I'm 50 and have drank heavy and moderate for almost 30 years like you. I stopped 3 weeks ago today after listening to the Huberman Lab podcast about the devastating effects of alcohol on the body and mind. My father at 84, has dementia from a lifetime of alcohol abuse. I decided to enjoy the second half of my life and really work on deeper more meaningful relationships. I subscribed today.
Yes it's a horrible addiction . It was a filler for lonliiness in my marriage that disintegrated.... That led to that feeling repeating itself when I didn't have my children over the weekend . Other reasons now .LOVE IT WHEN I DONT DRINK . KEEP A DIARY ..... THANK you. You are human and in touch with us . But so trying to be less needy .
Day one!!! Doing it as I feel crap every morning. Telling myself 1 bottle of wine and 4 pints of Stella is not a lot for a weekday. And 9 cans and a bottle of wine is ok for weekends…weekends are Thursday to Sunday ! 😢
I decided to quit drinking for good 3 days ago and have been watching a series of YT videos on the effects of alcohol and recovery. Well, this morning my 8yo logged into RU-vid on the main TV and saw the history of my recent alcohol-related playlist videos. One headline stated in bold letters, "Alcohol is a Toxin!!" And my son read that headline outloud and said, "I bet if you knew alcohol was a toxin you definitely wouldn't want to drink it." 😢 That's it. A switch just went off in my head like never before. If I have another alcohol drink (which I won't), my children will think I'm KNOWINGLY drinking a TOXIC beverage. How terrifying is that from the viewpoint of young children?! Nope! I'm done!
That’s so brilliant! Almost the exact same thing happened to me with my kid half an hour ago! I can’t believe it really. She said. That’s it now nobody is going to drink poison (she called it poison instead of toxin). How can I go back to drinking - to her this will mean that it’s ok to poison yourself. I feel that it n my way give her a green light to all kinds of drugs in the future. Who knows if this can be a formative moment for her?
I listened to your podcast when I first tried to get sober and got to 40 days and gave in and drank. Now here I am on my second attempt, 2 weeks out from a year sober. I've learnt so much about sobriety since that first attempt and this time it's stuck. Never give up giving up.
Ive been trying for years my life has been a mess and been going in circles..now I have a fatty liver..need to get serious about sobriety ...I'm drinking natural light right now
I'm the same as Josh. I go really well, then have a drink after 30 days. I never drink socially, it's always home alone. I've learned a good trick. Instead of saying " I'm giving up ", I now shop at a different supermarket no where near the bottleshop.. so the new message is " stop buying it ". If I don't buy it, I can't drink it
Hi I am 64 and its the 8th April 2024 and after watching your video I am starting my journey to sobriety 😊 thank you for this course which will defiantly help my journey !!!
I’m on day 5 of probably the 3rd time in 5 years I’ve tried to give up drinking and I’m feeling really low and anxious today. Accidentally walked into a deli to get some cheese and saw all of the wine looking amazing. Was a surprisingly hard moment, just the thought of never having a single glass again. It’s so difficult to imagine that, but I can’t go on drinking 100+ units a week and 200+ on a very bad week (like last week), also at seriously inappropriate times eg before and during work. Please pray/send good vibes or whatever you do/believe in…I really need the help!
@@user-yn4go2sn3fI appreciate your thoughts! Now 14 weeks after giving up, some (fairly bad) lapses but generally my alcohol intake is down about 80% and the number of days I’ve drink anything on down about 75%. Got help from a great therapist. Mood stabilised, lost weight, sleep better, don’t wake up expecting a hangover, better relationships etc. Not been an easy road and not there yet. But can never go back to how I was before, just too scary.
I was starting to feel the same & tapering did not work for me. I ended up stopping cold but from a low base (5 - 7 units per day). I'm doing a home based medicated detox. Keep going. It will have to stick at some point!!
Day 3 poured it all out and absolutely hate alcohol. I’m so committed to never drinking it again. I’ve never been this adamant about anything before. The lies of it all. I’ve recognized I’m powerless when using it but I have the power to not use it and that’s where I am. Good luck and God bless all in your journey to a fulfilled life of freedom from this poison.
