I'm 2 months into my 35th year of soberity I also was on a pool team at a local bar, I still crave a beer but know even one now would not be good "lol" You have to have the will to suceed.
Good advice. I learned many of the things you talked about on my own. Especially the "remember the pain"! 16 years clean for me and I think of the "pain" maybe every few months just out of the blue. Not going back.
@royn8032 look at why and deal with for me it was trying to deal with severe ocd. I had severe drink problem. 4 detoxes. Fine now. Got help for ocd diagnosed with substance use disorder and no interest in bottles of wine like I used to. I also do not date people with active or past drinking problems. Feeling bad was one major trigger for me to want to drink but dark chocolate or a walk is just as good.
@@royn8032it is okay to feel this way. You will need time to adapt. I think you have to find peace with the feeling of wanting to escape or wanting to drink. Sit with it, observe it. Write about it, talk to a professional, family member or friend about it. Feeling something is a sign of life. Alcohol makes you numb to all of it. It takes away the sharp edges. Maybe find a different way to relax too? Best of luck my friend, you are not alone
It is not a disease stop spreading líes. You like getting smashed. You like the gargle and wanted again. Take responsability. Stop the cap with the disease cop outm
Thus the slogan ONCE........ ALWAYS. I BELIEVE FOR STARTERS BINGE DRINKING HAS TO BE ATTACKED!. I now don't drink on weekends because I work. During the week after work I Make sure to have only 2- 3 beers after 5pm and then I stop. My problem and many people's problems is when they are off work or on vacation they will start drinking early and forget how long they been drinking and end up binge drinking. I'm only off Wednesday thru friday.I BUY one 36 pack of Coors light per week but there are many times that I find myself buying another 36 pack within a week because I did not realize I drank 10 beers per day! Leaving only 6 beers left and I go buy another 36 pack before the first has not yet ended. You gotta pace yourself and set limits. I only drink beer but when I get going I forget how many until I see the bottom of the refrigerator almost empty from the many beers I first had......a day or two ago. Then only time I quit is when I had kidney stones.....for two months. Felt like a different person. I was very sharp and cognizant about things. I'll try again and won't give up trying. Everyone needs to get to know WILL. HE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND and his last name is POWER.
@@matthewcastillo9951 How did the 4 years go? Did you feel better or just terribly bored? Not nagging you or anything but I'm just curious, how come you started drinking again?
@@devilsoffspring5519 , I remember the first 3 months were difficult. I had quit in 2017. And in 2022 my brother died in car accident. Then I started drinking again sometime after that. Then a year later my dad died. Thats pretty much the reason why o ended up drinking again
19 years and counting for me. Went cold turkey, and the withdrawal symptoms were over in 48 hours, and I haven't looked back since. I thought about it for years before taking the leap. Health immediately improved. Finances improved as well. Life is great without it, and I'll never touch a drop again. So if you're trying to decide to quit, take it from me, just grit your teeth and do it. It will be the single best thing you'll ever do.
I’ve been sober for 13 years now. One tip that helps me is when I see people drinking especially over drinking is remembering how horrible hangovers are
Good for you… this is TERRIBLE advice. Avoiding any addiction because of negative consequences is untenable. If that was the case nobody would ever become an addict.
I've not had a drink in over 12 years. Before that, I had tried numerous times to stop, only to relapse again and again, with the last time almost killing me. The first advice, in this video, don't tell anyone, really hits home to me. I finally was able to get clean after telling NO ONE that I stopped drinking. Besides, why do they have to know? You're doing it for YOU, not them. Love love this video. Thank you so much Leon for sharing your story and helping others!
Same, to me it's always about not feeling the effects enough and wanting more effect, only to drink an absurd amount of strong stuff just to heal, cure and recover from the physical and mental traumas. Stay moving forward my friend.
Quit over 2 Memorial day weekend ago. 16 month no beer, no wine, no wine cooler. Nothing. 16 months of healing for my liver, brain, heart, my wife, my daughter, myself 16 months, no drinks 16 months. No drinks. There was a time skipping even 1 day was impossible. Needed 1 wine in the am , 1 at noon. 2 or 3 at night, everyday day. Buzzed, drunk, all day, everyday, Now zero. Not 1 in almost 18 months...550 days!! I am awesome❤❤❤❤❤
I'll have 2 years this November 1st after a 43-year run with a few months dry here and there. I have not felt the hunger at all and that's a first but I still get some fucked up drinking dreams now and then. I enjoy weed, that's never really been a problem for me at all and it helps with my anxiety and Parkinson's. I went to outpatient treatment on my own accord this time around and went to a lot of AA meetings but I don't work the program or steps other than not drinking and knowing that it's not in my interest or power to take it up again. I don't even try to split hairs or figure a "safe" way to drink. It's not worth it. Alcohol is the worst of all drugs for many reasons, not just the total health hazard. Good job! Keep it up!
@@raymondlin8728 well if you previously drank for many years prior then cold Turkey wont work and is dangerous. Blood pressure will go sky high, seizures can happen, hallucinations will happen(I woke up in the middle of the night and screamed 😱 loudly because I saw a huge wolf snarling and lunging at me 🫤) and your brain and nervous system will go haywire. I drank almost every single day for 15 years. Luckily you must’ve stopped way before going that long 👍
Today is day 10. Disabled veteran with a long history of alcohol dependency. I quit cold turkey, videos like these help so much. Even more than the SUDS class I took 3 times with the VA. If you are struggling and reading this. Believe in yourself, you've got this. Much love all
Did you not have seizures?? I'm epileptic and am terrified of the seizures impending...and alcohol, as a GABA agonist akin to benzos, actually help my epilepsy
@attempt4 thankfully and luckily I did not. I am also prone to seizures. Grand Mal. Although I'm not longer on gaba. I was. I unknowingly took severe risk so I do recommend you check with a doctor. Also. Today is the day after my 40th birthday. I stayed sober!!
This is what happened to me... I stopped drinking because my life was a mess, i couldnt function at all and when it came to stopping partying I told no one and I mean no one cus I knew how many times I said it before. All of a sudden I started saving money so I bought a gym membership and got addicted, I set up my TH-cam channel and put my money into buying equipment, I went on holiday and did so many things that the pain had gone so guess what? I went back to alcohol... Thank you Leon for pointing that part out for us because that's just made me believe I can do it again and stay on track ❤ wish me well guys x
Before this video, I was already doing the "Remember the pain". I would think about how my gut hurt, how my heart raced, how sweaty hot I was, and how shaky my hands were. Never want to go back to that. I think about it every few months. My last drink was 16 years ago. It also does not bother me to go down the liquor lanes at stores or go into liquor stores. Not even to be around people who drink. Never look back. The first 90 days are the hardest. Good luck to all those getting sober. You may have several or many tries at getting to 90 days, but you will succeed. It took me several times, (3 times) before I made it.
I was a heavy smoker and 30 years ago I quit smoking by "becoming Terry" - a friend of mine that had never smoked a cigarette. I used to quit alcohol every month when I went offshore but now live in a resort where alcohol is a way of life. 25 years of daily drinking, I have decided to "become" someone that has never had a drink. A week in. It works for me.
That is a really good idea. Reminds me of when my sister went on a diet one summer that we lived together in a dorm, by eating exactly what I ate. She didn’t tell me she was doing that, but she always made me go first in the cafeteria line. She lost weight.
I've been sober 15 years I wish you all however far down the road you are nothing but my best wishes. I have my life and family back couldn't be happier.Stay strong guys.❤
I just drink 12 pack of beer everyday from Monday to Sunday after work for 4 years straight. Im doing my best 💪 in im losing weight and eating healthy food i drink only water all day everyday day..
I didn't quit drinking. I stayed sober one day at a time for 10 years 11 months 3 weeks and 4 days in a row. So so so worth it!! It's easy to quit, the problem is that we always start again..
