Im sick and tired of being sick and tired. Recently starting back to day one for the umpteenth time and I just discovered your podcast and your channel. I love your episodes and clear explanations on drinking and sobriety. Thank you!
Sometimes I feel more like an asshole sober...seriously...Its so annoying to be sober, know your doing whats best for you...but feel blahh, ....not everyday but man, there are days where i question how worth it ..it is. I know my drinking was completely out of control...and I hit a low point of misery, just throwing away money....( Which I seemed to have more and available when drinking).thats why I decided to get clean... Im still broke after 2 months clean... I feel physically better no doubt, but mentally I feel like i have no idea who I am and how to deal with life...thus why I drank like I did...My social life is non existent...Wtf....I realize its still very early but it is so hard....Everyone I knew has dropped off communication, especially when I needed it most...because they drink...SO letting go of these phony friends is a must... Im not a fan of AA with their religious and cult like mentality....I feel like i am in LIMBO...I need to see this get significantly better man...because limbo is worse than heaven or hell, at least it seems that way....=/ I have hit a point of not giving a damn about anything....I feel ike damned if I do....Damned if I dont... Despite all those emotions, I still hang on to it because the moments that are peaceful and clear and calm...Are amazing....What a process to truly change....I guess what Im saying is.....CHANGE IS HARD......
Totally get where you're coming from Christopher ❤ 2 months is still early and your brain is going thru a lot of changes. It takes time to build up the life skills we didn't learn while we were drinking and checked out. Your social life will recover. You've done 2 months for a reason! Keep me updated please ❤
I needed to hear this. Haven’t had a drink in over a month and was starting to feel like I didn’t know what to do next. This helps explain those feelings. Thank you! Also being coherent more I am starting to wrestle with feelings other than guilt and shame. Not sure how to keep those positive.
I’m a more useful worker, partner, son, and father being sober these last years. It’s not because I turned into a go-getter. I am still very lazy, there’s just so much more time! I spent every night drunk and most of the day hungover. With only a couple of hours of clear thinking I could not even cram in the necessities of life. So I fell further and further behind, and drank in response. I can experience life now at a pace that allows for progress. This is so much more satisfying. I have time to add to life rather than always struggling to keep up. Activities can be lasting, memorable, and built upon - rather than the messy blur I thought was fun. Love the podcast and this channel. Keep it up!
This hits home. I try and go and do the things I did while drunk around the people that I would normally drink with and I feel like I'm boring. I used to be so extraverted when I'd be drunk and now I just get so quiet while everyone else is having a "good time". I def drank to get over boredom. Great video!
So glad you enjoyed the video Ken! When we're doing the same stuff we did while we were drinking, then we're going to feel like we're missing out or we're the one who's lacking. I had to change my whole lifestyle, and going out with my old drinking buddies had to stop. I've learned that I don't enjoy watching other people drink haha
I quit drinking for many years but I’m afraid that it is slipping back into my life. In the period i went sober i was not going out , i was practicing my instrument. I had a goal in music but after many years that dream is starting to blur out a bit. My social life was non existent. I knew the people I’m surrounded by aren’t the healthiest but i almost never meet people who aren’t drinking or doing drugs… it’s everywhere!! So yeah I slipped up again at a festival. It’s so weird i hate drinking but in a way I enjoy it because it turns me into a more social creature, it makes me enjoy the moment more. Not over analyzing everything… but i know that there is a downfall afterwards so yeah. I’m going to stop again because I really hate the hangovers. It makes me more anxious and it hits my confidence a lot afterwards. I don’t care if my social life sucks, my health is more important !! I have to believe in higher powers to get en back on track quitting this bad habit!!
There’s always an adjustment when you give up an addiction where brain chemistry is really feeling the deficit. It feels like you’ll be down forever, but it does get better. Boredom was my number one trigger, but as time went on, I realized how much newfound freedom I gained like mentioned in the video. It DOES get better, be patient with yourself and know you’re not alone!
