Clean & Sober

[jeepsnchainsaws]

Having a drink or even smoking a joint ain't a big deal to most people. To some of us though.......well......lol

On Valentine's Day of 2013 my X got way to drunk and started trashing the house and became very physical. I made her leave and on the way to her moms she got pulled over and told the cops that our basement was full of grow rooms (yes weed) and that I had automatic rifles. So they came back and asked if they could see, I said nope you don't have consent. They arrested me and illegally searched my house for 4 hours until another deputy brought a warrant. While sitting in the cop car I told God that I was done with it and I was in his hands to guide me. At that point they took me in and booked me. $60,000 bond, cash only, with illegal weapons, manufacturing and distribution charges. After bonding out I went through a year and a half long trial and settled on 60 days of work release and a clean record upon completing 2 years probation. I now have a solid, less stressed life, I got my guns back (not the illegal ones) and don't look over my shoulder constantly.
The night I got arrested was the last night I used and I live a clean clear life with a clean clear wife. My wife has never done or used anything and hates it! She is a case manager at a hospital and sees it destroy people daily. I don't wish this never happened, I'm happy it did! It has made me realize how to have a higher quality of life. Being sober isn't the next few days after you quit, you keep noticing it a great while after you quit.
Life is short enough and hard enough without wasting time clouding our heads and recovering from hangovers!

 

[Mastermind]

On Valentine's Day of 2013 my X got way to drunk and started trashing the house and became very physical. I made her leave and on the way to her moms she got pulled over and told the cops that our basement was full of grow rooms (yes weed) and that I had automatic rifles. So they came back and asked if they could see, I said nope you don't have consent. They arrested me and illegally searched my house for 4 hours until another deputy brought a warrant. While sitting in the cop car I told God that I was done with it and I was in his hands to guide me. At that point they took me in and booked me. $60,000 bond, cash only, with illegal weapons, manufacturing and distribution charges. After bonding out I went through a year and a half long trial and settled on 60 days of work release and a clean record upon completing 2 years probation. I now have a solid, less stressed life, I got my guns back (not the illegal ones) and don't look over my shoulder constantly.
The night I got arrested was the last night I used and I live a clean clear life with a clean clear wife. My wife has never done or used anything and hates it! She is a case manager at a hospital and sees it destroy people daily. I don't wish this never happened, I'm happy it did! It has made me realize how to have a higher quality of life. Being sober isn't the next few days after you quit, you keep noticing it a great while after you quit.
Life is short enough and hard enough without wasting time clouding our heads and recovering from hangovers!

Thanks for sharing my friend.

Life is good without all the *B-S.... huh?

 

[jeepsnchainsaws]

Thanks for sharing my friend.

Life is good without all the *B-S.... huh?

Is it EVER!
The quality of life is SO MUCH higher!
Things you thought you could never do are now easy!
It takes a major impact event to change in most cases, but we can't give up or look down. Stay on the straight and you WILL hit your happy place.
@Mastermind thank you!
The more I can tell my story in the proper place the more I can leave it behind!

 

[Wolverine]

Unfortunately I had to lose a great friend to get it. The guilt of should've, would've, could've follows you forever.

Truth.
Sorry for your loss... glad you're with us to share life. It can all go so quickly.

 

[Big1066ih]

Addictive personality's run in my family, my grandmother said she was an alcoholic for a time and kicked it, my uncle was a raging alcoholic and liked to "party", and drinkings got my brother. I respect my uncle more than words can describe because I witnessed how he was and now is, clean for goin on ten years. My brother has a baby on the way and has really really cut back on the drinking thankfully. Having witnessed it all first hand, my hat's off to all you fellas

 

[P.M.P.]

It's been 10.5 years since I gave up the addictions that controlled my life.
Now if I could just get over this CAD.

 

[foragefarmer]

Sober since July 5th 2009. It is funny that yesterday I thought about the fact that I hadn't thought about a beer or wanted a beer in months and months and here is this thread that was started yesterday.

 

[Mastermind]

It's been 10.5 years since I gave the addictions that controlled my life.
Now if I could just get over this CAD.

You gotta learn to sell em.

 

[leadfarmer]

You gotta learn to sell em.

I didn't think there'd be this many folks post up in here. It sure is a joy to read these posts even though there are some sad ones. If I could just relive part of my life...but than I guess we wouldn't be much help to those that are struggling. Keep up the good work my friends.

 

[exSW]

I don't believe I was ever addicted to alcohol. But I still wasted a lot of time and money. Nothing like changing sh!tty diapers with a hangover to clear your thinking.

 

[Mastermind]

We are all miracles.....

 

[Farmchuck]

We are all miracles.....

Amen brother!

 

[Bmezz88]

On Valentine's Day of 2013 my X got way to drunk and started trashing the house and became very physical. I made her leave and on the way to her moms she got pulled over and told the cops that our basement was full of grow rooms (yes weed) and that I had automatic rifles. So they came back and asked if they could see, I said nope you don't have consent. They arrested me and illegally searched my house for 4 hours until another deputy brought a warrant. While sitting in the cop car I told God that I was done with it and I was in his hands to guide me. At that point they took me in and booked me. $60,000 bond, cash only, with illegal weapons, manufacturing and distribution charges. After bonding out I went through a year and a half long trial and settled on 60 days of work release and a clean record upon completing 2 years probation. I now have a solid, less stressed life, I got my guns back (not the illegal ones) and don't look over my shoulder constantly.
The night I got arrested was the last night I used and I live a clean clear life with a clean clear wife. My wife has never done or used anything and hates it! She is a case manager at a hospital and sees it destroy people daily. I don't wish this never happened, I'm happy it did! It has made me realize how to have a higher quality of life. Being sober isn't the next few days after you quit, you keep noticing it a great while after you quit.
Life is short enough and hard enough without wasting time clouding our heads and recovering from hangovers!

