Although it has not been 6 full months of complete sobriety, the beginning of my journey started actually with cutting back (severely) on my drinking.

In this post, I will have a look at the quantitative and qualitative aspects of my recovery journey and what implications the results of this recap have for my future outlook.

1. Exercising:

About half a year before sincerely commencing my sobriety journey, I tried the strategy of doing sports. That, so was my thinking, should at least cut my drinking days to three from five in a week. Didn’t work out. I maintained drinking, but I exercised. So, it was at least a success in terms of bodily exercise and cutting back on body weight.

1. Reframe:

My first approach to quitting or cutting back were a result of some very disappointing tries to reduce the amount, days frequency and mindset of my drinking. I always returned back to drinking the same amount or even more. But these first steps yielded valuable thinking patterns that made it easier to quit: I made a plan – if I was to be successful, I needed a strategy, and that looked like this:

• I would try cutting back on vacation
• If that wouldn’t yield results or too little, I would use an app.
• If that wouldn’t yield results after a certain amount of time, I would consult a therapist.

I exchanged “vacation” with “app”, and that did the trick actually. I found the Reframe App and started cutting back with the drink – tracker and initial reframing tricks and the proprietary AI, which turned out to be a great reflection tool.

After using the app for two weeks, I could already reduce alcohol intake by half. That felt so great, that the rewiring of drinking habits quickly led to cutting back more and more, until I stopped drinking by mid October for good. I have had only one small shot and one beer since then, both one respectively two weeks after quitting.

My therapist knew about my plans of cutting back and sobriety and she was very supportive.

2. Recovery program, writing and podcast

I felt the Reframe app wasn’t enough. So, after deciding to stop drinking for good, I started a 90 days program to strengthen my efforts.

Then I started reading, watching videos, listening to Podcasts.

One very great method became writing a diary. I have kept writing my diary 5 months straight now.

I started this blog in December.

I started my blog in March.

3. Further diagnosis and introspection

When the Recovery program suggested diving into my “Core”, I started the diagnostics on ADHD and my introspection. These reflections of my emotional system and my ADHD were tremendously important realizations for me.

4. Quantitative result:

• I have lost 30lbs in the last year due to sports, quitting and a better diet
• I have been dry for 155 days straight
• I have avoided 428 drinks, which equals about 1000€ worth in money
• I have posted 100+ insights on this blog counting
• I have written 300+ pages in my diary counting
• I have recorded 2 Podcast episodes counting

5. conclusion:

I feel like a whole new person. Quitting drinking has surely lost me wrong friends and turned many aspects of my life upside down. But definitely for the good. Of course, with the dampening effect of alcohol I feel everything so intense. And what may sound frightening is a great insight. I will go outside with my insights and attitude to be engaged in the Recovery movement. I want to help other people, but not in terms of telling them what to do.

The whole thing is a game changer and a boost to my self efficacy and self esteem, although I have still a long way ahead. This is just a way mark on my journey.

And when I look at all the results and reflections in this post, which I will go (probably) deal in deeper detail in the coming months, it motivates me to sum it up not only in my Podcast.

I decided to write it down in a book. Starting today. I want to have this book finished by the time I have reached a whole year of recovery. This is going to be the fourth pillar of my reflecting and learning journey supporting my sobriety: the first is my diary. The second is this blog. The third is my Podcast. The book will be the fourth. I tall will be supporting my journey as it takes me further on my way to true bullet proof-ness.

Until next time, keep up the faith in yourself and don’t lose the faith in yourself.