunk" stage was something else. 👀
I love being sober. Going on 3 yrs for me. Every day gets better and better. Work life has gotten much better, but more importantly I’m a badass Dad present for my two kids.. and husband!
I hope if times are ever tough you can find a quiet moment to recognise you have improved the physical and mental health of most probably thousands of people around the world by guiding them to reduce or quit their alcohol intake. I’m one of those people. Thank you.
I took a 90 day break clarity focus was 100% sleep was great handling everything that needed to be handled decided to drink it wasn’t worth it, going to retire alcohol your video resonated with me. Keep it up.
I didn’t quit alcohol altogether but I significantly cut back. Great decision and I feel so much better all the time. My exercise routines are much more effective now.
There’s definitely something to it.
52 years old Stopped dec 30 2023 still going strong. I am done.. I got my life back and life is new and exciting.
I haven’t had a drink since Feb 2021 and I’ve never been better. 😊
I'm in a similar boat where I've flirted with the idea of quitting. Wouldn't call myself a heavy drinker, it's more like a time filler/social thing to me. Events I like to go to have alcohol ingrained and I enjoy a good cask ale and a chat but I don't miss it if I have something better to do.
Basically didn't drink at all during covid. Really don't enjoy it without the social aspect. Gone backwards since moving to a city, but been going back towards moderating it more. Might end up with me quitting, we'll see...
Today marks 50 days free of alcohol!
Stay strong 💪🏽
@@Nerner_Derder today marks 4 months of my freedom from alcohol!!!
@@stefandomagalski3722im hungover right now. I was at a house party yesterday. I will stop drinking for one year. Starting tomorror
@@NightLife094 great idea. Today is 1 year, 1mont, and 1 day sober for me. I thank God that I'm finally free of the alcoholic jail I was trapped in! No more hangovers, better mood, clarity, peace of mind, more money, better sleep, and less regret are just some of the benefits I've experienced so far. I would encourage you to take on the challenge of a sober life. It isn't always easy, but I'm grateful and am certainly never going to poison myself again with alcohol. Watching my mother die from liver failure due to excessive drinking helped push me in the right direction.
Good luck on your journey! I wish you success
I had to give up alcohol after years of abuse, until it eventually seriously damaged my health. Only that stopped me. It would have been much harder if not impossible to do this myself even though I was running a business, had a busy family etc. My life has improved immeasurably and it's been a hard battle. Not to stay stopped, but to get my health back and stick around for my Wife and kids.
Arguably, to make and take a decision before that damage is done is harder BUT WORTH IT, so well done.
The marketing people for alcohol in the UK are so powerful, they are everywhere, alcohol is everywhere. People are silently encouraged to drink at home where it is cheaper to do so. Fake parties marketed on television, showing people necking spirits as if it's the nectar of the gods. It's horrific.
Bear this in mind, when I did stop after being helped in hospital to detoxify and stabilise (yes, at this point I was still managing to work until I couldn't), I realised it wasn't just my liver I'd pickled, you effectively sit all of your organs in formaldehyde and pickle them, including your brain. Alcohol is nothing more than flavoured ethanol once it's processed and it's terribly damaging. All alcohol is processed in the same way, it doesn't matter whether it's from the finest grain in the islands of scotland, from the finest appellation in France or a strong chemically produced cider that's never seen a real apple, it's all processed the same way. Thats why they had a cirrhosis epidemic in France. They though every glass of wine was healthy, until they went yellow and blew up like bowling balls.
I knew I had a problem, and at one point it was fun, until it wasn't for the last five years. Get counselling wherever you can, and don't become the next statistic. Change your life, and I promise you whoever reads this now. It will get better, everything will improve given time and patience, and you will learn a better, more enjoyable life.
I took my friend for breakfast yesterday, at 60 he has given up alcohol after his wife threatened to end a 35 year marriage. Now after six months, his main problem is keeping her off him. It's more difficult to fake a headache when you've not got a hangover, and he doesn't want to put his heart at risk by engaging in such frivolity. Apart from this side effect, he and his Wife are loving life, have bought a caravan and are forever on holiday with the extra money they now have to budget with.
I don't leave many of these messages around, but I do hope someone might see it and make the changes. I promise that you won't look back.
Well done. Your loved ones must be relieved too. It's so awful to love someone that is doing what you were. Watch as they destroy themselves and the impact it has on everyone around them. As they kill themselves slowly.
I’m day 768! I think i found chris somewhere in the first 200 days. Many of his interviews Really inspired me to keep going. I love that more people are waking up to sobriety!
Sober since 4th July 2011 now 46 years old still feel like 30 getting up in the morning is easy full of energy getting things done but you will not believe how much I had to justify myself
If it is a trend. I'd say the best trend I've seen in a long time.
Did a year sober last year, after 365 days was back straight into old ways. Sober 9 days now and won't go back. Let's goooooo!!!
I'm 13 days free of alcohol. Only drank in the evening, but never too much. I've amazed myself by just how easy it is to do. I'm feeling more energy now and struggling to sleep is improving too.
Nice work! How's it going now?
I’m 61. Been a drinker most my life. Not heavy, but regular. Got to where is was drinking every night when in my late 50’s, kids grown had more time. Became non productive after 7-8pm. Spent $150-$300 month on alcohol, at least.
Then last year I saw my daughter in law so drunk she became unresponsive and had to call paramedics. As I watched I made a decision to be a better man, influence.
