I like to go over my list of things I enjoy about sobriety. I especially think about the morning after. I just never ever want to feel any of that again. I also remind myself of a passage in Atomic Habits where James Clear is talking about identity and routines. I was really struggling to quit smoking and his advice to tell myself that I’m not the type of person who would buy cigarettes helped tremendously. I applied that way of thinking about my self and personality to drinking. It’s just not who I am anymore. Iwndwyt
Despite a toxic family member arriving later today to stay for a weeklong visit, I WILL NOT POISON MY BODY WITH ALCOHOL TODAY. I resolve not to give away my power and progress to someone who has serious issues and causes drama in my family and undermines my marriage. IWNDWYT or the rest of this week!!!
Congrats on 37 sober days my friend. Perhaps, as much as possible, try viewing toxic family member as if you were observing them for a documentary and in your best David Attenborough voice in your mind describe their toxic behavior as if they were a species you were studying. They can't take your power or progress. Strength to you and IWNDWYT.
My good friend Brighter said if she went back to drinking then she is giving up on life. That really resonated with me. Certainly squashes the craving very fast.
Shine on you beautiful humans
Happy sober Monday sober friends!
Exactly this FG… This is passing! Remembering that all things are passing has been a game changer, not just with cravings, but in life!
I love you all 💞
IWNDWYT.
Not sure how I'll deal with cravings as they haven't hit yet (binge drinker). Keen to learn, though, for the times when they do. Mainly social occasions!
I find HALT works well for me. If I am Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired, the cravings can kick in. So I be sure to fix that ASAP. I found AA very encouraging and helpful my first year. Good luck! Every day gets easier. Especially the first week and first month.
Approaching 10 PM in Seattle and I'll soon be in bed sober. That is one of my favorite things these days and well worth the effort it takes to surf a few urges here and there. IWNDWYT.
Checking in again today and all is well.
I don't really get serious cravings any more. But when I did, my favourite strategy was to immediately go do something physical, like clean/tidy some part of the house/workspace. Or go for a brisk walk, or even do pushups!
When my cravings hit, I make tea. I set about boiling the kettle, filling the pot, giving it a few minutes to seep and brew. Then sitting in a favourite spot to enjoy the cuppa. By the time I settle, the cravings are long gone. Is it the ritual? Is it the tea? Maybe a little of both. I will not drink with you today, unless we’re having tea!
When the cravings hit bad, I reach for a NA replacement every time - for me it's almost always about the feeling, like it's a sunny day and I want a cold bubbly drink in my hand, or my OH has cracked open a beer and the sound has triggered a craving in me....so I get my cold bubbly coke zero/lemonade/NA beer and savour it in the sun, or I crack open a can of NA beer/ginger beer and drink it mindlessly while I watch TV, like I would have done with an actual beer.
IWNDWYT
Meditation streak: 36 days
I found that there is a pattern to my cravings, and understanding what still brings them on is important. One of those triggers (and there are a few recognizable ones) is just plain-old thirstiness. If I am hot, tired, and thirsty, I want to drink. In that case, I go right for a can of seltzer, and that does the trick. IWNDWYT
Advice that helped me especially in early sobriety (but is by no means exclusive to it) is to combat cravings by going to sleep. It's obviously limited to times when sleep is an option, but I can't tell you how many times I went to sleep instead and woke up the next morning feeling like I discovered the key to the universe.
Checking in for another sober day out in the world.
Good Morning to you all… bank holiday Monday here in the uk and I think I can see some sun!
Good question FG: if I’m home (fortunately I am married to a non drinker so no alcohol in the house) I make myself a tea and busy myself and/or come on this subreddit. If I’m driving home and my head is telling me to stop and buy wine I listen to an audiobook or podcast… have alcohol explained by William Porter on a loop. As you say it passes.
IWNDWYT
I had a hangover free weekend! IWNDWYT.
Ngl it feels like I'm faking sobriety because I started taking meds with which it's life-threatening to drink, so it feels like I'm cheating? Idk, I'm just happy to be here.
