How I reached 90 days
From the Front Lines (#2)
"NachalNovea" writes on the forum:
Hi everyone, I’m not the usual type of guy to be writing on these things but I am clean for over 3 weeks!
This includes weekends at home, Coronavirus & being alone with technology for a long time, and many battles. Battles that without reading the experiences and simple victories of the holy chevra here, I would not be anywhere where I am today. Simply reading what we are all trying to attain + realizing that we are all in this together is tremendous.
My story really starts in high school, and has never been fully under control since. Went to yeshiva and had some good streaks but never really fought a battle. When I came back from Yeshiva, I fell hard and fast. To a point where I just tried to make it from Shabbos to Shabbos. The pre-Shabbos mikva became 1 big tefillah, begging hashem to give me the internal strength to be strong again just one more time. Like Shimshon.
Then I found GYE and I feel like a new person! This has been an amazing journey so far and I really owe you guys a yasher koach & huge thank you.
P.S. The levels on the 90-Day-Chart give me so much chizuk. (I am at the level of “Eved Hashem” now), it’s a phenomenal feature!
Earning the "Tzadik" crown
I joined 90 days ago and BH i made it to 90 days! I cannot thank you enough for the push. I have been wanting to reach this accomplishment for a while now and this site finally helped me succeed!
I just wanted to share with you and all members the following experiences I had on this journey.
It started off pretty easy. Then feelings started coming back. At that point I read the SMART recovery pamphlet which I found to be super helpful in getting me over the initial hump. Over the weeks I was able to keep focused with the help of my wife and this website.
Last night- right when I was about to be crowned with the "Tzaddik" award on the 90-day chart, I was hit hard. My wife encouraged me to celebrate, so I cracked open a few beers. It was great but I felt the urge coming. Right before I went to sleep I made sure my devices were protected. That was a huge step. But it was still not over. My one year old woke up and would not go back to sleep. In the room with her was an iPod that belonged to a sibling of mine. I knew I had it all right there if I wanted. The battle was HUGE. I picked up the iPod and I was about to start flirting with danger. It was such a struggle, but with Hashems help I was able to not give in for almost two hours. I was so upset that it was happening and I was hoping to not fall. Finally my daughter went to sleep. I went to sleep with major urges, but with Hashems help, I fell asleep and woke up clean!!
When I woke up this morning I realized what happened. Hashem wanted me to earn that "Tzaddik" crown. He put me in a position that I was in previously, and where I had failed. It felt like it was the tenth nisayon given to Avraham Avinu. Hashem wanted me to earn it.
This morning I have felt the most amazing feelings I have felt in my life. I felt like a new person and I felt the crown of Tzaddik personally placed by Hashem on my head. I have no other way to explain it. My wife noticed a difference instantly and she exclaimed that I look like a completely new person. A whole new part of me was in the room.
I felt it so important to share with everyone. You have to realize that it won't be a breeze but that is what makes you an Olympian. This experience was so amazing for me, and I hope everyone can experience it soon.
Stay with it. It's wild on the other side.
Thank you again.
How I made it to 140 days clean
#Dave M
Before I share what works for me, I want to thank this wonderful organization from the bottom of my heart for the amazing things it has accomplished. Without the GYE community, I would be lost as I try to navigate this increasingly insane world.
A little background on my struggle. Since I was a teenager, I always struggled with M"ZL. B'H, since I was away in yeshiva during my high school and bais medrash years, my access to the internet was always limited. As such, viewing inappropriate websites was not something I really struggled with. After I got married, I spent a few years in Kollel. During this time, we did not have internet in our home. However, I always struggle with M"ZL. I realized, that getting married, sadly does not cure us from these nisyonos. When I left Kollel to go to work, that's when things started to get very challenging. As my job necessitate the use of a computer, I now had to fight the urge to refrain from viewing inappropriate materials. It's amazing how very few websites are completely clean. Many "innocent" websites have advertisement or links to other sites that can lead to a dangerous path.
