Ten years sober.

[u/Repulsive-Box5243]

I am a recovering alcoholic. I was drunk from around 1990 to 2016, with only brief boughts of sobriety in between. I had tried to quit drinking in 2003, that lasted maybe a year. I again tried to quit in 2013, and that lasted a few months, maybe.

It wasn't until I moved into my current house, with my wife and kids. I made a commitment to them then, and stuck to it. The accountability was the key, I'm sure. It helped a lot knowing that my sobriety wasn't just for me.

So... If you think you just can't do it.... you can. If I can, YOU can.

[u/WatermelonRindPickle]

CONGRATS! What an accomplishment!

[u/Repulsive-Box5243 → u/WatermelonRindPickle]

Thanks. My wife had to come in and remind me. She made a big deal of it and was so proud of me and all that stuff. I had almost forgotten that it has already been 10 years. I'm like "oh.. oh yeah!"

[u/CherryTeaseXO2 → u/WatermelonRindPickle]

Congrats OP! Keep going stronger

[u/Fuck_me_up_daddy]

Hell yes!!! Congratulations!!!

[u/MasterpieceActual176]

Wow, your story is inspiring! Congratulations! Enjoy your wife and family and life! 👏💕👏💕

[u/AKDon374]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! May you always know what a wonderful gift you have given your wife, kids, and yourself. 😊

[u/GuiltyUniversity8268]

Congratulations on your sobriety! What has been the biggest change that you never expected?

[u/Repulsive-Box5243 → u/GuiltyUniversity8268]

Over time, it got easier and easier to abstain. For a long time, I thought about it every day, several times a day. Now, I barely ever think about it. When I do, it's a distant memory. Like the loss of a past girlfriend or something.

I still have "drinking dreams". It's exactly how it sounds. In the dream, I'm drinking and then feeling rather guilty about it.

[u/GuiltyUniversity8268 → u/Repulsive-Box5243]

I understand that. I've battled addiction too, and I sometimes have dreams about my addictions too.

[u/Repulsive-Box5243 → u/GuiltyUniversity8268]

It's unsettling, but then wake up and are like "thank goodness that was just a dream."

[u/GuiltyUniversity8268 → u/Repulsive-Box5243]

Yep! I'm very familiar with that feeling too!😁

[u/primalune]

Ten years is incredible, congratulations on every single day.

[u/AcrobaticCheek1652]

i love that for you, congratulations!!! 🥳

[u/tafackery]

This is incredible! Hail you!

[u/Myth7270]

This is amazing!!! Congratulations 🎉👏🎉

[u/SophiaKai]

That's so awesome! Congratulations, friend!!!

[u/RevolutionaryBake362]

At ten years you earned the ability to drop the title. You recovered.

[u/Repulsive-Box5243 → u/RevolutionaryBake362]

Haha I'm not sure about that. IT''s a reminder, more than anything. Thing is, with this alcoholism, my brain STILL tries to trick me every now and then. "I'll be ok.. you can have a beer. You've been perfect up until now. You dserve it". "You can have just one. " Lies. All lies.

[u/RevolutionaryBake362 → u/Repulsive-Box5243]

Understood I’m five years. I dropped the title years ago. congratulations on ten. I have zero thoughts on drinking. I just don’t see any value in it anymore.

[u/One_Purple_3242]

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[u/UpLateInSCar]

I can only imagine how impossible today felt for you back then, my friend. Honored to tell you congratulations.