Doing well. Some days are tough but I just remember what it does and how I felt. It lies to us constantly it’s awful. But there is a life rich without it. I exercise more, better moods, sleep and am actually clear headed. I’ve received numerous compliments about how I look good that working out and eating healthy has done. Little do they know it was the alcohol aging and dragging me down on all levels. I perceive alcohol as a parasite that will influence your mind any way it can to get you to drink the alcohol it needs to survive. I’m praying for you
The mental games start about 3 weeks out. I went to the gym and just worked through it. The mind is powerful but under your control. The shakes and irregular heartbeat lasted a few days. Going on over a month the thought of drinking is fleeting thank God. Went and saw 3 Dog Night in Nashville last night. Had Diet Coke and a nice meal downtown no alcohol and had a great time. Wish you well and look forward to hearing about your success and fulfilled life without the poison. God bless
Depression is the trigger that took 6 months of sobriety from me. It can be such a tricky trigger too, because until you are in the midst of it again, if you are feeling happy go lucky in life, it’s hard to prepare for a next depressive episode. That’s what I’m working on now.
@@lenorepaletta9267 I cut back to we lends only but the recovery always sucks and is a waste of time so I’m on day four again. This weekend wi be a test
My bloods came back really high iron. My hematologist told me alcohol was the problem. I was horrified. It took me another week until I got the letter saying I was probably suffering liver disease. I stopped there and then. There were no horrid symptoms (2 bottles of wine a day) 42 days later I had the scan to see if I had stiff liver. The results were great- still waiting on the abdom scan results. I slipped back into drinking again. I'm horrified by my own behaviour. I tend to hate myself 4-5am. I tell myself I'm not drinking anymore. By early afternoon the other me says ill just have a drink for one last day. I'm sick of me!
This is me too. If there’s any wine left in the bottle the next day (rare), it’ll go down the sink but by 4pm I’m driving to the off licence again. I’m sick of me as well!
I'm not a beginner, but this video came on while I was cleaning. I listened to the whole thing and it was a great refresher for me. We are all so lucky to have Simon in our corner!
Thanks Lee, I am so pleased it helped - maybe 'Stop Drinking for Beginners' is a bit to narrow as the course applies to anyone who wants to quit alcohol regardless of where they are at on the journey, thanks for commenting and being part of the community.
This is the first video where I am actually excited to be alcohol free. You really broke something as scary as being “alcohol free” into manageable actionable tasks. Seriously can’t thank you enough, and I am actually hopeful I can get it this time ❤ Day 2
What I hate about quitting is the anxiety ! I can’t even leave the house . Pacing back and foward I tried tapering the alchohol just ends up with more alchohol. I drink because I have anxiety as it is but I came to discover that drinking gives you more anxiety when you stopped drinking it’s horrible . I have quit but I relapsed
I'm 37 and want to quit before it's too late. The time of day that I drink is a big trigger for me. If I don't drink at that time, I feel bored, flat, and depressed. Like you suggested, I'm going to sit with those feelings and see what I can learn.
I'm in afraid mode of detoxing as a single mother of two sons and restaurant owner . I can take time off for a week though cannot avoid my shop and family duties . Appreciate your passion for this horrible addiction
Day 2 sober for me. Almost 60 years old and I've drank heavy since my teen years. I've quit for 2 years at a time on 3 different occasions. I'm hoping the tools I'm learning here will help me quit for good this time.
20+ years sober I have a partner who is active 1-2 bottles of wine a day who told me she has been doing things her way for 35 years and dosen't think it's a problem. I know exactly how she feels was there myself 30+ years ago she absolutely dosen't want to see the bad side of addiction I am hoping she might watch this video and maybe get the motivation to change. When I was active I didn't want to quit either I had to pray for the willingness to try to change it finally worked for me this video has alot of wisdom and can relate at a very deep level I was definitely a low bottom drunk and visited jails institutions and almost died numerous times.
I feel betrayed, weak, angry, abandoned, depressed, anxious, tired isn’t on there, let down, hurt, burn out, exhausted… I’m a care giver for an alcoholic elderly parent who drinks at 82 and I struggle not to drink as I’m constantly at bottle shop at his request for his beers. My mum has no functioning liver cause of alcoholism with no plans to quit. Fml. Love life though. I look forward to the sober chapters of my life I’m working on currently trying.