At first, the spiral started by viewing images that were not clean, although technically not porn. Not surprisingly, eventually this led to viewing more explicit materials. The feeling of hopelessness and despair that I felt was horrible. I was losing control. How can I look at my wonderful wife and kids after the things I've seen?
Around two years ago, by some miracle I discovered GYE. The feeling of relief was palpable. I finally discovered a whole community of people with the same struggle. GYE provided a map, guidelines, and perspectives on how to approach this nisayon. The GYE handbook is a remarkable compilation of advice and how to have the proper attitude when approaching these nisyonos. Joining the 90-days challenge helped too. I was successful in making great progress in shmiras einayim and cutting down on the amount of times I was M"ZL. I would have nice stretches of 30-40 clean days. However, I would eventually fall. Then comes the feeling of guilt and nothingness. But I kept on trying and davening to Hashem to pull me out of this black hole.
B"H, I'm now holding at 140 days clean. I recognize that there are different levels of addictions and lust related behavior. Everyone has their challenge. No 2 challenges are alike. But I wanted to share with the rest of the GYE community what has worked for me to help me reach this milestone. Some may seem obvious, but it took me a long time to internalize them.
- For me, the key to this battle is avoiding triggering situations and putting up the necessary fences to help protect me from falling. Below are some examples that are applicable to myself:
- I do not own a smartphone. Yes, this has caused some inconvenience and believe me, I do get asked some uncomfortable questions on why I'm "not with the times". But I don't care what people think. For me, having a smartphone will just be too dangerous. I cannot risk it. Perhaps down the road, it will be unavoidable, and I will need it for work, etc. But for now, no thank you.
- I stay off social media.
- At work, there are multiple ways to get to my desk. Some routes have women who don't always dress appropriately. I try to avoid those routes.
- Up until last year, I used an older free filter on my personal computer. Besides it having an adverse effect on the functionalities of my computer, It was not a very strong filter and had many loopholes. After one of my bad falls, I finally upgraded to a much stronger filter. It is one of the best $140 I've ever spent.
- Do not even start "acting out", thinking that I'll be able to stop before I fall. It's a ploy by the yezter hara. Even if I resist now, it will fester and grow stronger, until eventually I cannot hold back anymore.
- Besides working on not giving in and being careful what I look at, I realized that it is just as important to work on my "kedusha" and growing as a yid. One small area where I made changes was listening to shiurim during my commute, instead of the radio. One series of shiurim that were a lifesaver is "The Fight" by Rabbi Shafier. These shiurim discusses how to overcome the nisyonos we are faced with. It can be downloaded for free at the following link https://theshmuz.com/series/the-fight/
- Utilizing the resources on GYE:
- Reading the daily chizuk emails
- Posting on the forum and reading/responding to other people's post
- Reading and Reviewing the GYE handbook. This is an incredible handbook!
- Of course to always and keep davening to Hashem to help us overcome this nisayon.
As an aside, one of the great chiddushim GYE came up with was the concept of "hitting rock bottom while on top". The earlier one hears the "wake up call" the easier it will be to climb out of this dark hole. I find that after having a bad fall, there will be a short period of guilt, shame, and humiliation. This feeling can go two ways. Either it can be used to beat us up and give up hope or it can used as a burst of inspiration to change. It is important to not let this moment slip by without making real changes to one's behavior.
One more point/suggestion I want to make. Chazal tells us that when one davens for his friend, he will be answered first. There have sprung up organizations that were created around this concept. Such as matching up older singles to daven that each one should find his/her zivug or childless couples davening for one other to have children. Many times, when reading a first timer's post that describe their pain that this addiction had caused, I cry. I may not know that person, but I feel his pain. I recently started davening to Hashem to help all the members of the GYE community to overcome their challenge. Perhaps this is something we as a whole can adopt.
I know that I still have a long road ahead of me and can never let my guard down. The yetzer hara is constantly working and coming up with new methods to get me to fall. I still have moments when I feel my resolve weakening and have come close to falling. But with Hashem help, I, along with the rest of the GYE community, will persevere and win this battle.
