Congratulations! I have about a year and a half sober. You should be proud of yourself.

Thanks :) I'm interested, do you find it a struggle as so many people do? Or did you have a similar experience to me were you aren't really that bothered about it anymore?

I'm really hoping my desire to drink doesn't come back as easily as it went away.

Not OP, but I'll share my insight. The main way I keep myself on track is to remind myself as to why I am doing it. For me it is: sports and not being hungover (in particular on weekends). When I drink too much I tend to get anxious and emotional and that would last for a couple of days. Both of these reasons kept me from drinking again. It has been 3 months thus far and I haven't had an urge yet. People are also much more accommodating these days if you don't drink. I downloaded an app to help me track my "progress" and remind me as to why I am doing it. App is called "I Am Sober". It's free and has no ads. Can highly recommend.

The anxious depression that lasts for days is my main reason too. Btw I think you'd really enjoy the alcohol explained book I mentioned. The thing I took away from it was drinking is pointless because the relaxing feeling after first drink disappears and leaves an anxious feeling unless you drink more. This because your body releases a stimulant to counteract the depressive effect of alcohol. This stimulant lingers for while and is part of the reason many of us wake up early after drinking feeling anxious and not able to sleep. I'm going to check out that app. Thanks

Cutting a vice out of your life is always a good thing, so well done.

But I am curious: why not just moderate your drinking? The dose makes the poison. Yes, it is true that alcohol is bad for you, but so are many things. If you limit yourself, you can enjoy it on occasion without doing too much harm.

I personally don't see utility in having a hardline approach to alcohol. You only live once. If you want to crack open a bottle at Christmas, why not?

"The dose makes the poison".

According to the WHO, there is no level of alcohol consumption that is good for the health.

OP sounds like he doesn't get anything out of drinking anymore, so I guess he doesn't even want to crack open a bottle for special occasions. He's realised he only lives once, so he kicked the booze.

As somebody who's never drunk, the only thing I think I've ever missed out on is the social lubrication element, but that just made me find people who are more like-minded.

I'm sympathetic to your point, but in my case I'd just really like to be able to say I don't drink. It's one less thing to worry about. I've drunk enough for 3 life times. I've been worried for a long time about it.

Also, the point in the book alcohol explained, really stuck with me. One drink feels good for about half an hour, it's then replaced with feeling of anxiety unless you have another. It's like borrowing money with a high interest rate, except you are borrowing happines.

That Huberman Lab episode had a similar effect on me. I've barely touched alcohol since.

Link for anyone who is interested: https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/what-alcohol-does-to-you...

Keep it up! Two months is when you start to feel the amazing effects of abstinence. It only gets better over the next year.

Thanks :) I actually feel like I've found the secret to being ok with my life. Like a sort of calmness.

I didn't realise that weekend drinking was leaving me mildly hungover for days. Its like a filter was applied to my thinking where I could mostly only see nagatives in life. Though it's more subtle than this.

For reasons unrelated to health, politics, or religion I never got into drinking in the first place and never had an issue with it.

It was mostly neutral experience after the early since you grow a somewhat thick skin and select a bunch of friends who are not assholes about it.

Now in my thirties something came up that makes it unwise to consume alcohol and to the surprise of my doctor I could just check that point.

I was in your shoes about 4 years ago (will be on Feb 5th)

Best investment I have ever made for myself. Very challenging; especially socially. I eventually found social groups who share similar interests. First few months will be brutal; you can do it, it’s worth the struggle, good luck

That's a really good way to think of this. An investment, that's exactly what it is, investment in health and happiness. I am pretty fit and have eaten well for 20 years, the drinking part of my life really doesn't make sense.