i'm two years sober. what happened & what it's like now

I'm two years sober! Let's talk about it 💌
chapters:
2:07 my drinking
8:12 what happened
12:24 what life's like now
If you're struggling with drinking, here's some places you can find support:
www.mind.org.uk/information-s...
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
Why I Quit Drinking | Six Months Sober Update: • Why I Quit Drinking | ...
How To Deal With Friendships Changing & Your Partner Drinking: • Curious About Quitting...
🌺 FAQs:
╰ Everything I'm Wearing: www.iamlucymoon.com/blog/autu...
╰ My small coffee machine: amzn.to/3PHlmRy
╰ My bean-to-cup coffee machine: amzn.to/3th9qyw
╰ My everyday jewellery: www.iamlucymoon.com/blog/jewe...
🕊 Mentioned In This Video:
╰ @melaniemurphyofficial
╰ The dress I'm wearing (afflink): c.klarna.com/al/9JW2/
🔮 Find Me Here
╰ Subscribe: / meowitslucy
╰ Substack: lucymoon.substack.com/
╰ Join Our Group Chat: links.geneva.com/invite/6dfc2...
╰ Instagram: / iamlucymoon
╰ Tiktok: / iamnotlucymoon
╰ Twitter: / iamnotlucymoon
╰ Spotify: open.spotify.com/user/1129642979
🌙 Hours London
╰ hourslondon.com/
📹 How I Make My Content:
╰ All Of My Equipment: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/lucymoo...
╰ Royalty-free music I use: share.epidemicsound.com/pcHrd
╰ My Lightroom presets for mobile and desktop - curate your perfect aesthetic: www.iamlucymoon.com/lightroom...
╰ The Subtitling Service I Use - get $10 off your first order: try.rev.com/3TNb6Q
╰ Get more from your analytics: www.tubebuddy.com/LUCYMOON
DISCLAIMER: Whilst all opinions are 100% my own, sometimes I use affiliate links in my description box and feature products that were kindly gifted to me. I will always disclose when I work with a brand on any paid campaign.

[@1HappyBob]

Sobriety gives you what alcohol promises.

[@BobShay-jf4vf]

Exactly 💯 thanks for your perfect insight 👍

[@melaniemurphyofficial]

I am so, so, so proud of you, lady ❤

[@lucymoon]

Couldn’t have done it without you 🤍

[@ambercm515]

I drank from 16-19, getting black-out drunk every week, putting myself in really risky situations with men, and even covertly drinking through the day to cope with anxiety. I went sober at 19 (now 31!) and told everyone I was never doing it again. I see now that was a radical act of self-love and taught me how to advocate for myself- as you mention! Although I was ostracised at uni initially and I'm a bit of an oddity at work because of British drinking culture, I now have a solid group of sober friends :)

[@maxsupernova]

I've hated the term alcoholic, because it makes it seem like there's a shortcoming with the person, rather than a problem with the substance itself. Instead, I've found it better to think about how it wasn't serving me anymore, so I cut it out of my life. If I cut out fast food, no one bats an eyelash. Why is it so different with alcohol? Why do some people insist on pressuring you into doing a substance you've determined is harmful to you? Thanks for this video! It's nice to see your positive, uplifting take on this sensitive matter.

[@trickylights4380]

I couldn't agree more. In fact, while I was going to AA, I oftentimes would feel odd hearing people say "hi I'm so and so and I'm an alcoholic" because I couldn't shake the idea that this meant there was something fundamentally wrong or broken about this person. HOWEVER there is scientific proof to support the idea that certain people are indeed genetically predisposed to most likely developing alcohol use disorder if they have family members who also had AUD. This is not to say this doesn't exist. But I find that it often means that we look at the person and not the substance. I see alot of comments about how "alcohol isn't bad" or whatever and how alot of the sober community doesn't want to "demonize drinking" because they probably are scare of being divisive or whatever. But the bottom line is this: That shit is poison. It is OBJECTIVELY bad. You can say whatever you want about how some people don't have problems with it. That's fine. They don't have problems with it. But no matter what way you cut it, it is a poison that wreaks havoc on the body and mind, plain and simple. So those AA meetings always got me raising my hand to sort of talk about these things. Individuals aren't the problem. It's the culture surrounding drinking that is the problem. That is why it's so important for us to build a sober community around living life for the sake of living life. I really like how Lucy talks about how she gained so much inspiration from sober influencers who focused on living life instead of being sober. That is so important. It's also a mindset that got me to stop going to AA. That group is so focused on sobriety that I felt like it was missing the point of living life. I don't want to live my life by avoiding something. I want to live my life by engaging with everything else that makes it beautiful. When I do that, booze seems completely pointless and dumb, which it always has been. THAT IS TO SAY that AA works well for some people and I am in NO WAY saying that it doesn't work. Peace and love