90 Days Clean
Dear GYE!
First of all, thank you so much for your site, it really does give strength!
I tried it once before but without success. This time, however, when I was fighting my yetzer, I decided to look at your site. As soon as I came on to the site, a few people popped up starting a dialog. The truth is, I was not in the mood to talk and even though I was anonymous, I was embarrassed to be there at all. But something magical happened when I started speaking (writing) with this person who seemed like he needed help: on the one hand, I felt totally unable to help him at that moment and was myself in need of help; on the other hand, just giving him a few words of encouragement did something to me that I can't explain. Suddenly, my yetzer (for that moment) was neutralized! I was able to walk away from the computer without sinning and have maintained the momentum since then by watching your videos and reading some of the material I found on your site to download.
I know where I was holding 90 days ago and I know where I am holding now and there is an amazing difference.
Just a personal note, I am in my mid 50's and also married and so it could be that my battle at this point in my life is easier than for someone who is young and single. But if there is one message I would share based on my experience over the past 90 days, it is this: "Don't give up and don't despair!"
May HaShem bless you with all your efforts to continue to help people and give them spiritual strength!
Motivation+Battle Plan=90 days
I am finally at 90 days for the first time!
What was different about this time vs. all my previous attempts? My motivation, strategy, and mindset were the game changer. I changed my mindset to viewing this as an actual battle. No general goes to war without a plan. For this reason, I began with writing real battle plans on paper for those times I would be in the bathroom for a longer period of time. The plans mostly involved keeping my mind occupied while in the bathroom (for example, mental math), and making checkpoint voice recordings (like checkpoint #1 "on the way to victory" to inspire myself). The basic idea is seeing where I may fall and doing something about it. After a while, I B"H got stronger, not necessarily having to go to the same extent of fighting. I soon learned how to distract myself on-the-go, and moved on from there.
For strategy, I needed to stay involved every day. Not just involved, but active. For this reason, I wrote a blog of every day of this journey, made 2 WhatsApp groups, tried helping other people along the way, and opened up more.
For motivation, I just really wanted to win. I was sick of losing. I was shocked that I had fallen the last time, and told myself and G-d that I was done. This has been a goal for way too long, and I don't care if the battle gets hard, I will win! I'll plan ahead, write battle plans, and will win this once and for all!
Thank G-d, that came out to be true so far! Motivation can actually take you really far! I really hope to continue this amazing progress, going from milestone to milestone, and have an opportunity to successfully help other people in this area.
100 Days and staying on focus
I am 27, married with 2 kids, learn in Lakewood. I have struggled with porn, masturbation, phonesex, google images, going through underwear drawers, and much much much more. In other words, I was a big-time luster. I was lusting everywhere: from the phones in Walmart to my friend's wife's phone that I was given for an hour to fill up with music to my other laptop. I would sometimes go to Internet cafe in a private room and just watch for an hour or two. Any filter I had I got by. My wife shut off the internet on her phone - I still found ways to search and find porn - and usually found something. I am not proud of all these things but just in case there is someone out there who finds this and thinks that he's alone - you should know, I was as perverted as they come. I used to "fill my lust deprivation" with anything - even a semi-romance book I found in a nursing home while going to be mashlim a minyan.
I thought it would never stop, everywhere I would go I would find ways and I would lose all shame. Even once after a stretch of being clean, I was in a hotel with the wife on vacation and I used the hotel computer to watch porn.
Well now, I am something like 100 days clean - I made a kabbala/deal with a friend of mine that if I fall within 90 days I will give him 1000 dollars. So it worked. I can't say I had no slips but my quality of life jumped - not right away - but after like 60 days, my mind got this setting that was like 'okay, we're not struggling anymore - it's over baby!'
Since I hit 90 days I be cruzin'! I hope it lasts. I still get hit with lust and tests and try not to look a second time or a third or a fourth or minimize - but I have already been in places with an open internet and the thought didn't enter my mind.
