This Article on Drinking Changed My Life 

I am a 64 year old woman who has not taken my first drink , and never will. Alcohol destroyed my childhood. My drunk and drug addicted mother dumped me on a street corner at 4 years old with my 3 year old sister. She just left us there. Thank God the owner of the rehab center my mother just left drove by and recognized my sister and me. She put us in her car and took us to her house and bathed us, got us new clothes and toys and cared for us for a week while she located our father. If not for her, God know what would have happened to us. She was well known in Los Angeles and owned and ran several rehab centers. That woman was a saint and I remember her and her house very well. My sister doesn’t remember any of it. I vowed right then and there at the age of 4 that I would NEVER touch alcohol. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Four years later, my mother was found dead in a downtown LA hotel room from a drug overdose while drunk. My father raised us . He was a good man that did not drink and he was a great father.

When I quit drinking I found that every friendship I had was based on drinking. We didn't even know how to hang out without it. And all those friendships dissipated.

When you stop drinking you notice on another level how obsessed society is with it.

I am an alcoholic of the worst kind. Been sober for 3 months now. I’m not going to let booze take anymore of my life away, I’m not going to give it one more second of my life, I’ve given it enough

I currently struggling with alcohol abuse. Prayers are appreciated.

I'm 160 days sober today and I'm so thankful

3 yrs sober. I learned I didn't even know who I was with out these crutches. With the help of Jesus Christ I am now sober and better than ever physically mentally and emotionally

I stop drinking 2012 cold turkey...now it's 2024 12yrs still no drinking 🎉💯😇

Thank you Candace. I'm currently 38 weeks pregnant. I was basically "forced" into giving up drinking because of my pregnancy. This pregnancy has been a life saver. I am free of my alcohol dependency. I drank every single day, and my life was spiraling out of control. I've made many bad decisions. Being sober for the first time since I was 14 years old (currently 28) has given me a new lease on life, made me change who I am. I was becoming my father, an alcoholic. But now, I am free, and I can give my precious son, who I'll meet very soon, the sober mother he deserves.

I am 50 years old and have NEVER even tasted alcohol. I’ve seen alcohol destruct so many lives. I never ever wanted it to be a problem in my life so I just never started. I thank God that I chose this. ❤️❤️

Im a 24 year old guy. Never drinked or smoked in my life. I thank family upbringings and boxing to having not done it. Im healthy in spirit, health and physical. Thank god 🙏🏼

I started drinking when I was about 15. It was normal in our home. My dad worked at South African Brewries and would come home with cases of whatever beer they were promoting. He drank every evening, and my mom never did. When i was 17, my dad shot and killed my mom and then himself in 1 night. I wasn't handling it well, and when i went to university, I began to drink relentlessly. I would drink until I passed out or blacked out. None of my friends confronted me about the severity of my drinking or the root of it obviously being my parents' traumatic deaths. About 2 years later, I'd given my life to Jesus but was still drinking. During a crazy night of drinking with friends, I blacked out. I came to on the back seat of my own car. My friend was shaking me to wake up to drive myself home. I was still very, very drunk, but i got behind the wheel. I got onto the freeway to get home. I was exhausted. I started to fall asleep behind the wheel. I was suddenly woken up and saw my car heading towards a concrete barrier. I quickly straightened the steering wheel - shocked. And then I heard it. The voice of the Holy Spirit. "If you carry on like this, you will die." I never drank again. It's been 14 years. No regrets. My conviction was strong, and I have never regretted a decision I have made while sober. My closest friends told me Id never be able to do it, but all these years later, they respect me for it. And i respect their lifestyles too. Thank God for Jesus.

You go Candace! My grandfathers were alcoholics and my dad raised his family without alcohol. I have never gotten drunk in my life and I am getting my 30s nor do I drink any alcohol. I’m so thankful for sober living because I get to continue to break the curses that I saw destroyed my ancestors.

I quit drinking because nothing good ever happened when I drank. I wrecked my car, fell down some stairs, almost lost my dog, fell in my own home and couldn’t get up, fell down in a restaurant bathroom and ended up in the ER, weight gain, regret, on and on and on. Not to mention the endless days of recovering from excessive drinking. At first I’d drive past a liquor store and get a craving. But I just kept driving and the craving passed. Before long, I didn’t even notice the liquor store.

My husband and I have been Sober for 15 months and 7 days after drinking almost every day for about 10 years. We almost lost everything (our boys). WE are Ssooo much happier and feel healthier too. It hasn't been an easy road, but I'M very, very happy we are doing this together. It has brought us closer.

I’m practically the only non-drinker in my family. Never understood the ‘we need a drink for every occasion’. Everyone knows me as the one that doesn’t drink. My last partner was a drinker, but was influenced by me and stopped drinking after we started dating. I told him that if he needs alcohol for every occasion than we don’t match. So he stopped and felt great! After a few years however he slowly started drinking again and was offering me wine too. After a while I gave in and tried it. For some months I drank 1 or 2 glasses of wine on Fridays and Saturdays together with him (he drank more often). But this wasn’t me.. it didn’t feel good. I’m a healthy eater and love my sports.. so I stopped and told him not the offer me that again! We’re just great friends now, no relationship. Be aware of who you surround yourself with, they can drag you along in a wat of life that isn’t yours. The choice to partake in it however IS always yours!

