Eric
I drank for close to 40 years
I drank for close to 40 years. Many of those years, I was the one to drink another under the table. The last decade it was just habit. If I wasn't at work I had a drink in hand. Took the medication every day. The first week sucked with side effects from medication. I was still drinking during this time but around day 6 I noticed I was not receiving joy, buzz, warm feelings, relief, drunkenness, you name it. I thought whats the point of drinking if I receive no pleasure. Tested this assumption about day 12 and still no pleasure/fun. Now I tell myself about the positives of this change. It still feels a little weird because I'm not that guy now when it's been a main part of my life/identity for 3/4 my life.
Response from OarhealthSep 14, 2026
Congratulations on the remarkable progress you are making! I am so glad that you are noticing positive results. You should also give yourself some serious credit for navigating through the initial side effects, tuning into and acting upon the way that the medication changed your experience of drinking, and acknowledging that it can be a little weird to experience such a shift in identity. (I had the same experience.) Thank you for sharing your experience and keep up the great work, Jonathan. Founder, Oar Health.