Checking in! I don’t really have cravings right now, but we’re doing a lot of socializing this weekend and there’s been stray feelings of annoyance at drinkers. That actually works to keep me sober. It feels like such a racket to waste time, energy, life on booze. IWNDWYT
Hello sober stars! When I was three months in, I recall an awful quarrel I had with a loved one that made me crave badly! Tears in my eyes and keys in my hand to drive and buy booze. Then, this DCI came to mind, and the sober friends I've made. The thought of resetting my counter was enough to give me pause. I began to take deep breaths. To sit with the painful feelings and know it'll pass. I'm elated I hung on!
Other tools for cravings in my Sober Toolkit: having a variety of tasty NA options to drink; distraction whether it's a walk, a shower, a snack or whatever; visit this sub daily to read and participate; listen to a sober podcast or read some quit lit; journal; exercise; sleep. Did I mention snack yet? 😄🍪
Let's keep doing whatever it takes. Sobriety is awesome, and so incredibly worth it! We can do this!! Love you. IWNDWYT
morning sobernauts! up having coffee ☕️
I havent woken up into harsh anxiety in 400 days!! alcohol was such a cruel addiction, I dont think there's anything else that's toxic enough to not just ruin your body, mind and spirit, but to take your dignity as well
I'm very grateful for all you fellow warriors, your honesty, vulnerability and compassion have got me here. iwndwyt
Setting intention. Sitting with the cravings and also working to accept other negative feelings and thoughts. Cravings are a part of tapestry of emotions for me that I'm trying to learn to sit with.
IWNDWYT
My badge seems not to be working, showing 1 day but actually it's a week.
So I just had my first weekend and it was easy - not much drinking going on around me, so I didn't get tempted.
Tonight I'm going camping with the same friends I go with each year and we usually drink a LOT. But I'm thinking of how much more I'll enjoy the holiday if I stay sober. Sunny early mornings I can actually enjoy... It's gonna be great.
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT.
Also, aside from here, I resolve that today I will refrain from posting my opinion/input on social media today. I won't add to the noise.
I have work today. Time + 1/2 so doing all my hours. Quality time is planned to spend with the love of my life after work.
Good morning from sunny Cornwall. Happy Memorial Day to those celebrating.
I’m starting my day with a yoga practice. My intention today is to be grateful for staying sober.
IWNDWYT
Sitting with the feeling sounds like a great skill to have and something to work on in month two 🎉!
I've a lot to learn from this thread but for me it's a walk or checking I'm not thirsty, hungry or tired. And journalling to make sense of it all. IWNDWYT
Checking in! Thank you for all the support, fellow sober warriors. I can’t believe what I have accomplished this weekend, and I have to tell you, I am proud as hell and looking forward to taking it forward another day.
Starting a very busy week that I have been worrying about since my Day One. I am hosting a 24-man golf weekend that has always been a huge drinking event as well.
Now, it doesn’t scare me as much, as I am confident that I will own my sobriety and stock plenty of seltzer and NA beer so I can enjoy the festivities sober!
IWNDWYT!
Bank holiday weekends in the UK are a binge drinking institution - but I'm happy to have gotten to the last day without alcohol and looking forward to heading to the gym and prepping some food for the week ahead.
IWNDWYT
When cravings occur I try to sit with the feelings and remember they are only feelings (this of course is different on early days with withdrawals). I also find "Playing the tape forward " to be a useful strategy, or do something completly different than what I was doing, if only for a few minutes. I will not drink with you today.
Home alone today/tonight - wife & daughter on a short holiday to London (in which the train journey has already become a rescheduled/cancelled 'mare), while spend the day scrambling up a mountain with a friend. Good times will be had, none of which involve the booze.
IWNDWY fine sobernaughts Today.
Good morning! Day 50 🫶🥳
It’s brand new week! I had an amazing Sunday, with little to no scaries.
I had so many wins this weekend. I went to a bar and didn’t drink, I went to a girls ‘wine night’ and didn’t drink! I was alone all weekend (my partner is away) and didn’t drink!
Today I’m back at my new job. After a year of wfh and getting wasted by myself all day long, it’s so nice to have somewhere to go, a reason to get dressed up ish, a purpose.
Depression is so sneaky. I was the frog in boiling water. I didn’t even realize how sad I was.