What helped me most of all: Hashem and a couple of friends on this great site; a lot of keeping busy; and music. But the main thing is that I used to think I have to constantly be in attack mode but now I realize once lust attacks, I am way too weak to conquer alone - so I worked on constantly being on focus - calling people, emailing people, and got close to some amazing people.
Then 2 weeks ago, I had my hardest test ever: I am clean for like 80 days or so and ..... Youtube was open on my laptop for a few minutes and I started watching some 1970's movie with nudity and in the middle I found the strength to call a friend because my focus was so strong! I just started dialing and he saved me so here I am today.
Notes: Reinforcement/Accountability. Social support. Stimulus Control. Distraction. And more Social Support.
90 Days!!!
#Yiddishe Midel
Wow, wow, what a journey it has been!
Before I found GYE, I was stuck in a horrible rut; falling and acting out, then feeling disgusting about it, doing teshuva, and saying never again. But before I knew it, lust took a hold of me and I was at it again! It was a vicious cycle, which I had no idea how I would get out of.
GYE showed me that I wasn't alone in the struggle, that I'm not a faker - just a 'struggler,' and, most importantly, that there IS a way out! Now I had someone I was answerable to, someone cheering me on and checking up on me and I had a goal to reach!
I reached 90 days on the first day of Sukkos, which I feel is significant: to be able to celebrate my 90 days clean with Hashem mamesh!
Although it's still a struggle, it's now an uphill climb, reaching new peaks every day.
I have endless hakoras hatov to GYE for enabling me to actually do it!
Forever grateful,
Notes: Self-Efficacy, Social Support.
By His Help Alone
90 days free of porn watching has arrived. No sense of pride at all, just a deep sense of thanks to GYE for not rejecting me and an infinitely deeper sense of thanks to Ribono shel Olom that there is a way out. HaBo LeTaher Mesayin Lo - since joining GYE, I have often thought that HaBo is the important word - it doesn't say HoRotzeh LeTaher - it is not enough just to want to be clean, we have to do something, show we want to be better. In our case we have all joined GYE, we have made the move, and in return, Ribono shel Olom has given and is giving us the help that only He can. It is the first time in 5 years I have stayed off porn for 90 days. It hurts to write this sentence, to recall the constant sense of shame and self-revulsion at davening the next morning, the fear that my wife or kids would find out - you know it all.
But here we are, all helping to bear each others load, all suffering and rejoicing with each other through the bad times and the good, and that is why GYE is such a wonderful organization with such wonderful people who write such wonderful comforting things which help to drag us up from the rubbish heap. We are all in this together. I feel now that till I joined GYE, I was walking along the edge of a cliff - and constantly falling over the edge. Now there is somebody on my other side, who is stopping me from falling and who I know will catch me if I do. The struggle has not abated, but it has become more manageable. Till now, once the lust had me in its grip, there was nothing I could do - totally helpless to keep away from the screen. I sickened myself - and yet I went ahead watching, powerless to stop. All the while outwardly keeping up appearances...
Now, I think of you guys struggling like me, I think of my GYE homepage and clicking the number of days 'still clean' - and I think I can't just give in and go back to where I was - in the gutter - and somehow I have the strength for that minute not to click the mouse!
May HaShem help ALL OF US in our daily struggle!
Notes: Social Support.
90 Days - Finally!
Wow! Finally at 90 days. It has taken me about 7 years to get here. And the truth is that I am only partially at 90 days. It is a full 90 days for MZL, but I slipped and looked at inappropriate websites about 2 weeks ago. I didn't count it as a fall, because I really need the chizuk of hitting 90. This was the furthest I have ever gotten and I thank you so much for the guidance forum and help!
What made me able to get this far was primarily TAPHSIC. Without it, I used to fall regularly after one or two weeks or a month at most. But now, I went 90 days!!! And my slip from last week was because I let my taphsic expire and it hadn't included looking at things in it. I have since renewed it and included it in.
I am going to start again and now try to get 90 without looking at anything bad.
Thank you!!
(Still) Hopeful
Notes: Taphsic.