Thank you Candace. 68 years old and never drunk, and not an alcohol drinker. Alcohol is a depressing drug and has done so much harm.

Whenever I meet another person who is sober “just because” like me, I get so excited, because there does seem to be so few of us! I’ve dabbled in alcohol and all the substances once or twice and then realized there’s really no place for any of them in a truly healthy lifestyle. Our heathy brains and bodies are our greatest assets.

I quit drinking about two months ago. That led to not drink coffee anymore and that led me to start a no carb no sugar carnivore diet. Good habits just stack up if you let them. I FEEL SO GOOD! I too feel GOD was asking me to elevate my life and the people around me.

“I found the Holy Spirit to be gentle, yet relentless.” What a good description

I’m a sober momma, 2 years sober actually. My life has changed in so many wonderful ways. I got sober, got married to a wonderful man, and had two healthy baby girls. Wether you have a problem or not, I definetly feel like alcohol brings most people down. Feeling all the feelings isn’t fun but it’s just part of the human experience. Thanks for the video Candace. More people should talk about this.

This had me in tears. Very powerful. I barely made it out of a 5 year addiction to slamming heroin. After the H was over, and left me needing open heart surgery at 32 years old, my life was completely changed. That was 4 years ago. I can’t drink at all these days because that booze is my gateway back to the needle. It’s tough. My life is all about knowledge and fitness and sobriety. I’ll tell you one thing for sure… the grass is greener on this side of the fence. My girl showed me your content. Aside from RU-vid, I dropped all of my social media so I’ll have to holler through here. So hopefully you read this Candace; thanks for your channel and best of luck to you and your husband and children.

I've just decided to quit drinking. I don't like what it turns me into. In order to not destroy my family and cause irreversible damage to my fiancé and daughter, I decided to quit before it's too late. Thank you for this video. You reassured me im doing the right thing. I watch a number of things on RU-vid and for this video to pop up as soon as I opened the app, I knew it had to be a sign.

"I have found the Spirit to be gentle but relentless." This line pierced my soul. On the surface this story is about drinking, but at the heart of the story is God moving. Thank you for sharing, Candace. Thank you Sarah Bessey. Thank you Jesus.

I've been a drinker almost everyday for about a decade and everyday in excess. I know the Lord has wanted me to quit and I always put it off. Last week I got heat stroke and wasn't able to drink during that time. Since, I decide maybe this is the moment the good Lord has blessed me with to finally take that step. I haven't had a sip in a week and will try to continue in this journey

This was the same with me, with marijuana. I never drank alcohol, but my “social” drug was marijuana. Went from social smoking to spending hundreds every week to feed my addiction. I was one of those people who would tell you, “You can’t get addicted to weed! It’s not possible.” Yes, you definitely can. I couldn’t go by my day without smoking a joint, couldn’t even work like a normal functioning adult without smoking during my 8 hour shift. It wasn’t until I met my partner three years ago, that I didn’t even realize I was weaned off smoking every time we met. He made me realize that having fun does not need to involve drinking, drugs, or anything artificial to “enhance” the experience. I’m forever grateful to him and god that I met him and have been 3 years clean off marijuana. Thank you for sharing this Candace

July 5, 2023 will mark two years of sobriety for me. I poured out the booze because unlike Candace, I am an alcoholic. Hearing you read this article brought me to tears. The Spirit is quiet but consistent. When you stand still enough to hear it, it’s power radiates and the sound echos. I’m so glad I heard it when I did. It took me many attempts and a lot of hard times to get to this point. Thank you for sharing your story.

Alcohol culture is the most important state sponsored anaesthesia second to media /TV /Film aka programming. When I came to this realisation I vowed to never again consume those chemicals and I mentally found a switch in my mind and turned it off. I am in my 10th year of zero alcohol and I still have weird dreams where I drink and instantly regret it sometimes waking up in a sweat… I’m glad to say I have never allowed a drop to even touch my lips in 10 years. The best part of this story is that I never imagined that I would one day be one of those zero alcohol people who everybody distrusts or hates… it is virtually impossible to quit drinking and SUGAR is even harder. I’ve seen it tear lives apart, my own mother suffered from domestic violence every time my alcoholic Dad drank spirits… my ex partner and my only child’s mother slowly became an alcoholic herself… the pain and illness I associate with it helps me to stay at zero % alcohol for life. Good luck to those who want to quit, picture it being forever and you will do it 💪🏽💪🏽

My mother was an alcoholic, as was her father. I made it well into my 40’s thinking I was better, stronger than either of them and didn’t need alcohol. I saw the damage it did and was determined not to put my daughter through that hell. Well….the beginning of the pandemic kinda broke me. I went from zero to half a bottle of red wine/day. How strange I watch your video about alcohol less than an hour after I was contemplating pouring my wine out. Wish me luck.

I quit drinking this past Sunday. I cried watching/listening to this. 🙏

I really needed this episode. I was having multiple drinks every night for a few years, thinking it was just to unwind at the end of the day. I was actually about to crack open a bottle of wine to watch this. Then as I watched, I decided not to, and I haven’t had a drink since. I know it’s only been a little over a week, but I feel great.

