How I’m Quitting Alcohol After 15 Years: My Raw, Honest Journey
Written on Day 15 of sobriety. Updated as the journey continues.
“I didn’t hit rock bottom. I just got tired of digging.”
If you’re reading this, you probably know the feeling. That moment where you look at your life and realize alcohol isn’t adding anything anymore – it’s just taking.
Taking your mornings. Taking your money. Taking your clarity. Taking years off your life while convincing you it’s helping you live.
I’m not writing this from some mountaintop of 10 years sober. I’m writing this from Day 15. Right here. Right now. In the middle of it.
And honestly? That might be more useful to you than another article from someone who quit decades ago and forgot what this actually feels like.
The Pattern I Couldn’t Break
For 15 years, alcohol was woven into everything.
Celebrate? Drink. Stressed? Drink. Bored? Drink. Tuesday? Drink.
I wasn’t the guy passed out in the street. I was functional. I held jobs. I had relationships. I looked normal from the outside.
But inside, I was running on empty. Every morning started with regret. Every evening ended with “just one more.” The cycle was relentless.
I’d tried to quit before. White-knuckling it for a few days, maybe a week. Then something would happen – stress, a bad day, a celebration – and I’d convince myself I deserved a drink.
Sound familiar?
What Finally Changed
I wish I could point to one dramatic moment. A car crash. An intervention. A doctor’s warning.
But it wasn’t like that.
It was quieter. More like a slow realization that crept up over months:
“This isn’t who I want to be anymore.”
I looked at where I was versus where I wanted to be. The gap was massive. And alcohol was the anchor keeping me stuck.
So I made a decision. Not a resolution. Not a “I’ll try.” A decision.
Day 1 started January 19, 2026.
The First Two Weeks: What Actually Happens
Nobody tells you how weird early sobriety feels. So let me:
Days 1-3: The Fog
Your body doesn’t know what’s happening. Sleep is garbage. Anxiety spikes. You feel worse before you feel better. This is normal. This is withdrawal. It passes.
Days 4-7: The Clarity Begins
Suddenly, mornings don’t hurt. You wake up and actually remember falling asleep. Your brain starts coming back online. It’s subtle, but it’s real.
Days 7-14: The Emotions
Here’s what they don’t tell you – alcohol numbs everything. When you stop, feelings come flooding back. Good ones and bad ones. It’s overwhelming but necessary.
Day 15 (Today): The Glimpse
I had my first moment of genuine peace yesterday. Sitting in a coffee shop, reading, drinking tea. No craving. No obsession. Just… presence.
For the first time in 15 years, I felt free.
What’s Actually Helping Me
I’m not going to pretend I’m doing this alone. Here’s my actual toolkit:
1. AA Meetings
I was skeptical. The God stuff, the steps, the hand-holding – it all seemed like it wasn’t for me.
I was wrong.
There’s something powerful about sitting in a room with people who get it. Who’ve been where you are. Who aren’t judging because they’ve done worse.
I found my people there. You might too.
2. The Supplement Stack
Your brain is depleted after years of drinking. These help restore what alcohol took:
L-Theanine – Calms anxiety without sedation. Those racing thoughts at 3 AM? This helps quiet them.
Dose: 100-200mg daily
Magnesium L-Threonate – Most alcoholics are magnesium deficient. This form crosses the blood-brain barrier and helps with sleep and cognition.
Dose: 3 capsules daily (as directed)
NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) – Powerful antioxidant that supports liver recovery. Your liver took a beating – this helps it heal.
Dose: 600-1200mg daily
B-Complex with Vitamin C – Alcohol depletes B vitamins badly. This helps restore energy, mood, and nervous system function.
Dose: 1 capsule daily
Omega-3 Fish Oil – Crucial for brain health. Reduces inflammation and supports mood regulation.
Dose: 1 teaspoon daily (1600mg omega-3s)
Vitamin D3 – If you’ve been drinking, you probably haven’t been outside much. This helps mood and energy.
Dose: 5000 IU daily
3. The HALT Check
Whenever I feel a craving, I ask myself:
- Am I Hungry?
- Am I Angry?
- Am I Lonely?
- Am I Tired?
90% of the time, the craving isn’t about alcohol. It’s about one of these. Fix the root cause, and the craving fades.
4. Philosophy
This might sound weird, but Stoicism has been huge for me.
Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus – these guys were dealing with the same human struggles 2000 years ago. Their wisdom cuts through the noise.
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
– Marcus Aurelius
When a craving hits, I remember: I control my response. Not the craving. Not the circumstance. Just my next action.
What I’m Building
Here’s something I haven’t shared publicly yet.
I’m building an app. It’s called Sober Path.
It combines everything that’s helping me:
- Virtual AA sponsors with real wisdom (not generic chatbot garbage)
- Stoic philosophy that unlocks as you progress
- HALT checks when cravings hit
- A 2 AM crisis mode for those dark moments when everything feels impossible
I’m building it because I couldn’t find anything like it. Every sobriety app I tried was either too basic, too clinical, or too expensive.
I wanted something that felt like having a wise friend in your pocket. Someone who’s been there. Someone who speaks truth, not platitudes.
It’s not ready yet. But it’s coming.
The Truth About Day 15
I’m not cured. I’m not fixed. I’m just 15 days in.
But for the first time in 15 years, I feel like I’m moving forward instead of running in circles.
If you’re reading this and you’re still in it – still drinking, still trying to quit, still relapsing – I want you to know something:
You’re not broken. You’re not weak. You’re fighting something genuinely hard.
And if I can get to Day 15, so can you.
I’ll keep updating this article as I go. Day 30. Day 60. Day 90. The honest truth, whatever it looks like.
Because that’s what I needed when I was searching. Not perfection. Just someone real.
This article will be updated as my journey continues. Last update: Day 15.
Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend supplements I personally take.