I quit drinking nearly 3 years ago. I know I can't just have 1 drink. I used to binge drink on the weekends. I don't miss drinking. I thank God I don't drink anymore
I stopped drinking in 2021 I hate to detox in a hospital environment I got diagnosed with ataixa and now I have a zimer can't walk I was 33 when I stopped life was miserable withdrawal every day didn't have a body clock anytime day or night it my first rehab was in 2018 for 3 months didn't take long before I fell back into addition but 3 years later went back and successfully stopped iam glad to be alive trust me there's a lot more but now I maybe a house bound patient but loving every day feeling normal ❤
Good stuff! I'm 10 years sober. It took me 30 years to do it and many of the reasons I continually relapsed was mentioned here. I don't even know my sobriety date. I just realized I had gone about a year without drinking or using. Don't drink today. Don't drink even if your a$$ falls off! This is about you and your life, no one else's.
One thing that motivates me, is seeing these comments where people say they were a drinker for 12 yrs, 20 yrs, 25 yrs… and they are able to quit. So I figure that if I have only been a big drinker for 3 years, then I can do this. I am also scared I will ruin my body so I just need to remind myself these things. My first drink was at 13 years old, and it was hard liquor. I actually stopped drinking by freshman year of high school, and I didn’t drink much throughout high school, but then I moved out at 18, and my best friend/roommate was a binge drinker. So of course I followed suit, and started to binge drink. Once I moved out I stopped again, but then when I turned 21, and could buy my own alcohol I drank on and off for a year. Then I met my partner, and he told me he wouldn’t be with me if I drank, so for a good 5 or 6 years I stopped, I had my daughter, and took good care of her. Had slip ups once in a while. Then my partner broke up with me, and I relapsed, HARD. I have been drinking since 2021, and now is as good a time as any to quit. I need to remind myself if others can do this, I can do it too. I don’t need this poison. I need to better myself and remind myself it’s worth it.
6 weeks sober. My pain is worse which causes depression. Supposedly, in time, I may feel better. Never drank before my pain medication was reduced. I have 8 years of drinking behind me. NO MORE.
I hope you're feeling OK. I'm a bit further down the road than you. I have physical pain & depression too. Alcohol worked for a while, then soooo made everything worse. The right prescription meds + being 100% dry (for the first time in 20 years) saved me. Not easy & not perfect, but life is better than it was. Good luck to you. I wish you better health.
I stop drinking the day the doc tell me that my liver and kidneys are damege now im delling wit ckd stage 3a.. i walk one hour a day everyday snd drink water and eating healthy.. im train to be alive much years that i can God is good he give me a second chance...
August 18th will be 9 years for me. Everyone’s journey is their own; but I can relate to everything in your message. For the record; I quit going to AA meetings 7 years ago; one of the best decisions I ever made.
Drank regularly for 40 years,,, I quit drinking NYE 2023. I have replaced alcohol with nightly weed smoking, best decision of my life, lost my gut, better sleeps, better skin, less body fat etc etc ... I replaced alcohol for weed @50 years old ... wish I made the change @ 30 years old ... 🇨🇦💪💪☕☕
I watched his videos when I tried to quit drinking awhile back, I made it 5 months sober. Everything he said that was going to happen, did happen. Sooner or later I thought I could drink just small amounts, eventually, I was drinking a box of wine in 3 days, and almost lost my job. Going to give it a go again. Thanks Leon.
This is so therapeutic, I appreciate this video I pray everyone including myself overcome drinking alcohol and over stand the truth in how it affects the human body in a MAJOR way! 💙🙏🏽💙 #Soberlife #Small thing to a Giant😉
#3...This has set me back 3 times so far since I left treatment. Like you said, there is no such thing as 1 or 2 beers. The moment you take that 1 sip, you're right back where you left off, like you never even stopped to begin with.
It'll be 2 weeks tomorrow for me. Spent 4 days and nights at the hospital over shortness of breath. Eventually diagnosed with heart failure, likely due to many years of drinking. I know what the pain is (although it is physically painless). Got a treatment, totally changed my routine naturally thanks to much better sleep, eat better, more active and constructive. I can't control the diagnosis, but I can control everything else. I think your "dont forget the pain" advice is absolutely crucial, and I will remember it. Thanks!
Aug 12 will be a year. I'm around beer all the time. I play adult league hockey, also known as beer league hockey. Play sometimes 5 times a week and I always drank after games. I decided to stop and haven't looked back.
This Video is exactly what I have analyzed!! The one that is an eye opener is that after you create so much damage in your life, its going to continue to exist. No one has any more faith in you after many chances. You have to deal with these damages and create a new life. I love this video.
Great advice. I am examining my drinking behavior and working on not drinking. The little voice that says it’s okay just one or two is the addiction talking to me. The behavioral habit to self soothe that I need to work on.
first point is great. We seem to think it's a big deal to others and that they care so much. Most don't, or they don't believe you. Just do it, and let ppl witness the positive changes.
It's so true that when the pain of drinking goes away--the weight gain, depression and anxiety, brain fog, etc. clears up--it's tempting to think "oh I can totally have a drink, I'm all good now." Such a trap. Resuming sobriety now. Three days sober. Here we go. Good luck to everyone out there.
I like to count the days. When I see how many days I’ve accumulated it makes me feel mentally strong. Then I think about how bad and ashamed I’d feel if I lost all of those days because of one drink. Never worth it.
Good on youan, you're an inspiration, seriously. I'm still hooked....I want to just pour it all away but the fear of withdrawals and SUDEP isn't fun. But well done, long may it continue
For some reason when i watch videos like this it brings me to tears nearly as facing the reality of my drinking and the relationships its destroyed etc is painful to face, i desperately want to change but fear i can never repair the things in my life its destroyed and the stupid mistakes i have made 💔 its a terrible struggle daily and i cant find the way to get out of this hell hole i live
Things will be repaired in its due time but you have the chance to begin your very own personal repair by saying, doing, and believing: I will not drink today. Begin the walk and don’t tell anyone. I believe you can do this and you will get to repair all things! Go forward and know the damage a liquid can cause us. It’s game time!
30 days in, starting to feel like a stupid thing that I used to do. Life is way better already, motivation is my biggest area of improvement, I just can't stop doing stuff and being productive. Cool!
Hi, I'm 16 days in, I am massively productive when I don't drink which is great for 95% of the time but what do you do on a weekend after 4/5pm? I spend all day doing things I either need to or want to gardening ect. But I try and sit down with everything on my list ticked off to relax on a weekend evening but can't relax! I either find another job to keep me busy till bedtime or sit there like a coiled spring fidgeting, do you relax at all? Or constantly doing?
@@jamestheferret it gets easier as you go, I am very productive, working on projects etc. My down time is filled with spending time with my wife or close frirnds and I pray and study in my Bible daily as well. I find a calming sourcd of strength and resolve when I focus on being the man that God wants me to be. God has a purpose for each of us, and figuring out what that purpose is and doing that thing gives a meaning to your life that can't be found in a bottle. I will add you to my prayer list, and if you're so inclined would you pray for me.