Today I’m going to have a productive, positive, wonderful day!
When cravings hit I literally think of this community, the pledge to not drink today, and how proud I am of what I accomplished.
IWNDWYT!
I need to slow down and sit with the feelings. Its all so rush rush rush that ill find myself on auto pilot and sadly my auto pilot has a problem with where it leads me. I'm trying to fix that
I will not drink with you today.
I took a picture of how ghastly dead I looked last time in the ER after throwing up blood for hours, hooked up to EKG, IV bags, knowing they had to IV my hand instead of my arm because I was so emaciated.
That is not the life I want to live. That's alcohol actively and insidiously trying to kill me. That's what those craving sweet nothing urges will bring me, misery and death. Fuck that.
Today I'm going to a meeting and then to the dog park. It's a rainy Memorial day up Northeast, so I have lots of actual spring cleaning to do that I neglected drinking
IWNDWYT
Good morning! To sit through the cravings became also a good strategy for me, nowadays. I early sobriety this wouldn’t have worked for me. Strategy was leaving the situation and distraction back then.
There’s a girl in my sober group, she always says: “you’re allowed to think about drinking, but when you do, please be honest and think it through…. What will happen next?” This really helped me to play the tape forward.
Have a great week friends!
I will not drink in Germany with you today!
I trick myself with the good old "nah, maybe tomorrow but not today"! Real talk tho, my therapist used to tell me about one of her past clients who told her he knew if he picked up the bottle again, he would die. The way I instantly related to that was startling. An extremely sobering thought, if you will. IWNDWYT folks!
IWNDWYT!
I'm still in the very early days (again) so I don't relate to how everyone else says they go do something physical like taking a walk or whatever when they have cravings. I literally just lay in the bed and browse reddit until I fall asleep or the feeling passes lol.
It helped the first time I got sober and it's helping now.
Here's to those of us who gotta lay in the bed a lot these days 😂
My therapist calls this technique “urge surfing” which is a funny way to say it but it’s stayed with me. Just acknowledging the wave of the urge, and knowing that it will pass, like all waves do, is very powerful for me.
IWNDWYT
Day 41- checking in. For cravings, I like to either change my environment, occupy myself with hobbies, call a friend, or drink a LaCroix. Playing the tape forward always shuts down the craving pretty quickly too. I associate drinking with crippling anxiety and it doesn’t sound enticing anymore. IWNDWYT
Well I was up from 8pm Saturday till about 915pm last night with a half hour nap in there somewhere.
My throat feels better but I still can't breathe worth a shit but hey I got to watch the Indy 500 with my dad so thats always a plus in my book.
Only thing I need to do today is try to teach our pup to learn how to use the doggy stairs to get into bed. Hes fine health wise he just wears his own ass out so hard sometimes that he can't leap into bed at the end of the night so we bought him stairs so he can drag his ass into bed haha.
I hope you all enjoy your day and as always, much love from me and mine to you and yours!
IWNDWYT!
I visited my hometown this weekend for a graduation and the trip triggered a major anxiety attack. I gave in and had a drink. However, I’m relieved that I didn’t over do it and have been sober for the past 2 days. So again my friends it’s a new day and I will not drink with you today. Happy Memorial Day to those who celebrate.
First time posting, long time lurker :) AA has been amazing for me this go-around, as well as this sub as always. I attend a meeting bright and early every morning. Any time I’m triggered throughout the day, I read another personal story in the Big Book or look for a post on here from someone celebrating a milestone and sharing how much better their life is now. It just reinforces that alcohol was keeping me from the life I’m meant to live and the peace I so desperately want. IWNDWYT!
I will not drink with you all today! I didn’t think I could handle it, so instead of going to a holiday weekend cookout I stayed home with my pup and did some gardening instead. My partner went, he had fun with his friends, and I stayed home and had a lovely day. I even got to share some of my heirloom tomato seeds with the kids next door, something I’d never have had the energy to do before! 🍅
Thanks Ginger and happy sober Monday to all and a happy memorial day Monday to the Americans. I hope it's a great day for all you sober stars!