This gave me a lot of perspective. Just thinking conservatively, at least 30 hours between debating whether or not to drink, getting it, drinking and being in my own world for the rest of the night. Spending the weekend waiting for my opportunity to drink, or starting at 9am and barely being present for the day. No wonder I'm bored and have no friends. My only hobby was drinking alone.
For me it's never been alcohol. Its always been drugs. I quit hard drugs but kept smoking weed 247. Im almost at 30 days and life is good...until im sitting alone in my house. Then im bored+cravings hit. You nailed it in the first few sentences. Sobriety isnt boring, my routine is boring because i was doing boring shit and smoking to make it fun. So no wonder im sitting here bored. I need to change my routine+engage in actual fun activites. I cant sit in the same spot i used to smoke in, do the same shit i used to do and expect it to somehow be fun. I knew i needed to change a lot of stuff, but im realising that im gonna need to now start implementing plenty of fulfilling activities instead of trying to live my life as a dry addict. Doing the same shit over and over. This was a super helpful video for any substance abuser/ex substance abuser.
Omg. At least 20 hours. My drinking really accelerated during the COVID lockdown. We’d order food, drink and watch literally six to eight hours of tv a day. I gained over 30 lbs. Now I’m struggling to not only stop drinking but to lose weight 🤦🏻♀️ I feel SO dumb!
you are NOT dumb! This happened to a lot of people. I'd suggest just focusing on the alcohol first and when you're comfortable with that focus on weight. You may even find that as a side effect of not drinking you lose weight. I did because even though I ate more sugar, I started respecting my body and that's a big help.
I was in the same situation. cut out alcohol and it shed all of my excess weight. Went from 270 to 210 just from not drinking beer. It hasn’t been easy but I am glad I’m sober now
Oh love it!!! This was totally me but I really never liked watching TV for very long. It was like gaining hours during the week that were wasted before. I felt like I was gaining so much time and energy. I started waking up early without a challenge and going to the gym religiously every day. Still do. The gym is my happy place. And I have lost so much weight. Love the video. Ty for sharing the sober conversation. It helps. I have been an addict of something since I was 13. I am so Grateful for my 40,000 ft view.
HAHAHA I'm glad you're here! I love how we translate the same unhealthy behaviors over to healthy stuff, I'm exactly the same way. When I first stopped drinking I binged all of Craig Beck's podcast (the happy sober podcast) in 3 days
Very common. If you want to learn more about low dopamine and how that recovers I explain it in episode 170 of my podcast (not on UA-cam) and I have an updated episode on boredom (E244) that I released a couple days ago. You can listen to E170 here link.chtbl.com/E170
You're 100% right about everything, except the fact that you can't do anything drunk except stand around. I usually tried much more exciting or dangerous activities when drunk cause I was less nervous to. Definitely need to find some stuff I haven't done before, but I'd be hard pressed to say I was doing boring things while drunk lol. Great video though 👍
This is the most relatable video on my struggle that I have found. I work as a software developer, I have my face in a screen all day to the point of where I feel uncomfortable when I haven't looked at a screen for a certain amount of time. I get home from work, figure out dinner with my wife and then 6pm comes around. I've eaten, I'm done work, now what am I going to do? Drink of course. Drinking gets me interested in watching videos on my screen again, or playing video games. Without alcohol after work, I have no desire to look at my screen. When I have no desire to look at my screen, what else do I do? I have 4 1/2 hours of time I have to occupy. Reading is good, but I can only take that for about an hour. Watching TV sober after work? No way, everything is SO BORING. I know I'm ranting but I feel like I am trapped. I work all day and the thought of drinking after work is so motivating for me to do my best that day. Without alcohol, what is there to live for? It's how I reward myself. I find no interest in anything without having thought of drinking or being drunk. It's a vicious cycle that I'm struggling to break out of. I don't know if alcohol had clouded my mind so much that it gives me the perception that things are uninteresting without it? All I know is that I want to stop, I want to not feel like shit every morning and I want to feel happiness without drinking or the thought of drinkng. Your suggestions are great and I'm really going to try this. I don't want to completely commit myself to sobriety but I want to just not drink during the work week. I feel like this alone would not only save myself money and my health, but will eventually make me a more productive worker. This video seriously motivated me and I thank you!