Reaching 90 Days
#Heemircho
B”H, yesterday I reached the 90-day mark. There is no question that the competitive nature of the 90-day chart and award system with different levels helped me jumpstart the process. Part of my issue was that I was seemingly the only one who cared about my success in Kedusha-related matters. As soon as I got to GYE and joined the chats, probably the third question everyone asks is “how many days sober are you?” This is powerful motivation even if you are not sure what you are able to do. People care and it makes a difference. Everyone has one goal, which is to stay sober.
Another tremendous thing is the breadth of knowledge available on GYE. Personally, I like to research fully everything I do and I always enjoy seeing various approaches. GYE is a virtual Beis Medrash. Not only can you find chavrusas to learn all the Sugyas related to Kedusha, but you can get advice from the greatest Roshei Yeshivos in these fields. I am not going to go into specifics, but suffice it to say there is sage advice on any question imaginable on the forums.
The tools I use on a day to day basis can be broken down into three categories.
One: avoiding triggering situations. The daily chizuk emails are a great reminder in general of Shemiras Einayim.
Two: mitigating triggers so as not to compromise my control in the face of a triggering situation. For example, if I am feeling stressed, I have learned to relieve that stress as soon as possible before my body decides to try to relieve it with a lust attack.
Three: reaching out to friends I made when I am going through a tough phase.
I am greatly indebted to GYE, the directors, administrators, donors, members, and all those affiliated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Notes: The 90 Day Chart, Social Support, Advice on Forums, Avoiding Triggers & Shmiras Einayim. Coping with Stress.
90-Day Testament
Wow! I really thought I might never get out of my bad habits. For the first time in at least 11 years, I feel like with Hashem's continued help I can really be in control of what I do, look at, and think about. The feeling of freedom is intoxicating.
The Mishnah says 'Ain Lecho Ben Chorin Elo Mi Sheosek Batorah.' Many people struggle to understand this statement. The Torah is full of laws and instructions; what we can and cannot do, what we should and should not do. Freedom is often assumed to be the ability to do whatever one wishes.
We must first have a reality check. Who are we? We are a Chelek Elokai Mima'al. Our Neshama has been put in our guf for a very specific task. We must remember that we, our neshamos are transcendent. We have the ability to grow beyond ourselves.
When a polar bear is hungry, he eats. He will destroy anything that gets in his way. He cannot say no. He has no control. Control is determined by the ability to say "no." When a person is in this world and does not connect himself to Torah (our strongest link to Hashem) he does what he wants. That might seem enjoyable on the surface, however, he has no control of himself. He gets what he wants, and all he wants is enjoyment. To eat, drink, and be merry. To live "life." But what kind of life is that. We were created to become so much more, so much greater than a polar bear. We have a Neshama, a sechel. Learning Torah gives a person a chance to decide what he really wants to become. It gives the tools to be free to do what you really want to do. Emes Yoreh Darco The truth shows itself. The more you learn Torah, Daven, try to serve Hashem in all the things that you do, the freeer you will feel. You are now free to choose. Uvacharta Bachayim!
Thank you so much to the admin. of GYE. This program gives me the framework that I need to stay clean. The sefer Vehaeir Eineinu has been the most helpful tool for me, combined with the 90-day chart and the sponsor who I knew was keeping track of my progress. May Hashem continue to help GYE help Klal Yisrael and may we see the revelation of Hashem's Prescence speedily in our days, Amen.
Notes: Yiddishkeit, living higher. Vehaeir Eineinu. 90 Day Chart. Sponsor.
Another 90-day success
By Jake D.
Baruch Hashem, I reached 90 days clean!
As I reach this milestone, I wanted to sincerely thank all my GYE buddies that were there for me, encouraging me, and who have kept up with me through all the ups and downs that this journey entailed. I wouldn't have been able to reach this day without all of you! I also want to thank the GYE founders for creating this great website and tools!
I know that this is just the beginning and there will be many more stressful and tough fights ahead but what these 90 days have done for me is they showed me I COULD DO IT One Day At a Time. They have shown me it possible to stay clean! Looking forward to many more clean days.
