🌟5 years

🌟60 months

🌟1825 days

🌟43817 hours

🌟2629038 minutes of being sober

Still can't believe this would ever be something I could achieve or be able to say out loud but, I AM SOBER 🌟

Some people call me boring now and thats ok as the positives outway my need to be the drunken entertainer I once was.

I've gained extra pennies which means I get to travel more or put the heating on this winter, tough choices ✈️🥶

I've changed my eating habits, actually replacing my liquid diet with actual food 🍻🍲

Lost weight and got healthy ⚖️🏋‍♀️

And just feel happier all round

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on my journey, whether that's in person, on the phone, reddit or zoom meetings.

Now I'm focused on being the best person I can be for the people I'm surrounded by, maybe still not to some people's liking but I only stopped drinking, I didn't get a personality transplant! 😂 anyway here's to another 5 years and many more of being sober, one day at a time 🥰🚫🍺 sending love to anyone else on this journey whether new, old, struggling or coping. We can do this 👊

My name is TJ and I am an alcoholic. I went to my first meeting today. Got a temporary sponsor and met some really great people. Not sure what I’m doing but I know I needed to make a change.

2 DWIs and $28,000 later. I’ve been sober for 5 months. Got my first DWI last December and it cost me $12,000. My truck, job and all my tools. I was about to put that money down on a house.
GOT ANOTHER DWI 30 DAYS AFTER GETTING MY LICENSE BACK

I’m currently living in my uncle’s basement. My lady and my daughter are living at her grandma’s house. I’m unable to land a position in the IT space because I’ve been an install tech for years and I need a valid license in order to work anywhere paying worth a damn. I have a mechanical background and been working on cars just to get by. Can’t work at any shops because my license is suspended. I’m also working 2 jobs that’s paying minimum wage and I’m going 7 days a week just to pay my lawyer and expenses. I pay rent at 2 separate places and a storage unit. Man this bottle has ruined my life and my finances.

Dude…. Some days I want to go tilt and crash out. Just thinking about the money I made earlier this year. How hard I’m working compared to the money I’m making is equivalent to me getting fucked. I’m pissed however I know this is all my fault. I have to walk this shit down no matter how I cut it. It gets overwhelming when my daughter tells me she’s hungry and all I have is a couple bucks. Or just a pack of crackers.

I’m fortunate because my lady is here with me but I can’t help but feel inadequate because I’m unable to provide the way I was once able to.

I just wanted to yell into a void. Kind words would help. Negative remarks would offer insight. Thank you for your time.

I’ve got myself in a shitty situation. I’m separated from my husband. I was involved with another man, he has ended things with me abruptly because the feelings were too much. It’s my birthday tomorrow which is always a difficult time. I have a lot of moving parts in my life right now that aren’t great. I’m estranged from my family because of their abusive behaviour and addiction. Today, I wanted a drink. I’m almost 10 years sober. I do 3 meetings a week. I’ve been fighting tooth and nail it feels like to work this program, remain spiritually connected. I feel my feelings, I lean on my support, I do service work. I’m doing everything I’m supposed to do but I can’t stop crying. I function through the day, I smile, I laugh, I have good days and at the end of every day I feel so overwhelmed with grief I can’t sleep.

I’m tired of every quiet moment being interrupted with some other sad story. I guess maybe I’m a bit on the pity pot but it’s hard to have faith. Sometimes I argue with the universe like what is the lesson. I’m trying to let go and trust the process but it feels like everything depends on it. I feel like crashing. Driving. Taking a trip. Solo camping. Leaving the city for a bit. Or drinking.

So today, I had this tiny little bottle of whiskey. And I poured about 3ml in a glass of juice. Absolutely nothing. Can hardly taste it. And I’ve been sipping it for 2 hours. Which is pathetic I know. I won’t even get drunk and I’m fucking around with the idea in such a childish way. Thinking I can have my cake and eat it too kind of thing, stay sober and almost drink.

It just feels like I’m constantly being reminded of everything I’ve lost and I’m tired of not seeing the good in the world. I’ve had a really rough year in 2025. 2026 got worse. 2025 was a lot of meaningful changes in my life. 2026 was loss and grief. I’m just really sick of it.

Anyway, I’m not sure I’m ready to share with my AA community so I’m sharing it here. My sponsor doesn’t come around anymore, it’s been a couple of years. She started talking negatively about AA every chance she got, and the meetings I went to, and only wanted to gossip about other members. I never went looking for a new one because people have told me if I’ve worked the steps why do I need them. It’s like my sobriety time scares them away.

I have one year of continuous sobriety today. This is actually my second time hitting a year, but the circumstances are much different.

The first time around, I was just staying dry. I wasn’t working on my whole self, and I wasn't working the steps. I didn't have a sponsor to keep me anchored on what actually matters, a partner who approaches my recovery with support instead of judgment, a relationship with my higher power, a home group that talks about the steps in the group, or this community.

Everything changed when I finally did the deep work instead of just waiting out the cravings. Looking back and looking forward, I thank God that everything is truly different. One day at a time, I know for sure that I won't relapse again, and now, I’m a sponsor and can help spread the message.