[@almartin7]

Thank you for never shying away from sharing your journey with this!! I empathize so much with your story--tried abstaining so many times but finally 9 months this month and feel like this is really it this time! From one young woman to another please keep sharing! Helps tremendously to know we are not alone!

[@lucymoon]

Well done!! And thank you, doing my best to share the journey as it’s what I needed when I got sober ♥️♥️

[@theuncommonviewer]

This comment gives me hope!

[@fabulouslyfit54]

Nice job! The first year is the hardest. Going through all the holidays, seasons, celebrations, birthdays, weddings etc. now, this second year is so much easier. I’ll never start drinking again. Good luck to you 🙏🏼

[@shannarchy]

I was never an alcoholic but it was in my family. I didn’t like the way I felt when I drank and I didn’t drink in a way that was healthy. I chose to be dry when I was 23 and it’s been a decade now. I don’t miss it. The “worst” part is the constant “why don’t you drink” from coworkers and acquaintances.

[@colourriot3520]

This video couldn't have come out at a better time I just hit day 150 yesterday but am feeling myself slipping into the 'just one' mindset so it's a nice little goal reinforcement. Hearing your story made me so thankful for my friends who never once questioned my quitting and I wasnt a social drinker I was a solitary binge drinker so they never saw the worst of it.

[@eleanorw3920]

congrats on your milestone! hopefully this video can help you reflect on the positives that not drinking has brought you and it can keep you on the upward journey. all the best!

[@amandawallace2604]

Congratulations on 150 🎉 I'm 6 months sober and it can be challenging but so worth it. That voice in your head that tells you moderation is possible is a liar xx

[@Emmsley14]

I will be one year sober (different addiction) tomorrow and I am so so proud of you Lucy and I look up to you so much. Thank you for showing people like me that sobriety is *possible* 💖

[@AmyTheEarthling]

Well done! Thats amazing x

[@gwenhughes8650]

That is an amazing accomplishment! I hope that you celebrated it 🥰

[@sunsets.starlight]

This is incredible Lucy. I didn't ever really drink all that much, but I've been sober for 4.5 years now. I discovered it was the number 1 reason my endometriosis pain was so excruciating so I decided it wasn't worth it anymore. 19th June 2019 was the last time I had a drink. To me, this was never a huge deal, I knew I was serious about having children and I grew up with an alcoholic dad (who is doing incredibly well now) so that helped me. When I talk to others with endo, I'm totally shocked at the responses to my pain reduction. People will do the most to try to prove me wrong, despite science being on the side of alcohol causing inflammation. It was only then I realised how common alcohol addiction truly is, even if people are coping seemingly fine.

[@SophieMcKenzie-Shaw]

Omg this is so me! The black outs are insane, it’s sad to think that ppl don’t believe that they happen and happen frequently! And like you said sometimes after only a few drinks. I’ve been sober now for going on for four years and it is definitely the best decision I have ever made, I feel so secure in myself and my decisions. I love waking up from a night out or a party knowing what happened, knowing that I didn’t say or do anything stupid and knowing that a didn’t upset my friends. Congrats on this journey and sharing it online ❤❤

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

Well done, Lucy, I'm so glad that you're on an upward journey. As a Drug and Alcohol Counselor and Clinical Psychologist I can understand how difficult it must have been for you to get here, but I know how rewarding it can be also. Take care and much love.