Notes: Social Support. ODAAT.
My personal 12 Steps
By Ben B
These are the 12 steps I took to get me to 90 days clean:
- I have installed an accountability software on all my devices with an accountability partner
- I am reading the GYE newsletter almost daily
- I have blocked Internet on my phone (which is an old phone).
- I have a journal that I use to write sometimes when I struggles (did not write much lately)
- I am in touch with several partners from GYE with whom I share daily my fight
- I am listening to various MP3 shiurim on the subject
- I try to get stronger spiritually (by setting a regular limud schedule)
- I am working out much more than before and this gives me a lot of good energy and good spirit
- I have started my post on the forum
- I try to eat healthier food and get better night sleep to have more energy to fight
- I am using the shvua TAPHSIC method
- I removed the private browsing feature from my browsers
Notes: Stimulus Control. Daily inspiration. Journaling. Social Support. Yiddishkeit. Exercise & Lifestyle Balance. Taphsic.
Success built on diligence
Hello, dear GYE!
Please say THANK YOU to the founder and to the sponsors of GYE. I am very thankful to your holy team. Kol a kavod!
I reached 90 days on the 1st attempt, BH. It was not hard. Now I am 137 days clean from m'zl and watching p-n. According to GYE criteria clean for 110 days. Continue updating on the Wall of Honor.
I must say my discovery of the site where many frum jews like me are working on the same problem gave me a lot of inspiration. I felt that G-d gave me the help I needed for so long, while struggling alone.
Additionally, I tried to be a good talmid and read everything I found in the GYE Handbook. For rather a long time, I faced a problem of being without a partner as I live in Europe. So I tried to talk to others on the online chat. I tried to be disciplined in reading the chizuk emails. Updated the 90-day chart.
I published "My story and my way" - my own topic on the board "On the way to 90 days" on the forum, where I wrote all my struggle story.
Also, I continue learning about the addiction. After reading the Handbook, I started reading the AA Big Book.
I have one devoted partner, who is much older than me and is sober for a long time. I told him all my dirty laundry as sincerely as I could. I told him the things, which I never told anyone.
I plan to join Dovid Chaim's conference calls and to stay in touch with my dear partner, with whom I consulted much through email and phone calls and I will continue to stay in touch.
Undoubtedly, it's G-d Who sent him and you to me. Thank you!
Notes: Not feeling alone. Being active on site. Social support.
90 Days Free: No more Fooling Myself
By E.S.
Tonight I celebrate 90 days of sobriety.
I've had 6 months before but this is the first time it's a sobriety with not giving in to lust.
What I've learned in the past 90 days is it's all about surrendering and allowing G-d to do the rest. I would never have believed that I could get to this point in the past.
Watching porn or masturbating were my drug and they were what kept me alive. When I had 6 months I was allowing myself to give into lust. As one who struggles with Unwanted SSA I would sit in a sauna and look at the men and say I'm only lusting I didn't loose sobriety as it wasn't porn. How foolish was I to think that!
BH I was given the gift of sobriety by starting with one day and now I've been given 90 gifts.
I pray for many more gifts for the rest of my life one day at a time.
Note: 12 Steps.
How I got to 90 days clean
By Josh
Here are some tips that helped me:
Delete everything (Instagram, snapchat, facebook, Twitter, ifunny, netflix). We trick ourselves into saying this is not pornography, but then the images go into our heads, and since we are on a “kosher” (non-porn) site, we think we can search anything! Then, we start searching stuff which leads to ...
Getting rid of subconscious triggers was a life changer, I didn’t fall even once after deleting these apps, besides that, these social media apps etc. were such a waste of time. Fill your free time up with different things (working out, cooking, sports). Pick up new hobbies. I spent my time working out and B"H I have lost 40 pounds. Thank you GYE!
Notes: Stimulus Control. Keeping Busy / Lifestyle Balance.
