ReCATery (aka Sober Cats,800BETSOFF Cats,Like Chocoholics but for BoozeCats,etc)

[Stupid Fitz]

I'm certainly glad you did not do that.

I greatly value you saying that.

Great work Pete. I'm happy you are here and are my internet pal. I tell my wife all the time that you never know what type of crap is going on in other people's heads. I'm glad you were able to fight off the demons and hopefully you speaking about it helps someone else. Go Cats 

[mocat]

congratulations Pete, that is super awesome

[Pete]

Thanks dudes.

Also, I know for a rough ridin' fact that if I took a drink I’d be back to passing out in my recliner every night and hating existence within 2 weeks, tops.  Zero doubt about that.

['taterblast]

i think i need to take a break and consider giving up alcohol for the rest of my life. that's incredibly hard to say. my problem isn't how often i drink, it's that once i start there's no stopping me until i black out. it's been this way for damn near 20 years now. it's the same vicious cycle of getting too drunk, feeling like crap about it, and then completely forgetting it happened two weeks later. it is affecting my marriage. i feel so awkward typing this out but i spend every day on this #blog so it felt like the right place to put it.

Pete motivated me to provide an update here. I never said thank you to those that voiced their support in this thread - but I do very much appreciate those that reached out. Since this post - I did not give up alcohol, but continued to address my issues with lacking control in certain situations. I'm still fully capable of going out and getting blasted, but it just doesn't happen like it used to - partly because of getting older and having different priorities, but also just because of finally getting to the point of admitting that I have a problem with overconsumption and being open about it. I'm at a good spot with my wife on this too, she's my ultimate partner on this. Constant communication about struggles, triggers, etc. She has been a huge help. It will never be something I can say I've "solved," but at this moment in time I feel good about it.

[Pete]

Thanks for sharing, and very happy for you that your life is better for it.

[schreds21]

Congratulations on your sobriety and peace of mind Pete.

[pissclams]

great updates guys, thanks for sharing.  your stories impact others.

[Tobias]

you guys are badasses

[Institutional Control]

A couple of months ago my buddy’s wife left him and took the kids 1200 miles away because of his drinking. He recently stayed the weekend with me and would begin drinking vodka as soon as he woke up.  My first inclination was to mock him and that had no effect, obviously.  The next day I tired discussing what I could do to help to get his life in order and he insisted he had it under control. Is there anything I can do to help if he doesn’t want it?


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It's hard to believe this post was from over a year ago.  To update, my buddy lost his job 3 months ago. But, thankfully, he checked into rehab this week. 

[Pete]

A couple of months ago my buddy’s wife left him and took the kids 1200 miles away because of his drinking. He recently stayed the weekend with me and would begin drinking vodka as soon as he woke up.  My first inclination was to mock him and that had no effect, obviously.  The next day I tired discussing what I could do to help to get his life in order and he insisted he had it under control. Is there anything I can do to help if he doesn’t want it?


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It's hard to believe this post was from over a year ago.  To update, my buddy lost his job 3 months ago. But, thankfully, he checked into rehab this week.

That's great to hear.  Everyone has their own "bottom," and its rough ridin' heartbreaking watching them try and find it.

[TheHamburglar]

I took lexapro for about 9 years and it helped A TON but I had a breakdown in July/august

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I started taking this 3 months ago after years of “encouragement” from my wife to try something.

I just have to say holy crap is this better. I should have done this a long time ago. If you’re on the fence like I was, at least go have a conversation with a doctor about it.

[XocolateThundarr]

It's been over a month since drinking booze of any kind and to be honest it is pretty awesome.  Changed up my diet as well and have dropped almost 30 lbs already.  Not saying I'm never going to have a drink again, but at this point I don't see why I would.  It is amazing to me how much more clear my head is on a daily basis not having to clear the fog from the night before.

[Kat Kid]

It's been over a month since drinking booze of any kind and to be honest it is pretty awesome.  Changed up my diet as well and have dropped almost 30 lbs already.  Not saying I'm never going to have a drink again, but at this point I don't see why I would.  It is amazing to me how much more clear my head is on a daily basis not having to clear the fog from the night before.

Yeah I basically don’t drink unless I am on vacation now and no regrets other than how insanely hungover I get when I do go hard.

Which again, is not an argument in favor of drinking.

Congrats bro!

[mocat]

Great job xt. Just passed 16 months myself

[BIG APPLE CAT]

your results are not uncommon! my golfing buddy and his wife are trying to have a kid and so he has also stopped drinking to show his support, and he's like "my god i feel so much better when i'm not drinking"

[Pete]

It's been over a month since drinking booze of any kind and to be honest it is pretty awesome.  Changed up my diet as well and have dropped almost 30 lbs already.  Not saying I'm never going to have a drink again, but at this point I don't see why I would.  It is amazing to me how much more clear my head is on a daily basis not having to clear the fog from the night before.

I haven’t had a drink in 9 years, and I still don’t claim to have quit drinking “forever,” instead I am just not drinking today. I get that it sounds corny or even disingenuous, but that’s really how I try to approach it.

I’m pretty out-of-the-closet about not drinking, and I label myself a recovering alcoholic. Everyone at work knows, and I even tell my clients if I am at a dinner and they ask me if I want a drink. Society today is much more accepting of good mental health practices, thankfully. For me, being “out” about it actually makes it way easier to not drink because no one ever asks me to drink anymore or ever attempts to put any pressure on me….and my friends/family would not be cool with me drinking.  I also do not spend anytime at drinking events unless I have good reason to be there (hear a band, support a friend for their celebration, watch a game.”)…no “hanging out” while others around me get loaded.

The not-drinking is great for my health, but I had (and still have) a lot of work to do to live my life in a way where I don’t feel the need to drink…be more even keel, accept what I can’t change, make amends quickly whenever I am at fault, etc.  For 20+ years (age 18 - 40) I was a functioning alcoholic and didn’t mature emotionally like a non-drinker…I skipped leg day on my emotions for 20 years. It takes me time to learn those life lessons and practice new behaviors.