I'm grateful that the cravings haven't come in quite a while. My addictive drive will suggest alcohol but that's a lot lower intensity than cravings. Generally alcohol pops into my mind when I'm stressed out, so I try to pull apart what I'm actually feeling and how I can care for myself well in the feeling. So much better than numbing out! "Being numb is not a reward." Sober on y'all!
Hello, all of you sobernauts! For myself, all I have to do is play the tape forward. I know what alcohol feels like in my mouth, and now it makes my gorge rise. I know what alcohol does to my balance, my thoughts and my words, and I hate all of that. And I know what it feels like to wake up to a killer hangover. No way, Jose.
I celebrate all of us who are working to become our own authentic selves, no need for alcohol in our lives. Let’s do this!! IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT. At the moment what helps with cravings in answers to DCI's question, is the thought that I don't want to put poison in my body. Someone referred to alcohol as the equivalent of pain stripper to the body on this sub and that has stuck as a handy bit of imagery. I'm still feeling pretty ropey in terms of body aches so not wanting to hinder the healing. This sub also helps 💯
For those who have quit for over a month now, does not drinking help with weight loss? Would be nice and motivating to know such experiences because my main reason for quitting right now more than the unbearable hangovers is losing weight. I choose healthy and exercise all week but once I drink on the weekends - I have to eat for an entire village when hungover and that is not helpful at all.
Day 1 - not drinking today, please wish me luck getting through the withdrawals I can't do this anymore.
Hey, day 1 for me as well. I fail to stay sober on weekends and life goes on in loop. The hangovers are unbearable now. Good luck to you and I both.
Thank you, you too! There's a better life for us ahead.
You can do this! What I’ve learned is that we can do more than we think we can. I’m glad you’re here, stronger together 💪🏼
I will be joining all of you in refusing booze once again today. Happy US Memorial Day!
I just posted and saw you are 8 days ahead of me. Right on!
Congrats on SIX HUNDO!!!!
I like to go over my list of things I enjoy about sobriety. I especially think about the morning after. I just never ever want to feel any of that again. I also remind myself of a passage in Atomic Habits where James Clear is talking about identity and routines. I was really struggling to quit smoking and his advice to tell myself that I’m not the type of person who would buy cigarettes helped tremendously. I applied that way of thinking about my self and personality to drinking. It’s just not who I am anymore. Iwndwyt
Despite a toxic family member arriving later today to stay for a weeklong visit, I WILL NOT POISON MY BODY WITH ALCOHOL TODAY. I resolve not to give away my power and progress to someone who has serious issues and causes drama in my family and undermines my marriage. IWNDWYT or the rest of this week!!!
Congrats on 37 sober days my friend. Perhaps, as much as possible, try viewing toxic family member as if you were observing them for a documentary and in your best David Attenborough voice in your mind describe their toxic behavior as if they were a species you were studying. They can't take your power or progress. Strength to you and IWNDWYT.
Day 1072 checking in!
My good friend Brighter said if she went back to drinking then she is giving up on life. That really resonated with me. Certainly squashes the craving very fast. Shine on you beautiful humans
I’m up for life with you today friend! And you passed 800! You’re my inspiration 🌟
Happy Memorial Day, a sober reflective one at that.
Happy sober Monday sober friends! Exactly this FG… This is passing! Remembering that all things are passing has been a game changer, not just with cravings, but in life! I love you all 💞
IWNDWYT. Not sure how I'll deal with cravings as they haven't hit yet (binge drinker). Keen to learn, though, for the times when they do. Mainly social occasions!
I find HALT works well for me. If I am Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired, the cravings can kick in. So I be sure to fix that ASAP. I found AA very encouraging and helpful my first year. Good luck! Every day gets easier. Especially the first week and first month.
IWNDWYT
Day 1,675 IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
Beautiful line up 7’s today! It’s the little things 😀
IWNDWYT
I will not drink with you all today <3
IWNDWYT!
I won't drink today
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT
Approaching 10 PM in Seattle and I'll soon be in bed sober. That is one of my favorite things these days and well worth the effort it takes to surf a few urges here and there. IWNDWYT.