I hope youre doing okay now! I couldn't imagine what people did after work if they didn't drink. Didn't make any sense to me, but like you said, alcohol was clouding my judgment. You mentioned videogames, Elden Ring is pretty fun if you haven't played that yet.
I don't even have to calculate it, I probably have a couple of hours each day that I feel fully sober before I start drinking again, and thats if I dont wake up still drunk and just keep going lol. Its crazy how us addicts can do the most insane stuff and not be able to reflect on our lifestyles!
Yeah, I was lonely drunk. Not social. However, I did enjoy chilling and watch TV and knocking back a 1/5 of vodka. So it's difficult to watch TV shows and movies I watched when I was drunk. I have been mostly sober in 2023 only drinking 6 day which was 2 three day binges.
I used to drink to rest, now I can't rest. Most hobbies that would remotely be interesting require good health and a lot of money so I am not finding this helpful for me.
Then I encourage you to speak to your doctor about your sleep. Insomnia is very common when giving up alcohol. I disagree with you tho, there are plenty of hobbies that are free and if you open your mind a bit more to the possibilities you can find simple, free or low cost hobbies you really enjoy.
Very good content, very useful. Thanks for the video. I have a question, when you have always drunk with family the typical beer or glass of wine and suddenly you do not do it, how can you justify it without them thinking you have a problem? Thanks again.
Hey Max! Great questions. We think people are going to have all these thoughts about us not drinking, and most of the time they really do not care at all. I'm not "out" to all of my family about my sobriety, and I just keep saying no thank you or I'm not in the mood when they ask me if I want a drink. I've been saying that for 2.5 years and no one has asked if I was an alcoholic yet! (and I have some pretty heavy drinkers in my family) Other options if people pry: you're on a cleanse, you're taking a break, you're doing Dry July/January, etc. No thank you is usually enough though, and the more we offer excuses or reasons, the more we invite in questions. I hope that helps. Keep me updated on how that goes for you.
@@soberpowered Thank you very much. I did the test and they didn't insist or make strange faces. Unfortunately some of my friends did, especially at the beginning, but that's different... Very good initiative with the channel. Thanks have a nice day :) and let's keep goinnng
Totally normal! Boredom is one of the biggest triggers. I have a podcast episode that goes more in depth on boredom. Its episode 134. Search for Sober Powered wherever you listen to podcasts. It is not on youtube
My problem is that my hobbies no longer interest me because of the depression but to get on meds would mean giving up alcohol which helps with boredom since my.hobbies don't entertain me anymore. Anything else new costs money and I just don't have it. It's a vicious cycle
I have an episode coming out this Friday on my podcast about boredom. I hope you'll check it out. I struggle with depression too, and alcohol just makes it worse. It feels like it helps with your depression and boredom but it fuels them both.
Im sick and tired of being sick and tired. Recently starting back to day one for the umpteenth time and I just discovered your podcast and your channel. I love your episodes and clear explanations on drinking and sobriety. Thank you!
WOW thank you!
Sometimes I feel more like an asshole sober...seriously...Its so annoying to be sober, know your doing whats best for you...but feel blahh, ....not everyday but man, there are days where i question how worth it ..it is. I know my drinking was completely out of control...and I hit a low point of misery, just throwing away money....( Which I seemed to have more and available when drinking).thats why I decided to get clean...
Im still broke after 2 months clean... I feel physically better no doubt, but mentally I feel like i have no idea who I am and how to deal with life...thus why I drank like I did...My social life is non existent...Wtf....I realize its still very early but it is so hard....Everyone I knew has dropped off communication, especially when I needed it most...because they drink...SO letting go of these phony friends is a must...
Im not a fan of AA with their religious and cult like mentality....I feel like i am in LIMBO...I need to see this get significantly better man...because limbo is worse than heaven or hell, at least it seems that way....=/ I have hit a point of not giving a damn about anything....I feel ike damned if I do....Damned if I dont...