Never drank liquor, not 1 beer, not 1 glass of wine. Almost 50 years old 🙏

I did the same thing! I decided I didn't honestly enjoy alcohol, and I stopped making myself drink in order to fit in. And people ask why I don't drink. "Are you alcoholic?" No, I simply decided not to drink alcohol any more. I don't miss it at all.

For me personally, she’s one of the smartest women we have in our era & I’m thankful we have her 🙏

I started drinking at about 12 years old. As I grew into my teenage years and young adulthood I always drank to get drunk. I became a Christian and 1989 and I have not had a drop of alcohol since then. I could tell you countless stories of how alcohol ruined my family life and I'm sure would have ruined my life had I not gotten saved at the age of 24. Great episode, Candace!

I have been alcohol free for over 2 years and no one has ever shamed me for NOT drinking! In fact everyone seems to really respect it ❤

I literally just had a conversation with my 19 year old daughter who just returned from a 4th of July celebration and witnessed people escalating their drinking as the day progressed. We choose not to drink in our home and never have. Our kids are not used to drinking. The home she was at has nice people but nice people whose entire social existence is based on drinking. She went because of her friend. I pondered how the day would progress and what her thoughts would be. We don’t forbid and control everything our kids do but we have LOTS of conversations about issues such as this. I personally have never seen one good thing come from drinking, just haven’t. Over the last couple of years, my husband has been talking about how he can’t attend or go to anything without literally everyone around him is drinking. He once had a drinking problem in his 20’s but quit. He said the prevalence of alcohol today seems to be next level crazy. Sometimes he chooses not to go to the races for example, because he doesn’t want to be around people under the influence of alcohol. He said it isn’t worth it.

I read a book called Alcohol Lied To Me and I haven’t had a drink since. It woke me up like nothing else could because it lifted the veil and I couldn’t justify drinking anymore.

The media-driven "Wine Mom" culture is absolutely by design. Anything that veers people away living their best life is what the system wants. GREAT video, Candace... awesome message! 💞

I stopped drinking and smoking tobacco for 4 months while obtaining my CDLs and studying for endorsements. Once I completed the programs and started working I was pulled to drinking as a “celebration”. My darkseid was trying to come back and I eventually gave in. I didn’t buy anything heavy for celebration I got 2 Johnny bootleggers because I’ve always loved the taste and simple buzz you get from them. I bought a black and mild to really cap the celebration. Little did I know I would start drinking and smoking again. I stopped literally yesterday because I was tired of feeling this heavy sutte in my throat and stomach from the substances I noticed the huge affect on my body and I know I can’t live a truly healthy and spiritually doing these things. I’m glad I came across this video today it is confirmation that I should continue with my sobriety. Those 4 months substance free was the most blissful time I’ve felt in a while and I want to and will get back to that. 💪🏾.

Candace, I have been watching your show for years now, and this has got to be my favorite episode thus far. No depressing news stories, no disturbing celebrity scandals, just valuable life advice. The article and your personal experience with alcohol were amazing testimonies of the Holy Spirit and the power of obedience to God. Everything you said in this video was absolutely spot on. Amen to the No-Victim-Mentality! You inspire me to take responsibility for my life and to make use of the privilege I was born into as an American! I appreciate you for speaking out against the evil in our pop-culture society, but I would so love to see more of these kinds of episodes

Seven years sober. Drinking is the ultimate form of selfishness as well as an addiction is what I believe.

I got weight loss surgery and quickly developed a drinking problem. This is so common after weight loss surgery that they explicitly tell you that as part of the preparation process, so I knew what I was doing. That was in 2018. By 2020 I was drinking nightly and the pandemic lockdowns exacerbated the problem exponentially. In 2021 I got blackout drunk and got into a fight with my spouse and don't even remember everything I said, I just know it was bad. I had already been feeling bad about the problem because if there was an emergency, I wouldn't be able to drive anywhere, or if one of my kids needed something after 8pm I wouldn't be able to do my job as a parent. The day after the blackout, I woke up on the couch and I decided that day that I was going to quit drinking. I did. I struggled for the next year or so with depression and being stuck at home since my job stayed remote permanently. The depression continued to get worse and since I couldn't medicate with food and alcohol like I'd done my whole life, I didn't know what to do. I tried therapy and SSRI'S for 6 months, but that's when the article came out saying they didn't actually do anything, and could make things worse. They really didn't help me, I didn't feel any better, just more sluggish and numb. So in the fall of 2022 I got 3 part time jobs working sports games at the local arenas and started taking Brazilian Jiu-jitsu classes. That's where I focus my energy now, I don't compete, I am just a "hobbyist" which is sometimes looked down upon by the fanatics, but it works for me. I'm not "cured" or 100% happy, but I'm a thousand times better than I was and that's all that matters.