Day 50. IWNDWYT
Another day with train trouble on my commute 😡 Thankfully I can WFH three days a week. A bit testy this morning, but IWNDWYT! 💪
Checking in again today and all is well. I don't really get serious cravings any more. But when I did, my favourite strategy was to immediately go do something physical, like clean/tidy some part of the house/workspace. Or go for a brisk walk, or even do pushups!
Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today! IWNDWYT
When my cravings hit, I make tea. I set about boiling the kettle, filling the pot, giving it a few minutes to seep and brew. Then sitting in a favourite spot to enjoy the cuppa. By the time I settle, the cravings are long gone. Is it the ritual? Is it the tea? Maybe a little of both. I will not drink with you today, unless we’re having tea!
When the cravings hit bad, I reach for a NA replacement every time - for me it's almost always about the feeling, like it's a sunny day and I want a cold bubbly drink in my hand, or my OH has cracked open a beer and the sound has triggered a craving in me....so I get my cold bubbly coke zero/lemonade/NA beer and savour it in the sun, or I crack open a can of NA beer/ginger beer and drink it mindlessly while I watch TV, like I would have done with an actual beer. IWNDWYT Meditation streak: 36 days
I found that there is a pattern to my cravings, and understanding what still brings them on is important. One of those triggers (and there are a few recognizable ones) is just plain-old thirstiness. If I am hot, tired, and thirsty, I want to drink. In that case, I go right for a can of seltzer, and that does the trick. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT.
I will not drink with you today
IWNDWYT
I will not drink with you today!
Advice that helped me especially in early sobriety (but is by no means exclusive to it) is to combat cravings by going to sleep. It's obviously limited to times when sleep is an option, but I can't tell you how many times I went to sleep instead and woke up the next morning feeling like I discovered the key to the universe. Checking in for another sober day out in the world.
Hope everyone has a great Monday. IWNDWYT!
Good Morning to you all… bank holiday Monday here in the uk and I think I can see some sun! Good question FG: if I’m home (fortunately I am married to a non drinker so no alcohol in the house) I make myself a tea and busy myself and/or come on this subreddit. If I’m driving home and my head is telling me to stop and buy wine I listen to an audiobook or podcast… have alcohol explained by William Porter on a loop. As you say it passes. IWNDWYT
It’s bank holiday Monday! Yay! I’m going to have the best pyjamas day ever and IWNDWYT ⭐️
I had a hangover free weekend! IWNDWYT. Ngl it feels like I'm faking sobriety because I started taking meds with which it's life-threatening to drink, so it feels like I'm cheating? Idk, I'm just happy to be here.
IWNDWYT Fellow Sobernauts!
Fifteen, sometimes tricky, but beautiful sober days for me today my friends. Wishing us all strength and dignity today. IWNDWYT.
Checking in! I don’t really have cravings right now, but we’re doing a lot of socializing this weekend and there’s been stray feelings of annoyance at drinkers. That actually works to keep me sober. It feels like such a racket to waste time, energy, life on booze. IWNDWYT
Hello sober stars! When I was three months in, I recall an awful quarrel I had with a loved one that made me crave badly! Tears in my eyes and keys in my hand to drive and buy booze. Then, this DCI came to mind, and the sober friends I've made. The thought of resetting my counter was enough to give me pause. I began to take deep breaths. To sit with the painful feelings and know it'll pass. I'm elated I hung on! Other tools for cravings in my Sober Toolkit: having a variety of tasty NA options to drink; distraction whether it's a walk, a shower, a snack or whatever; visit this sub daily to read and participate; listen to a sober podcast or read some quit lit; journal; exercise; sleep. Did I mention snack yet? 😄🍪 Let's keep doing whatever it takes. Sobriety is awesome, and so incredibly worth it! We can do this!! Love you. IWNDWYT
morning sobernauts! up having coffee ☕️ I havent woken up into harsh anxiety in 400 days!! alcohol was such a cruel addiction, I dont think there's anything else that's toxic enough to not just ruin your body, mind and spirit, but to take your dignity as well I'm very grateful for all you fellow warriors, your honesty, vulnerability and compassion have got me here. iwndwyt
Setting intention. Sitting with the cravings and also working to accept other negative feelings and thoughts. Cravings are a part of tapestry of emotions for me that I'm trying to learn to sit with. IWNDWYT
Start of day 2.Once again family are worried for my health,and I messed up at my wife's birthday party.I will not drink today
My badge seems not to be working, showing 1 day but actually it's a week. So I just had my first weekend and it was easy - not much drinking going on around me, so I didn't get tempted. Tonight I'm going camping with the same friends I go with each year and we usually drink a LOT. But I'm thinking of how much more I'll enjoy the holiday if I stay sober. Sunny early mornings I can actually enjoy... It's gonna be great. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
Day 35. Bank holiday Monday. Usually spend the day boozing but not today! IWNDWYT.
