A Day in the Life of a 33 Year Old Alcoholic Desperate to Stay Sober 

I like this quote: "alcohol postpones anxiety. Then it multiplies it"

I quit 2 years ago at 33. After 15 years of daily drinking and hell. You can do it. It feels impossible, but you can do it. Just like I did

I'm a 33 year old alcoholic.. I cut my hours down to 30 hours a week to give myself a chance at working on myself, sleeping, and not drinking! I strongly recommend taking time off from work completely even if its just a couple days, its made a big difference for me.

I've watched you restart sooo many times. I detoxed 3 times, was with a woman that encouraged my demons and would threaten to leave if I stopped drinking -- strange in hindsight what we allow people to do to us. 3 hospital detoxes. Eventually I got acute pancreatitis, the pain was horrifying. It healed and I began to drink again, my liver started to inflame. I was throwing up, pissing out my behind so much it hurt and I felt like i had a knife digging under my right rib. If I didnt drink id shake and i was at the point id start gagging pouring a shot, id even throw up the first two or three before it finally stayed down. My body was telling me it had enough. Only knowing I was going to die soon if I didnt stop was when I finally quit. The narcissist that was leaching my life away left on christmas, 30 days later. I made it out with a fatty liver heading towarda cirrhosis. I was lucky that my liver is in a state it could heal, 6 months later im STILL healing. I have a dull pressure where I once had pain, im not peeing out my behind but I cant eat a lot of things. I know some people dont stop or dont get any symptons until cirrhosis sets in. It will happen to you, you arent immune. You have a family and a great personality. Youre a good talker. Dont wait until its too late brother.

I had my last drink 2 years ago this August. Best thing I’ve ever done! Honestly you can do it, just don’t give in to that little voice in your head and it gets weaker and weaker I promise you. Also embrace the feelings, accept that you’re gonna feel like absolute shit at times when that urge rolls in but you know why it’s happening. Also there’s a podcast called Sober Awkward, which helped me loads. And it’s hilarious too! You honestly can do it! 😊

8:31 Try to change your perspective of alcohol... because subconsciously you still think that it makes you relax and if you could look at yourself from another perspective you'd realize that it's the cause of all your problems.

Just a bit of advice on hydration. Slamming the water like that does nothing, you just piss it out within 45 min. You need to mix in electrolytes and sip constantly all day. Chugging is not effective. Hopefully this helps you out!

I gave up drinking on the 2nd of January 2021, it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Although I had to get help to stay stopped. I haven’t had a drink for 1,268 days now. I am praying for you mate. If I can do it, so can you 🙏🏻🌅☺️✨

Don't pick up the first drink. One Day At A Time (ODAAT)... Rinse and repeat. 7 years sober, here. It works if you work it.

I've been off opiate painkillers for 4 days after taking them for 10 years and it's the hardest thing I've ever done. You can do it my friend. Sending positive vibes your way

Look into the link between hypoglycemia and alcoholism. Chances are you're hypoglycemic. When I've fallen off the wagon after months of sobriety it was always when I was starving, and my blood sugar plummeted. That triggers the craving for alcohol. Start eating smaller meals more frequently to keep the blood glucose steady. Cut out the refined crap and sweets. Cutting caffeine can help as well.

"I'm not going to drink today." I've been telling myself that for 60 days now. Its working. Don't know about tomorrow, don't know about next week, but I'm just not drinking today. You've got this, keep up the good work. I got my wake up call when I was diagnosed with stage three kidney disease and right after that, fatty liver disease. Couple that with being scared to death of a DUI and 60 days later I'm doing ok.

I broke the cycle of weekday drinking and now just do Friday and Saturday.