@@jamestheferret you do you brother, perhaps meditation, music etc. Might be for you, whatever you do will be better than drinking, that's for sure. Take care and ima pray for you anyway. LOL
It came down to this. I was getting acute withdrawals every morning (that's just 8 hours after a drink). I would shake, have cold sweats, skin on fire and vomit. I could not take it another day. I had a drink took a shower, shaved put clean cloths on and called my mother. I told her I needed to go to the ER right now. I said to the receptionist "I'm declaring a medical emergency because of acute alcohol withdrawals". Within 10 minutes they had me in a room with an IV and a shot of Adderall and electrolytes. After seeing the Dr. he sent me home for out patient treatment. I was on heavy dose of Librium for 5 days and spent 10 days at my mom's house, mostly in bed. The only thing I could eat was good ole chicken noodle soup. Lucky I had insurance and my out of pocket was only $900 and the meds was just $45.
day 862. i still dream about it but now i have dreams that i don't succumb. and i even dream about things i could do to make my sobriety stronger. like inviting recovery friends over more often
Thanks for the information it makes a lot of sense. One thing I don't understand though is why some addicts feel so bad when another addict tries to become sober. It's ridiculous
I drank for 35 years and never thought I'd stop ever but I did. I had terrible cravings for 2 years but they eventually left me. I smoke pot now and it helps immensely. I sometimes want a drink to be social but then I remember what it does to me. And really the thought of having a drink sounds gross. Good luck to everyone staying sober.
I keep taking the deep breath before the plunge but the plunge just never comes.i always find an excuse to keep drinking.your content is phenomenal.alot of the things you say I've done or failed exactly like you said will happen.i will do it.i know I can.even without having signed up to your program please keep the content coming.
Same. I bought "the easy way to stop drinking" book a few months ago and I haven't picked it up. I honestly think it's bc I'm afraid it'll work? Isn't that silly?
The counting days thing was a big one for me. One time I celebrated my 30 days clean a day or so early cause I had the dates mixed up and the guilt of “lying” to all my people in the meetings convinced me it was better to show up with zero days sober then be a liar. So that’s exactly what I did.
When I quit a couple of summers ago I made a point of not making a dramatic thing about it, and just repeating to myself how much better I felt to instill positive feelings rather than feelings of denial and craving. We are creatures of habit, and will adapt to new patterns... Good luck all.
Yes! Don't tell others. Good advice. Did you need to get certified or go to school? Also, the entertainment of having one drink is something you can't do. It's just like me quitting soda months ago. You can't just have one. Once you compromise one time, you'll start doing it more. I always think about the hangovers. I don't want to get one ever again.
Man, so true that for some of us, just trying to cut back is not an option. I had five full years of sobriety, then I fell, or should I say I dove, off the wagon and drank harder than ever for months. As the saying goes, alcohol is doing pushups in the parking lot, just waiting for us to slip. Three days sober now. I'm determined to eat well, exercise, drink water, and live my best life instead of giving in to the loneliness and despair that I had succumbed to. Wishing everyone out there peace and strength. It's worth the fight.
This is some of the best advice in one place that I have ever heard...mostly because its what I have learnt to do already after many years of trying to quit alcohol for good...but it's great to hear and helps reinforce my own commitment. Great content 👌
I agree with most of this video. I don't agree with counting or putting a time on how long to be sober for though. I think it's vital to celebrate milestones and pat ourselves on the back. Those feeling when we hit the year mark, 2 year mark, those feel good. And how I felt when I hit those marks was that I wanted even more. Much like with alcohol, our problem is we're never content. So you hit those milestones and it'll spur you on to the next one. That is how I feel anyway. 2nd issue with this video is putting a time frame on it. Ok, so 30 days is nonsense. That whole dry January thing is a joke. But when I tried to permanently quit in the past, my failed attempts, the thing I really struggled with was the thought of never drinking ever again. It was too big for my brain to comprehend and led me to be depressed and unable to stop thinking about drinking. Obviously this led to slip ups and costly mistakes. This time around I told myself, let's just do this for a year. Let's see what a year of sobriety looks like. My commitment to this was no matter what happens in the next year, no alcohol whatsoever will pass knowingly through my lips. If I spend the next year hating life and being depressed, pushing everyone away like I usually did during an attempt, I would start drinking again after the year was up and accept any consequences that were brought on by my drinking. Immediately during this attempt it felt like the weight of the world was off my shoulders. There was no more struggle. No more depression. Now it was my choice completely. You know what happened next.. People saw me pretty much change over night, I never made a big deal out of it, just like you said, I just got on with my life. But I was happy, content knowing if I hated this new path I could go back to how it was before. Suddenly my relationships grew to levels I didn't even no possible. The amount of positive reinforcement I felt in that 12 months was insane. I have to admit, getting close the year mark was a bit scary for me. I was legit scared that the magic was going to wear. I am a guy that has done it the hard way more than once, this 12 months was the easiest, most rewarding and happiest 12 months of my adult life, but as I said above, I got to the 12 month mark and all I wanted was more positivity. More love. More success. More milestones. I now have all the data I need to know what alcohol provides and what sobriety provides. November 12th I'm 7 years alcohol free. I'm the furthest away from longing for alcohol than I ever have been. It offers me nothing. Literally nothing. This path however.. Wow. The me of 2017 would never have believed all this was possible. It's possible for all of us too. Living proof right here.
I’ve quit so many times just to think I could come back to it and control it. The fact is that it feels good only for a bit and then 10x worse. Then we drink to feel good again. Been sober numerous times. Last time was almost 2 years and football season came around and I got triggered. I just need to walk away from it. Last night was a 12 pack. Same brand of beer I broke my sobriety with. Time to make it my last time and just walk away. I will never forget the pain
Did 7 months.... then 2 weeks ago, i slipped up, have got drunk i think 5 (maybe 6) days within the last 2 weeks. On day 2 again... liver has already swollen up NIGHTMARE. To those who havent faced the first health issue from the habbit YET - reflect on the chatastrophic health effects it can / eventually will bring you. Isit worth it? To those who have already had a health scare, like me... keep going guys stay away from it and if youve touched it again... now is the perfect time to run from it again before we are out of luck. And to those who sadly have serious health issues from it... stay sober, diet / exercise and time and a positive attitude 100% i believe in you and root for you and KNOW you can turn it around somehow and look back on your story like wow... im still here haha :)
@@GALYFE68 hello :). 1st of all, dont worry. The liver is incredible at self healing. HOWEVER, this is whilst it still can. Fatty liver is stage 1... usually theres no symptoms, and i think i was told over 90% of heavy drinkers, even those who drink heavy for a couple weeks develop that... but it is 100% reversable, sobriety and a bit of time youre good as new. Stage 2 is alcogolic hepitits (my stage) it is here, it gets real. The swollen feeling is like, hard to describe but for me like my liver (right side of the abdomen) is "swollen" or "big" or pushing against the ribs - often a dull ache too but by no means painful - just an ache. If you feel that, even slightly... run now. Quit, eat as decent as you can afford, move about more and give it time... a few months sober youll be good as new. You continue to push boundries, youll start to develop things like nausea / more severe pain and, if you push down the right sjde of the abdomen itll feel hard (amongst other possible symptoms) - even at this stage, life long sobriety can stop it from progressing / after a few years can still fully heal. Issue is, is alot drink through it expecting serious symptoms which will make them stop but cirrosis (end stage) often is "compensated" meaning symptoms are still often mild / not even there... at this stage the liver is like a boiked egg... no hope to "un- boil" it (but life long sobriety can buy you many years of life)... in short, uf you feel a sort of bulging or swollen or bloated strange sensation right sjde of the abdomen and you drink often or binge drink... relax, dont panic, get sober, stay sober and give it TIME. It took me about 4 or 5 months for it to feel well again. But dont ignore the signs friend and dont buy into the whole "the liver heals itself" as yes thats true, and take great refuge in that... but alcoholic liver disease can be very silent, but also very sudden and sadly for a large majority very life changing (in the mist horrendous of ways). I write this long message, to a) keep you chill and to let you know DONT PANIC but b) to really urge you to reflect on just how far you wanna push things, if you even feel the slightest swollen feeling, its inflamed, the next phaze has started. You run now, within 6 months youre as healthy as anything. You continue to play with things, the chatastrophic suffering that could be in store will make you wish you wouldnt have. All in this together im rooting for you :).
