sobriety

99% of the time, I feel like a complete f*ck-up in grown up’s clothing.

The first step isn’t to admit I have a problem. I don’t.

Without a doubt, going to AA meetings saved my life. But after six years of devoted participation, my attendance dwindled until, about a year ago, I stopped going entirely. Contrary to what I was taught when I was in the program, my sobriety’s just fine. You can stay sober without AA — at least, I can. Here’s how I do it.

I’m afraid I’m going to lose my wife to AA. My wife and I are both in our mid 30s and we’ve been married for six years, together for nine. When we met, we both drank socially, or I thought we did. I started noticing after we got married that her drinking increased.

I’m lucky because I got sober at my second AA meeting. After my first meeting, I ran home and drank for five days straight.

Weddings can be anxiety-inducing and filled with dread for those of us that don’t drink. Attending weddings as a sober person can often feel lonely and about as fun as having dental work without novocain.

The first time I remember pouring a bottle of wine down the drain, I was about nine years old. I've never had a drink of alcohol.