I didn't realize that I'd get some withdrawals when I stopped,so even though tapering doesn't work for most, it's what I've done, I'm down to 3 drinks of 5%hard seltzer and I don't drink one unless I actually need to.i promised myself that I'd be sober by my official 44th birthday which is September 8.The sooner I quit,the better.I don't want to end up fat,looking 54+, depressed and I'm done hurting my organs.4 years of drinking was 4 too many.I NEVER thought I'd ever like to drink,I don't want those "yets" like a police record,or my special fear of the DT'S.Today is the first day of the rest of my life as well and anyone else who woke up today.I'm going to do dry July with you no matter what it takes!I have to change my entire life and I need to meet people that don't drink as I need a support system,any sober support system will work as well as being held accountable for my drinking and that's ok,so,Who's else is on board? Let's get going,get back up or continue sobriety.Thank you for your videos and channel, your helping many people and your an inspiration to myself and many others.It can be done and it will be done.Anyone who decides to be unstoppable in their decision to stop drinking is unstoppable!

Please pray for this young man too.

There are AA meetings online 24/7. I found them immensely helpful in the beginning. You don’t even have to speak, you can just listen to tons of other people who understand what you’re going through and have gotten sober.

found your channel last month and love it, love the honesty and truth. I'm 33 as well been drinking heavily since 18 and like you I'm fucking sick and tired of the chaos I've caused myself. The self induced hell amazes me...I'm currently 2 weeks sober, exercising eating healthy and have been extremely productive...Best wishes!

Do it for you. Do it for your children. Keep up the good work!

Somehow I’m following you on this journey. You know what, you get to a week and I’ll join in.

Love your attitude mate. Keep going we’re all behind you. 💪

Keep posting my guy. I went thru my own share of struggles with alcohol but no one is really a lost cause. The only way you’ll change is when YOU actually WANT to change. Then it’s easy. Good luck to u bro 🔥💪

Make a live stream schedule every night from 9-11pm. Make yourself be accountable!

Everything is fine now until you’re older and you see how much harm you’ve done to your body with alcohol. I was labeled as an addict and an alcoholic. Today, just the thought of drinking alcohol is very off-putting. Alcohol catches up to everyone….

Day 24! No going back! Never Ever Again for me.

Another first day of the rest of your life.keep up the good work 🙏👍🙂

At least you're trying. I have someone in my life that I love dearly who always complains about their addictions and makes it seem as though they want to get clean. But they never even attempt to stop, won't even go one day without their vises.

greetings from Germany, stay strong !!

I’m here supporting!! You got this!! Anytime you feel weak, pull up an inspiring RU-vid video! Never give up! For today I will not drink with you. Sober date -12/7/20 ❤

so glad i never started drinking in my teens. i don't drink at all and i feel bad for people like this guy. sad. rather focus on my family, career, exercise and shooting heroin.

Day 1 again. But this time, last night I visited my friend and said I cant stop wanting it still. I think its my go to emotional insinct to go to it when my mind feels off, when my gut emotions feel unsettled, when I dont have energy. Im over 10 stone now. So back to exercise every day. Walking, jogging, gardening. New crochet project a Circular Rug in Tangerine Cotton. Gonna get back to Prepping carrots, onions, peppers in salad tubs. To eat with chickem or prawns. Gonna get to bed at normal time. Im gonna make sure I have 2 days off to myself away from work. And as they say in AA Accept life on lifes terms. And Accept that when I drink I want more and more, and I tirn into this confident person full of energy. Maybe that why I drink coz Id like to be Drunk me but sober. Not all the time lol But have more Confidence to be different! But Sober. Back to my crochet. ❤

You are an absolute legend! Thank you for being so open & honest with your audience. I need to stop drinking soon. But really don’t want to. Thank you for the motivation to see what awaits. Take care. And please keep creating your sobriety content. 🙏

These vlogs are visceral, man... I'm rooting for you. Best wishes from Germany. 🙏

Just came across your channel and it is very inspiring. Trying to stay sober myself. Would love to see more videos. Not just the success but the daily failures too.Keep it going mate.

fairplay to you mate you have a lot going on in your life and anyone can relate to why you might choose alcohol to try and reduce the stress that comes with working 75 hours, having 2 kids.. you should definitely just reduce your hours and spend more time with your family, that would surely bring down your stress levels and make you happier. It's always possible even if it means sacrificing money, some things are more important than that

Rooting for ya. Small steps

I started taking naltrexone under my doctor’s recommendation. After taking it for a few days I can say that it takes away the craving. You won’t be thinking about it constantly. It may help you if you’re constantly tempted to drink.