@@richevandroo5041Thank-you for this. My liver test results are always high. I’m 14 days sober. I was drinking everyday from morning to evening to calm nerves, anxiety, escape… and still function at work without anyone knowing except the family at home in the evening. I had a real fright when the nausea kicked in every morning when I woke up and physically sick. I hope I can bring my liver back to healthy state and I believe the scare was a good thing. It made me stop. Thanks again for the supportive words.
@@winstrolchurchill821 you feel it. Its not a swollen feeling , or even painful. It feels like... well... if you feel "something" in that area, its swollen. Im deep into another relapse brother and possibly soon to be in hospital woth it its no joke and its sad as u once drank so much then it suddenly gets you and its like shit
I’m not an alcoholic, but as I’ve aged I don’t metabolize alcohol as well. Now alcohol, even just a couple of drinks, triggers migraines and makes me feel lousy the next day. Not worth it. Not saying I won’t have a glass of wine on a special occasion, but a little over two weeks ago, I just stopped. Even when I go to the winery with friends, I get juice or kombucha. I feel much better and have no desire to go back to having a regular drink in the evenings.
Point 1, I've had the opposite problem and still do: people ask me why I want to stop and why don't I just do this that and the other thing...basically talk me out of it, so stopped telling people because I'm tired of that cycle
This is really valuable information. Technically, you can apply this to other situations in life where you are looking to transition away from something negative or destructive. You have really nailed the reality of life with some of your points. I hope many people find this video valuable.
7 weeks for me .Great advice ,my longest is 6 months so I still have a little time to go.I normally only got the urge to drink if I was in a good mood having great days at work ,normally if I had a rotten day or felt down I would just have tea ,I made sure I would fill myself with food so then I didnt feel like having alcohol.However if I started drinking as soon as I got home that was dangerous because then I just completely forget about food and just keep drinking booze.
5 days with no booze, I think what’s helped is a saying I heard called DDT (Don’t Drink Today) it’s helped me make it through today. Hopefully it’ll be the same tomorrow
My concern, is that I have mental issues. I’ve seen many many many psychologist and psychiatrist just doesn’t seem to help alcohol eases the pain, like you said a drug because that is what it is.
I didn’t tell anyone. Not even my BF at the time. I knew he would be very judgemental. I sold my house, bought out my boss, dumped the BF and it’s coming up 3yrs.
Great vid. Loved that. I’m on day 50 sober, I never had a time limit so took pressure off , as for just having the one drink ? No chance for me haha I only drank to get drunk , so has to be zero drinks for me. As for going pub , I have a coke or something, then if the vibe in pub isn’t good , I just go home
45 days-I stopped the whiskey 6 + months before stopping the beer-Its easier this time around because it's just the beer I'm stopping instead of two types
I know one thing, love it or leave it, if you love alcohol and it's killing you, then leave it. I quite alcohol and felling really great, yes I will not tell lie that it was a great time, I faced many problems, I got tremor attack, two weeks I was not able to walk properly,not even able to take the meal but if you have full of hatred then definitely you can leave it.
When i quit drinking for the first time it took me six months to be able to walk into a bar again. I immediately ordered food and only stayed for about an hour (my buddy's dad was drumming in a band that played there). Then i asked if i could come back to the bar I'd gotten stopped being served at because i was just getting stupid drunk and driving home every day. The owner gave me a hug and said she's always got NA beer in stock so that's what i drank when i went there. It was much harder to me sober by myself at home. Also also a lot of this is stuff many of us practiced in SOS (Secular Organizations for Sobriety). The whole powerless thing and being a victim didn't make any sense to me.
Funnily, I never think about alcohol when I am away from home and active. Never ever driven under the influence. BUT... when I am home... the ghosts and the demons (metaphorical, I think?) start tormenting me... and I will often start sipping wine from 9am, just to take the edge off the relentless, intangible, sourceless (but INTENSE) remorse, the grief for... [?]. I would like to be free of alcoholism... but I do not want to even attempt to give up this crutch, because absolutely nothing even remotely "better" (much less 'more effective') is available to transition to. It is what it is. No money to pay for, nor even energy to see a shrink, and probably not enough years left in my life to deal with the source of the pain, even if someone shouted me to unlimited prepaid sessions with the best shrink in the city
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I'm 2 months into my 35th year of soberity I also was on a pool team at a local bar, I still crave a beer but know even one now would not be good "lol" You have to have the will to suceed.
I need this 100% I'm a bartender n retiring soon ...today day 1 sober.T y for your knowledge I will try all u said❤
@@hdman04 t y for support
Good advice. I learned many of the things you talked about on my own. Especially the "remember the pain"! 16 years clean for me and I think of the "pain" maybe every few months just out of the blue. Not going back.
Thank you for that
It's been 15 days for me. I wish all of you a strong enough purpose in life.
Me too! I still have feelings of wanting to secretly drink. Do you have any advice?
@royn8032 look at why and deal with for me it was trying to deal with severe ocd. I had severe drink problem. 4 detoxes. Fine now. Got help for ocd diagnosed with substance use disorder and no interest in bottles of wine like I used to. I also do not date people with active or past drinking problems. Feeling bad was one major trigger for me to want to drink but dark chocolate or a walk is just as good.
@@royn8032it is okay to feel this way. You will need time to adapt. I think you have to find peace with the feeling of wanting to escape or wanting to drink. Sit with it, observe it. Write about it, talk to a professional, family member or friend about it.
Feeling something is a sign of life. Alcohol makes you numb to all of it. It takes away the sharp edges.
Maybe find a different way to relax too? Best of luck my friend, you are not alone
@@soniczforever5470 good for you asking for support and daring to ask why you feel the way you do. Winner mindset.
@@V0LTCF Thank you so much!
I've recently relapsed after 3 years sober. Don't get complacent and always be on your guard. This disease lies dormant and never goes away.
+ 1000 days sober is pretty d**n good, but yeah true words, it's an addiction for life.
It is not a disease stop spreading líes.
You like getting smashed. You like the gargle and wanted again.
Take responsability.
Stop the cap with the disease cop outm
8 months was my good run, was at about a month recently but went to Vegas and caved the last day there on the strip, luckily it was just the one day
Thus the slogan ONCE........ ALWAYS. I BELIEVE FOR STARTERS BINGE DRINKING HAS TO BE ATTACKED!. I now don't drink on weekends because I work. During the week after work I Make sure to have only 2- 3 beers after 5pm and then I stop. My problem and many people's problems is when they are off work or on vacation they will start drinking early and forget how long they been drinking and end up binge drinking. I'm only off Wednesday thru friday.I BUY one 36 pack of Coors light per week but there are many times that I find myself buying another 36 pack within a week because I did not realize I drank 10 beers per day! Leaving only 6 beers left and I go buy another 36 pack before the first has not yet ended. You gotta pace yourself and set limits. I only drink beer but when I get going I forget how many until I see the bottom of the refrigerator almost empty from the many beers I first had......a day or two ago. Then only time I quit is when I had kidney stones.....for two months. Felt like a different person. I was very sharp and cognizant about things. I'll try again and won't give up trying. Everyone needs to get to know WILL. HE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND and his last name is POWER.
Stay strong! You had a speedbump, but you still spent all those days sober. You got this.
Going on 107 days sober! I feel great. This sobriety has become my everyday job and feeling great is my paycheck!!
Chaley keep going
Good job. I can’t seem to go a week without alcohol. Any advice. I actually had 4 years of sobriety a while ago
@@matthewcastillo9951 How did the 4 years go? Did you feel better or just terribly bored? Not nagging you or anything but I'm just curious, how come you started drinking again?
