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I think most people who say "I've been X years sober" are usually recovering alcoholics (or almost alcoholics). In most cases (except the cases described above)

I think most people who say "I've been X years sober" are usually recovering alcoholics (or almost alcoholics). In most cases (except the cases described above), alcoholism is something people are predisposed to. Some people get a high from the process of getting drunk (and stop feeling that high once they are no longer getting more drunk) these people are the ones who usually become alcoholics if they don't just decide to stay sober permanently. As someone (e.g. me, and presumably you) who does not feel that high, it can be difficult to comprehend how some people feel like they end up on one of the two extremes. Then there are some people who have done something inappropriate, dangerous, illegal or otherwise unacceptable when drunk and decided to sober up permanently because they can't control themselves when they do get drunk (but otherwise do not have a drinking problem). I agree that totally rejecting alcohol is probably not useful life advice for most people, but hopefully the above explains why it is useful for some people.

FpUser 3y ago
I am sober for about 15 years already. Woke up one morning after a party and the thought came - why the fuck am I doing it? Alcohol was fun at first, later it became utterly boring. No more fun and occasional hangover. Also I've never developed taste for any spirits / wines. So I just stopped. well I may have drank half a glass 1 or 2 times a year during some those 15 years but do not really make anything put of it. I've not taken an oath ;)
lxe 3y ago
"alcoholic" is a loaded overused and archaic term. Just like any other health condition, alcohol use disorder, or AUD has a scale. The DSM has a handy guide that's super easy to diagnose where you are on the spectrum: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/sites/default/files/DSMfact.pdf https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/sites/default/files/DSMfact.pdf There are people who haven't done anything inappropriate, dangerous, or illegal, yet have ended up in a severe health crisis because they were thinking "hey... I didn't quite reach the threshold of "alcoholic" so I can just continue the lifestyle".
miduil 3y ago
I wouldn't say I was an alcoholic or a drug addict either. Just made the conscious decision that no-alcohol has more benefits/is simpler for me than trying to balance things out.
- thisgoesnowhere 3y ago
  All the power to ya. I think the only weird thing is that I'm seeing a much larger body of completely sober people telling others to go completely sober. Just do what works for you it's not a life ending vice to enjoy getting drunk once in a while.
dbbk 3y ago
Yeah you can certainly get in a state where your brain gets chemically unbalanced and addicted to the dopamine hit of a drink. I could never have one drink, once I'd had one my brain would want more and more and all logic would go out the window, it would be a death spiral until I blackout. Even though I'm a smart guy and know that will happen. I recently started on Naltrexone which is a opioid blocker which stops the brain from getting this pleasure reward, and it's a game changer. Now I feel no euphoria when I drink at all, and I can stop whenever I want. Would seriously recommend everyone struggling to look into it.
- SOLAR_FIELDS 3y ago
  I have naltrexone and while it’s no miracle drug it does help. I find it makes me feel weird and sick for 2-3 days after I take it, but it does help a lot with cravings. If you’re doing the Sinclair method you have to be really diligent to take it at least 45 minutes before your first drink or it won’t be as effective. If you take it daily you also are supposed to wear a bracelet since it effectively makes you immune to regular painkillers so if you were to get into a car accident or something they need to know not to give you morphine since it won’t have its intended effect Overall I would say it’s a decent solution if you have a problem like OP has, but unless you take it every day it won’t solve crippling alcoholism for you. The scientific literature really only backs taking it every day and say the efficacy of the Sinclair method long term is not statistically significant. But it does help me, since being able to not drink for me is pretty easy, but once I flip the drink switch on it’s hard to stop - basically exact situation as parent poster
  - dbbk 3y ago
    Yeah I do the Sinclair method. I wasn't a daily drinker, it was once or twice a week socially, but it was unstoppable binge drinking. It certainly works in my case. Now when I have another drink, I choose to do it, and it feels like I'm wading against water forcing myself to get it. Before, my brain would go on autopilot and order them automatically.

FpUser 3y ago

I am sober for about 15 years already. Woke up one morning after a party and the thought came - why the fuck am I doing it? Alcohol was fun at first, later it became utterly boring. No more fun and occasional hangover. Also I've never developed taste for any spirits / wines. So I just stopped. well I may have drank half a glass 1 or 2 times a year during some those 15 years but do not really make anything put of it. I've not taken an oath ;)

lxe 3y ago

"alcoholic" is a loaded overused and archaic term. Just like any other health condition, alcohol use disorder, or AUD has a scale. The DSM has a handy guide that's super easy to diagnose where you are on the spectrum: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/sites/default/files/DSMfact.pdf https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/sites/default/files/DSMfact.pdf There are people who haven't done anything inappropriate, dangerous, or illegal, yet have ended up in a severe health crisis because they were thinking "hey... I didn't quite reach the threshold of "alcoholic" so I can just continue the lifestyle".

miduil 3y ago

I wouldn't say I was an alcoholic or a drug addict either. Just made the conscious decision that no-alcohol has more benefits/is simpler for me than trying to balance things out.

thisgoesnowhere 3y ago
All the power to ya. I think the only weird thing is that I'm seeing a much larger body of completely sober people telling others to go completely sober. Just do what works for you it's not a life ending vice to enjoy getting drunk once in a while.

dbbk 3y ago

Yeah you can certainly get in a state where your brain gets chemically unbalanced and addicted to the dopamine hit of a drink. I could never have one drink, once I'd had one my brain would want more and more and all logic would go out the window, it would be a death spiral until I blackout. Even though I'm a smart guy and know that will happen. I recently started on Naltrexone which is a opioid blocker which stops the brain from getting this pleasure reward, and it's a game changer. Now I feel no euphoria when I drink at all, and I can stop whenever I want. Would seriously recommend everyone struggling to look into it.

SOLAR_FIELDS 3y ago
I have naltrexone and while it’s no miracle drug it does help. I find it makes me feel weird and sick for 2-3 days after I take it, but it does help a lot with cravings. If you’re doing the Sinclair method you have to be really diligent to take it at least 45 minutes before your first drink or it won’t be as effective. If you take it daily you also are supposed to wear a bracelet since it effectively makes you immune to regular painkillers so if you were to get into a car accident or something they need to know not to give you morphine since it won’t have its intended effect Overall I would say it’s a decent solution if you have a problem like OP has, but unless you take it every day it won’t solve crippling alcoholism for you. The scientific literature really only backs taking it every day and say the efficacy of the Sinclair method long term is not statistically significant. But it does help me, since being able to not drink for me is pretty easy, but once I flip the drink switch on it’s hard to stop - basically exact situation as parent poster
- dbbk 3y ago
  Yeah I do the Sinclair method. I wasn't a daily drinker, it was once or twice a week socially, but it was unstoppable binge drinking. It certainly works in my case. Now when I have another drink, I choose to do it, and it feels like I'm wading against water forcing myself to get it. Before, my brain would go on autopilot and order them automatically.