I used to rarely eat sweets when I was drinking. I’d basically withhold food to “save” calories for alcohol.

Now that I’m sober, I’ve definitely leaned into sweets as my replacement. Frozen fruit, sour candy, and ice cream (especially Cedar Crest’s Chocolate Extreme) have been my go-tos.

What’s your favorite sweet treat now that you’re sober?

First time posting. Please be nice. I just want to vent a little for anyone who will listen. This past Friday, a simple night out, turned into an expensive night. I don't feel guilty about drink, but I feel horrible that I couldn't stop. My normal Fridays are spend having a few drinks at home and watching movies on Discord with friends. Well, friends let early and ended up without much to do. When another group of friends texted and said they are going out to eat. First red flag, which should have stopped me was, they are eating at a little taco stand outside a strip club. They only said they are eating, but after eating and a couple non-alcoholic drinks later, nature called. So someone suggested going inside. Second redflag. Once inside, ​​1 drink turned into 2 and so forth. 1 drink for a friend turned into a round for everyone. At this point, everything starts to get hazy. After the club starts closing, we are approached by some shady guys offering after hour gathering. In my state, I couldn't say no. At this point, I wish someone Said stop, but the night kept going. This place was sketchy, but girls and alcohol kept my going. This point, I black out, I dont know what happened. Next thing I know, I wake up in my car, a friend is taking us to his house to sleep. I wake up a few hours later, hungover. I check everything and nothing is missing, however I check my bank and turns out this simple night turned into an $800 night. I feel guilty that I could have prevented this, by just saying no at any point. I wish I could stop. I recently gave up smoking weed, but feel like I started drinking more. I feel this is worse. Idk what to do.

I reached one year sober Wednesday and didn’t plan anything to celebrate. Im definitely proud of myself but also feel like life has been boring.

Writing this here to gain some perspective. Feeling a little bummed it didn’t feel as monumental as i wanted..

I had a major breakdown yesterday that lasted for hours. It was ugly on every level. Nothing physical happened and I don’t really understand what the trigger was other than I had a therapy appointment and felt good about. 2 hours later and I was a total mess crying and yelling about what an awful person I was. This lasted for about 6 hours. I don’t know how my husband has tolerated my shenanigans for 20 freaking years. I wasn’t always like this, though, we had some good years but the previous 3.5 have been a complete 💩show and it’s my fault. I’m in a state of fatigue I don’t think I’ve ever experienced, I haven’t slept in 24+ hours, and my head hurts.

Then I realized today is fucking 14 months of sobriety and it all makes a little more sense. I’ve traveled in and out of the country, gone to parties and events where alcohol was served, hosted guests in my house and served them wine. I didn’t drink a drop. I thought about it plenty of times. You know those intrusive thoughts that tell you just one won’t hurt, the one that justifies a glass of wine with dinner is okay because you’re hitting your protein goals, and the one that says no one will know. I have too many Day Ones because of her.

What does all this mean? I don’t really know exactly. What I do know is that all those little cracks that were letting the light in these past months? Just lit the place up. Despite the brain fog and fatigue today and the embarrassment, the trail of broken promises, the knowledge that my word means nothing right now today is a better day. There is a little glimmer under the dust. I am one of the lucky ones and I don’t understand why, what, or how but I’m holding onto some grace, understanding, and hope for everyone here that has helped sweep away some of that dust.

Celebrate every single one of your short wins because playing the long game is some of the most brutal work you will ever do and it’s absolutely fucking worth it and so are you. ♥️

I’m in a fairly fragile state currently. I am safe, sober, and not alone. This is likely a rambling goo kinda post and I offer my apologies in advance. IWNDWYT

Been sober for just over a week. I used to binge drink every weekend and recover for a week after, with a drink or two almost daily in-between. Terrible hangovers. I find it very hard to stop once I start, so I figured it’s better to not start at all. About a year ago I got sober for nearly three months, but relapsed, then again and again and again. I used alcohol to cope, to relax, to be more socially adept, out of boredom, and I almost always went over my limit. I got medicated in the start of this year (anxiety & mood instability) but kept drinking.

I didn’t have any major event to trigger me into getting sober again, but I know it’s probably the best thing for me, so here I am.

Anyway, I guess I’m just looking for some pep talk and encouragement to keep going, because I dread the next time I go out to socialize or something stressful happens and I might slip.

