New to this app, newly sober (again), in active withdrawal, and struggling. What gave you hope when you had none?
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Asmo, thank you so much. I really needed to hear all this tonight and I appreciate your wisdom about knowing people are rooting for me. Yeah, youāre totally right that the anxiety and guilt and just general headgame of it all is the worst part and feels like it gets harder each time (this is my third detox, ugh). You would think with practice it gets easier and in a way maybe it does, but the hope is in shorter supply because I feel like triple the failure, if that makes any sense. But just getting a response to night means a lot to me, so thank youuuuu for your kindness 
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Elizabeth it took me 25 years to get 30 days. And now I have 390. Detox is your disease trying to convince you that itās the cure. If your DOC is alcohol youāve got 4 rough days and then you have to get your ass to 90 meetings in 90 days and get a sponsor who will hold you accountable until you can take over that job for her.
You can do it. Upstate NY unite. I spent 4 years in the north country.
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Word, Craig, and congrats on your 390 days! Thatās huge. The North Country is the bomb and Iād love to hear more about what your time here was like. Thank you for the advice, kindnesses, and profile pic of a truly badass dog. That beauty is royalty
Elizabeth I just started my recovery this week from alcohol and itās been tough with the withdrawal. No sleep, so much anxiety but everday is getting better. Have hope and focus on what matters most to you!
Hey, congrats to you, Philip. This is NOT easy and we CAN do it. Letās hang in there together. Iāve decided to believe that fighting this makes you not weak, but a warrior. It takes real strength to detox and function through anxiety and sleeplessness, and here we are, functioning and getting better. Thank you for reaching out when I really needed it. Hope to keep hearing from you. 
You are giving me hope , this is tough what your doing , hold on get to a meeting when possible and know your loved
Iām from the Albany area and went to college at St Lawrence in Canton. Such beautiful country up there. Driving through the āDacks in the fall. 1000 islands in the St Lawrence river. All the fun little old towns. And all the drinking back when it was fun and not a crippling act of shame and remorse. Aah, but havenāt really been back since 1996 or so. Graduated in 95 and dated a girl there the next year so I still went up once a month or so.
I never made it to Plattsburgh though. I hade several friends who went to school there though.
Oh, and my pup is Keeper. I got him just a couple days after I got sober. Heās the best!! But donāt tell his sister I said that.
Go Elizabeth!
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Keeper is a great name, and what a wonderful sober companion. Animals always tell the truth; I generally dig them more than people. Yeah, the Adirondacks are a lot of fun when substances donāt equal remorse, and still beautiful even when they do. I hope youāre having a good weekend. My day was better, and thatās enough for me. Sending you a friend request, but no pressure
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Thank you so much for this, Tom. I canāt tell you what it means. I do believe we can all get through this, and Iām really grateful for this app. Sending you a friend request, please feel free to reach out anytime. Hope and strength to you, always
Tom thank you so much. I canāt really tell you how much that message means. It came at exactly the right time. Sending you hope and strength right back, and please, if you like, stay in touch
Welcome back! Elizabeth. We are all in this together. 
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Itās weird but occasionally I look back to the agony of detox with a fond recollection. I was an idiot and did it without medical attention. I felt like I didnāt deserve anyone to care about me. I was obviously insane at the time.
But now I wear that pain and ensuing recovery as a badge of honor. A turning point.
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Tom, I didnāt mean to blow up your account! This app is being fickle; I kept hitting reply and nothing happened, so then I wrote again, because I really wanted to let you know how much your words meant to me. Lol, maybe the three messages make the point?
Word to that, my friend. Thanks, Michael. I wish a peaceful and beautiful evening
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You as well.
I laughed out loud at āI was obviously insane at the timeāā not because it is at all funny, but because it is so resonant. Those feelings are so very real, and I love that you can see your worth now. It IS a badge of honor to get sober. Itās hard @$!;ing work, and it has value in and of itself. And itās inspiring that you can see that madness now for what it is. We all deserve love and care, but man, that forest gets thick for the trees sometimes
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What gave me hope early on in sobriety was my son! I wanted him back in my life so bad that I had to work hard at sobriety get to see him. It was the most difficult time of my entire life! Going through detox, depression, anxiety and trying to solve all my problems at once. Plus I like to solve the worlds problems too.
What keeps me here, is that spiritual awakening, itās the signs I see everyday that my higher power is not only next to me but going through every path thatās in front of me with me. Itās that feeling I get knowing that Iām better off without alcohol, meth, caffeine or tobacco. Once I became to a level of understanding and can start to show others that what Iām doing in my sobriety works thatās my hope.
Continue down this path of sobriety and working your program to the best of your ability and I can promise you it gets better and better each day. Believe in yourself. Believe in a power greater then yourself. Meditate with that power of your understanding in your thoughts daily.
Have a wonderful day filled with love and peace within.
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