[@user-gf8hc1kp2w]

I really, really wish I had found sobriety at your age. I feel I’ve wasted huge chunks of my life by drinking to excess. Really going to get behind this now. Your description of your behaviour while drinking resonates so much with me. Got two young kids now, want them to see me at my best. You’re a real role model 😊

[@sarawholegrain]

lucy, i just wanted to pour my heart out a little to you about how much your channel has meant to me over the years since i found your channel as a young uk teen. now in my early twenties, seeing someone a few steps ahead of me in life always being so real has been such a positive and comforting influence over me, i can't help but see you as something of an older sister. thank you for all your content over the years lucy, we love you!!💕

[@lucymoon]

Ohhh thank you! Always happy to be your older sister ♥️

[@Firecat_23]

I think something your journey/you speaking about your journey makes so clear to me, is that we only teach such a narrow image of what issues with alcohol can look like, like it can only be a "problem" if it looks one specific way and otherwise it's fine. In the end, the you're only one who really knows if things are "fine", and if they're not and you reach out to others for help, you deserve to be taken seriously and treated with compassion. Because if it feels like a problem to you, then it doesn't matter if it meets any other criteria, it's impacting your life significantly enough to be something you think about, and everyone deserves to be taken seriously when that's the case.

[@amandawallace2604]

I'm almost 6 months sober and your videos really helped me to realise I had a problem in the first place. Like you, I knew my drinking was an issue for a long time but I never thought quitting was an option or possible. I remember watching your video and crying because I related so much to it. I'm happy to say that I won't ever go back to alcohol and I'm much happier and healthier as a result x

[@lucymoon]

Well done!! ♥️♥️

[@theuncommonviewer]

This is so great. Strength is shining from you!

[@hollym7878]

Thank you for having these conversations! I've never really been into alcohol, and over the last few years I've decided I'm better off without it in my life. I'm just glad that more and more people are talking about not drinking and making it more normal! I swear it's the one substance you have to justify NOT taking, and I wish more people would just accept it as a personal choice.

[@rnbsn_]

Congrats on your sobriety! I remember when you first started, so happy for you

[@Torsee]

Congratulations! Lovely video. More people should see this.

[@WowDaniX]

Love your story, thank you for sharing!

[@Vardagsvegan1]

oh im so proud of you!!!!

[@daynaedwards6390]

Really needed this. So genuine and lovely ❤

[@piddlydiddly]

Thank you for being so open and vulnerable Lucy. It's so beautiful and admirable how introspective you are!

[@1-800-hcbrigs]

This is such a beautiful video! Thank you so much for sharing something so personal and raw with us ❤️

[@sallyparker11]

Congratulations Lucy 🎉 I’m four months sober and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done!

[@AmyTheEarthling]

My god, everything you’ve said resonated with me. I’m currently 6 months sober, thank you for sharing ❤

[@devwxyz]

ive just got through my first week and have an appointment with a new therapist tomorrow. thank you for sharing this!

[@cpkay33]

thanks for this. so relatable. i do agree that i can't align with sobriety as an identity rather than a tool. so much more inspiring on the life shift.

[@laurenelloise]

i really appreciate you sharing an update, truly

[@blossei592]

These videos mean so so much to me in a way I know you understand intimately. I'm so grateful you're still willing to make them when your life has largely moved on. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!! I get a step closer to making the jump each time ♥️

[@endereverdeen]

love the point you made about building your trust in yourself back up - and the effects of not being able to stick to your word (to yourself) on your self esteem. this is so real. thanks for sharing lucy

[@katielouise210]

thank you for sharing your journey lucy! it's so important to have these conversations, especially when i feel like so much of young people's culture in the UK revolves around drinking (and tbh more broadly too!) lots of love and solidarity. thinking of you and your family as i know it's been a difficult few weeks 💛

[@amandajaneh]

Thank you for sharing! I’m 1 year 7 months sober and cannot wait to hit 2 years. Tears in my eyes over here! Hugs ❤❤

[@lucymoon]

You’ve got this! 🌟🤍

[@amandajaneh]

@@lucymoon thank you ❤️❤️❤️

[@shellsss44]

I love this video and relate to everything you said so much! I am 6 months tomorrow and my life is only better than it was before! That doesn't mean it's easier but it's certainly better and I am only becoming more and more authentic to who I am. Thanks for sharing 💕

[@belle6643]

I loved this video, thanks for being so open and honest. I can totally relate to everything regarding your relationship with alcohol. I'm 3 years sober.