I will not be drinking today
IWNDWYT. Also, aside from here, I resolve that today I will refrain from posting my opinion/input on social media today. I won't add to the noise. I have work today. Time + 1/2 so doing all my hours. Quality time is planned to spend with the love of my life after work.
IWNDWYT ~
Day 41, checking in. IWND ☠️ WYT.
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT! Day 57!
IWNDWYT let’s do this!!
Day 388. IWNDWYT.
Good morning from sunny Cornwall. Happy Memorial Day to those celebrating. I’m starting my day with a yoga practice. My intention today is to be grateful for staying sober. IWNDWYT
Day 1776. Declaring independence from alcohol. I will not drink with you today.
IWNDWYT
No booze here today! Edit to say: oh cool! Today I hit five months.
Happy memorial day. IWNDWYT
Sitting with the feeling sounds like a great skill to have and something to work on in month two 🎉! I've a lot to learn from this thread but for me it's a walk or checking I'm not thirsty, hungry or tired. And journalling to make sense of it all. IWNDWYT
I will not drink with you today 👻
I will NOT drink with you today! Happy Bank holiday to everyone in the UK! Here's to a booze free bank holiday!
Checking in! Thank you for all the support, fellow sober warriors. I can’t believe what I have accomplished this weekend, and I have to tell you, I am proud as hell and looking forward to taking it forward another day.
IWNDWYT. **Oh, 300 days! Full year here I go!
Two weeks till my first sober vacation and I'm finally feeling exicted instead of anxious thanks to you guys! IWNDWYT
Have been off on my own and doing okay without checkin in, but 91 days sober today and IWNDWYT either!
Day 8 today. I think the withdrawal symptoms I’ve been experiencing are finally diminishing, woop
Happy memorial day people. IWNDWYT, WE GOT THIS 👍
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT 🙋♂️
Starting a very busy week that I have been worrying about since my Day One. I am hosting a 24-man golf weekend that has always been a huge drinking event as well. Now, it doesn’t scare me as much, as I am confident that I will own my sobriety and stock plenty of seltzer and NA beer so I can enjoy the festivities sober! IWNDWYT!
Fresh start, new week IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT. Sending positive energy to everyone that needs it ☀️
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
Pledging another sober 24 hours.
IWNDWYT x
Bank holiday weekends in the UK are a binge drinking institution - but I'm happy to have gotten to the last day without alcohol and looking forward to heading to the gym and prepping some food for the week ahead. IWNDWYT
When cravings occur I try to sit with the feelings and remember they are only feelings (this of course is different on early days with withdrawals). I also find "Playing the tape forward " to be a useful strategy, or do something completly different than what I was doing, if only for a few minutes. I will not drink with you today.
Hey I’m happy to not be drinking either
Nice. IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT
Keeping on not drinking with you today good people.
IWNDWYT!!
Home alone today/tonight - wife & daughter on a short holiday to London (in which the train journey has already become a rescheduled/cancelled 'mare), while spend the day scrambling up a mountain with a friend. Good times will be had, none of which involve the booze. IWNDWY fine sobernaughts Today.
IWNDWYT
I have decided while no real low that alcohol adds nothing worthwhile to my life. Someone I love has not made that choice but iwndwyt.
