What 2 Years of Sobriety Looks Like
Today’s kind of a big day.
It’s our 3-year wedding anniversary and it’s also my 2-year anniversary of being sober.
I’ve thought about how I wanted to say this because alcohol and sobriety look really different depending on who you ask. For me, it wasn’t daily drinking. It wasn’t hitting rock bottom, waking up under a bridge somewhere. It was binge drinking on the weekends. Like, bad enough that I threw up almost every weekend for 4 years straight. That’s how much I was drinking.
And I know my story is different from people who casually have a glass of wine every night before dinner, and also very different from those who really truly struggle with alcoholism. There's a spectrum.
With that said.. giving it up was one of the hardest and absolutely BEST things I’ve ever done.
The first few months sucked. Sitting there with my seltzer water and lime while everyone else is taking shots and getting silly and loose on the dance floor. Laughing at the same jokes you don’t really find funny anymore. It feels isolating. Frustrating. Irritating too. You get bored quickly. You kinda realize how different it looks from the outside when you’re not the one drinking. Especially when it’s people you care about.
I also started to become very aware of who I really was - like -
DO I REALLY ENJOY GOING OUT EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT??
AM I REALLY THAT EXTROVERTED??
Holy shit - The real me, the sober me, the authentic me.. doesn't want to go dancing every weekend. I don't want to hit the bars at 10:00 p.m. I want to be HOME by 10:00 p.m., makeup off, in my PJs.. enjoying a big bowl of popcorn after enjoying a beautiful SOBER dinner out with my husband.. or my friends.. or my family.
Oh - I don't like raging loud music in a sea of vape smoke, standing there for 5 hours while I can't hear a word that comes out of my husband's mouth and I wake up the next day with no voice from screaming all night?? (Epiphany) That isn't me. That's INEBRIATED me.
And there are people who love going to see live music & they love The camaraderie and the togetherness you get when everyone is listening to the same vibration and grooving out and laughing and enjoying themselves and participating.. And they absolutely know who they are because they absolutely love doing that regardless of if there's alcohol in their system or not.
I had to get sober to realize, as much as I love music, THAT scene. THAT particular delivery of music, that environment... was not for me.
You learn a lot about yourself when you get sober. That's just one thing I learned about myself.
Anywhosal - after a while… going out does get better. Because you don't always want to isolate yourself, and there are days and nights where you want to participate and you want to be with family and friends and you want to enjoy a wonderful evening with your significant other.. And you go.. and you learn how to find joy without the alcohol. You learn how to get up and dance without needing 3 tequila shots to get you there. You learn how to actually be in the room without having to 'fake it' to feel like you fit in.
AND - AND ..This is the best "AND"....AND - You become incredibly self-aware through your sobriety journey. You are okay with yourself when after 3 hours of dancing and watching people toast beers and enjoying your friends and your family's company and sharing jokes and old stories - you're okay with yourself and confident enough to say "okay. Love you love guys. I'm headed home". And In a very real way.. those days and those nights out become even more joyous because of your self-awareness and confidence and peace in yourself.
You eventually realize you didn’t give anything up at all. You gained so much more.
You wake up clear-headed. Your nervous system is calm. You’re not wrecking yourself on the weekends. You sleep better. You feel better. You look better. You feel strong. Grounded. Proud. A little sexy even. And you didn't miss out, and you enjoyed yourself, but you had boundaries and you knew your limits and everyone's just going to have to be fine with that.
So if you’re someone who’s thought about quitting, whether it’s for your mental health, your fitness goals, your sleep, your nervous system, your peace…
Or just because you’re tired of undoing all the work you did Monday through Friday with a bottle of wine and some tequila shots on Saturday night…
I’m telling you. It’s worth it. Every awkward, frustrating, boring, isolating, JOYOUS moment — worth it.
And lastly…
Happy anniversary to my husband.
He’s not on social media so I honestly don’t even know who I’m telling this to. But I love him. And I wanna say it. 💛
12/10 recommend.
Sobriety journeys are deeply personal and varied, encompassing a wide spectrum from occasional social drinking to chronic alcoholism. This article vividly illustrates the experience of someone who battled weekend binge drinking and how quitting alcohol led to significant personal transformation over two years. Beyond the physical benefits such as improved sleep, a calm nervous system, and better appearance, the emotional and psychological growth stands out as particularly powerful. Many people underestimate how alcohol affects their social interactions and self-awareness. The writer shares insights about how being sober clarifies personal preferences—like realizing that loud music venues and late-night bar scenes no longer appeal—and how sobriety fosters authentic living. This includes learning to enjoy social occasions genuinely without relying on alcohol as a social lubricant. Self-confidence grows, boundaries strengthen, and the pressure to 'fit in' fades, replaced by peaceful satisfaction in one's own choices. Research supports these personal observations: studies show that sobriety not only improves physical health but also mental well-being by reducing anxiety and depression and enhancing cognitive function. Furthermore, creating sober social networks and engaging in meaningful activities can mitigate the isolation that new sobriety sometimes entails. The writer’s testament emphasizes that sobriety is not about deprivation but rather about gaining clarity, health, and deeper relationships. It also highlights the importance of recognizing and honoring one’s authentic self, as sobriety can unveil true personality traits and desires that alcohol may have masked. For those considering sobriety, this narrative offers encouragement. It acknowledges initial difficulties such as boredom and frustration, but also affirms the lasting rewards: freedom from hangovers, improved mental and physical health, and the joy of meaningful connections enjoyed fully awake and present. Ultimately, the message is hopeful and empowering: sobriety is a journey of self-discovery and growth that enriches life more than alcohol ever could. Whether for mental health, fitness, sleep, or peace of mind, choosing sobriety can lead to a happier, more authentic, and fulfilling life.
I resonate with you on this and ik my mom would too cuz she was a functioning addict with meth, and i was with inhalants, we're both over 2 years clean (i got her permission to comment this)