Let's talk about what we've accomplished since we've been sober

[Erikmen]

I would like to think I´m a winner too, but I suppose that if you are not that young anymore, all you get is tiredness and regrets.

 

[Smoky]

I'm still working like I was when I was using heroin, but I am not spending all my money to feed my habit.. and I lost the JOY in my work. This is very rewarding… I'm slowly letting go of the reality that I lost thousands and thousands of dollars in one year. It's freeing to not be controlled via an outside force like drugs. Some are controlled by other things or people but for me I had to live my life depending on my drug use. It always came first. Now I come first and other people. :D

I am not double checking everything I do. This was happening even into recovery in the first month as I couldn't trust myself due to my brain not working right. So I have my sanity back and ability to feel what I am doing mostly with intuition … instead of having to use some sort of calendar to write everything down in an ocd fashion… I was sending myself messages and reminders via email to do things as I was losing my memory. 8(
This is such a relief, as I'm not hallucinating anymore either. Yay!

I have been able to follow through with doctors appointments. I put my health off for 2 years. Talking to some friends again, although I have pain so this is still an issue, but getting emg done soon.

Most of all I am going to live and actually do want to, most of the time, even though my thoughts sometimes tell me otherwise and just to end it, but this always passes…. and is seldom coming into my thoughts today as other ideas, more healthy healing thoughts arise

 

[phactor]

4. tonight i told my parents i relapsed a couple months ago and had not been sober as long as they thought i had. this was the hardest one because i didnt want to upset them , but realized being honest was the right thing to do. i really want to be done with drugs and alcohol , they have done nothing but cause me problems and hold me back in life.

Huge! Being honest with others and trying to be with myself was and still is a huge key for me in getting and staying clean.

 

[custard]

I'm not entirely sober, as the occasional drink is okay with me, but I still feel I've taken some big steps in the past few months. After being addicted to zopiclone (sedative-hypnotic sleep med) for about a year, which got much worse over the summer, I've now been off it completely for about three months. I've also struggled with addiction to women, ie. unable to be content with being single. Cut contact with my ex two months ago and for the first time in years am not pursuing sex/a relationship. Here are some changes:

- i am no longer dependant on a substance to socialize. i (sometimes) feel relaxed again when socializing sober
- no more amnesia.
- less fear of depression/anxiety/bad days. able to get through the hard times sober and use healthier coping skills like music or going for a walk
- able to find meaning in things while sober.
- no longer blindly chasing happiness and running from myself. able to accept life's ups and downs better. feel more connected with self
- less self-critical

these things are all a work in progress, and i still have a ways to go.. but given how hard i am on myself i thought it would be important to acknowledge some steps forward.

 

[engineercchad]

Sober in March, 2013.

By July, I finished care giving for my grandmother through her death (sobriety came during, involved eliminating mental health professionals, in my case).
By August, I was back in school earning towards a second AAS.
By September, I was back to dating (met my fiancee, but didn't partake at that time, long story lol).
By November, I had hatched a business plan (finding work has been horrifying work).
By the next January, the business was in full swing.
By the following March, I began plotting a move out of the folks place (omg, I'm 34 I had no business still living there) to come be with.... That girl I met last year that I ignored at that time (she's awesome, she really is).
By April, moved and started reminding myself what life is actually like. The business falters for a while but continual progress in made and bills are paid.
By June/July -- I lose my mind a little bit but learn to cope without using anyway. (back to some minor hallucinations, but okay nothing I haven't had before and even caused a few times anyway)
By end of July I regain my mind (mostly) the stress seems unbearable but I learn to not falter from the plan anyway.
By September, my first child is on the way (been looking for that for a while).
Now, by November..... I'm content (reflection on personal state) and starting a new job (analysis of bodily fluids for a lab) next week, have a car, a place, a family on the way, a business, a job, a loving and supportive mother and father still (WOW! they are SAINTS!), credit is getting fixed up, the dog is fed, the lights and telephone work and I can allow myself to be happy with the simple things in life. (I lacked that before, I had become a very extreme nihilist ["what's the point?"]).

 

[phactor]

Starting a relationship with someone I love for being them, not because of what they had or what kind of drugs they did. Dating another in recovery has benefits but also caries additional risks. We are honest about this with each other though. Hopefully we keep it that way (and I don't see why we wouldn't)

Shit, I kinda gave up on relationships in general. Especially romantic ones. Being in one gives me the good feels...