Amen to that Brother

 

[Brewz]

I have suffered from bad chronic depression all my life.
Never really fit in and never knew why. The black dog is cruel like that.
Lost my teens, 20's and 30's drinking heavily (usually 15 to 20 beers and half a bottle of rum a work day, weekends were more), drugs and doing stupid stuff cause I didn't care for my own life....... it was all self medication and was the only stuff that brought me any glimmer of pleasure.
I also suffered from chronic migraines that were paralyzing and was addicted to pain killers for quite a while. I would eat them like lollies till I passed out, and the damn headache would still have me in the fetal position on the floor, and I have a high pain tolerance.
I would change jobs and towns I lived in every couple years to try and find something better but the grass was never greener.

Met a good woman that would put up with me, we got married and had 3 kids.
One day she packed up the kids and left saying she couldn't deal with me any more.

I went to the doctor as a blubbering mess and asked that the flying duck was wrong with me. Told him if he couldn't help me I was going home to shoot myself, and I wasn't joking. I was 38 and over it all.

He put me on anti depressants which have changed my life.
They don't cure the depression or the person it makes you, they give you a clearer head so you can make better decisions and actually see what is happening to you and others around you.
They clear the fog!
They also cured the migraines thank god! They were the worst.

No more pain killers, no more drugs, no more stupid life risking stuff.
Wife and kids returned and we are all happier than ever.

I still drink but only beer and probably still too much but I am working on it slowly. I drink about 1/4 of what I used to consume.

I really should try and give it up as its not doing me any favors as I get older. Its hard though.

I don't mind sharing this stuff. It helps to get it out.

 

[skidooguy]

I used to drink a 12 pack every day but only have a few on occasions these days. I liked to party it up until a few years ago I decided with all the trouble with the law drinking caused that it would be beneficial to all if I kept the demons at bay. I lost my father when I was 21 due to a heart attack but he would have lived many more years if he wouldn't have drank a case of beer everyday for 30 years as well as smoked a pack or two a day. many friends still drink heavily and don't want to get up early on weekends to go do things so I just have figured out things I can go do on my own and have fun. Hopefully they will grow up a bit and use their time more wisely in the near future.

 

[stihl saws]

I have suffered from bad chronic depression all my life.
Never really fit in and never knew why. The black dog is cruel like that.
Lost my teens, 20's and 30's drinking heavily (usually 15 to 20 beers and half a bottle of rum a work day, weekends were more), drugs and doing stupid stuff cause I didn't care for my own life....... it was all self medication and was the only stuff that brought me any glimmer of pleasure.
I also suffered from chronic migraines that were paralyzing and was addicted to pain killers for quite a while. I would eat them like lollies till I passed out, and the damn headache would still have me in the fetal position on the floor, and I have a high pain tolerance.
I would change jobs and towns I lived in every couple years to try and find something better but the grass was never greener.

Met a good woman that would put up with me, we got married and had 3 kids.
One day she packed up the kids and left saying she couldn't deal with me any more.

I went to the doctor as a blubbering mess and asked that the flying duck was wrong with me. Told him if he couldn't help me I was going home to shoot myself, and I wasn't joking. I was 38 and over it all.

He put me on anti depressants which have changed my life.
They don't cure the depression or the person it makes you, they give you a clearer head so you can make better decisions and actually see what is happening to you and others around you.
They clear the fog!
They also cured the migraines thank god! They were the worst.

No more pain killers, no more drugs, no more stupid life risking stuff.
Wife and kids returned and we are all happier than ever.

I still drink but only beer and probably still too much but I am working on it slowly. I drink about 1/4 of what I used to consume.

I really should try and give it up as its not doing me any favors as I get older. Its hard though.

I don't mind sharing this stuff. It helps to get it out.

 

[stihl saws]

It takes a big man to share that. Especially on a chainsaw forum. Carry on, my down under friend.

 

[stihl_head1982]

And sober for almost 10yrs. Thank the Lord [emoji38]

Sober also this April -- 35 years thanks to Jesus.

 

[stihl_head1982]

Can't like this post.

I've lost a few good friends to relapse in the last year or two. Jails, institutions, or death......

Afraid the story is all too familiar. Jail, prison, car wrecks, the list gets long. Many of the old friends are gone -- some never made it to 30, others never made it to 40.
My wife's sister just got out of prison for the 3rd time. The drug life just keeps on dragging her back. There is HOPE for her -- if she will just listen!

 

[Mastermind]

It's tough for a convict. Think about the cost of rent, utilities, a car, insurance, etc. Then think about what sort of job an ex-con is gonna get. Even if a person pays their debt by doing their time, they still ain't got much of a chance to make a living when they get out.

It's too easy to just slip back into giving up and getting high.