Missing the Alcohol

[narla]

Is there ever a time when you don't miss being able to have a drink with family and friends,I find it hard at birthdays Christmas, New year any celebration,Which is silly because I drank 7 days a week so they weren't special anyway. I'll never drink again because of determination.So my question does missing alcohol ever go away. Denise

[CML64]

I will be 16 years sober this year. It does get easier over time. The first year or 2 were hard, but my family and friends were supportive, they didn't serve/bring alcohol to functions at first and after the 1st year or so, asked if it would be okay/comfortable with them drinking. It helped tremendously.

[narla]

Thank You for your replies,They're really appreciated   Denise

[rod44]

Hi Narla,
I agree with Sara and ibizan, I don't go to many social events where drink is the focal point and unfortunately everything where I live is surrounded by drink, I went to a gig on New years eve where drink was flowing and people were out of their heads, it felt good to be not drinking and to wake up the following day and remember everything. I was very careful of drinks on the table where we were sitting because of the risk of inadvertently picking up the wrong drink.....I fear drink now and what it would do to me and my family/friends, like you I have too much to loose....

Ray  

[ibizan]

I found that the first 9 months of my recovery was a missing badly/mourning the loss of my old fav escapes pot and alcohol.i continued to go to meetings and stick with sober ppl...minimal to no socializing where alcohol would be.At 2 years sober/clean i went to a concert and the smell of pot made my nose curl in disdain!Smelt like burnt cowpoop!Sarah is right on...as is norma!

[norma1234]

The longer Im sober the less I think about alcohol and even if I do its easier to deal with the thoughts. Stick at it, social occasions are a hell of a lot more fun when we are not making fools of ourselvs.

[dominosarah]

The thoughts for me have become different.  I dont miss the alcohol like you asked about.  The times i think about it is just the getting together with old friends like we used to do.....did that make sense??!!  The actual smell of alcohol makes me very nauseated now to the point of dry heaving.  If i smell it on someone my gagging reflexes kick in big time.  Maybe that is a good thing.  I also go to meetings and really work my program as old thoughts can come back and my thoughts are very sneaky.  I keep my guard up and my aftercare helps me.  The longer you are sober the less these thoughts will creep into your mind but you always have to be on guard........sara