47 and been a heavy drinker the last 15 odd years, started as being a fine wine shop manager in my late 20s and surrounded by the culture. Ive drunk some good booze in my time but over the last few years I'm now just drinking boxed wine everyday and being a functioning alcoholic. On day 6 so far and not suffering any physical withdrawals but the boredom is real haha. I'm gonna do a month first then see where it goes from there
I gave up drinking for lent and felt bloody amazing! Slept like a log, anxiety was SO much more manageable/less intense. Then I ended up in the pub with a friend and drank 5 pints of Stella and felt AWFUL for about a week afterwards. I don’t want to let go of how good I felt whilst I gave up for lent, so I’m doing a 30-day alcohol-free stint now. This video was great and I’ve subscribed to the site. Thank you. John
This video came up for me at the right time. I just had a setback and I really needed to hear this message! The main thing I got from you in this video was that I really need to make sure my "WHY" is strong, and that I'm always aware of why I'm getting sober, to always remember exactly why I want to change my life for the better and be sober.
Hi Jeff, I hope the video helped. Yes, having a strong reason WHY is the foundation of success when it comes to making a change. Think about whenever you have wanted to achieve something in life, the stronger your WHY, the more motivated you will have been and the more capable you will have been of smashing obstacles out of your own way. Keep up the work!
I've struggled for a very long time with this. And now have decided to refuse alcohol yet again. Unfortunately I'm only on my first 24 hours again and it's very uncomfortable but I've stopped before but I believe I'm really done now
Hi Simon i just discovered you today. I'm 54 have practically drank everyday since age 16. I had 21 days off for a rehab. I did 30 days twice on my own when my pancreatitis flared up. I have had 5 attacks of that . I woke up today with it so 6 now and I can't eat drink etc because my body needs to fix itself again. My partner has just gone to get me a small can of rum and coke as I am shaking but I won't be able to finish it as my pancreas won't be happy. My 1st attack I was in an induced coma and was told I would be gone in 7 years if I carried on. Well obviously I didn't listen to them , i was 38 and had hepatitis c as well. That was cured by chemo but after the 3rd time they said they won't treat me so I just stayed in bed and had tomato soup. The best thing was losing my job in a private members club where I would be tanked up by 11am. The chemo made me drink triple. Spirits were great I could drink 20 doubles and not feel drunk but 3 glasses of wine and I was wasted. Very odd. Anyway. I know the time is now to start stopping. Hence finding you and sober Leon and a few more. Thank you so much for your content. I look forward to going through all the videos. And I look forward to being sober. Terrible how the pancreatitis forces me to stop and not my decision. But I am determined this time. Time is speeding up. Many thanks.
Living in a camper and am 5 months in spain. Dave and Yvonne who stood behind me has stopped completely after 50 years of heavely drinking. I was so inspired with his story and am listening your yourube video's. From now on i never ever going to drink alcohol again and going it to do with Dave to support each other ;-), although he is doing it great without me. he's doing it for himself and not for anyone else. Now i'm going to save more money... thank you all... Ya'll can do it !! 😍
I've tried so many times to quit drinking but keep failing but I've discovered Simon and really enjoy watching his videos. I've found a good motivation now and it's working thanks simon🙏👍
I know i want to be sober but i just wanted to say that when you said "imagine all the things you could do" I drink becaue, or it's going on because i can only stand for two to three hours a day. So your "think what you could do" for me... means lay on a bed where ive been for 20 years.... I bet there are many people like me too.... I just wanted to add that.... I'll be joining your fb group.... :)
Simon, I love that you are dedicating your life to sobriety and you are such a huge impact on our growing sober community! Its the only way to live.. Dedicating the miracle of our lives to be impactful. As for alcohol, it is such a scam. I am part of ' The Path' with Annie Grace. I am still working on getting alcohol out of my life entirely. No 'moderation' for me! I have mastered not drinking socially, I love being totally present and I exercise on a regular basis which makes me feel awesome! But I still drink to numb out a bad situation in my life. I will overcome, I will not quit. I will not stop learning.. Thank you so much FOR YOU!