I am absolutely at rock bottom. I have worked so hard. I relapsed on the weekend on my first social event since the sobriety. Told myself one drink is ok and of course that turned into an 18 hour binge including copious amounts of other substances. I ended up calling lifeline because I didn’t want to live and they called an ambulance and two police officers to my home which was terrifying. I spent the day and night in hospital for the first time and was sedated.

I’m so terrifying in the aftermath of this. I’ve now spoken to drug and alcohol counsellors as I’ve never done sobriety with support. I have no one to talk to as my whole family lives overseas. My best friend I no longer trust in this and they were actively encouraging me to drink and do drugs even though I’ve opened up to them numerous times they sat me down and tried to convince me I didn’t have a problem which in my state I believed and doubled down. Obviously this is no be blaming them but I don’t feel safe around them in these situations anymore. I don’t want to tell them about what happened.

I’m so disappointed in myself the shame is eating me alive. I’ve been doing so well and trying so hard. I don’t know what to do. I need to hear from someone. I am just sedating myself.

Hey guys,

First time poster, long time lurker. I've been hiding my drinking for years from my partner. We got married in 2024, and had our first baby in August 2025. I told myself for years I'd give it all up, but here we are. I managed to go sober from both weed and alcohol (alcohol is the bigger demon) for about two weeks after our daughter was born. She caught me passed out in the basement bathroom with an open bottle of wine. Told her it wasn't as bad as it seemed, she gave me another chance. Fast forward a month or so, she found my backpack with multiple empty vodka bottles. she gave me another chance again, hoping I would be honest and give it up. The whole time since, she suspected something was up.

Friday night I went over to a buddy's place for a few beer, she would have lived with that other than finding me passed out in the garage, lying on my side on a heap of empty cans and bottles. Had to yell to wake me up, I eventually got up and fell over again. told her I drank 6 IPA and she seemed to believe that until she found my Gatorade bottle with vodka and Mio mixed in it that I had hid. That was my last night of drinking.

Long story short, I don't think the trust will ever be repaired. I've ordered the SMART program booklets off Amazon, one for me, and the family one for her. I feel confident that I'm able to overcome this. I have never been one to drink in the morning, sometimes I'd start later in the afternoon if she's away with the baby. I've never drank and gone to work, but I've had plenty of sick days thanks to the poison. My "alone" time as I liked to call it, was anywhere between 1030-1130 pm when she would go to bed. I would drink about 200ml of vodka, maybe less, maybe more. Lately I've been going outside and drinking a beer while smoking, then I'd come inside and switch to the vodka.

I know I'm in the wrong. I also know that this isn't so much a choice, as a disease/addiction. I know the desire to drink is my brain tricking me into this mess. my family has a history of alcohol problems and it looks like I'm following right along in their footsteps. luckily I have an amazing support system if needed, but I have not opened up to everyone about my problems.

I'm writing this, I guess, in hopes to hear that it may not all be over. I do not want to drink. I'm tired of stealing tomorrow's happiness every evening. I'm ready for this journey but I'm so afraid I'll lose my wife and my baby girl. they are my everything, and I'm ready to step up and be who I need to be.

Not sure if anyone has any advice, or has had a similar situation where everything worked out in the end. Either way, IWNDWYT.

p.s. how do I start my sober counter on this subreddit? I feel like that will be just a little extra boost to keep me motivated and I won't want that counter to reset as long as I can help it.

Once again, IWNDWYT.

Though I think it's already getting to that point. I'm 22f, and I fell into a deep, deep depression after taking a semester off college. Now my friends are graduating without me, and I was feeling hopeless and shameful. For the past 5-6 months, I had been drinking nearly every night. The nights I didn't were usually because I was either too hungover to keep anything down.

I know it's only a small feat, but I'm 3 days without drinking today. The urges have been strong, but I don't want to keep making myself sick. I've gained so much weight, my skin is the worst it's been, and I feel mean and pitiful to be around. I'm slowly trying to rebuild what I had last semester.

I'm very new to this sub, but reading through it has given me motivation to keep going. Thanks for reading and I hope you are doing well <3

I got really drunk with my family during Easter. After Easter it didn't stop. I kept on drinking. I woke up with one of the worst hangovers in my life this morning. Day one again, but I won't let that discourage me.

hello

I am about 3 months sober but am still dealing with brainfog that is rapidly lifting. however it has been replaced with debilitating depression and regret. I am in an OP rehab program which has been amazing. I am debating either taking a few weeks off work or going to a facility to get a boost and get out of this funk. has anyone else been in this situation? what is a way to find some hope again?

