Sober life is boring as hell, amirite?

Yeah, alcohol is awesome. Like, yeah, not good for your health and becoming an alcoholic is a big risk depending on what your headspace is like at the moment, but still lots of my funny stories would never happen without alcohol.

by Puzzleheaded_Tune 5 months ago

Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate it. Agree on the "learning about myself" point. Been reading more about psychology and philosophy. Very popular opinion from us sober people. So the opinion, that being sober is boring and a lot of work, is popular between sober people? BTW, I know you are better off now, but don't you miss anything about being in an altered state of mind?

by Puzzleheaded_Tune 5 months ago

I'm over a year sober and haven't found it boring. I have hobbies, am active in AA, have plenty of friends and a three year old though so I'm busy as hell.

by Tough-Blood3854 5 months ago

Do what makes you happy, we all have our shortcomings. the opinions of others matter less each year in this cold ass world. Just dont make your problems someone else's.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Once your brain recovers, your taste buds recover, and you use your time wisely and get yourself a decent hobby, you'll be amazed at how much $$ you (literally) flushed down the toilet on alcohol.

by Lelahfarrell 5 months ago

I mean, you could say this about anything you don't really need. Any liquid that isn't water is throwing $$ down the toilet.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

What about medicine?

by naomi05 5 months ago

Just speaking from experience but last time I checked (and this was 5+ years ago) decent wine (by the case) will run you $450. And don't get me started on single malt whisky.

by Lelahfarrell 5 months ago

In your opinion, does that also apply to high quality alcohol? I don't feel it's a waste, I see it the same as an expensive dish from a high end restaurant.

by Puzzleheaded_Tune 5 months ago

It's relative. So, full disclosure, I've been mostly alcohol free for about a year now. There's a few exceptions I've come to accept, but I went from drinking 1-2 drinks a day, every day to drinking only in very specific situations....and generally drinking far less than previously. One of the things that became clear was how much one drink can turn into 4 or 5 in some situations...and that's where the money saved comes into play. I'll give the example of concerts. When I went to concerts, I'd drink quite a bit. I wasn't drinking because I was thirsty...I was drinking because I wanted to keep the heightened buzz going the whole time. Drinking 4-5 alcoholic drinks really adds up. Now when I go to concerts, I'm drinking juices or sparkling water....and usually only to sate thirst. Now, it's $10-15 in drinks rather than $50-100

by Adalemke 5 months ago

If you have to alter your mind to believe you are having fun, are you really having fun at all?

by naomi05 5 months ago

This is what I feel when I'm socializing and am bored. I was thinking "Was it always like this, but I just couldn't feel it because of the alcohol?" Or, it might be that drunk people have fun more easily, and it would take more than pointless jokes to make me laugh while sober.

by Puzzleheaded_Tune 5 months ago

What did work for you to occupy time?

by Puzzleheaded_Tune 5 months ago

In the short term, just doing hobbies: reading, playing guitar, fitness, hiking, building hobby electronics. In the long term: I proposed to my girlfriend, got married, went back to school and became an Electrical Engineer and had 2 daughters lol. It's been a busy 7 years. Not saying you need to make huge life changes for it to work, just saying that "normal life" can be very fulfilling once you get over the FOMO of not drinking and start living.

by naomi05 5 months ago

That's awesome, glad it's working out for you. I will focus on having better hobbies from now on.

by Puzzleheaded_Tune 5 months ago

You got this 👊💪

by naomi05 5 months ago

Get in to breathwork you can get high off of air. It's a trip

by Anonymous 5 months ago

That is the type of LPT I need to get high without paying a high price. Will look it up, thanks.

by Puzzleheaded_Tune 5 months ago

I built a routine where after a hard day of work, I come home and drink a cold beer.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Funny how I have trouble thinking of other options, maybe that's due to being in my late 20's. Would love some pointers tho.

by Puzzleheaded_Tune 5 months ago

Have fun being 20

by OkMasterpiece 5 months ago

Best thing I ever did

by Oswaldoroob 5 months ago

Uhhh maybe find some hobbies? Hit the gym? Get into cars? Change your friend circle if it's full of alcoholics. Read a few books and work on bettering yourself. Being sober is amazing, waking up clear headed and falling asleep within minutes, most people would kill for that.

by Difficult-Abalone 5 months ago

I know I would kill for that. Hitting the gym never works with me, though I love to swim, not as available as gyms when I'm traveling, but I feel I need more discipline to go to the gym, as I don't enjoy it. Besides therapy, working on myself was easier before depression. It slows you down quite a lot.

by Puzzleheaded_Tune 5 months ago

I'm very interested in what qualifies as "Japanese whisky", TBH.

by Alarmed-Cucumber 5 months ago

Oh, I'm very familiar.

by Alarmed-Cucumber 5 months ago

All of the things. I'm a bit of feckin' monster, TBH 🤣

by Alarmed-Cucumber 5 months ago

It might sound a touch racist, but my understanding of what constitutes "whisky" is either wheat or rye

by Alarmed-Cucumber 5 months ago