Keep grinding brother. 💪

Definitely understand the energy thing .... in the evenings quite often I will have some mindless computer work I want to catch up on, but I literally can't be f**ked and am not interested in the slightest, and I tell myself that the only way I can do it is go buy a bottle of wine and that'll get me into it. It does actually keep me up and I get energised / endorphines from it but I usually just end up watching RU-vid for several hours and going off to buy another bottle ... it's a vicious cycle.

Good luck man, do what works for you bro. Your 2am one was awesome - remember that feeling!!

Thanks for the talk. I’m also going through it now… this is very helpful. Keep it up. Good luck on your sobriety. Day 1 for me.

I gave up the last 5 years of my life to drinking myself into a stupor. Then was diagnosed with cirrhosis and at the time given just a 3 month time frame on my life. Then came the losing of my mind, HE as they call it, which took me about 4 months or so to finally get over and begin to remember again. It also comes with joint pain to the point where I couldn't even climb stairs or even bend over to tie my shoes without being in pain. If that isn't a motivator to quit drinking, I don't know what is. I wish you all the luck in the world as you navigate your way through this..

Keep going big man! You’re doing well. I know from experience that there does need to be accountability to succeed with this and I hope you get that through making these vids. Willpower alone may work for many many days but one day it won’t and unfortunately that’s the reality. Might be a good idea to join a group as another way to stay accountable.

You're doing great man. One day at a time!

I quit. Cold turkey. I know it’s not the best way. But for my situation. It’s the best thing I ever did. I’m 1 year and 4 months sober. No more crazy anxiety. SOOOO MUCH BETTER SLEEP. Best part…. HAPPINESS.

Congratulations 🎉 your awesome and I'm finally staying sober with you and others I follow online.

Brother I'm a 39 year old alcoholic So don't feel too bad

I love alchohol (trying to cut down drastically) but have always hated weed. Every experience I've had has been horrible, I think my mind is just not suited for it .... I feel like it literally gives me brain damage, my mind can't focus or track anything and I feel paranoid I'm going to die every time .

Good on you for being so honest, you can do this- keep going!

really good vid, thanks for sharing your thoughts and being honest your a good guy and helping us who can relate.

Focus your thoughts on TOMORROW MORNING. Always how you want to feel TOMORROW MORNING. Then take EVERYTHING one day at a time.

I hope you get over this addiction. You can do it. You just have to want to more than anything else.❤

Bro don’t stop making these videos they mean a whole lot

I absolutely love your real honesty,,Great video,,I've been on Day 1 so many times,,I'm here again,,,Love everything you said,,,Really spoke to me,,From a woman called Julie living in South Wales U.K,,,Looking forward to your next one,,Very inspiring,,Thanks x😀

Hi Jake - Southampton UK here. Just wanted to wish you all the best, especially during this challenging week ahead. I'm not on the same journey as you and but I'm commenting to share a thought that my give you some comfort and perhaps allow you to be less hard on yourself. We're surrounded by people that appear to get to the top floor by the fast elevator but you know its absolutely fine to be a guy that takes the stairs. It takes a bit more effort, a bit more endurance and a bit more determination ... but you still get there. Keep going, just focus on each step as it comes and the destination will come to you. Keep the faith 😉