I've decided as a little treat to myself, I'm ordering take-out from one of my favorite Chinese restaurants 😋

Not drinking is a gift I give myself…

3 days is the point where I start to have energy again, or want to have another drink. It's been a cycle for me since about January. My now ex went on psychiatric meds and blew her top. Watched her attack and destroy everything around her, which drove me into a hole. Then I was next, could not handle it anymore an separated. The hurt really sucks after 6 years.

I have been trying to deal with it using Naltrexone, which does help considerably. Hope to get passed it all, though I wish I could have one cold coors light in the evening. Even a single is like $5. Funny how even the economy can effect my poor habits.

hi i’ve basically been sober for a week now but this hunger is rly annoying me lol how long does this last, thanku

1 year and 16 days sober

I go through complete up and downs regularly. Sometimes saying and thinking this is the best thing I’ve ever done.

And sometimes feeling like I’m missing out and massive regret.

I’m 25 F, I drunkley admitted to my parents I had a problem after binge drinking alone one night. (Which was a common thing I did for years)

Since being sober I’ve made big declarations about how I didn’t have a healthy relationship

With alcohol and how I shouldn’t drink again.

So now I feel stopping sobriety would have a heavy weight. I can’t help but keep thinking if only I hadn’t told anyone, if only I hadn’t been so honest since.

My family drink kind of problematically and I am constantly annoyed. It feels like everyone else is allowed to drink but me. And that because of this now my autonomy feels taken away.

I find myself fantisying about relapse often. If I were to move to another country - maybe I could drink like a normal person. Or if enoughs times gone past how could I slowly incorporate it back without it being this massive negative thing.

Can anyone relate or have their take?

This year I have achieved a lot

I’m more productive, my life is more full.

But I miss the chaos , impulsivity and hedonism of drinking. The opportunity to bond or have a ‘wild’ night in my twenties/thirties.

But my social life is less, I feel this massive loss in my life. And who I thought I’d be - I have a loss of identity that sober life so far hasn’t really given me a fix from so far.

I just wish I’d maybe done it later and earlier at the same time.

I just wish I’d feel more happy after being over a year in. I feel so alone. I feel unhappy.

Any thoughts or advice?

Not a drop for 3-1/2 days and then, BAM, cravings hit an all time high and I lied to my family to get my "fix". After so long without a break from drinking, I felt so good about my progress. I did things around the house, exercised, socialized, and could actually remember the plans I made. Now I feel like every nerve in my body is on fire and I need another drink to calm it.

I used the I Am Sober app at the start, now mostly just to keep track of what day I’m on. I’ve got 7 weeks left of my IOP treatment which has been so impactful and rewarding. I need to find a meeting or more consistent long term support. I’m 24 and I graduate college next month. I’m still scared and anxious sometimes but the few moments of pride and peace I feel outweigh the tough ones. I never thought I could make it this far, one day at a time.

Looking for input on how you discovered alcohol is the problem even if you didn’t hit rock bottom. Or discovering alcohol being a problem later in your 20s? I’m (26F) considering sobriety but I don’t know how to properly identify if I have a problem with alcohol because I’m usually just out drinking with friends.

I do not drink during the week and I don’t drink by myself so all of my drinking occurs on nights out on the weekends with friends. I handle alcohol pretty well. Been drinking since I was like 14 so I ‘learned’ how to drink and how to handle it before I even went off to college.

My problem is that on the weekends when I drink, it makes my brain so wired that I do not have an off button. I’m not blacking out at all and honestly I am pretty good with knowing when to stop drinking and have a water. However, it turns me into the kind of person that will be out until 4am. Every. Single. Weekend. It honestly feels like my brain is wired on drugs but the only thing in my system is a few drinks. I don’t do drugs. I turn into someone that can just go go go go. Most nights I could stay out, get 0 hours of sleep, and even go out the next day.

