War Stories. What brought you to the decision to quit? I’ve recently found that talking about my indiscretions, being honest about my journey, and leaning into vulnerability has some really positive effects. It’s hard to do but really cool when you find the strength that comes with owning your sh*t. I could write a book about the number of times I was amazed I had awoken from a drug-fueled booze bender. My kids are easily my “why” for getting it together. What flipped the switch for you?
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I have full custody of my daughter and I got tired of being such a POS. I was ruining her life because of my selfish ways. I couldn't go on anymore living this way and wanted to get right for her. There's a lot more behind it but I will tell you this. My daughter is the main reason and I want nothing but the best for her. If I didn't stop I would have lost her and life as we know it would be over for me..I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror anymore if she was forced to go back with her mom. I would have probably killed myself because of it and that's the truth.
I had reached a point where I was only happy when I was trashed and my whole life revolved around using and decided I didn't want to live like that.
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I was losing my temper too often. My wife asked for a divorce. I moved into an extended stay hotel for 5 weeks and then into the modest little apartment I’m at now. We sold the house I loved and had planned to live in for many years. I still drank a handful of times after. It was miserable and insane and the hangovers were unbearable. I knew I couldn’t carry all this weight on my shoulder and drink and remain sane. I called my very forgiving sponsor and I call him almost every morning now. Acceptance is the key. I have to accept my situation and everything that comes my way as it is. The struggle is necessary in order to build the life my higher power wants for me and I’m starting to feel I wouldn’t want my situation to be any other way bc it’s mine. It’s the foundation to something better and one day I’ll look back t it with nostalgia.
I have 2 young kids. I have to remind myself to act as “adult” as possible in all matters concerning my kids and my ex-wife. I never miss a day I’m supposed to pick them up 3 days a week. I’m cooperative with my ex-wife about the kids. Anything else about her that’s not court related or about the kids is none of my business. At first I overcompensated with the kids. I compared my apartment to their other house. I’m getting better. It’s getting more natural for us. I know that whatever is good for my soul is good for them in the long run. That means staying sober first of all. Secondly, to act like an adult. Something that most of my life is I’d do when convenient and sometimes I didn’t at all. I’m becoming the man my creator wants me to be. I believe the struggle was worth it… sorry for rambling once I started I couldn’t stop. I’ve never shared like this before… doing my 5th step on Wednesday so everything is fresh in my memory bank:v:
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I threw up all over myself in my boyfriend’s car on the way home from a party that I promised I wouldn’t overdo it at. He rarely drinks and was my safe ride home and I puked up red Jell-O shots in his car. The horrible hangover I had (in the top 3 worst ever), the shame, and the ultimatum he gave me is what made me decide to quit. Knowing I had done things like this many times before in my “drinking career”, I had fully run out of excuses and knew the only answer was to quit. I am grateful I was able to quit before my health or finances took a dive. My then boyfriend is now my fiancé. On Wednesday, I will have 7 months without drinking.
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Wow, thanks for sharing your story. There’s a lot here to unpack I’m sure, but I relate to so much of what you said. I too was prone to a quick temper. I said nasty things around/to my kids that just wasn’t appropriate when I was drinking. I still have my struggles, but they’re the reason I keep trying.
Just remember, smooth waters never made a fine captain. The tides and crashing waves make us resilient for the long journey ahead.
If in the end you are proud of the person you’ve become, then you have to honor the scars you gathered along the way. Without them, you wouldn’t be the person you are today. Thanks for being vulnerable.
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Congratulations on your success, and your engagement! It’s great you were able to recognize and intervene when you did. I love a great redemption story. 
Know I needed help.it was in the family.got help aa was there.I was 26 years old.now 61.
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I didn't like who I was. I was miserable, and mean to those around me. Drinking wasn't fair to me or those around me.
For years I was stuck in a grave I dug myself. I became way too comfortable in there. Made no progress with my career, finances, relationships ect.. I’m 6 months sober now and learned so much more about myself than I did my entire 20’s and many more to come
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It was at the point that I was in such a fog all the time, vomiting, just scared of dying. No happiness. Was never getting a high feeling so drank more and more. This isn’t easy but well worth it.
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Congrats on 7 months. Sounds like you’ve traveled quite the distance. Good on you.
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How old are you now? I feel the same way. I’m 35
What drove me to actually want sobriety was breaking my tibia and fibula, bedridden for 6 months and slipped into a depression I did not see coming. I was drinking 24/7 the last 2 months of it passively seeking death. On that last ER visit I agreed to go to a detox, while in it they started me on Zoloft. I had a few more months of healing as I gained mobility and started going to 3-5 AA meetings a day, I had a fantastic home group. I have since relapsed 4 times, a whole other set of circumstances but I still want sobriety. After my last relapse I recognized that I want to find a way to keep that dying and desperate motivation. Haven’t quite figured it out but hey, I am sober today.
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I was hospitalized in my freshman year of college for alcohol poisoning and felt so cool for partying hard. The second time I was hospitalized, I had gone to a bar with a friend and blacked out. He came into the bathroom to look for me when I didn’t come back. He found me passed out on the floor covered in vomit. I had aspirated it into my lungs and had to be intubated. I was so scared and confused when I woke up in the ICU. After my shame spiral, I let the nurse bring my mom in. She told me how they had spent the entire night in the hospital not sure if I would wake up with brain damage or at all. I want to live but even more I just never want to put my family through that again.
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Sad that there is such a strong drinking culture in college. That’s where I by far did the most damage to myself and others around me. It worries me as I have a 15-year who will be going soon. I talk to him constantly about the dangers but in the end, everyone has to make their own choices. Glad to hear you are well.
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That’s all you can really do. I’m so glad my parents were there when I needed them. I hope your son is able to learn from you and know you’ll be there if he ever needs support 
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Thank you! It hasn’t been easy but it feels great. No Sunday hangover today.
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I'm actually paralyzed (quadraplegic). I was given pain killers and benzodiazepines in '06 after a tragic accident I had at the beach that led me to be paralyzed (quadraplegic). Immediately after my accident, I had a fusion done on my neck (it was an incomplete C4 fracture), was intubated, and had a feeding tube in my nose. At first, I was given these meds intravenously, because I was intubated (had a breathing tube down my throat). Until I decided to get a tracheotomy and was able to swallow normally without asperating. Long story short, I was slowly/gradually taken off the vent. I was in the hospital for roughly 6 months and was given these meds on a schedule everyday. When they sent me home, they sent me with a script for both meds which evolved to a 12 almost 13 year addiction. Which led me to smoking cigarettes and drinking on top of taking these meds just to get higher. Luckily I live with family because they saw what I was doing to myself, the crowd I was hanging around/bringing by the house, and gave me the ultimatum of either get clean or I'd have to go in a nursing home. And am I glad they did that because I was such an a"""""e and didn't give a f*** about anyone. Not even myself.
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Resonates a lot with me.