So proud of you! 👍🏻💪🏻

Thats a great start. I find days 5 6 and 7 can be the toughest. But power on through brother. Whatever the comments just stay calm. Have a great day tomorrow. James

had my last drink 10 years ago, only reason im alive

I'm in my thirties and struggling with addiction after fifteen years of daily drinking/drugging. Started partying one weekend when I was 17 with some co-workers and a bottle of Heaven Hill. Blinked twice and now I'm knee deep in my thirties with the little monkey on my back having grown into King Kong. I tip my hat to you, for real. For someone with such a severe drinking issue, you really keep your shit together. It's inspiring, actually. Keep your head up and keep fighting the good fight. I wish I had a family and a decent job but all of the horrible decisions I've made have kept me from having these things. You're a stand up guy. I'll be following your channel and your progress. Best of luck to you, pal. Edit: With all due respect, I really would caution you not to pick up cannabis as a habit. It's obviously not as damaging to the body as alcohol but it's really easy to develop a habit with it. I've found myself trading in my booze habit for a weed habit at various junctures in my life, and I tend to just completely ignore the actual issue: my dependence upon substances. Just my unsolicited two cents. At the end of the day, you gotta do what's best for you. Again, wishing you the very best of luck in your recovery.

Like your content. One thing that resonated with me and brought up the concept of expectations in life was near the end when you mentioned being anxious about not knowing what's around the corner. My experience with this over the years has not been one of necessarily overcoming this reality of life but accepting it as part of the human condition and gradually adjusting my expectations accordingly. Yes, being alive entails anxiety but that's okay. Is it okay because that's the way it should be? I don't know, I only know that's been my 59 years of day-to-day experience. Therefore I don't expect to be anxiety/worry free, whether using any substances or not. I'm happy for you, that you feel good about making it through a day sober. Best of luck

Im know how you feel and ao do many here, im 4.5 years sober, it's not as difficult as we make it in our head, got an anxiety disorder last year that was 1000x times harder to overcome, you can and will do it, love and respect from Ireland ☘️

I’d drink all night till black out, get up at 5am for work doing security till 5pm, get home literally exhausted and ill almost, and as soon as I cracked that first beer I was fine, had the energy to run a marathon. I’d then cram as much drinking in in the next 7hours till bed at 12am and do it all over again, this would go on for weeks and weeks. And at the time I also had severe sleep apnea and gout. Was hellish. But for those 7 hours drinking I was at bliss. I’m glad my life isn’t like that anymore

You got this, I am cheering for you

Focus on: craving, response, action. Acknowledge the craving, tell yourself that you don’t need it, then act by distracting yourself and avoiding temptation. You are fully capable of quitting. Take it one day at a time. Break the big battle down into multiple small battles. Wishing you all the best from Blackburn united kingdom 🤜

I really believe you can do this! You've got willpower in ya 👍

Alright mate, 8 years off the booze here I stopped drinking when I was 29. My only advice is to just surround yourself with good support systems and take it one day at a time. Wishing you best of luck and success from UK. 👌🏻💜

Every single day you spend not drinking will make you stronger. Keep on fighting 💪

Please find Annie Grace on line and do her The Alcohol Experiment. Will change you and make it SO MUCH EASIER.

God bless you and your honesty and your strength.

Our sobriety has a shelf live of 24 hours. Keep ur recovery & higher power first my guy stay blessed

Day 1. Made it home. Bought fresh orange juice, having it with ice cubes and Soda water. Very refreshing. Ate some roast chicken. Had vitamins, Iron tablet, Vit d 3,000 mg. Fizzy b Vitamins. Will rest now. Day one completed. Settled with crochet. Watching your video and just lite a Scented candle. Boy does it feel good to be home and sober.

PLEASE do not replace one quick fix with another i.e. the weed. Stop running away from yourself. Stop the bullshit. Watching you is like watching myself back in the days. I was 2 people ; the real me and the benchmark I created. My life turned i.e. the desire to drink stopped when I began searching for myself. I left the fake person and fully immersed in the real me every last upset and horror and I was staring in the mirror. The defences were down and that vulnerability brought me back. It is okay to feel how you are feeling and you do not have to put a brave face on, because that is where REAL hope appears. It'll take a few days for the alcohol to leave you but please work on the true self and you WILL manage your life because you will begin to know yourself. Talk to people, share your stuff on here, go to a meeting and PLEASE find yourself. Stop the benchmarks, stop the fakery and start planning. Go to school learn something new while you are young and get some inner peace. When you start talking of weed and coffee you are continuing the bullshit and reinforcing the false self. Stop fighting yourself.

hardest part is sticking with it. in the past I had quit a couple days but went back to drinking. you just have to pull yourself together and basically force a full week with no alcohol. then after that keep at it. day by day yes. stay strong

You feel energised when you drink because your getting a rush of Dopamine. Your brain is excellent at remembering what feels good and in your case it’s alcohol. Look for feel good activities to increase this without drinking. Maybe also talk to your dr if you haven’t already about medication to assist your mood.