[@Lucycxs]

I love when you share things like this. The first video you shared about alcohol years ago stuck with me because it helped me see that how I viewed alcohol was something I could change, that it wasn’t just me, and I ultimately did change it. So when I hear stuff like this I feel I’m on this same journey with you and I’m hearing the things I’m thinking too without having to talk about it with the people in my life (they can be difficult!) so thanks for this :)

[@kaylan154]

thank you for sharing 🙏 i relate to your story so much. started my sober journey in 2019. i was so resentful of not being able to drink for a long time but the day i realised i that i now genuinely did not want to drink to "deal with" painful emotions any more was a turning point in my life. i just knew in my heart it would only make things worse and i truly didn't want that. never could have imagined it possible. that indifference to booze you talked about truly is a mental and magical milestone isn't it haha

[@pinkpeachrider]

Thank you for sharing this and your experience with sobriety. I'm going into this year with the intention to be and stay sober and seeing your video 2 years on is the reminder that it will all be worth while and reminds me why I'm doing it in the first place. Also congrats, what an amazing achievement!!

[@alexrucker9007]

Congratulations on 2 years sober!! 🎉 Thank you so much for your vulnerability. It sounds like you’ve found clarity and peace through this process. I went sober 2 years ago and it’s been the best thing for my mental health. Wishing you all the best.

[@IsTheSkyUp]

I can see when you talk about this that there's a part of you feeling like you have to explain yourself. I totally understand why, but I also wanted to say you don't have to. you know yourself. trust yourself. thank you for sharing your experience with us, it's so generous of you.

[@eleanorw3920]

I really relate to your journey, thank you for sharing it!

[@DNybackAct]

I'm just a smidge over 1 year sober now, and I just wanted to pop by and say thank you for your sobriety videos. Early on, I created a sobriety playlist on youtube and your videos are still on it. They really helped me as I was struggling to stay off the sauce. Now I'm far on the other side of it and very grateful for your content. All the best to you and congrats on 2 years!

[@rahrahnanya]

Congrats on your 2 years x Shamelessly requesting more Wardrobe and styling content for 2024 pleeasseee ❤

[@msdawnz85]

Thank you for sharing! 55 days sober myself ❤🙏🏼

[@jessicamoonharris]

So helpful and interesting to hear about your journey! Really feel like my relationship with alcohol has changed for the better since turning 30. Hungover weekends are the worst. xx

[@chloedice]

Beautiful Lucy thank you so much, you have no idea how much you have inspired me over the years (and also roasted me and made me really evaluate my life). I do still have the odd drink but compared to how my life was 10years ago I am a different person and whenever I reflect on that I always think of you and hope you are doing well. ❤

[@Dazidoo19]

Thank you for sharing. I’m a few days from being 1 year sober and although it’s still hard I am so much happier and balanced. Going into year 2 of sobriety I hope to build some healthy habits and continue to exercise regularly

[@lucymoon]

Well done on nearly 1 year!! Smashing it xx

[@thelovevvitch]

Thank you for sharing your journey with us ❤ could really relate to worrying about not being considered fun enough if you don't drink. I hope your issues with hormones gets resolved and will be looking forward to your insights and tips since I'm slso struggling with something similar atm xx

[@sarahcosmos7388]

i’m so glad i found this video when i did. been trying to get sober for a while now and after my last lapse i felt so hopeless and deflated, like maybe sobriety just wasn’t meant to happen for me. but you reminded me of some of the many reasons why it IS worth fighting for, so thank you so much. 16 days today. determined to make it work

[@BobShay-jf4vf]

Feeling indifferent to alcohol is Awesome ! You hit the nail right on the head 👏 😊

[@isabellsnape8165]

I resonate so strongly with this video. I’m two years sober yesterday. I feel so much better in myself. It’s so lovely to wake up every morning and know that the choices I made the night before were mine. It’s so hard to talk about sobriety when you weren’t an alcoholic. The black and white thinking is really silly. Thanks for being so open!