Candace!! I am so glad you did this video! I was raised in a home with no alcohol, in my teens I rejected the lifestyle my parents had. Their view was that abstinence gave opportunity for those who struggle to see what life without alcohol can be. And it was a beautiful thing , they always wanted to live in such a way as to make the gospel beautiful and they did. I have had a turn of heart as I witness the excesses in the church community as well and it does break my heart. The cultural norm has taken over. I can attest to the idea that drinking will dictate the friends you hang out with and what you do and where you’ll go. It takes hold and defines a life. I am not saying drinking is a sin but goodness sake let’s not let it define us and our lives! I am with you, I am preferring to be the one in the crowd giving permission to others not to drink. I’m totally good with being that person rather than than promoting a potentially ( and likely!) harmful lifestyle. Candace, you’ve helped me shore up a decision to abstain in order to honor my own concerns about this drinking culture. Think about the children! They are often clearer thinking than adults praise God for you and thank you for using your platform for such important matters. I also agree about classy swimsuits. Let’s bring classy back, ladies ♥️ we are worth more than our butt cheeks. Just my opinion…

I didn't expect the article to hit me like it did. So many bottles poured down the drain but it's never been a celebration. I've thrown everything away so many times. My parents died in addiction. My husband is incarcerated and will be for a very long time. I left my children with a church family back home while I get our new life and home established. I'm clean and sober and my kids are waiting for me. I've agreed to 6 months of this before bringing my children here. It's hard to stop identifying as a user when that's all you've ever been. I know there is zero room for compromise for me. Thank you for reminding me that it's an invitation to freedom and transformation.

As someone who was a raging addict and alcoholic.. I am stoked about this! Also thank you for being bold about your faith in Jesus! He was the only way someone like me could be saved!

Personally, I drink once in a blue moon. Drinking should be done in moderation. Thank you for bringing awareness to this issue, Candace.

I started drinking at 8 years old. I stopped drinking at 42. Never looking back.

Candice, thank you for sharing! I'm a 52-year-old woman and I too am 6 years alcohol and cigarette FREE! I cannot express to you how my life has changed. I never had trouble going to work and alcohol never really caused any real problems in my life... Except that IT was THE problem in my life. IT STARTED OUT SMALL AND SOCIAL AND THEN BEFORE I KNEW IT, I WAS GOING FROM SMALL BOTTLES TO BIGGER BOTTLES TO BOXES OF WINE!! BUT the holy Spirit was relentless. Ever gentle but always reminding me every single day and night that this was no way to live. Everyday I was realizing just how heavy those chains were, So I just drink more to forget about it. As humans it's funny how we try to rationalize things when in reality it makes no sense. Drinking more just caused more heaviness of the chains but with a foggier mind. It got to the point where I hated drinking but I did it like a robot without even thinking about it. I would be in the Check out line waiting to check out and wanted to put it back so badly but I could not- my body (flesh) craved it and I was weak. The last night that I drank, I stumbled up the stairs and laid down to go to sleep. After the night of heavy drinking and a half pack cigarettes, I could hear my heart pounding so loud and I was so intoxicated that I didn't care if I died in my bed And that was a hor that night. What a terrible depressing place to be!! I felt surrounded by evil. And I realized that if I did not let it go and break the cycle, it would just get worse. Once again I heard the words of my father...Back when I first started drinking- on a regular daily basis- my Dad came to me one night while I sat outside on the porch smoking a cigarette. He He came and sat down next to me and asked if he could talk to me for a moment. He said -"I love you but I have to warn you. Right now, alcohol seems harmless and You're playing with it. But one day soon It's going to get much bigger and out of control. Before you know it it will creep up on you, and its going to play with you. It will destroy you, if you let it." I heard those words for years over and over again in my head and I never forgot them. And to this day, every family member or friend that I know allows alcohol into their bodies I repeat those words that my father told me. I've told him over and over again how much those words meant to me and how much I love him for saying them to me. Because even though I didn't do anything about it right then, those words stuck with me for years until I finally quit. And only by God's grace, The gentle nudging of the holy Spirit and my father's words am i here today, living the life that I was meant to live!! Amen!!

This last Saturday marked 8 months sober for me. I started drinking 9 years ago due to some trauma and over time I started drinking earlier in the day and drinking more and more until at any point in the day I was either hung over, buzzed or drunk. I too had that subtle but relentless conviction from God that I needed to quit but I couldn’t… everything I tried on my own failed. I wasn’t able to get sober until I joined Celebrate Recovery at church and now I have a circle of sober sisters who help keep me accountable. By the grace of God I didn’t lose my marriage or get a DUI or experience any catastrophic consequences of being a drunk. I’ve since studied what scripture says about being drunk and at this point it would be straight up disobedience to God if I were to ever drink again because I don’t drink casually, I drink to get drunk. So many people abuse alcohol so I share my story whenever I can, especially with other moms who are struggling in silence!

As a former addict and alcoholic, this hit me different. I've allready went through the despair and witnessed the demise that comes from addiction. So many have to hit "rock bottom," sometimes several rock bottoms. I watched my dad drink away is marriage, family and at 56, his life. He died of liver disease. When I was 19, some friends and I were hanging out, drinking, emulating our favorite movie Dazed and Confused. We decided go cruising the back roads and meet up at one of our partying spots to smoke some weed. I had 4 friends with me in my car, while our other friends were in another car. They took off first and we decided to smoke before we took off so we didn't have to share as much weed. About 30 minutes or so later, we jumped in my car to go meet them. I noticed red flashing lights in my rear view, thought it was a cop and got paranoid. When I pulled off the side of the road, they flew by us and we all started to feel relieved and started laughing. That feeling only lasted 10 minuted..when we realized that more flashing lights flew by..they were going to get our friends in the other car. The driver took a turn at 80 mph.. ended up hitting a telephone poll that resulted in our friend being ejected from the passenger seat. She was decapitated. A month later, our drinking fun and games turned into trying heroin. 20 years later, several of my friends are dead, all have been to prison, few have recovered. What was lost on all of us, was faith. I never really knew or believed how important faith was in recovery... and in general.