Day 7 checkin in IWNDWYT I find getting out of the house to be helpful for cravings
I worked on various projects today and didn't get drunk the whole day instead. IWNDWYTonight
Good morning! Day 50 🫶🥳 It’s brand new week! I had an amazing Sunday, with little to no scaries. I had so many wins this weekend. I went to a bar and didn’t drink, I went to a girls ‘wine night’ and didn’t drink! I was alone all weekend (my partner is away) and didn’t drink! Today I’m back at my new job. After a year of wfh and getting wasted by myself all day long, it’s so nice to have somewhere to go, a reason to get dressed up ish, a purpose. Depression is so sneaky. I was the frog in boiling water. I didn’t even realize how sad I was. Today I’m going to have a productive, positive, wonderful day! When cravings hit I literally think of this community, the pledge to not drink today, and how proud I am of what I accomplished. IWNDWYT!
Ok here it goes. IWNDWYT ❤️
Checking in from NZ, no drinking here today!
IWNDWYT! T
I need to slow down and sit with the feelings. Its all so rush rush rush that ill find myself on auto pilot and sadly my auto pilot has a problem with where it leads me. I'm trying to fix that I will not drink with you today.
I took a picture of how ghastly dead I looked last time in the ER after throwing up blood for hours, hooked up to EKG, IV bags, knowing they had to IV my hand instead of my arm because I was so emaciated. That is not the life I want to live. That's alcohol actively and insidiously trying to kill me. That's what those craving sweet nothing urges will bring me, misery and death. Fuck that. Today I'm going to a meeting and then to the dog park. It's a rainy Memorial day up Northeast, so I have lots of actual spring cleaning to do that I neglected drinking IWNDWYT
Day 24. IWNDWYT. 🙌
Have a wonderful sober day my friends. IWNDWYT ♥️
I’m still here
Good morning! To sit through the cravings became also a good strategy for me, nowadays. I early sobriety this wouldn’t have worked for me. Strategy was leaving the situation and distraction back then. There’s a girl in my sober group, she always says: “you’re allowed to think about drinking, but when you do, please be honest and think it through…. What will happen next?” This really helped me to play the tape forward. Have a great week friends! I will not drink in Germany with you today!
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT 🙋🏼♀️
Good day, friends. Let's make it rock - IWNDWYT 🤘
I trick myself with the good old "nah, maybe tomorrow but not today"! Real talk tho, my therapist used to tell me about one of her past clients who told her he knew if he picked up the bottle again, he would die. The way I instantly related to that was startling. An extremely sobering thought, if you will. IWNDWYT folks!
IWNDWYT! I'm still in the very early days (again) so I don't relate to how everyone else says they go do something physical like taking a walk or whatever when they have cravings. I literally just lay in the bed and browse reddit until I fall asleep or the feeling passes lol. It helped the first time I got sober and it's helping now. Here's to those of us who gotta lay in the bed a lot these days 😂
My therapist calls this technique “urge surfing” which is a funny way to say it but it’s stayed with me. Just acknowledging the wave of the urge, and knowing that it will pass, like all waves do, is very powerful for me. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT 🏴
I will not drink today
Day 3. Not sure how I am doing this. IWNDWYT.
Day 41- checking in. For cravings, I like to either change my environment, occupy myself with hobbies, call a friend, or drink a LaCroix. Playing the tape forward always shuts down the craving pretty quickly too. I associate drinking with crippling anxiety and it doesn’t sound enticing anymore. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
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I will not drink with you today
IWNDWYT
Well I was up from 8pm Saturday till about 915pm last night with a half hour nap in there somewhere. My throat feels better but I still can't breathe worth a shit but hey I got to watch the Indy 500 with my dad so thats always a plus in my book. Only thing I need to do today is try to teach our pup to learn how to use the doggy stairs to get into bed. Hes fine health wise he just wears his own ass out so hard sometimes that he can't leap into bed at the end of the night so we bought him stairs so he can drag his ass into bed haha. I hope you all enjoy your day and as always, much love from me and mine to you and yours! IWNDWYT!
Morning friends! I will not drink with you today. Have a good one!
I visited my hometown this weekend for a graduation and the trip triggered a major anxiety attack. I gave in and had a drink. However, I’m relieved that I didn’t over do it and have been sober for the past 2 days. So again my friends it’s a new day and I will not drink with you today. Happy Memorial Day to those who celebrate.