[@leviandrenuet5878]

I've been sober for 5 months now, and i've just recently started feeling a semblance of serotonin, just like you said! We've had very similar experiences and I share your relationship to alcohol. It's refreshing to hear from someone who quit even though the people around them never saw their drinking as a problem. It's really hard to stick to it when everyone else asks why all the time. I've sadly lost a lot of friends to this (friends I probably didn't need) and I currently have one sober friend. She is my rock through all of this. Thank you for sharing!

[@missline9204]

The hanxiety and blackouts as well as my troubling solitary drinking has made me work towards sobriety at 21. I love seeing other young women speaking about their experiences because I feel like I never fully understood how dangerous alcohol was until I made the decision to stop. Congratulations on two years.

[@annar7102]

I deeply relate to a lot of this, i have quit drinking in the past after blacking out and damaging friendships. I've never identified myself as an alcoholic but it's definitely been unhealthy. My nearest and dearest have said they notice i'm much more peaceful and myself these days (though i still really struggle with anxiety and depression). I only had one drink over this festive period and am so glad for it, i'm considering packing it in for good for the sake of my mental health. Thank you for sharing your story 💗

[@BobShay-jf4vf]

Awesome video Lucy ❤😊thank you!

[@Camalonious]

I really like that part where you say that achieving this doesn't "fix life", and that bad things do still happen etc. I think it's easy to get carried away with the misconception that if we do give up things that harm us, suddenly it'll all be sunshine and rainbows forever. In reality, those things still happen to us, but we're better equipped to deal with them than we were before. Well done mate and congrats on 2 years.

[@graememcgregor8407]

Two years. You are amazing. I don't follow you (sorry!) but I have bookmarked your Hi I'm Lucy video. I show it to everybody because I think it is so brave, vulnerable, raw and honest and your determination is absolutely palpable. And not that the people I show it to have alcohol problems (necessarily...) but just so they can see it from the inside because you explain it so well. I'll say it again - you're AMAZING.

[@anawsomehuman3064]

can i just say congrats to all the wonderful people in this comment section who are sober and working on themselves? you guys are so amazing. it's such an amazing achievement to be able to wade through all of the weird societal pressure to look introspectively find what it causing the problem and then go out and try and solve it! sobriety is a journey- you've got this! sincerely, a teetotal girlie, who never really got into drinking x

[@liz9657]

First of all, congrats!! I just did a year alcohol free and this inspired me to do another. I also feel that life is still challenging, but now I have the headspace to address the things I never would’ve gotten around to if I’d kept drinking every night.

[@maenad1231]

Loved your video! Quit drinking a few months after I turned 24. Glad I didn’t wait longer!

[@sarahvasquez580]

Congratulations, I am very happy for you. It is a hard journey to quit.🎉

[@katie_a1075]

I loved when you said it was a hole that was closed and you no longer need things to replace it. Almost like it was an emotional wound that was kept open by alcohol but through quitting and doing internal work it healed itself.

[@zoeziebee]

A lot of what you describe actually sounds familiar to me when I was drinking a lot. I’m mostly sober now but that actually wasn’t through a conscious decision, but rather as a result of getting a chronic illness

[@Spiritual_guide_69]

Resonate so much to all you talked about thank you beautiful soul 💜

[@curseofcontext]

think there's a bit of trickyness with viewing individual experiences with sobriety through a, like you say "defining", rulebased quasi AA lense of timestamping it etc: „do you think it matters what i am (…) do you think the terminology even matters“ oof YES! you've made me aware of the "advertised-desirability" of alcohol, with the TV or musicians i am exposed to it's often also smoking weed, it grows the temptation so much when trying to step away from a substance but embodying a target audience and it helps to be a bit wary of that in the media consumption department! found that so helpful. i've also realized that a tendency to binge on substances often translates to different realms of existence such as taking in way too much influence in terms of media. a lot of outside-in demands for so much inside-out exploration and rebuilding that balance is such a TASK haha.

