40 Days Sober: Personal Record for 8 Years
40 days sober! This milestone represents a personal record for me in the last 8 years — a breakthrough I didn't think was possible.
A Personal Milestone
I'm genuinely proud of reaching this point. The last time I was sober for this long, I was probably 22-23 years old, living a completely different life.
Unexpected Challenges
The one thing gnawing at me is that I've become more irritable and sharp-edged lately. I'm not sure if sobriety is revealing my true nature or if it's just life circumstances colliding at the wrong time.
Maybe it's because I used to decompress with alcohol like a pressure valve, and now I haven't found an adequate replacement for that ritual of release.
Sleep Quality Concerns
My sleep has also taken a hit. Instead of my usual 7-8 hours of solid rest, I'm scraping by on 5-6 hours and waking up feeling like I've been cheated out of real recovery.
This sleep deprivation might be feeding the irritability. When you're running on fumes, everything feels more abrasive and overwhelming.
Understanding Alcohol's Hidden Roles
I've come to realize that alcohol was wearing multiple hats in my life — not just as a substance, but as a social lubricant and stress reliever, smoothing the rough edges of daily existence.
Without it, I need to discover new ways to connect with people and manage the inevitable pressures that life throws my way.
The Silver Lining
Despite these growing pains, I'm proud of reaching 40 days. It's concrete proof that I can commit to difficult changes and see them through, even when the path gets rocky.
My productivity has soared, and I have crystal-clear mental clarity during the day, even if my evenings feel more challenging to navigate.
The Path Forward
Moving forward, I'm going to focus on building better unwinding rituals and improving my sleep hygiene. Maybe meditation, reading, or crafting a more intentional evening routine will fill the void.
40 days sober - a personal record in 8 years!
40 days marks a personal record and brings both pride and new challenges. Learning to navigate irritability and sleep issues while celebrating this significant milestone in my sobriety journey.