From a decade in the military, drinking was an acceptable coping mechanism. In civilian life it took me a few years to realize it wasn’t healthy. After finding out how drinking affects my own Mental and Physical Health and how much it was holding me back career wise. After sobriety life really got on track. Finished my Bachelors, a few months out from my masters being done, second masters program planned. Relationships have all gotten better as well. Being a father seems easier. Never going back. Peace in your life is priceless. Great video.

I AM SO GLAD THAT I FOUND THIS. CAME AT THR EXACT PERFECT TIME... JUST WHEN I DECIDED TO STOP DRINKING FOR GOOD. GOD SENT ME TO THIS MESSAGE.... THANK GOD AND THANK YOU CANDANCE ❤

I dont drink as I grew up in an alcoholic home and watched several family members struggle with addiction. I never liked the feeling of not being in sober mind. It was very inspiring to read all the comments about the milestones people have made becoming sober. I felt the strength in all of you. For all of you who are currently struggling, you are MORE than your addiction and you are worth it. I hope this video inspires everyone to live their best life. 🤗

So beautifully written. I can see why Candace would get teary eyed reading it because I did. The writer mentions the softness in how the Holy Spirit whispered to her, which truly displayed Gods love for us, His patience towards us and His gentleness to us, in all our mess.

When I gave up drinking, I also did it quietly and not because I had a problem. I just felt it was time. I was a bit worried about socialising and family gatherings, where alcohol went hand-in-hand with fun. But actually, it hasn't been a problem at all. Most people are too preoccupied with themselves and don't even notice you are sober. Also, my parents gave it up around the same time, despite no pre-conversations, and living in another country with our last visit 6 months earlier. I do believe that God whispers to us. The result of giving up alcohol has been life changing. I feel younger, healthier, I wake up earlier with energy, I am so glad I gave it up.

Thank you, Candace. I lost my daughter, I lost my mother also. I’ve been drinking for the last couple years. Got in many bar fights, even got shot. I was just getting ready to go drink for the night until I heard this message.

To anyone out there who has made the AWESOME decision to give up alcohol- please remember that you actually aren’t GIVING anything up, but rather, you’re GAINING so much! I am on this journey with you & I’m beyond proud of us for taking back a part of ourselves that may have been lost for long enough 🤍 Keep going! It feels great to be free.

"I found the Holy Spirit to be gentle, yet relentless" What an amazing article. Absolutely beautifully written. Thanks Candace ❤

4.5 yrs sober then lost someone close to me relapsed for 10 mo but thought I was in control because I wasn’t getting drunk but I saw how I used it to numb my emotions & how depressed I truly was & one day I was just done. 111 days sober again today.

I went for about 6 years not drinking. Just didn't. Somewhere along the line I started again. I'm feeling a strong conviction to stop again for my own spiritual growth. Then i came to this video of yours. Thank you for reading this article and sharing your journey. I'm ready to quit again now and listen to my heart and the Spirit.

I grew up with family and my parents friends who didnt use alcohol. It was always strange to me those who drank. Using uppers in the morning by drinking coffee and then downers in the evening to wind down with liquor. I made a decision not to drink ever. I didnt want to be controlled by anyone or anything. When I was teenager I was talking a nightly walk with my sister and mom in the summertime. We were walking up the hill and heard a loud crash. When we got to the top of the hill we saw that a teenage girl who was driving intoxicated hit a young boy whovwas driving home on his bike. I felt the impact of how many peoples life were destroyed that night. Its just not worth it to drink, when the cost is that high. Later when I was an adult I worked in orthopedic trauma surgery. People would need to be hospitalized for surgeries would go into clinical alcohol withdrawl because thier bodies were dependant on alcohol without them realizing it. We dont need drugs to get through our days. Our bodies provide the chemicals we need. We can use exercise, water and helping others to energize ourselves and we can use a bath, a meditation, playing an instrument, painting or a prayer, writing in a journal to wind down. You can have a lot of fun without alcohol. You dont need it. I just mentioned to my husband how much money we have saved because we both have never bought it. Life is just more free without it.

Your episode comes to me off of a horrible weekend of my dear husband binge drinking. I am often struck by the evils of alcohol and how it’s justified because it’s “legal,” even though it’s actual poison. Alcohol destroys individuals, families, marriages… it’s from and of the devil. Thank you for sharing, Candace. This had me in tears.

Alcohol devastates lives. In my opinion it's the worst drug out there and it's everywhere. But because it is socially acceptable the problem is never addressed. My last relapse nearly killed me. I was a binge drinker. What exascerbated everything was that I had BPD which wasn't diagnosed until my early fifties. Years of thinking I was insane. It was torture. Life without alcohol is good. It's not easy sometimes but I replay the record and keep gardening. 😊😊

Very good episode Candice! Thank you. I blew up my life with alcohol, but even worse, I damaged my children in a way I never imagined I was capable of. Alcohol changed my personality completely. I've been sober for 14 years now with guilt you cannot imagine. It's sickening how people constantly drink in series and movies. They make it look so "sofisticated" and relaxation after a stressful day and nobody gets addicted or stupid. It's dangerous and breaks you down.