Despite all those emotions, I still hang on to it because the moments that are peaceful and clear and calm...Are amazing....What a process to truly change....I guess what Im saying is.....CHANGE IS HARD......
Totally get where you're coming from Christopher ❤ 2 months is still early and your brain is going thru a lot of changes. It takes time to build up the life skills we didn't learn while we were drinking and checked out. Your social life will recover. You've done 2 months for a reason! Keep me updated please ❤
@@soberpowered thank you
2 years have passed since comment.
how are things compared?
I totally get it as I’m now living it. I just hope things get much better.
I needed to hear this. Haven’t had a drink in over a month and was starting to feel like I didn’t know what to do next. This helps explain those feelings. Thank you! Also being coherent more I am starting to wrestle with feelings other than guilt and shame. Not sure how to keep those positive.
Hey Dwayne, so glad this video helped! Feelings are tough and weird. It's definitely a learning process haha!!
I’m a more useful worker, partner, son, and father being sober these last years. It’s not because I turned into a go-getter. I am still very lazy, there’s just so much more time!
I spent every night drunk and most of the day hungover. With only a couple of hours of clear thinking I could not even cram in the necessities of life. So I fell further and further behind, and drank in response.
I can experience life now at a pace that allows for progress. This is so much more satisfying. I have time to add to life rather than always struggling to keep up. Activities can be lasting, memorable, and built upon - rather than the messy blur I thought was fun.
Love the podcast and this channel.
Keep it up!
I like that... I'm still very lazy, there's just so much more time. I'm lazy too haha, and you're so right! It was a very exhausting way to live
This hits home. I try and go and do the things I did while drunk around the people that I would normally drink with and I feel like I'm boring. I used to be so extraverted when I'd be drunk and now I just get so quiet while everyone else is having a "good time". I def drank to get over boredom. Great video!
So glad you enjoyed the video Ken! When we're doing the same stuff we did while we were drinking, then we're going to feel like we're missing out or we're the one who's lacking. I had to change my whole lifestyle, and going out with my old drinking buddies had to stop. I've learned that I don't enjoy watching other people drink haha
I quit drinking for many years but I’m afraid that it is slipping back into my life. In the period i went sober i was not going out , i was practicing my instrument. I had a goal in music but after many years that dream is starting to blur out a bit. My social life was non existent. I knew the people I’m surrounded by aren’t the healthiest but i almost never meet people who aren’t drinking or doing drugs… it’s everywhere!! So yeah I slipped up again at a festival. It’s so weird i hate drinking but in a way I enjoy it because it turns me into a more social creature, it makes me enjoy the moment more. Not over analyzing everything… but i know that there is a downfall afterwards so yeah. I’m going to stop again because I really hate the hangovers. It makes me more anxious and it hits my confidence a lot afterwards. I don’t care if my social life sucks, my health is more important !! I have to believe in higher powers to get en back on track quitting this bad habit!!
There’s always an adjustment when you give up an addiction where brain chemistry is really feeling the deficit. It feels like you’ll be down forever, but it does get better. Boredom was my number one trigger, but as time went on, I realized how much newfound freedom I gained like mentioned in the video. It DOES get better, be patient with yourself and know you’re not alone!
this is SO insightful!! drinking is boring! thank you kween
Thank you Corina
This gave me a lot of perspective. Just thinking conservatively, at least 30 hours between debating whether or not to drink, getting it, drinking and being in my own world for the rest of the night. Spending the weekend waiting for my opportunity to drink, or starting at 9am and barely being present for the day. No wonder I'm bored and have no friends. My only hobby was drinking alone.
This is such a great resource!
Thanks Blair :) I can't wait for your video to come out! People will love it.
For me it's never been alcohol. Its always been drugs. I quit hard drugs but kept smoking weed 247.
Im almost at 30 days and life is good...until im sitting alone in my house. Then im bored+cravings hit.
You nailed it in the first few sentences. Sobriety isnt boring, my routine is boring because i was doing boring shit and smoking to make it fun. So no wonder im sitting here bored. I need to change my routine+engage in actual fun activites. I cant sit in the same spot i used to smoke in, do the same shit i used to do and expect it to somehow be fun.
