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How long have you been sober and how did you do it?

congratulations I envy your success I'm been on pills for 3 years and I wanna be like you ppm like you give me hope that it is possible
 
Almost six months through NA and a twelve step treatment centre. Did steps 1-4 in treatment but haven't got a sponsor since coming out of treatment.
 
herbavore said:
omen, are you going to get a sponsor?
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Yeah. The person I want isn't taking on sponsees at the moment unfortunately. I'm terrible for finding fault in people really and find it hard to pin down someone I want to put that level of trust in.
 
Been addicted to opiates for, nearly, 50 years. Last 2 decades on maintenance (1st decade methadone; 2nd decade bupe) w/o any other drug or alcohol issues. Quit 30 tobacco habit (chew) - several years ago.

Sub Dr. moves out of state. I taper off. IMMEDIATELY after taper, serious back injury = new Dr. gives me oxy - I take it = back in the shit-pile, again. Both knees must be replaced in June (getting old - I remember buying "Meet The Beatles" the first day it was available in the U.S.)

Going back on maintenance, Monday. Likely, methadone (until after surgery issues) then back to bupe. Full time job, part time business, married 19 years... everything going great until injury and taking the Oxy. Have since quit taking all opiates (very rough right now - taking some kratom until Monday).

I will be spending a lot if time reading [this] forum. Looking forward to meeting others with same or similar goals.
 
Hey Tar3....just wanted to send positive energy your way. I'm not familiar with opiate addiction, so I lack advice, but am full of well wishes.
 
I am five years and nine months sober. I was a daily heroin/suboxone user for four years and a heavy drinker from 15 years old. I joined bluelight when I was 16 (ten years ago).

Sobriety has granted me the opportunity to go back to school and work full time to put myself through school, so that means my time is limited, but I attend AA meetings when I can. I have completed the steps with three sponsors, the last time using the "Big Book Step Study" method. I'll be lurking and posting in this forum in order to attempt to be of service.

So, greetings everyone. I hope to get to know some people here. I'd also like to make an open invitation for people to PM me any questions they may have about my experiences or opinions... I do not represent Alcoholics Anonymous and only speak for myself, but the AA steps completely changed my life and have allowed me to become a (mostly) happy and well-adjusted human being--something I didn't think was possible.

If you're struggling with sobriety just know that if I can do it anyone can... and if you're sober and still miserable just know that it doesn't have to be that way.
 
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^I know I say it a lot, but I just can't express how proud I am of you. You're a *true* inspiration and seeing you grow into who you've become has been an honor. <3
 
spork said:
^I know I say it a lot, but I just can't express how proud I am of you. You're a *true* inspiration and seeing you grow into who you've become has been an honor. <3
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Aww. Thanks :) It's nice of you to say that. I'm glad I can still come here and find you.
 
I got sober through a medication called Antabuse. It makes your body unable to breakdown the alcohol properly, and the result is an incredibly unpleasant reaction. Heart palpitations, extreme nausea/vomiting, massive headache, hot flushes, convulsions. Interestingly, during the clinical trials for this medicine, it became clear that a common response to combing alcohol and Antabuse was an impending sense of doom, and a belief one might die.

Needless to say, you simply cannot drink while on this medicine. Granted, you have to be compliant with taking the Antabuse, which can be tough sometimes. I found the best way for me was to take it daily for the first few weeks/months. Then, I would take it whenever I got a strong craving to drink. That would eliminate any chance of drinking for the next 3 days, and during those 3 days, I would find myself grateful I made the right choice, and I would pop another Antabuse.

This medication really, truly saved me from the bottle. I can't recommend it highly enough.
 
i've been clean for just over sixteen months and i've stayed clean by living my life according to the traditions and principals of narcotics anonymous which has allowed me to find a new way to live. at the risk of seeming brainwashed, there are a lot of personal decisions that i've made and have yet to make that make or break how successful i am inside and outside of the program and i can say for myself that i'm proud of how far along i've brought myself along, as the program only works as much as you work it.

being clean has brought more joys to my life than the sorrows that i used to have, has given me the life and friends that i never had, and enabled me to become and work on becoming the person i've always wanted to be. i've done more things in the past 16 months of my life than i had done in at least several years of living, both before and during the drugs. the best part? -i remember almost every moment.

i literally remember my dreams both from sleeping and from aspiring and am able to act on those dreams in a logical way instead of rambling on about them after a long night of using with the few people who remained awake after everybody passed out.

i'm not perfect and neither is life, but acceptance is key and i am finding this more each and every day. i truly believe that each addict and alcoholic can find relief, IF THEY LET THE PROGRAM WORK AND DON'T USE, NO MATTER WHAT. part of what made me successful in the program is that once i found the program, i never left and i never used. it was hard for me and it's hard for everybody, but if you believe that there's a better life for you than what you're living, i strongly recommend that you give yourself a break and try something different.
 
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I've been sober for just over 7 months, prior to getting sober I had a 3 year long opiate addiction (using daily), tried outpatient methadone & outpatient suboxone, none of them worked for me. My life basically went to shit, I was spiritually, emotionally and physically bankrupt. I had the opportunity to attend treatment in South Florida went down did 4 months inpatient and 1.5 months intensive outpatient. I'm currently at a halfway house. I am grateful to have gone to rehab but I attribute my recovery to AA. I have a sponsor who has a sponsor, I attend meetings, I have gone through my steps and am currently looking for sponsees. Work 9-5 mon-fri and have relationships with my family members and have friends who are actually there for me now. Not to mention have morals, values and things I stand for.
 
Close to 4 months....A magnificent trip (Not) to the Hospital made me stop
 
3 1/2ish months sober.

I go the AA route as well, 4-5 meetings a week, work the steps with a sponsor, service commitments, AA young peoples events/camping trips/parties/etc, hanging out only with others in recovery right now, meditation, and probably a couple other things.

I started out this time doing 3 days at a detox facility, 3 weeks inpatient at rehab, and like 4-5 weeks outpatient at rehab. Currently do on average 4 meetings a week, but initially went to about 6 because I did aprox. 75 meetings the first 90 days.

I used heroin, oxy, pot, cocaine/crack, alcohol and other substances for 5-6 years. Mainly heroin and pot, but jumped around with different substances.
 
Hey Priest, it felt really good to read your post. I, too, have more sober time ( 1 year, 8 mo, 8 days) that I thought I could do and chose not to go the 12 step route and use many of the things you mentioned. Another thing I do often when I do get a craving: because I do not to well with absolutes, I try hard to avoid "nevers and evers". So, when I get a craving I don't get in one of those absolute arguments with myself. Rather, I have made an agreement with myself to consciously run through my list of the negatives I have experienced when using. It's a real important one for me.

Wish you all sorts of continued freedom.
 
3 YEars for me. What kept me sober? The program I was in for 2 1/2 years which taught be coping skills and how to deal with stress/emotions. Most of all for it was my family and my beautiful nieces and nephews - I wanted to be a great auntie and a role model to them - someone they could come to and trust when they have struggles. Plus consequential thinking - thinking about my rock bottom which was 3 weeks in ICU, doctors telling my family it was likely I was gonna die, 39 kg (I think thats like 80 pounds) with a tracheotomy, nasel tube, urine bag, feces bag, and a million other ivs hanging outta me. I cant ever go back there again. And all the embarrassing things I did during my addicton. Its just not an option for me - and life is too effin good sober
 
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