25 years old and I have decided to give up alcohol for the rest of my life. I didn’t have a problem and didn’t do it for religious reasons, I just decided I don’t need it. I’ve never seen someone have a better life because of alcohol but I have seen people have a terrible life because of it.

Honestly thank you Candace. Just like yourself I never had an issue with drinking but recently I’ve been feeling two strong convictions. First one is to start dressing more conservatively & second to stop drinking. On Saturday I went to a party where everyone was drinking and for the first time I didn’t pick up a single drink simply because I didn’t want to. I felt so proud of myself. Surprisingly I had just as much fun as everyone else. If I’m gonna be honest Watching your videos does sometimes makes me feel not good enough & I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. I really had to ask myself why do I feel this way. the honest answer is because deep inside I know I could be better. Dress better, & now never touch a drink again. Thank you again

Seven years sober! I didn't stop because I was a heavy drinker; rather, I prioritized my journey with Christ, responding to multiple convictions from the Holy Spirit. I realized the person I was becoming wasn't who I wanted to be. Thank you for sharing.

As an alcoholic, I can attest to the destructive force that comes with addiction to alcohol. I almost lost everything important to me. What's worse is that the behavior that alcohol made me think was acceptable could have easily killed me and even worse than that, someone else. It is a struggle daily and sometimes I slip up. It sucks. Remembering what I could have lost and what is currently important to me is the only thing that gives me strength to not fall back into it.

Thank you for this as a veteran with PTSD I use alcohol to go to sleep...I needed this to stop drinking ❤

I grew up with alcohol never being in my house. It was never a "forbidden fruit" that we couldn't have. My parents simply said, "We don't need that to have fun." I loved growing up this way. I felt like I had a special power that I could have fun without the assistance of alcohol. Also, we were taught at a young age to be frugal. As I grew older, the cost of alcohol continued to push me away from it; as well as the smell and the odd way people acted about it. I'm proud to say now that I'm 36 and I've never had a drink of alcohol. Whenever people offer me a drink I say, "No thanks. I don't drink." If they ask why, I say, "Your vice might be drinking, mine is Broadway shows! I take all the money I saved all year by not drinking and splurge it all on a trip to NYC to see the latest musicals." - They always seem to understand and respect my point of view.

Mormon from Utah here. I've never had alcohol before and continually feel grateful I don't even know what the temptation feels like. My parents have never had alcohol, either. I know my life has been a lot easier than most people because of this. My two brothers began drinking in high school and one became an alcoholic. It was a major obstacle in his life until he worked his butt off to become sober 2 years ago. My sister left the church but refuses to try drinking because she saw how hard life was for my alcoholic brother. Thank you Candace for this video!

Thank you for talking about this, Candace . I'm a 20 years old non drinker. I live in Germany and all my family are from eastern Europe. Alcohol was always prevalent in my childhood due to the drinking culture of my family. In Germany, when you turn 14, you are allowed to drink alcohol in Privat and under surveillance of your parents. So when I turned 14, I, for the first time, drank vodka with my family. In the next two years, I would have a few glasses of alcohol during family gatherings, birthdays, etc. Nothing much. I was never drunk or had a hangover. I would always be stopped by my mother, who is one few non drinker in my family. I remember the day I stopped drinking alcohol was the day of my cousins 16th birthday. It was a big celebration. He invited our extended family and a lot of his friends. I already had a few glasses of wine when I started noticing how my cousins friends just started to drink uncontrollably. It was shocking to witness how they lost control of themselves so quickly. After this day I found myself thinking about how fast alcohol can deprive people of self control and dignity and how many stupid mistakes people make under under influence. For 4 years, I haven't consumed any amount of alcohol and that was maybe the best decision I have ever made in my short life. I may have to deal some stupid comments about my decision, but that's nothing compared to all the horrible things people have to deal with because they can not control their drinking impulses. I hope that this episode can start conversations about the subtle danger of alcohol consumption.

There is an audience for this Candace. Thank you for speaking out, I’ve been waiting for this in my life. I’m 22 years old and have wanted to quit for so long and the last stretch is really cutting out that social glass. Let’s open up this conversation

Loved this topic. I’m 27 and I’ve never been drunk before. Drinking never interested me in the slightest. I’ve always felt left out or different from the crowd but now I realize it’s a blessing and I’m so proud that I stayed true to myself. Alcohol isn’t needed or necessary to have a good time.

Quitting alcohol was the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. In my opinion it’s the worst drug in America.

Thank you Candace. I have been sober for 18 years now. My life spiraled out of control with alcohol which led to drugs and a hard life. It was not until I allowed God in my life that I was able to quit. I was raised around alcohol and blamed that for a very long time. I now help other women get sober and encourage them to quit blaming others for how their life turns out. This article was amazing and appreciated.

