Addiction & Recovery

rzemanfl

(30,742 posts) Tue Aug 12, 2025, 05:42 PM Aug 12

215

Forty years sober today. [View all]

Last edited Tue Aug 12, 2025, 08:11 PM - Edit history (1)

It just crossed my mind. I entered DePaul Rehabilitation Hospital in Milwaukee 40 years ago this evening. No relapses in all that time. I was thirty-eight years old. I am not seeking any sort of recognition, just want folks to know it can be done.

ON EDIT- thank you for all the recs and responses and for not mentioning my stupid typo, now fixed.

78 replies

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Highlight:

Forty years sober today. [View all] rzemanfl Aug 12 OP

Congrats! SheltieLover Aug 12 #1

Many happy returns! enough Aug 12 #2

Congratulations, and good for you! Lonestarblue Aug 12 #3

Congratulations! AltairIV Aug 12 #4

Good for you. I love a good quit. (Been there) applegrove Aug 12 #5

Congratulations, rzemanfl! MIButterfly Aug 12 #6

Congratulations! LoisB Aug 12 #7

Thank you, Congratulations wendyb-NC Aug 12 #8

Congratulations!!! elleng Aug 12 #9

That's TERRIFIC!!! calimary Aug 12 #10

"" AllaN01Bear Aug 12 #11

Mine was 2-17-95. 634-5789 Aug 12 #12

Congratulations. That's a hell of a lot one days at a time. Extremely happy for you. Magoo48 Aug 12 #13

I'm sure it wasn't always easy! hamsterjill Aug 12 #14

Congratulations! greatauntoftriplets Aug 12 #15

That is a big deal! hope your family is really proud! rurallib Aug 12 #16

Congratulations rzemanfl JMCKUSICK Aug 12 #17

Well done. Torrent63 Aug 12 #18

My kidneys told me to cut it out many moons ago. GreenWave Aug 12 #19

That is a huge triumph - good on you! 3catwoman3 Aug 12 #20

33 years here Wifes husband Aug 12 #22

And a hat tip to you, too, and everyone else who battles this demon. 3catwoman3 Aug 12 #23

That's a lot of days. Well done, you! n/t TygrBright Aug 12 #21

Congratulations gerryatwork Aug 12 #24

This message was self-deleted by its author Kali999 Aug 12 #25

Congratulations! 4Sitka Aug 12 #26

That's wonderful cate94 Aug 12 #27

May your success be an inspiration to many others struggling with addiction!! ShazzieB Aug 12 #28

I am glad if you are glad. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Aug 12 #29

Congratulations 👏🎉 MustLoveBeagles Aug 12 #30

It can be done. NoMoreRepugs Aug 12 #31

You are verifiably worth the effort it took. n/t ariadne0614 Aug 12 #32

Nicely done! Permanut Aug 12 #33

Wonderful! I am now convinced that no one should drink alcohol. CTyankee Aug 12 #34

good! markie Aug 12 #35

You turned your life around - and it's great to let people know it can be done FakeNoose Aug 12 #36

Wow! Just, wow LearnedHand Aug 12 #37

Congratulations orangecrush Aug 12 #38

Congratulations! FemDemERA Aug 12 #39

Thank you for sharing it can be done and Congratulations! Rhiannon12866 Aug 12 #40

So very awesome! Congrats and thanks for sharing! Dem4life1970 Aug 12 #41

Congratulations!!! nt Javaman Aug 12 #42

Fantastic! MLAA Aug 12 #43

So wonderful. soldierant Aug 12 #44

That's good! Turbineguy Aug 12 #45

I only wish I'd quit at the same age as you. LudwigPastorius Aug 12 #46

Congratulations - Time Flies When You're Having Fun Doesn't It? MissouriDem47 Aug 13 #47

Sept. 1st wil be my 1 year Anniversary of no booze proud patriot Aug 13 #48

Congratulations pioche4 Aug 13 #49

That is awesome Hornedfrog2000 Aug 13 #50

Congratulations Duncanpup Aug 13 #51

Congatulations, however Pototan Aug 13 #52

Congrats Bristlecone Aug 13 #53

LOL. rzemanfl Aug 13 #67

Wow Farmer-Rick Aug 13 #54

It is a very big deal and important what you have achieved Pachamama Aug 13 #55

Congratulations 👍👍 TommieMommy Aug 13 #56

I have a birthday Saturday and was just thinking I should have been dead 20-plus years ago. johnnyplankton Aug 13 #57

Mr. Rambling is on Day 4 of outpatient rehab. Right now I find it hard to go out to eat, especially since most of the RamblingRose Aug 13 #58

Keep on keepin on WmChris Aug 13 #59

3-26-1991 if..fish..had..wings Aug 13 #60

Kudos! bif Aug 13 #61

Wow! Congratulations! An outstanding achievement! NNadir Aug 13 #62

applause Bluejeans Aug 13 #63

Congrats. A few of my uncles went to DePaul for treatment back when I was a kid. I think Ziggysmom Aug 13 #64

Yes, the building is gone. rzemanfl Aug 13 #70

Congratulations! sinkingfeeling Aug 13 #65

Fantastic rzemanfl 😃 Clouds Passing Aug 13 #66

Congrats!!!! berksdem Aug 13 #68

Huge achievement. Will-power of steel. Much applause to you. n/t SpankMe Aug 13 #69

Very nice. Keep it up. Old Crank Aug 13 #71

Bravo! ChazInAz Aug 13 #72

31yrs for me soon BubbaJoe Aug 13 #73

Excellent! BoRaGard Aug 13 #74

Wow! Congratulations 🎉 k55f5r Aug 13 #75

CONGRATS!! vapor2 Aug 13 #76

An amazing milestone sdfernando Aug 13 #77

❤️ littlemissmartypants Aug 13 #78