I have been sober since October 22, 1994. My life has completely turned around since I did it. It's not easy, and I do agree that it's mostly mental. But the only way that I could beat the mental obsession was to be around people that understood the way that I think, and I found that in AA. For me, it was about changing my behaviors more than anything. I drank because I didn't like myself. Today I like myself more and more everyday, so the need to drink is not there.


Hi Goody, there's a lot to what you say. Self esteem issues often play a big role, especially for the ones like me who tried to drink to oblivion every time. I quit AA after a few meetings. It's not for everyone, but everyone who is trying to quit should at least check them out.


I know that if I take just one drink it's all over for me. I'm right back to where I started and the obsession begins again. So I just stay away from the first one! Not a problem now, but early on in sobriety it was tough. I couldn't imagine "quitting", or "never drinking again". In fact, I still don't think of it in those terms. I just stay sober one day at a time, that's manageable for me.

Exactly so; forever is a very long time. I just won't drink today, and I repeat that mantra as needed every 24 hours ;-)

It's been about 11 years for me. I know the purists think you should know to the minute when you quit, but that's balderdash. The same terror I felt at contemplating being sober forever haunts me when I think of quitting smoking. That's the next step.

Cheers,
Richard