[@holycrocs3670]

so happy for you

[@carinen8119]

What valable insights! So interesting that many people were dismissive of your wanting to quit alcohol ("but you're not an alcoholic...?"). If someone tells you they want to quit drinking, please be supportive, kind and curious. They probably have a very good reason.

[@lilacflower2317]

1 month ago I watched this video and only got 11 seconds in before my entire life changed. "how much more are you willing to lose?" and i knew the answer was no more. the work has been excruciating, but I know I can never go back.

[@pipstephens3531]

Thank you for sharing your journey. You are a true inspiration. I am currently trying to find a balance in my own relationship to alcohol which is a bit complicated as I works in the NZ wine industry, which I love being apart of, but it can be a bit difficult at times.

[@charlottemccormack8418]

Congrats Lucy, I love this for you! How does Jack find it? My partner and his (and now my) friends social life mainly revolves around drinking alcohol, and I worry it will cause issues for us if I were go to sober x

[@Puty0urlipstick0n]

Thank you for talking about that

[@yellowletters9465]

I've been sober all throughout Uni and find it next to impossible to actually make friends 😢 these videos do help

[@krystal9449]

God everything you said is so relatable to me. Thanks for this video

[@Daymickey]

I don’t struggle with alcohol but I appreciated and learned from this regardless because it’s about thoughtful and brave self-reflection. We could all use more of that.

[@youtubewatcher703]

The fact this video came up in my recommended made me wonder if I'm drinking too much. Not a binger but after a day grafting often bosh a few cheeky pints. Can't see myself ever not liking a few beers but definitely spending 4 days a week at least sober is a good target for most people

[@camerontuck108]

congrats on 2 years of sobriety!

[@MeAngelical18]

hi lucy!! you couldn’t have posted this at a better time for me. i’m deciding to be sober from drugs this 2024 and this motivated me SO MUCH. i’ve had a problem with drugs for quite a while but i always had an issue calling myself an addict, and hearing you say that terminology doesn’t matter changed my entire perspective. thank you, so much, for sharing such a private part of you with us, you’re a great help. happy new years!

[@lucymoon]

Massive well done!! No shame at all in being an addict, claiming the term or deciding to leave it, whatever makes the most sense for you ♥️

[@kathyesargent9088]

Congratulations ❤❤❤❤

[@EllieGirl93]

I decided to quit drinking in October last year as I was starting medication for my ADHD. Whilst I was never a heavy drinker, I did find it difficult in the first two months to not order a drink whilst I was out at a bar with my friends. Ordering a drink was just something that I did without even thinking about it. But now in my fourth month, it has become much easier. 😊 Thank you for sharing your story with us. I’m sure it’s going to help a lot of people.

[@FlyingMysteries]

I will be 2 years sober in April- i've appreciated your videos so much because I feel like our journeys with quitting have been so, so similar. It's been invaluable to feel like i'm not alone, I especially relate to still loving to party and be out! Watching these videos have been such a comfort to me in that we can still have those luxurious and chic nights out, and still remember them & feel great :) Thank you so much!

[@amandajaneh]

Yay! I am two years sober in May! ❤

[@lucymoon]

Massive well done for 20 months so far! So glad sharing my journey has helped even a little bit ♥️

[@waziotter]

I've been sober about the same length of time as you (stopped in September 2021). My reasons were a bit different - 25 years of very heavy drinking caught up with me and I ended up in hospital with a 60/40 chance of lasting the day. But this video is the best I've seen about the reality of sobriety. I especially recognised the line about not feeling like you had a choice over whether to quit, and so not really understanding why people congratulate you. I always feel like a bit of a fraud when that happened. I quit because otherwise I would die and I wanted to live to see my kids grow up. There's nothing brave or admirable about that "decision" Still. Congratulations. And thank you for the video.