@@devilsoffspring5519 , I remember the first 3 months were difficult. I had quit in 2017. And in 2022 my brother died in car accident. Then I started drinking again sometime after that. Then a year later my dad died. Thats pretty much the reason why o ended up drinking again
@@matthewcastillo9951prayers brother.Lost my wife and dad then a girlfriend. I also trying to stop
It's been 4 days I thank God that I'm being able to take this step... ✝️🛐❤
Congratulations x
19 years and counting for me. Went cold turkey, and the withdrawal symptoms were over in 48 hours, and I haven't looked back since. I thought about it for years before taking the leap. Health immediately improved. Finances improved as well. Life is great without it, and I'll never touch a drop again. So if you're trying to decide to quit, take it from me, just grit your teeth and do it. It will be the single best thing you'll ever do.
Same thing for me and has been 15 years. The first 6 months were the toughest for me, but don't regret quitting for a second.
7 YEARS SOBER NOW MYSELF .. TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY ... SALUTE 🫡 👍🏾 💯
Amen, God's got us!
I’ve been sober for 13 years now. One tip that helps me is when I see people drinking especially over drinking is remembering how horrible hangovers are
My problem there is I literally never get hangovers...I never did even when I only got drunk on a Friday now and again
Good for you… this is TERRIBLE advice. Avoiding any addiction because of negative consequences is untenable. If that was the case nobody would ever become an addict.
I've not had a drink in over 12 years. Before that, I had tried numerous times to stop, only to relapse again and again, with the last time almost killing me. The first advice, in this video, don't tell anyone, really hits home to me. I finally was able to get clean after telling NO ONE that I stopped drinking. Besides, why do they have to know? You're doing it for YOU, not them. Love love this video. Thank you so much Leon for sharing your story and helping others!
7:22 the great thing about not drinking is that if u find yourself in a bad situation u can get in your car and go home. Problem solved
😂
love that
My journey to sobriety begins today for the sake of my health
Hear you.
How are you doing. Still sober?
@@bravan49 Yes and living life.
3 days now
@BillarMuzhingi same on my 3rd day
I am on day 325, and i feel good. I don't crave alcohol
That's awesome, if you don't crave it then it'll be easier for you to lay off permanently
1 is too many 20 is not enough
Same, to me it's always about not feeling the effects enough and wanting more effect, only to drink an absurd amount of strong stuff just to heal, cure and recover from the physical and mental traumas. Stay moving forward my friend.
So true.
Amen!
That's what my fella says. I'm wondering if I stay or go and am almost done on the 'stay'..... I can't cope
Yes indeed because alcohol needs alcohol, it's always a trap
Quit over 2 Memorial day weekend ago. 16 month no beer, no wine, no wine cooler. Nothing.
16 months of healing for my liver, brain, heart, my wife, my daughter, myself
16 months, no drinks
16 months. No drinks.
There was a time skipping even 1 day was impossible. Needed 1 wine in the am , 1 at noon. 2 or 3 at night, everyday day. Buzzed, drunk, all day, everyday,
Now zero.
Not 1 in almost 18 months...550 days!!
I am awesome❤❤❤❤❤
I'll have 2 years this November 1st after a 43-year run with a few months dry here and there. I have not felt the hunger at all and that's a first but I still get some fucked up drinking dreams now and then. I enjoy weed, that's never really been a problem for me at all and it helps with my anxiety and Parkinson's. I went to outpatient treatment on my own accord this time around and went to a lot of AA meetings but I don't work the program or steps other than not drinking and knowing that it's not in my interest or power to take it up again. I don't even try to split hairs or figure a "safe" way to drink. It's not worth it. Alcohol is the worst of all drugs for many reasons, not just the total health hazard.
Good job! Keep it up!
Did you stop cold Turkey or slowly get off of it?
@@tritontransport Cold turkey. I quit vaping too.
@tritontransport cold turkey, why prolong it. Plus family simply said enough was enough. No more. They didn't understand addiction, nor recovery
@@raymondlin8728 well if you previously drank for many years prior then cold Turkey wont work and is dangerous. Blood pressure will go sky high, seizures can happen, hallucinations will happen(I woke up in the middle of the night and screamed 😱 loudly because I saw a huge wolf snarling and lunging at me 🫤) and your brain and nervous system will go haywire. I drank almost every single day for 15 years. Luckily you must’ve stopped way before going that long 👍
Today is day 10. Disabled veteran with a long history of alcohol dependency. I quit cold turkey, videos like these help so much. Even more than the SUDS class I took 3 times with the VA.
If you are struggling and reading this. Believe in yourself, you've got this. Much love all
Did you not have seizures?? I'm epileptic and am terrified of the seizures impending...and alcohol, as a GABA agonist akin to benzos, actually help my epilepsy
@attempt4 thankfully and luckily I did not. I am also prone to seizures. Grand Mal. Although I'm not longer on gaba. I was. I unknowingly took severe risk so I do recommend you check with a doctor. Also. Today is the day after my 40th birthday. I stayed sober!!
@@Gunner_Raywell done! Keep going, day 32 here
@@caroltaylor3931 LFG!!! So proud of you! I'm happy to report day 94 here!!!
This is what happened to me... I stopped drinking because my life was a mess, i couldnt function at all and when it came to stopping partying I told no one and I mean no one cus I knew how many times I said it before. All of a sudden I started saving money so I bought a gym membership and got addicted, I set up my TH-cam channel and put my money into buying equipment, I went on holiday and did so many things that the pain had gone so guess what? I went back to alcohol... Thank you Leon for pointing that part out for us because that's just made me believe I can do it again and stay on track ❤ wish me well guys x
Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏👏👏
Good luck on your journey 🙏🏽
Update I'm 2 months sober!
@@swainmusiclessons all the best on your journey, don't go back again mate 😇🙏🏽
22 days poison free.
Congratulations, I am 22 days too!
46 for me..keep going everyone!💪
Guys try Narcotics Anonymous meeting, now I’m 218 days it’s really helpful
That's a blatant qoute. F me hit hard.
I am on day 5 I have lost so much because of legalised poison well done charley
2 months and 1 week sober my health is getting better god is good... Don't start drinking.. quit quit quit 👎👎 alcohol desaes
Been sober for 32 days now! Not all at once or anything, just total!
😂
Before this video, I was already doing the "Remember the pain". I would think about how my gut hurt, how my heart raced, how sweaty hot I was, and how shaky my hands were. Never want to go back to that. I think about it every few months. My last drink was 16 years ago. It also does not bother me to go down the liquor lanes at stores or go into liquor stores. Not even to be around people who drink. Never look back. The first 90 days are the hardest. Good luck to all those getting sober. You may have several or many tries at getting to 90 days, but you will succeed. It took me several times, (3 times) before I made it.
I was a heavy smoker and 30 years ago I quit smoking by "becoming Terry" - a friend of mine that had never smoked a cigarette. I used to quit alcohol every month when I went offshore but now live in a resort where alcohol is a way of life. 25 years of daily drinking, I have decided to "become" someone that has never had a drink. A week in. It works for me.
Good advice
That is a really good idea. Reminds me of when my sister went on a diet one summer that we lived together in a dorm, by eating exactly what I ate. She didn’t tell me she was doing that, but she always made me go first in the cafeteria line. She lost weight.
What a cool idea! I'm into this. Thank you.
I've been sober 15 years I wish you all however far down the road you are nothing but my best wishes. I have my life and family back couldn't be happier.Stay strong guys.❤
I just drink 12 pack of beer everyday from Monday to Sunday after work for 4 years straight. Im doing my best 💪 in im losing weight and eating healthy food i drink only water all day everyday day..
Spot on; I stopped 31 years ago and I did it for me, only me.
I didn't quit drinking. I stayed sober one day at a time for 10 years 11 months 3 weeks and 4 days in a row.
So so so worth it!!
It's easy to quit, the problem is that we always start again..
Yep. I never say I don't drink anymore, I just say not today, I stopped drinking June 29 2023. Feel better than ever.
😅well done
Me too. I say im not having anything to drink at the moment.
