How I Quit Drinking: My Honest Story After 8 Years of Alcohol
Posted on June 28, 2025
Hi, I’m Matt. I’m 26 years old and I’ve been sober since September 15th, 2022. This is the story of how I stopped drinking after around 8 years — and how one sentence from a coworker changed my life.
🍺 The Beginning
I started drinking when I was 15 — right after graduation from middle school. At first, it was fun. Normal. Just something people did. But slowly, it became a habit. A part of who I was.
From the age of 20 to 23, I drank regularly. Weekends, then weeknights, and eventually… every single day. Even in the morning. Even at work.
⚠️ The Turning Point
One day at work, a coworker quietly said to me: “Matt, I’m only going to say this once. Alcohol.”
That was it. That sentence stayed in my head all day — all week. It hit me. Maybe I was going too far. Maybe I was in real trouble. And maybe it was time to get help.
🧠 Asking for Help
Soon after that moment, I decided to visit a psychiatrist. I was given medication to help with withdrawal symptoms. Then I joined an outpatient support group. I still go to this day. That was the beginning of my sobriety — and my recovery.
🥶 The First 30 Days
The hardest part wasn’t the physical symptoms. It was accepting that I could never drink again. There was always this voice in my head saying: “You can quit anytime. Just not yet.”
But I didn’t listen to that voice. And I’m grateful every single day that I didn’t.
💬 What I’d Tell Someone Like Me
If you’re reading this and you feel stuck, lost, or afraid — I know how that feels.
Even when I went to get help, part of me still wanted to run. I told myself I could stop alone. That I didn’t need support. But when you’re deep in addiction, admitting you need help feels like weakness — when really, it’s the first step to freedom.
It’s hard to accept that you can never touch alcohol again. But if the will is there — even just a little spark — you can do this.
Thanks for reading. This blog will be my way of sharing what it’s really like to live sober — the good, the bad, and everything in between. If this helped you even a little: know that you’re not alone.