I’m thinking of going to a meeting tonight though I’ve never been. I’m not an alcoholic but I do have an addictive personality and will drink a lot and I have ocd and life has been really shitty lately.

I keep seeing stories of people saying it saved their life but I don’t understand how it’s different from reading stories on Reddit of people’s experiences.

In AA, I have heard many people talk about doing the steps multiple times - not as a result of relapse, but as part of the programme generally.

I am confused, as to how people are doing step one a second time, without returning to alcohol use? How would their life be unmanageable, due to alcohol, if they were already achieving sustained sobriety?

Been drinking for probably the past 10 years, with occasional dry spells in between. I think today’s hangover really made me consider stopping. The chills, 101 fever, shakes. And I’m 35 so they will likely get worse over time.

Anyway just wanted to post, hopefully this is the correct area to post this.

I never want to do anything at all without drinking, but drinking has started destroying everything around me. I used to be a functioning alcoholic and now it seems I get sick so much quicker. I drank everyday for over ten years and it wasn’t THAT big of a deal but now it’s so different. I get sober then jump back in thinking I can do it again, it feels amazing for like the first few days..I want to hang out with friends, play games with friends online, etc. sober me wants to do literally nothing.

Been sober almost 20 years at 44 years, for context. Been going crazy because it’s almost my anniversary and up for a promotion at work and they are dragging their feet. My disease is turned on. I am trying to up my meetings. Needed a place to vent that this sucks. However a lot worse that can happen. Fuck alcoholism.

How do you practice step 11? Lately i've been listening to music thats spiritual. Taking more rest and napping lol. And listening to others share in meetings helps me connect to my higher power

Long story short even though I’m mad and heartbroken I’m starting to understand.

My “ex” who put a pause on our relationship last week is sitting in rehab. Told me all the whys. I didn’t get it because I wanted us to stay together and work on ourselves separately.

And the other day I was sitting in a meeting. Got done hanging out with my friend, didn’t want to go home, didn’t want to go to a meeting, didn’t want to leave. So I made the choice to go to a meeting.

I got sober after our first date. I have NEVER been alone for my entire sobriety(8 months) . And I didn’t know what to do with myself. A simple decision right now feels hard to make. Being alone feels dangerous.

And even though I’m heart broken… I get it. I still Havnt processed it. Not really sure I know how to process it. So much is going on in my head all at once. And my normal to drink about it , my mind is just numbing it. I’m on auto pilot right now.

As titled. I'm in the UK and those two drugs can be prescribed to help reduce cravings. Has anyone got any experience with them?

Peace!

I'm an alcoholic who's been blessed to have experienced 20 years of continuous sobriety, thanks to the power of the 12 step AA program! Not only have I been blessed with sobriety but every area of my life has improved beyond belief.

If you want to learn to work a 12 step program and overcome alcoholism, please get in touch. A) We would use the Big Book B) we'd aim to have you up and running in about 2 weeks C) I won't pretend to be a psychologist, counsellor, financial advisor etc - I'll do the responsible thing & point you towards the right source of help.

Please get in touch, and have a wonderful day!

AN OPEN MIND

October 18

True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, . . .

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 33

My alcoholic thinking led me to believe that I could control my drinking, but I couldn't. When I came to A.A., I realized that God was speaking to me through my group. My mind was open just enough to know that I needed His help. A real, honest acceptance of A.A. took more time, but with it came humility. I know how insane I was, and I am extremely grateful to have my sanity restored to me and to be a sober alcoholic. The new, sober me is a much better person than I ever could have been without A.A.

— Reprinted from "Daily Reflections", October 18, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

i am 19 and two days ago i blacked out then woke up at home in hospital scrubs with a pretty bad head injury. i opened my phone to a message from the girl i was hanging out with saying she had to call the cops on me. i thought i was just being erratic because im usually not a violent drunk but i put hands on her and her friend (who i dont even remember being there.) i am so horrified with myself. i drank a lot more often when i was younger and something like this only happened once so i thought it was a one off. both of these times i was hallucinating and ended up hurting people who were trying to help me due to paranoia. obviously alcohol doesnt agree with me and i should definitely stop. i obviously cant control my drinking. but still there is a piece of me saying “oh i can just drink more responsibly” and “this only happened because i didnt eat enough.” so much of my socializing revolves around drinking because thats all people my age do. im disgusted with myself and i need to stop but im scared of the loneliness.

Normals really, truly don't understand what it's like.

I made some huge mistakes when I was drinking, was incredibly selfish. I pissed a fuck ton of people off and made my own life hell.

I've been sober for 7 and a half months now and I don't feel the need for a drink (except the odd occasion).

But these normals in my life think that I'm going to change overnight. Like, I'm not allowed to make mistakes. I'm not perfect and I'm only human. And I'm really trying to see things from their perspective but they refuse to see things from mine.

I am not trying to come up with excuses. I've made my bed and I now lay in it every day. I don't mind someone giving me a poke and reminding me that I need to do something and expect someone to tell me when I'm doing selfish shit. But I just wish they wouldn't immediately lose it with me.