I knew i needed to change a lot of stuff, but im realising that im gonna need to now start implementing plenty of fulfilling activities instead of trying to live my life as a dry addict. Doing the same shit over and over.
This was a super helpful video for any substance abuser/ex substance abuser.
You and this message are awesome!
Thank you so much! Im really glad you enjoyed the video!!
Omg. At least 20 hours. My drinking really accelerated during the COVID lockdown. We’d order food, drink and watch literally six to eight hours of tv a day. I gained over 30 lbs. Now I’m struggling to not only stop drinking but to lose weight 🤦🏻♀️ I feel SO dumb!
you are NOT dumb! This happened to a lot of people. I'd suggest just focusing on the alcohol first and when you're comfortable with that focus on weight. You may even find that as a side effect of not drinking you lose weight. I did because even though I ate more sugar, I started respecting my body and that's a big help.
I was in the same situation. cut out alcohol and it shed all of my excess weight. Went from 270 to 210 just from not drinking beer. It hasn’t been easy but I am glad I’m sober now
Thank you so much for this that made so much sense
I'm so glad this was helpful! Thank you
Oh love it!!! This was totally me but I really never liked watching TV for very long. It was like gaining hours during the week that were wasted before. I felt like I was gaining so much time and energy. I started waking up early without a challenge and going to the gym religiously every day. Still do. The gym is my happy place. And I have lost so much weight. Love the video. Ty for sharing the sober conversation. It helps. I have been an addict of something since I was 13. I am so Grateful for my 40,000 ft view.
Great insight, one of your best! Thanks! Keep going! ;)
thank you!! So glad you enjoyed this one :)
So glad I discovered your video's.... and binging on them instead of something else :)
HAHAHA I'm glad you're here! I love how we translate the same unhealthy behaviors over to healthy stuff, I'm exactly the same way. When I first stopped drinking I binged all of Craig Beck's podcast (the happy sober podcast) in 3 days
This is freakin great Gill! 💯 so educational and insightful for reallll 😁🙌🏼
Thank you :) I appreciate your support so much!
This is exactly what I’m going through right now. Life with low dopamine levels.
Very common. If you want to learn more about low dopamine and how that recovers I explain it in episode 170 of my podcast (not on UA-cam) and I have an updated episode on boredom (E244) that I released a couple days ago. You can listen to E170 here link.chtbl.com/E170
So much sense
Thanks for watching! I have a more in depth episode on boredom on my podcast. It’s episode 134. It’s on Apple or Spotify www.soberpowered.com/listen
You're 100% right about everything, except the fact that you can't do anything drunk except stand around. I usually tried much more exciting or dangerous activities when drunk cause I was less nervous to. Definitely need to find some stuff I haven't done before, but I'd be hard pressed to say I was doing boring things while drunk lol. Great video though 👍
Great video 👍 exactly what I needed to hear 😊
I'm so glad this was helpful!
@@soberpowered yes very! Have a great weekend 🤟 thanks again
This is the most relatable video on my struggle that I have found. I work as a software developer, I have my face in a screen all day to the point of where I feel uncomfortable when I haven't looked at a screen for a certain amount of time.
I get home from work, figure out dinner with my wife and then 6pm comes around.
I've eaten, I'm done work, now what am I going to do? Drink of course. Drinking gets me interested in watching videos on my screen again, or playing video games. Without alcohol after work, I have no desire to look at my screen. When I have no desire to look at my screen, what else do I do? I have 4 1/2 hours of time I have to occupy. Reading is good, but I can only take that for about an hour. Watching TV sober after work? No way, everything is SO BORING.
I know I'm ranting but I feel like I am trapped. I work all day and the thought of drinking after work is so motivating for me to do my best that day. Without alcohol, what is there to live for? It's how I reward myself. I find no interest in anything without having thought of drinking or being drunk. It's a vicious cycle that I'm struggling to break out of.