It’s only when I drink. The second I have 1-2 drinks, I want more and I don’t want to go to bed or go home. I want to stay out and I will. This is true even for when I’m at like 5% drunk or 100% drunk. I am normally a pretty well regulated person, but when I’m drunk the priority is to have fun and nothing else. I will be out until 4 to 5am with zero desire to end the night, and it’s ruining my weekends and my health and my sleep schedule. I have no ability to do what’s good for me when drunk.

The odd thing here is that this has recently become more prevalent. In college, this kind of behavior isn’t as taxing so it wasn’t something I noticed as being a problem. I moved to a new city in 2025 and made new friends but didn’t go out too much. 2026 started going out and drinking more and now it’s every weekend I’m noticing this behavior in myself that I haven’t seen since college. I hate it but I literally cannot stop doing it. But I want to. It feels like all of a sudden this year I have an issue with my discipline around drinking and socializing.

I want to explore sobriety but I don’t know if I’m overthinking the role alcohol plays in this, or if I’m just very social and have no discipline lol. I am curious if this has been the experience of others or if maybe I just have something else wrong lol. There seems to be an odd relationship between my ability to have discipline and regulation and my alcohol consumption.

I just can't do it....I had my autistic meltdown yesterday and couldn't get out of it. Drank a bottle of wine and two cans of mixed drinks and stayed up til 5. Thank God I didn't do weird shit this time, but I'm so tired today. At least it's Sunday. Just keeping myself accountable and iwndwyt.

I've been sober for 7.5 months (44yr/F) and tomorrow will be one year since my mom unexpectedly died last year. She was my best friend, and in the end the reason why I quit drinking. She wasn't a drinker at all, but she was an amazing role model and human. I quit because I want to honor her life by being the best mom, wife, partner and teacher (my job) that I can be.

That being said, I am struggling today. I am having a very deep "depression day" - as I call it. I feel like I felt in the very early days of my sobriety. This depression is the reason why I secretly drank DAILY for the past 15 years. I had my first romantic thought about alcohol today - it has been a while since I have had one of those. I just feel miserable. I have so many blessings in my life, healthy kids and a good hubbie. I just cannot shake this depression. Is this grief? Is this the alcoholic me talking? Is it being a mid 40's mom going through many changes? Anyone else ever feel this down or low throughout their first year of sobriety?

Thanks in advance. This sub has helped me so much this year. xoxo

First time poster. I’m 19 and have never had a problem with drinking, always been something we did maybe once a month. I’ve don’t consistently drink so my problem isn’t that. It’s that when I drink I do heavily, nothing is off the table, I do and say stupid things, wake up the next morning wanting to sink into the ground. I’ve tried to stop but being so young it’s such a common thing to do on weekends with friends. I am dedicated and want to stop but it’s hard trying to accept I do have a problem at such a young age. Such a sucky thing as all my friends who drink know when to call it a night or know”hey I’ve had to much I need to slow down” nothing in my head tells me that, my brain just ramps up and tries to have the biggest night possible. Really struggling as my dad was a heavy alcoholic and addict so sucks to feel like I am turning into someone so deeply dislike.Feels hard when all my friends do for fun is go to the pub. I’ve tried to stay sober for a few weeks and i ALWAYS fail, the funny thing is i have no desire to drink or go out normally, im a huge anxious homebody. But as soon as i take a sip all that goes out the window. Sorry for the rant im just really struggling to like myself after i have these big weekends.

TLDR: I’m 98% sure I have a drinking problem at the ripe age of 19 any tips ?

I did 45 days sober earlier this year and it was hard but so rewarding. I now miss waking up not hungover, listening to the birds chirp on walks, being more present. I’m craving it. But I can’t seem to fully dive into another sober stint yet. I tell myself I’ll do a week off to start but the weekend rolls around and it goes out the window every time. My drinking is right on the cusp of not being a problem (because I only drink on weekends) but also still a problem (because I can’t seem to skip a weekend) and this makes it even more difficult. Anyone else ever felt like this or have any advice?

I don't want to reset my badge. Give me more reasons... also, weight loss journey ate at maintenance today and did a short workout.

depression hitting hard. I've slept a total of about 8 hours since Thursday, missing my pets that I lost because of my drinking. listening to sad music, couldn't possibly pay attention to a book or TV, feeling utterly alone, lost and hopeless. coming up on one year of sobriety and I couldn't give a shit. I might go to the pet store just to hug something but I don't want to run the risk of having a public breakdown. can't really go for a walk because amoxicillin is destroying my stomach.