Its been 3 1/4 mths
Not today, seams to work great
So you leave the door open.....
I quit drinking nearly 3 years ago. I know I can't just have 1 drink. I used to binge drink on the weekends. I don't miss drinking. I thank God I don't drink anymore
I stopped drinking in 2021 I hate to detox in a hospital environment I got diagnosed with ataixa and now I have a zimer can't walk I was 33 when I stopped life was miserable withdrawal every day didn't have a body clock anytime day or night it my first rehab was in 2018 for 3 months didn't take long before I fell back into addition but 3 years later went back and successfully stopped iam glad to be alive trust me there's a lot more but now I maybe a house bound patient but loving every day feeling normal ❤
As a long time drinker, I can say that these 6 are really great steps.
26 days for me now, but I’m focusing on one day at a time,
Love and strength to you all,
It’s not easy
Sober October. Been suprisingly easy. Might keep going into November now 😊
It's cheaper, that's for sure :)
82 days for me,from alcohol and cannabis, one day at the time it's the best way.Believe in yourself.
Good stuff! I'm 10 years sober. It took me 30 years to do it and many of the reasons I continually relapsed was mentioned here. I don't even know my sobriety date. I just realized I had gone about a year without drinking or using. Don't drink today. Don't drink even if your a$$ falls off! This is about you and your life, no one else's.
One thing that motivates me, is seeing these comments where people say they were a drinker for 12 yrs, 20 yrs, 25 yrs… and they are able to quit. So I figure that if I have only been a big drinker for 3 years, then I can do this. I am also scared I will ruin my body so I just need to remind myself these things. My first drink was at 13 years old, and it was hard liquor. I actually stopped drinking by freshman year of high school, and I didn’t drink much throughout high school, but then I moved out at 18, and my best friend/roommate was a binge drinker. So of course I followed suit, and started to binge drink. Once I moved out I stopped again, but then when I turned 21, and could buy my own alcohol I drank on and off for a year. Then I met my partner, and he told me he wouldn’t be with me if I drank, so for a good 5 or 6 years I stopped, I had my daughter, and took good care of her. Had slip ups once in a while. Then my partner broke up with me, and I relapsed, HARD. I have been drinking since 2021, and now is as good a time as any to quit. I need to remind myself if others can do this, I can do it too. I don’t need this poison. I need to better myself and remind myself it’s worth it.
How are you now? Did you quit alcohol?
6 weeks sober. My pain is worse which causes depression. Supposedly, in time, I may feel better. Never drank before my pain medication was reduced. I have 8 years of drinking behind me. NO MORE.
I hope you're feeling OK. I'm a bit further down the road than you. I have physical pain & depression too. Alcohol worked for a while, then soooo made everything worse. The right prescription meds + being 100% dry (for the first time in 20 years) saved me. Not easy & not perfect, but life is better than it was. Good luck to you. I wish you better health.
I hear you. Something I am clinging to in my (renewed) sobriety is the saying: There's no situation so bad that alcohol can't make it worse.
I stop drinking the day the doc tell me that my liver and kidneys are damege now im delling wit ckd stage 3a.. i walk one hour a day everyday snd drink water and eating healthy.. im train to be alive much years that i can God is good he give me a second chance...
August 18th will be 9 years for me. Everyone’s journey is their own; but I can relate to everything in your message. For the record; I quit going to AA meetings 7 years ago; one of the best decisions I ever made.
Drank regularly for 40 years,,, I quit drinking NYE 2023. I have replaced alcohol with nightly weed smoking, best decision of my life, lost my gut, better sleeps, better skin, less body fat etc etc ...
I replaced alcohol for weed @50 years old ... wish I made the change @ 30 years old ... 🇨🇦💪💪☕☕
The thing is. Weed can make people schizophrenic. I think one of 100 but still
@@ericortega1745correct
@@ericortega1745 It does indeed (more than 1/100), but only by the age of 30 or less. There are a lot of studies supporting this.
I watched his videos when I tried to quit drinking awhile back, I made it 5 months sober. Everything he said that was going to happen, did happen. Sooner or later I thought I could drink just small amounts, eventually, I was drinking a box of wine in 3 days, and almost lost my job. Going to give it a go again. Thanks Leon.
100% agree about stupid idea of just reducing drinking.... I have failure so many times because of that!!!!!
This is so therapeutic, I appreciate this video I pray everyone including myself overcome drinking alcohol and over stand the truth in how it affects the human body in a MAJOR way!
💙🙏🏽💙
#Soberlife
#Small thing to a Giant😉
#3...This has set me back 3 times so far since I left treatment. Like you said, there is no such thing as 1 or 2 beers. The moment you take that 1 sip, you're right back where you left off, like you never even stopped to begin with.
It'll be 2 weeks tomorrow for me. Spent 4 days and nights at the hospital over shortness of breath. Eventually diagnosed with heart failure, likely due to many years of drinking. I know what the pain is (although it is physically painless). Got a treatment, totally changed my routine naturally thanks to much better sleep, eat better, more active and constructive. I can't control the diagnosis, but I can control everything else. I think your "dont forget the pain" advice is absolutely crucial, and I will remember it. Thanks!
Aug 12 will be a year. I'm around beer all the time. I play adult league hockey, also known as beer league hockey. Play sometimes 5 times a week and I always drank after games. I decided to stop and haven't looked back.
Are you Canadian? If you are and you play hockey it's probably rather difficult to separate it from beer :)
@@devilsoffspring5519 na I'm from Texas. It's easy now. I've learned to say no and most times they don't even ask anymore
This Video is exactly what I have analyzed!! The one that is an eye opener is that after you create so much damage in your life, its going to continue to exist. No one has any more faith in you after many chances. You have to deal with these damages and create a new life. I love this video.
On day 12.
Feeling great. I pray that God & you bless me and grant me strength.
I had a problem with alcohol....... now living in Cambodia Beer is 50c and it's available 24hrs a day.... so Alcohol poses absolutely no problem now!
Hehehe yeah, I was sober for years. Then I got help :)
Great advice. I am examining my drinking behavior and working on not drinking. The little voice that says it’s okay just one or two is the addiction talking to me. The behavioral habit to self soothe that I need to work on.
first point is great. We seem to think it's a big deal to others and that they care so much. Most don't, or they don't believe you. Just do it, and let ppl witness the positive changes.
It's so true that when the pain of drinking goes away--the weight gain, depression and anxiety, brain fog, etc. clears up--it's tempting to think "oh I can totally have a drink, I'm all good now." Such a trap. Resuming sobriety now. Three days sober. Here we go. Good luck to everyone out there.
I like to count the days. When I see how many days I’ve accumulated it makes me feel mentally strong. Then I think about how bad and ashamed I’d feel if I lost all of those days because of one drink. Never worth it.
Well said 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Been 1 month since i had a drink !! Feeling good , i have some craving but imma keep fighting 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
Good on youan, you're an inspiration, seriously. I'm still hooked....I want to just pour it all away but the fear of withdrawals and SUDEP isn't fun.
But well done, long may it continue
3 and a half years for me
The solution was go to the fellowship, get a sponsor, go through the program, trust me it gets easier every day 🙏
For some reason when i watch videos like this it brings me to tears nearly as facing the reality of my drinking and the relationships its destroyed etc is painful to face, i desperately want to change but fear i can never repair the things in my life its destroyed and the stupid mistakes i have made 💔 its a terrible struggle daily and i cant find the way to get out of this hell hole i live
Things will be repaired in its due time but you have the chance to begin your very own personal repair by saying, doing, and believing: I will not drink today. Begin the walk and don’t tell anyone. I believe you can do this and you will get to repair all things! Go forward and know the damage a liquid can cause us. It’s game time!
30 days in, starting to feel like a stupid thing that I used to do. Life is way better already, motivation is my biggest area of improvement, I just can't stop doing stuff and being productive. Cool!