Good man yourself,god bless you,this is a really interesting video

Hey man, I love your videos, I can relate to you and am going through something very similar with alcohol addiction. I want to follow ur lead by doing videos as well sharing my experiences, how do you manage this putting yourself out there on social media and I am wondering if you think about anyone from work or family that doesn’t know about your addiction to find it out through RU-vid. Would love your advice on this :)

Day one. For me....one day at a time

Day 2 is a big deal. Enjoy your sigh of relief and suffer on. It will be over before you know it. But consider the idea that being a "casual, responsible drinker" is like hunting unicorns-- a waste of time unless you strap a horn on a horse and shoot it. You gotta lie to make it work.

One day at a time fella one day at time...all the best to you

Keep up the good work sir. AA can help you with this situation.

Your vids give people hope and a stark look at alcoholism. As an American, I’m curious why Brit’s and Aussie’s seem to have a reluctance to AA? Talk about hope, support and therapy for free, I’m 1 year sober in 2 days 🙏 My sponsor has been to England 3 times this year to go to meetings and visit his AA friends there. Keep the hope up!

I really wanted to drink after work yesterday but I had to really focus on remembering the feeling of regret and withdrawal and I just avoided the shop..as soon as I started preparing dinner, I thought thank god! Gym this morning at 4:30. I’m still considering 2/3 drink max today at local gala. But if I don’t have a drink by 3pm, I won’t bother.

I truly don’t think getting yourself into another substance like weed is a good idea. I’m actually here because I’ve spent months diving into addiction so I can quit cannabis. It’s bad for your lungs, your brain, your soul. To get hooked on something else is going to be so discouraging over time and It will stop benefiting you all together so quickly and just create more issues for you.

Also I would suggest using non alcoholic beers to begin with. This allows you to maintain the habit whilst removing the alcohol. And it’s a big step toward sobriety. In my opinion habits are stronger than physical addiction. When you get into a routine of drinking your mind will start telling you that you need a drink in your hand, non alcoholic beverages will satisfy the craving whilst not supplying alcohol. Again you can do this, wishing you all the best.

Your right about the highs and lows, I remember Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights were immense just high as fuck running about town all weekend, then Mon-Thu absolute hell regrets, no money etc being sober is just consistent level of not high not low just constantly satisfied

Proud of you

One Day At A Time... If you dont pick up you cant get drunk!

Congrats! You're doing great! Keep it up 💪🏻

I've FINALLY prepared myself for dry july.i can't wait until I turn 44 and back into myself by september.ive been sober since last week when I got stung by a large amount of wasps which I'm allergic to,long story short,that was my bottom.i stopped drinking the next day.

Have a great week.

Aye man I do wish you the best of luck.

I really enjoy your videos. Day 1 for me. We can do this!

Pedialyte hydration electrolyte packets will be extraordinarily helpful for staying hydrated

You got this.

Firstly well done for your morning routine that your smashing you look fresh and good well done ❤❤❤❤

Its like sweeping dirt under the rug its still there

i under stand completely try to think of all things you will now have money for, that is what got me through it.

Cheering for ya, brother

I’m 28 got peripheral neuropathy from drinking everyday morning to night not eating . I’m 1 year and 2 months sober and and almost fully recovered. Sobriety is possible just keep pushing .

Your daughters will be so proud if 😢these videos

I remember the days when Id mess upp every good Thurs& Friday with Saturday hang Overs & Sunday recovery it's was a challenge to get over my drinking benge schedule depleted achey body now I'm excited for life of not being Buzzed & the gravity pull alcohol hazzz...I'm Sober& alive!!