I don't know if alcohol had clouded my mind so much that it gives me the perception that things are uninteresting without it? All I know is that I want to stop, I want to not feel like shit every morning and I want to feel happiness without drinking or the thought of drinkng.
Your suggestions are great and I'm really going to try this. I don't want to completely commit myself to sobriety but I want to just not drink during the work week. I feel like this alone would not only save myself money and my health, but will eventually make me a more productive worker. This video seriously motivated me and I thank you!
I hope youre doing okay now! I couldn't imagine what people did after work if they didn't drink. Didn't make any sense to me, but like you said, alcohol was clouding my judgment. You mentioned videogames, Elden Ring is pretty fun if you haven't played that yet.
When I feelbored I go to gym, hiking, running 1 month sober in feeling v v good
congrats on 1 month!! Those activities are excellent choices.
Awesome vid….THANX!
Glad you liked it!
I don't even have to calculate it, I probably have a couple of hours each day that I feel fully sober before I start drinking again, and thats if I dont wake up still drunk and just keep going lol. Its crazy how us addicts can do the most insane stuff and not be able to reflect on our lifestyles!
Uuu!!! Thanks for the vid 🤙🏾
so glad it was helpful!!
Yeah, I was lonely drunk. Not social. However, I did enjoy chilling and watch TV and knocking back a 1/5 of vodka. So it's difficult to watch TV shows and movies I watched when I was drunk. I have been mostly sober in 2023 only drinking 6 day which was 2 three day binges.
That's wonderful that you've had mostly sober days this year. That's progress!
I used to drink to rest, now I can't rest. Most hobbies that would remotely be interesting require good health and a lot of money so I am not finding this helpful for me.
Then I encourage you to speak to your doctor about your sleep. Insomnia is very common when giving up alcohol. I disagree with you tho, there are plenty of hobbies that are free and if you open your mind a bit more to the possibilities you can find simple, free or low cost hobbies you really enjoy.
Link provided to the guide doesn't work.
This guide is a couple years old and has been retired. Here’s my new one. 7 tips for your next 7 days soberpowered.myflodesk.com/7tips
Gill your husband is a lucky guy.
You are very kind. Thank you 🙏
Very good content, very useful. Thanks for the video. I have a question, when you have always drunk with family the typical beer or glass of wine and suddenly you do not do it, how can you justify it without them thinking you have a problem? Thanks again.
Hey Max! Great questions. We think people are going to have all these thoughts about us not drinking, and most of the time they really do not care at all. I'm not "out" to all of my family about my sobriety, and I just keep saying no thank you or I'm not in the mood when they ask me if I want a drink. I've been saying that for 2.5 years and no one has asked if I was an alcoholic yet! (and I have some pretty heavy drinkers in my family) Other options if people pry: you're on a cleanse, you're taking a break, you're doing Dry July/January, etc. No thank you is usually enough though, and the more we offer excuses or reasons, the more we invite in questions. I hope that helps. Keep me updated on how that goes for you.
@@soberpowered Thank you very much. I did the test and they didn't insist or make strange faces. Unfortunately some of my friends did, especially at the beginning, but that's different... Very good initiative with the channel. Thanks have a nice day :) and let's keep goinnng
I thought I had soo many interests and hobbies that I couldn't possibly get bored but still got bored without liquor.
Totally normal! Boredom is one of the biggest triggers. I have a podcast episode that goes more in depth on boredom. Its episode 134. Search for Sober Powered wherever you listen to podcasts. It is not on youtube
I have lost nearly 20 hours for a day😂 I have so much much time now
My problem is that my hobbies no longer interest me because of the depression but to get on meds would mean giving up alcohol which helps with boredom since my.hobbies don't entertain me anymore. Anything else new costs money and I just don't have it. It's a vicious cycle
I have an episode coming out this Friday on my podcast about boredom. I hope you'll check it out. I struggle with depression too, and alcohol just makes it worse. It feels like it helps with your depression and boredom but it fuels them both.
@@soberpowered I will check it out. I just need gope and I have none
That's easy. Every. Waking. Moment. Call it 16 hours / day so 112 hours / week.