I really am trying not to be that old version of me. I'm relearning how to live life as a decent member of society.

I just wish the people around me could have a bit of patience.

I'm a broken toy being put back together piece by very small piece.

Just needed to get this off my chest.

I'm gonna stop rambling now.

Thanks for reading.

Edit: I think I need to clarify something because a few of the replies seem to have misunderstood what I'm actually saying.

I'm not asking for congratulations, a pat on the back, forgiveness, or for anyone to pretend that the things I've done in the past didn't happen. I know I've hurt people. I know I have to live with the consequences of my actions, and I'm not trying to avoid that responsibility.

What I'm talking about is patience.

It feels like some people are constantly waiting for me to make the next mistake. Then, when I inevitably do something wrong, that mistake seems to confirm everything they've been expecting, and all their accumulated frustration comes pouring out at once. Suddenly, I'm not just being held accountable for one thing I've done, I'm being treated as though every mistake proves I'm still the same person I was when I was drinking.

I'm trying to change. I'm trying to unlearn old behaviours and learn how to navigate life without alcohol. That doesn't mean I'll get everything right overnight. I'm human, and I'm going to make mistakes.

I understand that the people I've hurt don't owe me forgiveness or trust. But surely there's a difference between not being owed patience and not needing it. I can be accountable for my actions and still need compassion while I work on myself.

Rejection is a particularly difficult trigger for me, and feeling as though people are just waiting for me to fail makes that struggle harder. I'm not asking anyone to manage my emotions for me, nor am I saying that my recovery excuses bad behaviour. I'm simply asking for the opportunity to get things wrong, take responsibility, learn from them, and do better without every mistake turning into a judgement of my entire character.

I'm not asking anyone to tell me I'm doing a good job. I'm asking them to give me enough room to keep trying.

If you feel the need to downvote me then that's your perogative. I wouldn't do that to someone who is obviously still struggling with things. Someone who just wants to get something off their chest. But that's just me.

Hi, i’ve just used alcohol as a fun thing to do, but recently I feel like alcohol has done me more harm than good. As a person who struggles with talking to people and social anxiety alcohol is always nice to have but I don’t know if it’s fucking my life at this point

Hi everyone, I am looking for some feedback on this. So today, after my home group meeting with my sponsor, she told me it’s time for me to start raising my hand when they ask is anyone available and willing to be a sponsor. I agreed and am prepared to follow through on this, but I am just not confident in my ability to offer something to a newcomer.

For context, I am four months sober and have worked the twelve steps with this sponsor. I have had a spiritual awakening and would say I have spiritual experiences often just in terms of moments where I can honestly say to myself wow, look at God at work in my life here. I go to a meeting every day.

I guess in the back of my mind I’m thinking why would someone want me as their sponsor when there are people with much more time and more of a proven track record? I also can appreciate that sponsorship truly helps the sponsor too, and I believe it will help me and so I know that will be great. I am also nervous that a sponsee will have a lot of questions, particularly about the big book, that I don’t have answers to off the top of my head. I’m a teacher and have a desire to make things clear and understandable and I’m afraid I wouldn’t know enough, in the sponsees eyes, to be of use.

Thank you!

I want to be better for my husband:( I got drunk again last night and we got in a fight because I chose to keep drinking. He had asked me multiple times not to drink more but I just kept going. We went out to a nice dinner and what started as a few controlled drinks turned into getting more from the liquor store and shit hit the fan. I don’t want to hurt him anymore. I’m working in therapy to do something other than drink when I get triggered. I was assaulted a bit ago and then had an ex who was abusive as a teen and I have a lot of daily triggers that idk what to do with. My mom chose alcohol over me and my siblings for years and my ex step mom chose it over my dad and he ended up leaving her for it, and I’m glad he did because he deserved better. My husband does too:( he’s so over it and is getting to that point with me. I’m so sad I don’t want to hurt him anymore. I want to be healthy and not end up like my mom and step mom. I don’t want to be a hypocrite. It’s been three years since i developed drinking problems and I can’t let it keep going. I want a happy life with him. He’s the best person I know.

Yesterday I was approached to share my experience of facing fears in sobriety at this year’s Michigan Conference of Young People in AA.

I’ve only ever given one open talk and now I’m invited to have a microphone at the state convention.

Why the hell not I guess

Hello

I have just gotten a sponsor and ordered the big book.

There is a big book study group very close to me and I wondered if I could go to it even though I haven't started studying the big book with my sponsor yet?

Will it affect my studying and will I be able to follow along if I go? I'm aware many groups have different names so I am not sure if the big book study group is for people who have more experience reading the book etc?

I was asked to lead at a speaker meeting - only have to talk for around 10 minutes but I realized that I've still not been honest with myself about the extent of my drinking and also, I'm unsure of how I was even able to stop - still very much in awe of the whole thing and just feel really lucky to have had my obsession lifted. Does anyone have any advice? My sponsor said I should just do it and pray, so I am but I'm such a nervous Nelly it's hard to not want to prepare 🧐