One Year Clean
by Hashem Help Me
Boruch Hashem, I have passed the year-mark of staying clean, of growing, learning, accepting, listening, and getting to know some wonderful people. In a certain way, the last item on the list - getting to know some wonderful people - was and is probably the most important, and the most life-altering. Because that is why there is "cleanliness," growth, knowledge, acceptance, and some level of understanding.
Thank you to the anonymous forum posters who have cheered me along, agreed with me - and argued with me, guided me, suggested advice, shared their own successes failures strategies and challenges, and encouraged me to keep posting.
Thank you to the chevra who were brave enough to trust me with their real phone numbers. You were there for me when I needed a good word, some mussar or advice, a kick in the pants, or just to share life's challenges. You also opened your personal lives to me and allowed me to be there for you. You gave me self-confidence, purpose, and direction. The satisfaction of crossing hurdles together with you (whether your frustrating moments or mine), and having who to celebrate (or cry) with is immeasurable.
Thank you to the chevra who were really courageous and agreed to meet in person. You really "did it". That's what I needed. To meet real people, nice people, healthy well adjusted people, ehrliche people, singles / marrieds / divorced / yeshivish / chassidish / modern / sfardi, all struggling with the same thing. I became part of a family. No more was I the loser. No more was I the rasha. No more was I suffering in silence and all alone. Plus, you showed me, yes even those of you who fell very far down, - that it can be done. Some of you are super successful BH. Some are still having ups and downs. But all are growing, being more and more successful, showing me and anyone else who wants to see, that a yid in 2017 can stay clean!
Thank you GYE - founder, administrators, donors, and anyone else involved. Only Hashem knows the reward waiting for you for the "kedusha revolution" you have trail-blazed. And as a side byproduct maybe without you realizing it, you have also healed so many people from depression, anxiety, shalom bayis issues, etc, etc...
Thank you Hashem. It is simply not possible to describe the chessed You have shown me during my "journey". I feel as if You placed Your hands on my head and benched me. There is a lot more to say, but Chazal warn us not to list praises of Hashem for fear of limiting all that He has done - which is truly limitless.
Upon reaching the year milestone, I realize that in reality, it is just another day. May Hashem grant all who read this and everyone else too, the hatzlocha to conquer this scourge, and the peace of mind to calmly reach milestones and have them pass by without even noticing. Hatzlocha to all.
Notes: Social Support
How I made it to 90 days
By OzerHashem
First and foremost, I realize it was through a Power Greater than myself.
Secondly, this time was different as there was absolute and complete openness and honesty with my wife.
I also had the complete commitment not to take the first drink. The slightest amount of lust for me = death. And I didn’t want to go back there.
Anytime I wanted to take that first drink, I had to surrender and say, "if I truly want sobriety I have to let G-d do his work." AND HE DID!
I hope now to keep climbing the wall of honor one day at a time!
Notes: 12 Step Program
Another 90-day success story
By sjuser
I have special news to share. Today is day 90 for me! I've made it 90 Days clean for the first time since I've signed up!! I know that I don't really take part in the forum chats (I've found other GYE tools to be more helpful for me, and I've drastically cut down the time I spend online...), but I wanted to share this news with my fellow warriors;)
I've still got ways to go, but this is a special milestone for me and I'm so grateful to Hashes that I've made it this far.
First time I tried I fell on day 6, second time day 30, third time day 67. My last fall was Erev Yom Kippur this year and I haven't looked back! I'm grateful for fourth chances and just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone for sharing their stories, and tips, and making me feel welcome, thank you for giving me hope and encouragement. You will never really know just how much you helped me in my darkest moments. Thank you. And now for Day 91!
Notes: Social support?
Reaching 90 days one day at a time.
Many times in my life I have lasted long times without any falls. The issue was that they were always post-fall and then I'd feel guilty and say "never again!" It would last a while but then I'd have another fall. I always looked at it as "forever." This time, I took it literally day by day and was able to follow my chart and see my progress. This was probably the best Shmiras einayim period of my life! I'm almost 30! I hope to continue day by day by day. One day at a time. Thank you, GYE!
Notes: Tracking, focusing on it day by day.