Candace I’ve always been anti Alchohol and I’m glad somebody is finally talking about this

My parents are going through a divorce over drinking and this brought me to tears, it solidifies my desire to never try alcohol

My family changed completely through my eyes. I quiet and suddenly I was "no fun" and I saw how the adults drank in front of the kids. My sons spoke freely about how they saw how much they drank. I'm sober and it's the greatest gift! I feel saved

My sister died at the beginning of March. My beautiful sister had turned a bright shade of yellow...she still had some normalish color but the moment she died everything turned this bright waxy yellow color and I will never forget that. I wish people the courage and strength to quit. Your loved ones care about you and so do I.

I’m 40 and find myself drinking on wknds to the point of blacking out & wake up feeling exhausted but mostly full of shame. My boyfriend doest drink so some of the shame comes from hiding this from him. The line “the Holy Spirit was gentle with me but relentless” really hit a nerve because I know I do it to escape the pain I feel of never being a mother. This story made me to want to let it go. Stop drinking & hopefully God will give me the same grace.

I needed to hear this today. I stop drinking a year ago and just one year of not drinking I found I was happier and more productive. I recently started having a few glasses of wine and feeling it’s time to stop again. Thank you Candace. I love your channel❤️

My hangovers were so bad the back of my head felt like it was exploding. Figured a way to avoid the hangovers by drinking a certain amount every night , that eventually caught up also. Finally started working about 90-100 hours a wekk where I distracted and deflected my motivations in a more positive way. Eventually I gave it up. Also gave up smoking. 2 of the most difficult habits ever. Miss the smoking more. But wanna alive a long life. Started exercising, a good habit that works.

I'm 70 and never drank, ever. I made this decision as a child living in a community where I saw a lot of substance abuse. I see so much heartache caused by drugs. I haven't missed a thing. When I go out with friends I order a nonalcoholic drink and say no more. No one ever questions me.

I needed to hear this today. Thank you. A lot to unpack here. As far as my childhood, it sucked. We kids were abandoned by our mother when I was 12 or 13. My younger brother was only 9. You might think that was a terrible thing. But because she was such a narcissistic mess, she did us a favor. I had odd jobs when I wasn't at school. I had a full-time job during the summer. My older sister and I made enough to pay rent and we ate simply but nutritional food. I learned to cook and make my own clothes. We did the best we could and it was enough. The authorities never knew we were kids on our own, but school authorities were curious why they could never get our mother on the phone. I never thought of myself as a victim. My mother and I never had a good relationship, but I baptized her 3 hours before she died at age 85, so I know she will be "eternally grateful" I did not abandon her.

This is so convicting, Candace. Thank you for sharing this. Alcoholism runs in my family, and I've fallen in that same trap mentality trying to convince myself it doesn't run my life. I've actually asked God on numerous occasions to help me conquer my vice, and I thought i had it under control with only partaking a few glasses of wine once a week. But I still feel like a slave to it. This piece was exactly what I needed to hear. Quitting drinking all together has never felt like an option, so I truly thank you for that gentle permission to do it.

I love mocktails and flavored water now. I never was an alcohol drinker, but my problem was caffeinated beverages. I now feel that the Lord, as of lately, wants me to be more comfortable with drinking plain water most of the time. I am working on that. My 40 oz water tumblers have been helping me with this goal. I love the article you read was amazing and could be relatable for many in other ways as far as it comes to laying down our personal convictions to God. Thanks for sharing Candace. We are all on a journey with God!

I quit drinking a few years ago. It stopped being fun and instead became a burden. I wish I had stopped earlier. I feel so alive and healthy. My adult children are uncomfortable around me if we’re at a social gathering. I’m SO happy you are bringing this to light. I think it’s time has arrived. I also saw a post on Twitter that listed the top 10 things an entrepreneur chooses differently. Number One on the list was no to Alcohol and yes to Water etc. This is making a major shift in the world. When people start being their true selves, more topics will get addressed and resolved. Thank you!

Candace, alcohol was never something I turned to because I as well had an experience with my brother who took his life because of it. My sister turned to drinking when her daughter was deep diving with heroine (none of us were brought up around drugs or alcohol growing up) and my sister woke up one morning with a hangover and said "this is it - I'm done." In the now 6 years that she has been sober she tells me it never gets old waking up sober. My sister says she now finds her joy watching the birds in the morning while drinking her coffee and listens to the breeze and finds so much joy in life itself. I have never touched drugs or alcohol because of these experiences. Never felt like the odd man out either because I too crave joy, shalom and peace. Can I just tell you that this article made me cry as well. My niece is now 4 years sober from the heroine too. God truly is GOOD - ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!! Thank you for this. p.s. Not that it matters but I have to tell you a little something. I am a staunch 56 year-old liberal who vowed never to watch you or read your articles due to my liberal thinking, things I read etc. My 34 year-old son begged me to listen to your channel and I have been now for a good five or so months. Through same, I have discovered so many things and came to the realization that I have been "tricked" into following a political party who has been lying to me my whole adult life. Now, I know that all politicians tend to lie at times and no party is ever perfect but I officially changed my voter status to "Independent" (baby steps) in order to really take a deep dive into who I want to support. I actually voted Republican for the first time in my life on November 7 for our state and local elections. I am tired of being tricked. Thank you for ALL you do and for your hard work. Diane G. Indianapolis