I have always been kind of a health nut, ate decent, worked out regularly, but never would give up the alcohol. Neither did my other gym buddies. Then I watched several videos on effects of alcohol. 30 day challenges. Watched Hubberman’s video. It was enlightening. Gave it a try. Went three days, then had a beer. Made a second attempt. Made it 4-5 months.
I’d say I have had 10 drinks in the past year total. Lost the desire to drink. Started noticing more just how immature and ridiculous people act when drinking.
Had yearly physical two weeks ago. Lab work has not looked this good in 40 years. Doctor said in particular, my triglycerides were great, because I quit alcohol. Crazy thing, this is the same guy that told me every year, two drinks a day was fine. He was dead wrong.
Made decision to be a healthier person, more productive person, better person, better example to my grown kids, and returned to God. What I also found was my energy level went up and my memory improved drastically. Went from 187 to 160 in a few months. Just because I quit drinking. I’m 170 now, because I am where I want to be.
Best decisions I have ever made to get my relationship right with God and stopping alcohol.
Want to find out who your friends are? Tell them you quit drinking, found Jesus and went back to church.
This will be me 💯👌🏾 the hangovers are torture and just feel off-base as hell the next day,I'm ready to just say F it!
Great interview! ❤ keep them coming. Lives being saved! Truly appreciate you 😊
Drinking was a huge part of my identity in my early to late 20s, maybe the core of my identity, I was a barfly, but when I turned 29 or so it was obvious to me just how negatively it was affecting my state of mind, but for me I tapered off in my 30s and now I only drink a couple drinks per week (as in one drink Friday night and one drink Saturday night). It’s also not uncommon for me to go for weeks at a time with zero drinks.
I think the English speaking world has a binge drinking problem. In contrast, in southern Europe it’s uncool to get wasted. We need to be more like those cultures, enjoy alcohol in moderation and that way maybe you don’t have to draw a hard line once you hit your 30s.
Interesting, I can’t seriously say that alcohol has made any drink I’ve had taste any better… people usually drink for the effect, so alcohol in moderation doesn’t make any sense either in my opinion.
sober for almost 9 years now! so proud of myself. life is just better sober and after a while drunk people become pathetic. everybody who wants to try: go for it!
I drank an 18 pack of beer every day for the last 5 yrs. I gained 60 lbs since the pandenic. Been sober a week now.
Damn bro, 18 pack is wild.
I'm 27, and the longest I've gone sober is probably around 9 or 10 days, I'm hoping to actually reset my mind going forward but it's easier said than done - to anyone else thinking about stopping, if you have to consider it, do it, best of luck!
The biggest single change I made in life years ago was kicking the alchohol. I saw a serious change in my health as well as my career.
Glad i quit drinking for once and for all after many years of off and on trying with "moderation" and all that bullshit. Been 4 years and best thing i ever did. Probably saved my life so maybe now i can get old enough to lose my mind and die like a potted plant in a nursing home rather than driving head on into a semi truck.
When I end in a home, I'm gonna start again, and be offensive to the seggsy nurses.. :P
@@CONEHEADDKpay those nurses tips for relaxation massage.😂
I’m over 7 years sober. My biggest advice is the sooner you can get sober the better!
at 7:27 When he talks about drinking a modest amount of alcohol but feeling 20% worse the next day is something I can relate to.
So glad that people are waking up to this
2022 was my alcohol-free year. I had some problems that year, ncluding the death of a loved one, and not having alcohol to turn arround was tough. However, i did understood why i don't need in my life
510 days off alcohol today. Don't miss it at all. Grateful I drank plenty in my 20's when it was FAR easier to recover. Later in life... Whoa. Not so fun. Stays with you for days. Compounds fast and negatively, for weeks into months. Stopped being fun.
Gen Z here: 22 y/0. I obviously cannot speak on behalf of my entire generation: but especially in the US the future is so grim it drives many to drink. I chose not to after a reality check after one too many and my life has never been better. I see some people my age constantly drinking and their skin is bad, their sleep is bad, their routines are bad, their health is bad, their finances are bad. Alcohol tastes horrible, makes you feel disconnected and ungrounded, is expensive, and causes disgusting hangovers and truly scary health detriments. Its literally poison.
For me, it was looking at everyone getting drunk and showing their worst selves. I was too sick to join in, so I got to see the full s***show as it was. If not all heavy drinkers in my life had problems when they were sober too, so it got annoying to be involved in their chaotic lives. A lot of the drinking was a work social thing so it was easy for me to be spiraled in. By cutting them out, my lifestyle got sober and performed better at work (and found better workplaces that DON'T rely on alcohol).
Now I barely drink, and if I do drink (1 glass of something a week or two), it's to genuinely enjoy the taste and art of the beverage.
I'm in college at the moment and happen to be in a fraternity. Getting let off the leash and I get to make my own decisions at a young age and with all the influence, per usual, I drank alot. From freshman year to about mid junior year I drank so so much. 30 rack of beer in a night, staying up until 6 am, drink on a random Tuesday, party every single weekend, etc etc. After completely dropping it and stepping away, my life in every single facet has improved considerably. My peers give me so much flack for this. I feel bad for them as they continue these patterns without any sign of stopping. But I can't help but step back and see how my life is now vs then. I'm not really even the same person. Being in a fraternity and not drinking definitely has its challenges, but mostly, it's the lack of support and understanding from friends. Alcohol is a very weird drug...
Your entire responsibility in college is to get out of it with your degree. You go to class, you do your homework and you pass your tests and get out. You’re doing the right thing by not drinking. Hang out with the people that add to your life, dont hang out with the people that will divert your attention from the end goal. You did well.
Keep going. You'll graduate and most likely never see those guys again.