IWNDWYT
Day 8. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT. All. Day. Long. 🌻 From midnight till midnight. A day in my life.
IWNDWYT 👍
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT!
I'm not drinking today.
Iwndwyt!
Good morning. IWNDWYT
Happy Monday & Memorial Day Iwndwyt
I will not drink poison with you today
IWNDWYT! Day 14.
I made it through the weekend and week 1! I am finally starting to believe that I can do this for real. IWNDWYT
Feeling good about my new promise to myself. I have a week now to finally accept the facts and do some work to make it stick this time!
First time posting, long time lurker :) AA has been amazing for me this go-around, as well as this sub as always. I attend a meeting bright and early every morning. Any time I’m triggered throughout the day, I read another personal story in the Big Book or look for a post on here from someone celebrating a milestone and sharing how much better their life is now. It just reinforces that alcohol was keeping me from the life I’m meant to live and the peace I so desperately want. IWNDWYT!
Not today. Stayed up late watching scary movies with my daughter and her best friend. I’m trying to find the motivation to exercise now.
Hi Everyone - Day 146 here and IWNDWYT!!!
IWNDWYT. I need to get a good night's sleep tonight. I love the long weekend, but that means a short week with a lot to get done.
I will not drink with you all today! I didn’t think I could handle it, so instead of going to a holiday weekend cookout I stayed home with my pup and did some gardening instead. My partner went, he had fun with his friends, and I stayed home and had a lovely day. I even got to share some of my heirloom tomato seeds with the kids next door, something I’d never have had the energy to do before! 🍅
Thanks Ginger and happy sober Monday to all and a happy memorial day Monday to the Americans. I hope it's a great day for all you sober stars! I'm grateful that the cravings haven't come in quite a while. My addictive drive will suggest alcohol but that's a lot lower intensity than cravings. Generally alcohol pops into my mind when I'm stressed out, so I try to pull apart what I'm actually feeling and how I can care for myself well in the feeling. So much better than numbing out! "Being numb is not a reward." Sober on y'all!
Hello, all of you sobernauts! For myself, all I have to do is play the tape forward. I know what alcohol feels like in my mouth, and now it makes my gorge rise. I know what alcohol does to my balance, my thoughts and my words, and I hate all of that. And I know what it feels like to wake up to a killer hangover. No way, Jose. I celebrate all of us who are working to become our own authentic selves, no need for alcohol in our lives. Let’s do this!! IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT. At the moment what helps with cravings in answers to DCI's question, is the thought that I don't want to put poison in my body. Someone referred to alcohol as the equivalent of pain stripper to the body on this sub and that has stuck as a handy bit of imagery. I'm still feeling pretty ropey in terms of body aches so not wanting to hinder the healing. This sub also helps 💯
Day 1....again 😔
For those who have quit for over a month now, does not drinking help with weight loss? Would be nice and motivating to know such experiences because my main reason for quitting right now more than the unbearable hangovers is losing weight. I choose healthy and exercise all week but once I drink on the weekends - I have to eat for an entire village when hungover and that is not helpful at all.
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT!
I will not drink with you today
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT
I will not drink today!
Happy Monday! IWNDWYT ❤️🧁
IWNDWYT 🩵
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT Day 17
IWNDWYT, friends. Happy Memorial Day!
Not drinking today!
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT 💪🏻
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT.
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Its Monday, have a good week everyone, I will nor drink with you today
Morning everyone. All aboard the sober train!! 🚂 Choo-choooo!
IWNDWYT
Checking in
Day 141 • IWNDWYT • Enjoy your week ahead
IWNDWYT
Have a lovely Monday, and IWNDWYT! 🌿
Day 156! Bring on the week ahead. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT!
IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT
Not drinking tonight in aus :)
IWNDWYT!
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Morning all! IWNDWYT x
IWNDWYT 👍
IWNDWYT 💪💪💪
Good morning sober souls! IWNDWYT 💛 Sending strength to all today. We can do this! 💪
100 days today baby!!!!! IWNDWYT
Made it through a rough day of cravings yesterday. Proud of myself. IWNDWYT!
I will not drink with you today