Thanks Jennifer for such a lovely comment, it is great to hear what awesome progress you are making. Keep up the great work and please keep me updated on your journey - Simon
Hi guys.. Drank for 30 plus years..I'm 48 now.. I'm 11 days sober and I feel absolutely amazing...going for complete abstinence... Wish me luck..and good look to everyone else who is struggling with this poison...!!❤
Day 3 for me, it ain't pleasant, the usual complaints after the 100th time of trying to stop: anxiety, night sweats, headache, nausea, craving wine. I don't know why but this time ,approaching my 60th birthday feels like the one that I'm actually going to win the battle that's been going on for 33 years
Hopefully this course will help you learn new techniques for stopping drinking that you can start to practice, keep me updated on your progress, there are so many tools and so much support, you are not on your own - Simon
I do this too....only 2 or 3 x a week...my wife also. I get to late afternoon after doing jobs & feel it's a reward. I feel stressed when I don't drink & it does relax me. The next day I feel stupid...I drink around 3 bottles of wine a week. My wife encourages me & will drink even if I don't which makes it harder ..
Just done Christmas without alcohol. I'm in the stage of two minds. I've always been a binge drinker. Not every day but would just like to stop. Thanks for the vids.
I didn't think anyone had more books than I do! I spent 5 weeks in the Priory last year, and have been going to SMART recovery twice a week ever since. So I am almost 15 months sober. I am in my 70s, and have drunk stupid amounts for decades. I had a very long, difficult and unhappy marriage, and my reason for drinking was to escape. However, my husband died nearly two years ago, taking with him my reason for self-medication. My therapist thinks I am suffering from PTSD, but I feel more able to deal with this now. I had certainly reached rock bottom when I went to the Priory, and was told that, if I hadn't stopped drinking, I would have been dead, which I could well believe because I was quite seriously ill. I am now able to do the things I really want to do instead of spending my days collapsing in a drunken heap. So, I would advise anyone to find some support, whether AA, SMART or anything else because it's just so difficult to do this alone, and ultimately alcohol will kill you.
I'm on day 4 & desperate to stay stopped. I was a "grey area" drinker. Never experienced any blackouts, never unable to stop at a certain amount, never had any negative impacts on anything at all except $ cost, & my own feeling that my progress in life was being held back. I've never had withdrawals when I stopped before or if I did they were very mild. This time, I'm really fatigued (had to put off all the things I had planned once stopped to just rest), & felt very antsy at main trigger time (5 pm until bottle shops close at 9pm). Aches & pains in general & mild headache. Slight raised temp. Decided to stop cold turkey but am using small amount of meds to manage symptoms with taper down plan off these. I only drank for 7 mths (the first two not problematic). I had never been a drinker before for health reasons. I was cured of the medical condition this applied to 8 years ago. Stayed AF just because it was what I'd always known. I was extremely naieve about alcohol. If I knew before I started what I know now, I NEVER would have tried it at all. I want to get off this hell bus. Even in moderate amounts it is a horrible drug & highly addictive. Thank you for these videos. They are helping a lot. I'm determined to get to day 5. Then my 1st big test. Days 6 & 7 will be the weekend. I'm stocking up on all supplies so I won't need to leave the house to avoid temptation. Fingers crossed!!!
Just started listening to you on RU-vid. Will listen to podcasts if I can find them. I want to quit drinking for my health and my children. I'm 33 and have been binge drinking beer for years now. Never got into hard liquor which I thank lord for. I still just want to quit though. I want to improve myself for my children and give them my full attention. I will reach out for help. I hope I can do it because my body can't take it anymore. I feel like trash every morning. Racing heartbeat and always scared I'm going to have a heart attack. Here is to day 1 10-31-2023
It’s so hard for me to quit drinking, when I’ve been drinking Four Loko(s) DAILY since 2009. I have to find the willpower to stop, and unfortunately I just bought 2 four lokos (that I didn’t drink tonight) and a Jack Daniels honey bottle that I’m drinking due to “food poisoning”. I really want to stop, and I’ve tried telling myself this, but my mind always tells me I need a drink when I get pissed off or need a “boost” when I’m working around the house.
Alcohol makes life worse than it is its that -1 when your at zero. Your brain may tell you otherwise but you realise the next day you gone backwards in life again. I need to remember this always.
Thanks - day one starting again after lapsing after previous 25 day sober. Had heavy weekend of drinking, feeling like crap as I am sitting here but glad I found this video to assist with my next 30 days (plus) WIl sure follow your other video's and feel back after 30 days.
