Yargsy,
I don’t mind at all that you ask how giving up alcohol changed my life. First of all, I agree with everything hors controle mentioned in her post concerning her changes while not drinking. I have many reasons but my most important change was freedom. I am now able to do what I want, when I want. When I was drinking I would come home from work and most often spend the evening as a prisoner in my own home. This is what I looked forward to all day, to be with my “friend.” So much wasted time because what did I actually accomplish? Usually nothing. No one really knew how much I drank because I didn’t let them see it, so if I went out with friends I would control my drinking until I got home. And I say if I went out because I would often not go because that would delay me consuming all the alcohol that I wanted for the night. Which was a lot. :/
You mentioned that you sometimes drink because of boredom and malaise. I remember that thought. Now that I don’t drink I realize that just because you have a “buzz” doesn’t mean you aren’t bored. Your just bored with a buzz. I have bored nights now, and that’s ok. A night sober and bored is better than any night drinking because of what I mentioned above, freedom. If I’m bored now it’s by choice, it’s what I choose to do and not what I was forced to do by confining myself to my home with my alcohol.
We all understand that not drinking is better for our health, but it is not until you are without alcohol for a period of time that you begin to understand the impact it makes on your body. Most everyone says they slept better when there is no alcohol and that’s usually true. It’s like the saying goes, there’s a difference between going to sleep and passing out and in waking up and coming to. When your body is no longer trying to rid itself of the alcohol that was consumed, you will find your energy level is much higher. From there the possibilities are endless with what you do to fill your time.
Initially it may not be easy to find things to fill your time. You will be changing and change can be hard. I think a lot of people that have given up alcoho