Wow, the peace that flooded my soul whilst you were reading. I didn't grow up in a Christian home but today i thanked my mom for her" Christian choices". She never drank, partied, or slept around. The man who raised me, my stepfather was the man I knew her to always be with. She was an incredible hard worker who instilled all her hard work in us, sometimes even to a fault because now relaxing to me is washing dishes after the house has been swept, cleaned and put away. I never had a problem with drinking, i don't drink or buy alcohol, I hate the taste of alcohol and my husband does drink only socially. I pray my kids will be allergic to sin and have no taste or desire for drugs and alcohol . Thankfully, with our qork of helping people transition out of drugs and alcohol and having them stay in our house my kids have a first hand look what it does to people. With each person who comes to our door, their question always is; " mom, why do people still drink and do drugs when they see what it does to people." My answer, life is spiritual.

What a brilliant video. I quit for 12 years - went back in the bottle on and off for about 3 years. I quit again and I truly missed being sober. I feel great - more productive/better sleep/less anxiety/better son/better husband/better friend. I went through AA the first time around and now I just watch great videos like this one and read about the benefits of not drinking alcohol. The health benefits are endless. Thank you Candace -

I am looking forward to it. I quit drinking about 8 weeks ago and turned to God! He rescued me from the rock bottom pit I was in! Alcohol caused so many countless problems in my life and I'm finished with it! Praise be to God!

To be honest, i feel that people who don’t drink are way cooler than people who do. Not that I look down on those who chose to drink. But to have the willpower to be in a social event where everyone else is doing it, and you making the conscious effort to say “no thank you” through all the peer pressure speaks volumes to the type of person you are. I’ve never really been a drinker (never really liked alcohol or the way it made me feel) but I will admit to bending to the social pressures when amongst the drinkers at parties - and then regret the repercussions the next day.

I am the only member of my family who does not drink. I could never understand, from an early age, what was such a big deal about it. I would tell my peers that I didn't find it necessary in order to have "fun" (and what they considered fun was not fun to me). Later, as a chemistry major, I would tell people that "ethanol is an organic solvent". By this time, I really resented the fact that everyone seemed to be trying to bully me into drinking. Of course, I dug in my heels more, and went on the attack: "Why do you HAVE to drink? Can't you have 'fun'' without it?" That usually worked. So I know I was blessed with a personality that made it easy for me to never start drinking, and I'm grateful for that. It's a non-issue now that I'm older, but it's good to see others free themselves from something that ends up being a burden.

I quit drinking in 2016 after doing it for almost 25yrs. I have no cravings or desire to do so anymore. First thing ppl think is something is wrong with me cause I don't drink or they think I'm religious. I simply don't wanna do it anymore, I never got anything good from it.

Appreciate this, Candace. Growing up, I wished alcohol had never been invented because my father was an alcoholic. He committed murder suicide my freshman year of college, taking my mother’s life and his own. I have never been interested in alcohol to say the least. Too. Much. Pain. 😢

I quit drinking alcohol 15 years ago when I was 21 years old because I converted to Islam. I realised I didn’t miss it because the only reason I ever needed it was to give me confidence when I was in a club or bar, now being a Muslim I stopped going to those too. I replaced them with cafes, restaurants and dessert shops and never had to worry again about embarrassing myself by being drunk.

I have had a drinking problem since I was 18 at 28 I hit my rock bottom. My relationships were diminishing, my job was in jeopardy, and my body was shutting down. I felt terrible everyday and just became accustomed to the feeling. Now I’m 29 and I have been sober for 6 months. By far the best decision I have made in life so far I have a wonderful man who got sober with me and our lives have changed drastically. It does get boring and our social lives are completely different but I don’t regret my decision at all. I finally feel like I found my self again and it feels amazing.

I got sober 23 September 2023 at 38 years old, after over 20 years of heavy drinking and chain smoking, I finally quit that one particular morning after waking up early in the morning with shooting pains up my left arm, and pain around my heart area, just knowing that if I don't quit both (as i can't drink without a cigarette), I will have a heart attack, and I live alone, knowing a work friend or a close friend would find me. It completely shocked and horrified me into sobriety, and after numerous relapses, I am almost 7 months sober from both cigs and alcohol, and I would never go back! I think the first three months are vital, as in don't go anywhere with alcohol present, and just stay home (which is much easier said than done), and after that, it does get a lot easier. I find the best part of sobriety is sorting through any negative emotions / past pain a lot easier, so as a frequent drinker, I would constantly be in the present with every petty little problem from my past, and I would drive myself mad with anger, tears etc. As a sober person, I can easily say "Okay, that bothered me a lot last week / yesterday, and that sucked, but this week / day is a new week / day". I highly encourage those getting sober to ditch 'friends' (and you will easily sift through the fakes as you move through your sober journey) who are not respectful of this. I had a 'friend' who not only took me off social media, but she got annoyed when I said I couldn't meet at bars one month into sobriety (despite me saying it was a massive health risk). Another downside? Food! My brain is looking for other addictions, and sugar, fast food etc is a problem that I am currently working on, but I am getting there. Much love and light to all those getting sober, and to those considering it or wherever you are, help and support is out there xx