Day one been drinking 30 years. Just dumped out all the alcohol in my house, want to be around for my son and start feeling again. Thank you for this video and the necessary tools to get me going on the right path.
You are the best"quit alcohol channel"I've come across 💯,, For those of us that have hit and are still sinking in a"rock bottom",, I don't know what to say 🙏,, "I guess quitting alcohol is the step",,, "Don't be like me and give up on your self because there's to much damage",,,"I here we can recover"👍👍 Now I'm alone,,,I'm scared to educate myself,, again wow,, about you saying"values"!!!,, thanks again Simon "Gabba"!!!🤔
Hi Lee - thanks for the comment, I am so pleased to hear that the channel is helping. The antidote for fear is....courage, that is what will get you moving forward with purpose. Simon
Thank you for putting this together-I am almost there but the lack of sleep and not being able to fall asleep without drinking is a constant problem-I don’t want to substitute one drug for another so sleeping pills are out of the option. What do you suggest?
Ive been cutting down this week from upwards to 16-18 a night and the last 3 days have been or less, I feel scared but also a little more clear already. I have a long road ahead but I'm gonna try fully skipping days very soon
Thank you Simon for your great video, i turn 44 today and decided to quit drinking, i only drink weekends, but to much. Is time to quit. I Will work in your process, God bless you...
I’m been in exactly this process, still trying though. I’ts a pattern, I struggle to not continue to do. I say never again, then before I know it I have drank 6 cans and hating myself for it cause I’m worse off than what I were a few hours ago, financially and mentally.
Day 3. Feel like crying. Slipped up last weekend and I was 11 days sober before and lost the need to drink but this weekend I went to a party and really screwed up. I’m back on the painful bus again. My girlfriend drinks which doesn’t help. Today I have no motivation and I don’t have so much I need to do. I want to get back to where I was last week.
Simon thank you! This is the best advice I've ever received even better than any drink addiction councillor I've had. So many tools to take away, I'm on day 3 at the moment but that's only because I'm under my parents care. I'm afraid once I go home again and I'm am alone and bored I'll make that shameful treck to the shop. I feel you have given me some hope with the information you have shared. Thank you so much 😍
stressed, overwhelmed in reference to the emotion wheel, im 5 days in this hour, thank you for putting the time in on creating these videos,they are a help and its appreciated
Great upload and breakdown of the subject matter. We do join a special community when we chose to stop drinking. Alcohol has taken and will continue to only take away from my life.
I wanna set up a withdrawal clinic. Where one can anomously come in to vean off and get tools for staying sober on ones own. Too much stigma too much shame..
I am watching this while drunk and hoping for quitung for good. I am a very heavy drinker.I drink from first second I wake up. I don't wanna function like this anymore. I was a awesome athlete and alcohol destroyed me. Tommorow after work I m gonna hit the gym again. Please pray for me and for all who cant get out of this. We are more powerfull than this. Please reply and ask me if I went to the gym and changed something, even if I didn't. Make me feel bad so I can change something. Benzos aren't the answer. I ve ate one box of xanax in 3 days, that's the same like drinking, I ll just face the problem, take the bull by the horns
I know I reply to myself but maybe it helps someone, I ve been in ICU, ambulance came, all the worst thing that can happen, if you read this please acknowledge that alcohol is the problem not the answer, we must find strength within ourselves
@@kimcoghill2173 anxiety is through the roof, barely manageable, still not started the gym as work and life responsabilities overwhelm me( I live alone and I have to do everything and also I work at my apartment, got a dog to take care of, also my mom)In 5.08 I ll start again with a work friend so that the agoraphobia wont hit me that hard. In the gym. Anyway I had cut a lot of alcohol lately and I function better but still can't go cold turkey. Sadly this demon is a tough one and seems like I can not cope without it. I ve got some Xanax but I dont wana take it only if I go through sever withdrawal or sumthin. I wish all the best for people who are struggling with this. It's a nightmare.
Replying to myself so I remind myself I've won some battles. Status update: 3 weeks into gym, sleeping better, eating better, mood improved overall, still drinking few beers a night, still a huge step forward
Hello Simon! I took a risk today. Attended a party today, I was offered beer, but I opted for a soft drink instead. Some friends were disappointed, others were happy for me. Harray! I hope to do day four tomorrow. Thanks