Hi, I'm 16 days in, I am massively productive when I don't drink which is great for 95% of the time but what do you do on a weekend after 4/5pm? I spend all day doing things I either need to or want to gardening ect. But I try and sit down with everything on my list ticked off to relax on a weekend evening but can't relax! I either find another job to keep me busy till bedtime or sit there like a coiled spring fidgeting, do you relax at all? Or constantly doing?
@@jamestheferret it gets easier as you go, I am very productive, working on projects etc. My down time is filled with spending time with my wife or close frirnds and I pray and study in my Bible daily as well. I find a calming sourcd of strength and resolve when I focus on being the man that God wants me to be. God has a purpose for each of us, and figuring out what that purpose is and doing that thing gives a meaning to your life that can't be found in a bottle. I will add you to my prayer list, and if you're so inclined would you pray for me.
@@robinmckinney25 thanks for the reply, I'm not religiously inclined but I do appreciate the thought 👍
@@jamestheferret you do you brother, perhaps meditation, music etc. Might be for you, whatever you do will be better than drinking, that's for sure. Take care and ima pray for you anyway. LOL
It came down to this. I was getting acute withdrawals every morning (that's just 8 hours after a drink). I would shake, have cold sweats, skin on fire and vomit. I could not take it another day. I had a drink took a shower, shaved put clean cloths on and called my mother. I told her I needed to go to the ER right now. I said to the receptionist "I'm declaring a medical emergency because of acute alcohol withdrawals". Within 10 minutes they had me in a room with an IV and a shot of Adderall and electrolytes. After seeing the Dr. he sent me home for out patient treatment. I was on heavy dose of Librium for 5 days and spent 10 days at my mom's house, mostly in bed. The only thing I could eat was good ole chicken noodle soup. Lucky I had insurance and my out of pocket was only $900 and the meds was just $45.
You Must not be in the US.
@@mshell1959 Mount Pleasant, SC.
day 862. i still dream about it but now i have dreams that i don't succumb. and i even dream about things i could do to make my sobriety stronger. like inviting recovery friends over more often
Damn, you're a Rockstar!
Thanks for the information it makes a lot of sense. One thing I don't understand though is why some addicts feel so bad when another addict tries to become sober. It's ridiculous
Great advice (from someone who's quit dozens of times)
best advice ive heard so far thanks
Valid points, I had stopped for 4 months or so and started back with that one drink
I drank for 35 years and never thought I'd stop ever but I did. I had terrible cravings for 2 years but they eventually left me. I smoke pot now and it helps immensely. I sometimes want a drink to be social but then I remember what it does to me. And really the thought of having a drink sounds gross. Good luck to everyone staying sober.
I keep taking the deep breath before the plunge but the plunge just never comes.i always find an excuse to keep drinking.your content is phenomenal.alot of the things you say I've done or failed exactly like you said will happen.i will do it.i know I can.even without having signed up to your program please keep the content coming.
Same. I bought "the easy way to stop drinking" book a few months ago and I haven't picked it up. I honestly think it's bc I'm afraid it'll work? Isn't that silly?
The counting days thing was a big one for me. One time I celebrated my 30 days clean a day or so early cause I had the dates mixed up and the guilt of “lying” to all my people in the meetings convinced me it was better to show up with zero days sober then be a liar. So that’s exactly what I did.
When I quit a couple of summers ago I made a point of not making a dramatic thing about it, and just repeating to myself how much better I felt to instill positive feelings rather than feelings of denial and craving. We are creatures of habit, and will adapt to new patterns... Good luck all.
Excellent video! Really good - and relatable - tips for continuing to not drinking. Best video on sobriety I’ve seen. 🙌
Yes! Don't tell others. Good advice. Did you need to get certified or go to school? Also, the entertainment of having one drink is something you can't do. It's just like me quitting soda months ago. You can't just have one. Once you compromise one time, you'll start doing it more. I always think about the hangovers. I don't want to get one ever again.
4 days sober❤
Going okay? Saving money!
Keep it up, buddy.
Man, so true that for some of us, just trying to cut back is not an option. I had five full years of sobriety, then I fell, or should I say I dove, off the wagon and drank harder than ever for months. As the saying goes, alcohol is doing pushups in the parking lot, just waiting for us to slip. Three days sober now. I'm determined to eat well, exercise, drink water, and live my best life instead of giving in to the loneliness and despair that I had succumbed to. Wishing everyone out there peace and strength. It's worth the fight.
This is some of the best advice in one place that I have ever heard...mostly because its what I have learnt to do already after many years of trying to quit alcohol for good...but it's great to hear and helps reinforce my own commitment. Great content 👌
504 days… emotional sobriety 🌺💚🙏🏼
I agree with most of this video. I don't agree with counting or putting a time on how long to be sober for though.
I think it's vital to celebrate milestones and pat ourselves on the back. Those feeling when we hit the year mark, 2 year mark, those feel good. And how I felt when I hit those marks was that I wanted even more. Much like with alcohol, our problem is we're never content. So you hit those milestones and it'll spur you on to the next one. That is how I feel anyway.
2nd issue with this video is putting a time frame on it. Ok, so 30 days is nonsense. That whole dry January thing is a joke. But when I tried to permanently quit in the past, my failed attempts, the thing I really struggled with was the thought of never drinking ever again. It was too big for my brain to comprehend and led me to be depressed and unable to stop thinking about drinking. Obviously this led to slip ups and costly mistakes. This time around I told myself, let's just do this for a year. Let's see what a year of sobriety looks like. My commitment to this was no matter what happens in the next year, no alcohol whatsoever will pass knowingly through my lips. If I spend the next year hating life and being depressed, pushing everyone away like I usually did during an attempt, I would start drinking again after the year was up and accept any consequences that were brought on by my drinking. Immediately during this attempt it felt like the weight of the world was off my shoulders. There was no more struggle. No more depression. Now it was my choice completely. You know what happened next.. People saw me pretty much change over night, I never made a big deal out of it, just like you said, I just got on with my life. But I was happy, content knowing if I hated this new path I could go back to how it was before. Suddenly my relationships grew to levels I didn't even no possible. The amount of positive reinforcement I felt in that 12 months was insane. I have to admit, getting close the year mark was a bit scary for me. I was legit scared that the magic was going to wear. I am a guy that has done it the hard way more than once, this 12 months was the easiest, most rewarding and happiest 12 months of my adult life, but as I said above, I got to the 12 month mark and all I wanted was more positivity. More love. More success. More milestones. I now have all the data I need to know what alcohol provides and what sobriety provides. November 12th I'm 7 years alcohol free. I'm the furthest away from longing for alcohol than I ever have been. It offers me nothing. Literally nothing. This path however.. Wow. The me of 2017 would never have believed all this was possible. It's possible for all of us too. Living proof right here.
