1000 Days of Sobriety: My Journey to Clarity, Creativity, and Confidence

Breaking Free: My Journey to Overcoming

My Journey of 1000 days sobriety

Kate Beavis:

Writer and speaker on all things vintage. I am proud to be (and write about) teetotal, vegan, a feminist, a parent, and someone who believes you should follow your own style no matter what your age.

For over 15 years, I struggled with a drinking problem. It wasn’t the typical “hiding bottles in the cleaning cupboard” kind of problem, but rather a consistent consumption of three to four glasses of wine every night without fail. While many people may not see this as an issue, it was a problem for me. After a long day at work, I would stop at the corner shop to buy a bottle of white wine. I couldn’t risk running out of alcohol and being alone at home with just one glass of Chardonnay.

The first glass of wine always went down quickly, relieving me of the stresses of the day, whether it was a heavy workload or a long day with my young children. That first glass was my reward, the second was my need, and the third was a habit I could not break.

It blurred my edges, blurring my work frustrations, but it also started to blur my mornings. Mostly, I felt fine the next day, but some days I felt truly awful. Over time, I was becoming fuzzier every morning, stressed with my kids, and it took a while to settle my brain to focus on the day ahead.

In 2014, I gave up drinking for Dry January and soon felt much better. My sinus issues subsided, and I had more energy. I continued into February, but eventually gave in and went back to my old ways. I was frustrated with myself because I fully remembered how much better I felt, yet still, I drank.

I noticed people who were heavy drinkers, starting to quit, getting their lives in order, finding love, getting a better job, and traveling. The business owners that I admired were also choosing sobriety and taking their creativity to new heights. I was inspired, and by Christmas 2014, I knew that I was giving up drinking for good this time.

It wasn’t easy at first, especially since I chose to give up sugar at the same time. On day 10 of my sobriety, I was filming Channel 4, and the detox kicked in. I was literally shaking on camera, and my head was pounding. I didn’t give in, though, and by the end of the month, I felt much better.

The first thing I noticed was the quality of sleep I was experiencing. While it took me longer to fall asleep because my brain was so alert, I felt energized when the alarm clock rang. The blurred edges had disappeared. With that, my lower back pain also went away, and my sinus issues became a thing of the past.

I felt calmer, more focused, and more creative. My business went from strength to strength, and I now work fewer hours than I used to and rarely work in the evenings, yet I achieve more. Why? Because I am not running around like a headless chicken, I think things through properly and make decisions wisely. It’s all down to the clarity of thought I now experience without any blur.

I feel stronger, both emotionally and physically. I feel that if I can do this, I can do anything. It has made me feel powerful; I have power over my decisions, my nights out, and my body.

The only downside of the last 1000 days is the way some perceive me. People make jokes and say “oh, just have a drink for god’s sake” comments me. They put their insecurities or hang-ups over the amount they drink onto me, making me feel bad or weird because I chose to quit drinking. Maybe, like me in 2014, they are secretly thinking that maybe they have a problem and are considering becoming teetotal too.

1000 Days Without Alcohol: Here’s What Happened

Benya Clark:

I’m a lawyer turned writer from North Carolina. I write about sobriety, mental health, and more. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter at exploringsobriety.com.

I am excited to share that I recently achieved a significant milestone in my sobriety journey – 1,000 days without a drink. This achievement fills me with a sense of pride and accomplishment that is hard to describe in words.

I remember when I first made the decision to quit drinking back in 2016. I was a heavy drinker throughout my twenties and had resigned myself to the idea that I would always be a heavy drinker. But something inside me knew that I had to change. I was tired of feeling miserable, ashamed, and powerless. I wanted to take control of my life and be the best version of myself that I could be.

The journey to sobriety was not an easy one. In the beginning, I struggled with intense cravings and feelings of self-doubt. I remember the first few weeks of sobriety being some of the hardest of my life. But I persevered, and after 100 days of sobriety, I began to feel a sense of pride and confidence that I had never experienced before.

The journey to sobriety has been transformative in ways that I never thought possible. One of the most significant changes that I have noticed is that I have regained my self-confidence. When I was drinking, I may have appeared confident on the surface, but deep down, I had a very low opinion of myself. I would constantly dwell on my failures and never take the time to celebrate my successes. Sobriety has helped me to break free from that cycle of self-loathing and to appreciate myself for who I truly am.

I am also proud of the physical changes that I have experienced since becoming sober. I have lost 60 pounds, gone from slightly obese to a healthy weight, and even put on more muscle. Exercise has become a regular part of my daily routine, and I am eating healthier than ever before.

Looking back at old photos of myself from when I was drinking, I can hardly recognize the person I used to be. My mind was in a constant state of chaos, and I was unable to fully appreciate the good things in my life. But now, after 1,000 days of sobriety, I feel like a completely different person. I am more content, more focused, and more at peace with myself than I have ever been before.

When I first started on this journey, I never thought that I would be able to go without alcohol forever. But now, I can’t imagine ever going back to drinking. Sobriety has become a way of life for me, and it no longer feels like a struggle to resist the temptation to drink. Instead, I simply have no desire for alcohol.

For those who are just starting on their own journey to sobriety, I want to offer some words of encouragement. The early days can be tough, but it does get better. With time, sobriety becomes easier, and life becomes more enjoyable. There is so much beauty and joy to be found in a life without alcohol, and it is well worth the effort to get there.

As I continue my journey, I am excited to see what the future holds. I know that there will be challenges along the way, but I am confident that I have the strength and resilience to overcome them. Sobriety has given me the gift of a second chance at life, and I am grateful for every moment of it.

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