What if

Hello everyone,

Lately, one thought has been coming back to me again and again.

I’ve been sober for over 500 days now. I honestly hoped that once I stopped drinking, my anxiety and OCD would fade away—but here’s the reality: they’re still here. So I guess I’m not as lucky as some of you (and yes, I admit I envy that a little).

I’ve quit drinking before. The longest stretch back then was about three months. This time is different—I’m really committed, especially because I have two small children. For the first time in my life, I also started therapy. I’ve been going for over a year now, working seriously on my mental health and trying to get my inner world back in order.

And that brings me back to the thought that’s been bothering me.

I miss simple things. A cold beer in the summer. Hanging out with the guys, having a beer now and then. I don’t miss getting drunk like an animal. That part of my life, I truly don’t miss.

So I keep wondering: once I have my mental health under control, do you think it’s actually possible to drink in a controlled way? Maybe when your head is sorted out, things work differently. Moderation never really worked for me before—but back then, I wasn’t in therapy and I wasn’t dealing with my issues properly.

Has anyone here gone through something like this? Reaching a point where you no longer drink to escape problems, but maybe just drink a little, occasionally? Maybe even get drunk once in a while—without guilt, without anxiety, and without that obsessive thought that you have to keep drinking just to feel okay.

I’m genuinely curious about your experiences.

Thanks for reading