went 5 months sober, then summer hit and i failed MISERABLY!!! weight back on, crap food choices, depression. i was FEELING SO GOOD WHEN I QUIT :(
@@skiddymark ..then quit again my man , you can do it 👍
@@mazyrun09 trying man but life is rough right now
I’ve quit so many times just to think I could come back to it and control it. The fact is that it feels good only for a bit and then 10x worse. Then we drink to feel good again. Been sober numerous times. Last time was almost 2 years and football season came around and I got triggered. I just need to walk away from it. Last night was a 12 pack. Same brand of beer I broke my sobriety with. Time to make it my last time and just walk away. I will never forget the pain
Fantastic video, I have written down all the points 🙂
Did 7 months.... then 2 weeks ago, i slipped up, have got drunk i think 5 (maybe 6) days within the last 2 weeks. On day 2 again... liver has already swollen up NIGHTMARE. To those who havent faced the first health issue from the habbit YET - reflect on the chatastrophic health effects it can / eventually will bring you. Isit worth it? To those who have already had a health scare, like me... keep going guys stay away from it and if youve touched it again... now is the perfect time to run from it again before we are out of luck. And to those who sadly have serious health issues from it... stay sober, diet / exercise and time and a positive attitude 100% i believe in you and root for you and KNOW you can turn it around somehow and look back on your story like wow... im still here haha :)
How can you tell liver is swole I’m worried about health problems that it has caused to me
@@GALYFE68 hello :). 1st of all, dont worry. The liver is incredible at self healing. HOWEVER, this is whilst it still can. Fatty liver is stage 1... usually theres no symptoms, and i think i was told over 90% of heavy drinkers, even those who drink heavy for a couple weeks develop that... but it is 100% reversable, sobriety and a bit of time youre good as new. Stage 2 is alcogolic hepitits (my stage) it is here, it gets real. The swollen feeling is like, hard to describe but for me like my liver (right side of the abdomen) is "swollen" or "big" or pushing against the ribs - often a dull ache too but by no means painful - just an ache. If you feel that, even slightly... run now. Quit, eat as decent as you can afford, move about more and give it time... a few months sober youll be good as new. You continue to push boundries, youll start to develop things like nausea / more severe pain and, if you push down the right sjde of the abdomen itll feel hard (amongst other possible symptoms) - even at this stage, life long sobriety can stop it from progressing / after a few years can still fully heal. Issue is, is alot drink through it expecting serious symptoms which will make them stop but cirrosis (end stage) often is "compensated" meaning symptoms are still often mild / not even there... at this stage the liver is like a boiked egg... no hope to "un- boil" it (but life long sobriety can buy you many years of life)... in short, uf you feel a sort of bulging or swollen or bloated strange sensation right sjde of the abdomen and you drink often or binge drink... relax, dont panic, get sober, stay sober and give it TIME. It took me about 4 or 5 months for it to feel well again. But dont ignore the signs friend and dont buy into the whole "the liver heals itself" as yes thats true, and take great refuge in that... but alcoholic liver disease can be very silent, but also very sudden and sadly for a large majority very life changing (in the mist horrendous of ways). I write this long message, to a) keep you chill and to let you know DONT PANIC but b) to really urge you to reflect on just how far you wanna push things, if you even feel the slightest swollen feeling, its inflamed, the next phaze has started. You run now, within 6 months youre as healthy as anything. You continue to play with things, the chatastrophic suffering that could be in store will make you wish you wouldnt have. All in this together im rooting for you :).
@@richevandroo5041Thank-you for this. My liver test results are always high. I’m 14 days sober. I was drinking everyday from morning to evening to calm nerves, anxiety, escape… and still function at work without anyone knowing except the family at home in the evening. I had a real fright when the nausea kicked in every morning when I woke up and physically sick. I hope I can bring my liver back to healthy state and I believe the scare was a good thing. It made me stop. Thanks again for the supportive words.
Serious queasiness how’s did u know liver swole up?
@@winstrolchurchill821 you feel it. Its not a swollen feeling , or even painful. It feels like... well... if you feel "something" in that area, its swollen. Im deep into another relapse brother and possibly soon to be in hospital woth it its no joke and its sad as u once drank so much then it suddenly gets you and its like shit
Gave up drinking 11 months ago best thing i ever did
Very good video and all these points are true and very important. Fair play to you for sharing
741 days sober, one day at a time 😊
Hi Leon, hope your right eye feels better. Thanks for your messages
great video, wonderful advice. thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Very good advises. It's the same for smoking addiction. 👍🏻
I’m not an alcoholic, but as I’ve aged I don’t metabolize alcohol as well. Now alcohol, even just a couple of drinks, triggers migraines and makes me feel lousy the next day. Not worth it. Not saying I won’t have a glass of wine on a special occasion, but a little over two weeks ago, I just stopped. Even when I go to the winery with friends, I get juice or kombucha. I feel much better and have no desire to go back to having a regular drink in the evenings.
Point 1, I've had the opposite problem and still do: people ask me why I want to stop and why don't I just do this that and the other thing...basically talk me out of it, so stopped telling people because I'm tired of that cycle
Same people who tell you "just stop drinking" will be the ones saying "just have some drinks" a week later.
Hello Leon, my name is Harald from austria, Just to let know how" far" away you have a big Fan!
Many thanks for your Videos
This is really valuable information. Technically, you can apply this to other situations in life where you are looking to transition away from something negative or destructive. You have really nailed the reality of life with some of your points. I hope many people find this video valuable.
6months now good going for a raging alcoholic 💪🇬🇧🇮🇪☘️💪
just crossed 30 mnths alcohol free leon!! cheers mate and well done on keeping the message up and best of luck with the programme , legend!!!
About to start day 3
I'm on day 7 😊
Thanks for sharing this praise the lord 🙏 jesus Christ
7 weeks for me .Great advice ,my longest is 6 months so I still have a little time to go.I normally only got the urge to drink if I was in a good mood having great days at work ,normally if I had a rotten day or felt down I would just have tea ,I made sure I would fill myself with food so then I didnt feel like having alcohol.However if I started drinking as soon as I got home that was dangerous because then I just completely forget about food and just keep drinking booze.
Well said mate, you have really made my ears prick up. Thank you. X
5 days with no booze, I think what’s helped is a saying I heard called DDT (Don’t Drink Today) it’s helped me make it through today. Hopefully it’ll be the same tomorrow
I stopped drinking alcohol for one month to see if I can do it. I chose February month and barely made it.
My concern, is that I have mental issues. I’ve seen many many many psychologist and psychiatrist just doesn’t seem to help alcohol eases the pain, like you said a drug because that is what it is.
Sober since may 20th
I didn’t tell anyone. Not even my BF at the time. I knew he would be very judgemental. I sold my house, bought out my boss, dumped the BF and it’s coming up 3yrs.
Hell yes! ❤🙏 💪
Great vid. Loved that.
I’m on day 50 sober, I never had a time limit so took pressure off , as for just having the one drink ? No chance for me haha I only drank to get drunk , so has to be zero drinks for me. As for going pub , I have a coke or something, then if the vibe in pub isn’t good , I just go home
45 days-I stopped the whiskey 6 + months before stopping the beer-Its easier this time around because it's just the beer I'm stopping instead of two types
I know one thing, love it or leave it, if you love alcohol and it's killing you, then leave it. I quite alcohol and felling really great, yes I will not tell lie that it was a great time, I faced many problems, I got tremor attack, two weeks I was not able to walk properly,not even able to take the meal but if you have full of hatred then definitely you can leave it.
When i quit drinking for the first time it took me six months to be able to walk into a bar again. I immediately ordered food and only stayed for about an hour (my buddy's dad was drumming in a band that played there). Then i asked if i could come back to the bar I'd gotten stopped being served at because i was just getting stupid drunk and driving home every day. The owner gave me a hug and said she's always got NA beer in stock so that's what i drank when i went there. It was much harder to me sober by myself at home.
Also also a lot of this is stuff many of us practiced in SOS (Secular Organizations for Sobriety). The whole powerless thing and being a victim didn't make any sense to me.
Funnily, I never think about alcohol when I am away from home and active.
Never ever driven under the influence.
BUT... when I am home... the ghosts and the demons (metaphorical, I think?) start tormenting me... and I will often start sipping wine from 9am, just to take the edge off the relentless, intangible, sourceless (but INTENSE) remorse, the grief for... [?].
I would like to be free of alcoholism... but I do not want to even attempt to give up this crutch, because absolutely nothing even remotely "better" (much less 'more effective') is available to transition to.
It is what it is.
No money to pay for, nor even energy to see a shrink, and probably not enough years left in my life to deal with the source of the pain, even if someone shouted me to unlimited prepaid sessions with the best shrink in the city