[@baldersn4474]

Well done ❤ I'm 51 nearly 52 been binge drinking for 30 plus years plus other recreational drugs I'm a social drinker who only drinks on a night out at the weekend or holidays etc..Done dry jan kast year broke it gor a surprise birthday party,knew years ago I needed to quit but have a lot of friends and found it hard socially now I'm older I'm sick of hangovers. anxiety, wasted money, bad discisions etc..Plus i enjoy the gym and exercising etc and as u get older it gets worse and worse...had periods of sobriety where i felt great , im back to 3 weeks sober and feeling fantastic .....,Its good you've done it and stuck to it at your age..All the red flags are and you know if u got a problem with it..Even the term 'alchaholic'is outdated now..Personally every day I feel better snd better. Plus your emotions retirn etc, the hard part for me is the social aspect snd saying no as I'm a people pleaser..But we'll done anyway!

[@Jadedpisces]

7 months ❤ amazing job everyone :)

[@TheEtoneKapone]

When you mentioned not having an off switch, that perfectly describes my issue. I could never drink alone i'm a social drinker but I would not want to ever stop. very scary trait to have 😵‍💫

[@Cat-sw3jn]

Hi Lucy - I remember watching a video of Lucy Hale talking about her alcoholism and the way she described it sounds a lot like your experience. Both of my grandfathers were alcoholics so my parents are very moderate with alcohol (my dad does not drink at all). I drink more than they do but I am constantly checking myself for signs of alcoholism. I have easily done Dry January, Sober October or even Lent alcohol-free. Still, I often pay attention to my drinking habits and I think everyone should be mindful of how they drink. And I completely agree that people have this very outdated view of alcoholism. I used to work with an alcoholic but my thoughts on it were often dismissed because the person wasn't day drinking every day. But that person could not have just one drink, could not stop drinking once they started and turned into a horrible person once drunk. Definitely had a problem but everyone refused to see it. Well done for 2 years sober! I understand when you say it wasn't a choice for you, but it is still an accomplishment and lots of efforts on your part and that is definitely something to celebrate :)

[@dylannmarie]

My own experience is so incredibly similar. I’ve questioned my drinking problem off and on because my friends would also relay to me that I wasn’t so bad.

[@justsomebody7702]

You’ve found the middle ground ❤️

[@michaelcraigie344]

Thank you for sharing your relationship with alcohol and drinking AND getting sober and staying sober! You saw that you absolutely needed to not drink again because after you took the first drink you did not know what would happen. To me that's step 1 in AA, powerless and life had become unmanageable. I'm glad that you also shared that life continues to happen, good and bad. We just don't drink no matter what happens. I pray that you continue with your sober journey. I'm very grateful to be clean and sober since 2/23/1977.

[@lucymoon]

1977!! Well done! 🤍🤍

[@itscool770]

I think when you were saying you were walking down the street at 4 months sober and you felt serotonin for the first time again that you are describing the pink cloud effect. For me I felt not like a cloud that lifted but moments of pure happiness in the mundane. Making myself a meal, washing my face, making my bed etc. All the things that should have been simple before but were made difficult when I was drunk or hungover. That for me was the pink cloud effect. I was elated to not feel like shit while I was doing life. The effect eventually passed and I stopped getting giddy over simple life moments but I’m 100% happier as a sober person.

[@berwynluxe2751]

Fab video and makes me think!!

[@evanevans9100]

My alcohol problems started at 20 and I hadn’t realized it was a problem until this year at age 23. Here’s to leaving it all behind in 2024 🎉

[@jesshiggins4595]

Detoxed twice, and went to rehab for 4 months. I had to go to the hospital today for suicidal ideation. Hopefully, now I can quit. I'm sick of being sick all the time

[@benmoradi]

Love this! This message is so inspiring. I just started my channel to spread the same message and hopefully help others struggling with sobriety.

