u/beannnnnnnnnn22

I’m 130 something days sober. I was a daily drinker for about 12 years. Lately, life has felt dull. The only time I feel good is when I’m exercising to exhaustion, and even that has been hard to find the motivation for lately.

What have you guys done to combat these feelings of absolute boredom and dullness? I used to write a lot, but even the thought of doing that without alcohol flowing through my mind sounds miserable.

I bought a camp and recently upgraded the off grid power system to an Anker f3000, BP3000, and 880 watts of panels. We have standard AC outlets in the main cabin with a cheap HiSense mini fridge. It uses anywhere from 60-100wh depending on the temperature inside the cabin. It’s officially rated at 260kwh/yr.

What are some more efficient mini fridges that don’t cost an arm and a leg? The Liebherr ones look very nice, but I’d rather spend money like that on more panels than a fridge. Looking only at upright, standard fridge models right now, unless the chest style is truly a big enough difference to justify it to my wife (I don’t mind them, she hates them).

100 days.

Today marks 100 days alcohol free. I was a daily drinker for about 12 years, and finally had enough this spring. I quit cold turkey on March 18.

The first week or two were very hard, and in a lot of ways it still is. I do not have the cravings I thought I would, but there is still a giant hole inside of me that remains.

I used to fill it, temporarily and fleetingly, with alcohol. It would work for that day, then it would need refilling the next day. The hole is still there (and more ragged and raw in a lot of ways) but is now filled with exercise. I’ve lost about 40 lbs, gotten WAY more fit, and in general more physically healthy. My resting heart rate went from the low 70s to low 50s. I can see my abs again.

I am also now starting to realize that alcohol wasn’t the entire problem. It was my chosen form of self medication, one with serious side effects that eventually caught up with me. My replacement medicine - exercise - is much healthier, but it’s pretty obvious now that it’s just as much of a fleeting fix as booze.

True happiness still seems like a mirage on the horizon. I’m miserable if I spend an idle day with my thoughts. I’m constantly racing against myself.

I don’t post this to scare folks who are still in the early days. There is no question that alcohol is terrible for your body and your mind, and quitting will never be a bad thing, but it will force you to reckon with whatever the booze has been burying for years. I’m hoping this relates to others who might be watching the pink cloud dissipate.

Apropos to nothing, but another interesting observation is that most people who haven’t gone through this won’t care at all about your journey.

Don’t let that discourage you. It’s an enormous deal for you, don’t forget how important it is. Just realize that the rest of the world exists in tiny little compartmentalized bubbles. Your real friends and loved ones will appreciate what you’re going through, but don’t expect casual acquaintances to appreciate the gravity of it.

Signing off for now. I’m available to talk to anyone struggling, just shoot me a message and I’ll give you my number. IWNDWYT