10 Years Sober!
 

It has now been 10 years since I was arrested for drunk driving (the 4th time) and finally checked myself into an alcohol addiction treatment center.

I was a FUCKING MESS. I drank to the point of blackout 4 or 5 times a week. I was drinking over 24 beers a day. I was drinking in the morning and even installed a new shower stall with a shelf so I could have a place to put my morning cocktail while I showered.

A very public and very humiliating arrest gave me that last kick in the ass I needed to get myself to a rehab center. I went through DT's for 4 days. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens

One of the other patients died during my second week. I did not want to be that guy.

It has taken a lot of hard work. There have been some really shitty times and times I really wanted to take a drink and times I really wanted to just get drunk. Thankfully, there have been a lot of great times and good memories over the past 10 years and getting sober changed my life.

lol fucking awesome

best decision of my life too, will be 4 years come June.

I wont let it tear me down.
everything burns inside,
broken thoughts race through my mind of love, depression and hatred.
and there is no escape.
run for your fucking life.
twisted and beaten down,
but there is no excuse to destroy what is so pure.
burning in your fucking hell.
you live by the choice youve made
but there is no excuse to destroy what is so pure.
and there is just one thing.
i never told you.
you meant the fucking world to me,
but when you turned it around you became a memory.
i'll turn my fucking back on you.

Congrats!

I'm coming up on 9 yrs

6-24-00 (was a bitch of a last day as I recall, lol)

Wow, what a sobering story! Although I'm thoroughly shitfaced at the moment, I have reduced my alcohol intake to weekends but I know full time, permanent abstinence is the only thing that will let me reach my goals in the long run.

Again Kudos to you and I assume you have found many more fulfilling activities and interests to substitute for that beasie desiire..

19+ years here. gets better and better. -bmb

I still drink on occasion, but after having someone in my life that has a problem with it my desire to get "drunk" has been gone for quite a while now. Not saying I don't sometimes drink enough to get drunk or drunkish, but its never my intention to do so. Congrats on 10 years Chad. We are 'trying' to make it to the phx show but lots going on right now, been quite a while since we've talked in person. Hope all else in the world is good with you. :thumbsup

Respect for that :thumbsup

Congrats! :)

Nice one congrats to your ultimate soberness. Keep coming back ;)

I usually stop after 15 or so out of a 18 pack so i have morning wake up beer to help with hang overs.. Well that was early 20's now that im 28 i drink only when i can snatch a bottle from my moms liquor closet. its been at lease like 5 months sence i drank any thing except for a bottle of wine.

Congrats, good for you.

Good job Chad.

How do you erase your emotional memory if you're sober?

I mean, besides having a lot of fun I use to have a frequent drink cause I can then wake up and solve everything right away, without prejudices and any dead weight thoughts.

Congrats

Congrats you guys.

congrats .. If i hadn't had my kids I would be dead from alcohol for sure ..
Question .. Are you the type of guy that still attends functions where alcohol is present and has juice .. coffee etc.. or are you the type who just chooses not to be around alcohol .. Just curious ..

He goes to a lot of shows, and attends the parties so Id say your first guess would be correct.

i think it's the third of forth time now that you share this anniversary with us here and i am happy that you still do so, Chad!

congrats and keep going! :)

I have no problems around liquor anymore. My first year I did not set foot in a bar but now it's not an issue. Usually you will see me with a diet coke in one hand and a cigarette in the other!

A big part of living with alcoholism is getting back into the mainstream of life -- isolation from booze is essential in the beginning but eventually gotta face it head on.

Congrats... Lets take some Whiskey or Vodka combos to celebrate it :)

Seriously, I wouldn't go that far like not drinking at all anymore. I just don't drink alcoholic beverages when I go out with my car. Taxi/Cabs are there for when you want to get when going out and have no problems.

In any case, you have solved a serious problem you had, so whatever solution you took, it was in the good direction if it works :)

Congrats on another year. Keep it going! :thumbsup

11 long years for me...drug and alcohol FREE.........kept me alive past 40 ...haha

congrats on 10 years :thumbsup

Congrats and good for you..cheers :glugglug

damn AZ 0 tollerance i had a friend get a extreme dwi did 9 months at florence

Congrats of your recovery.

Just curious why the detox place you went to allowed you or the guy that passed away to go through DTs? From what i understand cant you get medication to alleviate the severe withdrawal symptoms?

congrats man :)

Congrats on your 10th anniversary being sober. As a recovering smoker, I can sympathize with you, man. It's been 6 years now since I stopped smoking. I feel much better.

Stay strong!

glad to hear that. congrats!

So many congrats! Alcohol affects every single person differently -- SO awesome you identified the issue for you, did something about it and followed through!!?

Congrats man!

So glad to hear of your sucess :-)

bump for 10 years
<respect>!</respect>

the dt thing freaks me out. congrats.

No shit. A fatality rate of 5% when under medical supervision is pretty damn scary. Of course, drinking to blackout almost every day never has good results.

Congrats on changing the direction of your life.

That post made me feel like a light weight when it comes to drinking.

Congrats on the 10 years. I am coming up on 9 myself. :)

Good Job!!!!!!! 10 years is a lot time and you should feel really proud of yourself!:thumbsup

I will have 20 years this Oct!

Thank you for sharing!

One day at a time!

:)

exactly :2 cents:

good job :thumbsup