[@writtenbydaria]

even as someone who has fortunately never had issues with drinking, this was such a helpful video on multiple levels. especially your perspective on being able to trust yourself again and how it effected your self esteem + learning how to co-exist with your emotions instead of living in a constant state of avoidance, i really needed to hear that. thank you for sharing

[@sarahnelson8836]

As someone who has never been drunk and who viscerally dislikes the experience of alcohol generally it is really validating to hear you talk about how things affected you even with just a few drinks. I feel like the after effects aren’t talked about enough, especially in AFAB (and neurodivergent) people. I don’t think disliking the effects or having increased effects are enough to keep people from developing a problem with alcohol, but for me at least my own experience in my body made me think that it could become dangerous for me since it seemed to have an outsized effect. I don’t think I’m missing anything by having made this decision young either - despite being told otherwise. Some things in this world are not for everyone and that’s okay

[@sunshineandscriptures]

Thanks so much for sharing I appreciated this and can relate to a lot of it. Also you remind me of keira knightley

[@procrastinatetolive]

This really speaks to me as this explains my relationship with alcohol! Now it is rare that I drink. I suppose I’m 95% sober however I’m hesitant to go all in. There is 5% the “healthy” side of me that can go out and have a nice meal with a couple of wines, going to Italy and wine tasting that I don’t want to give up. This is what I’m navigating if I can do sobriety without labelling it so and still have a drink a couple of times a year? Everyone’s journeys are different I suppose but I love hearing about people’s experience! Xx

[@franziskani]

Of course you can ! Unless you take medication. And sampling wine is not the same as getting drunk. Also you are obviously able to NOT drink for long stretches of time. So no addiction. And no regular low level consumption (that could lead to alcoholism but even if not, it is a drain on the liver and will cost you some brain cells. Nothing too bad ... but still).

[@davemccall1134]

Lucy I truly want to give you a pat on the back for your comments. Just having the insight to realize, at relatively being young at age, to know that talking about adversity won't necessarily solve it but it definitely makes it easier to cope with. Having the intestinal fortitude to not giving yourself any no fault excuses to relapse. Nor to delude yourself that if you went back you'd magically become a social drinker. I stopped drinking eight years ago after drinking for fifty years with the last thirty-five years drinking excessively every day. I only wish I had the maturity and courage to stop when I was your age. You should be very proud of yourself for accomplishing something that few can do. Wishing you only the best. Take care and never quit on yourself!

[@marycountry]

Thank you

[@Dani.P.F.]

Happy 2 years! Well done. I am 4,5 months sober and I'm going to talk about it here, because no one in my life knows. This is the first time telling someone. I used to drink 1-2 times per week. I wouldn't call myself an alcoholic but I definitely used it to shut off my brain. Well, this year was hell for me and I was really depressed starting in April. I'm diagnosed with depression but there were reasons to why it got bad. Family stuff, work stuff, health stuff, nothing seemed to go right. No matter what I tried to get better, as soon as I would feel a little more stable, something else came up. Trigger warning for s*icid*l thoughts. I wanted nothing more than to not be here anymore. Everyday was a fight to not do something drastic. I thought of different ways to do it, how it would affect my family, what it would mean for their future and how I could choose a way that would be less devastating for them. Obviously there's none, but if you experienced it you know. Well, I decided to become an alcoholic and to drink myself to death. I knew how my alcoholic family members are viewed by my closest family, so I thought it would make sense to make them hate me. You know, slowly deteriorate, become an asshole and a person no one wants to be around. Thankfully that didn't happen. Instead this shocked me enough for me to give my life a last chance. And I'm happy to report, I'm doing better. I'm still rebuilding the trust I lost in and with myself. There are bad days and I'm nowhere near healthy. But I'm working hard to get there. I actually picked up a new hobby which I want to turn into my career one day - photography. I'm glad I stopped drinking. I wanted to stay sober until New Year's, but I actually don't want to go back. I have moments of wanting to drink, but if I actually think about it I don't. Alcohol sucks.

[@Holytightss]

I don’t know you but I’m proud of you!

[@Dani.P.F.]

@@Holytightss Thank you! That's really sweet.

[@maike628]

Even though we have never met I want you to know that I am proud of you! I hope your photography will bring you many more happy moments. There are always going to be more motives worth being captured by you

[@Dani.P.F.]

@@maike628 thank you!