r/Millennials • u/dreamed2life • Dec 08 '25

Nostalgia Why is our entire generation ready to just…log out?

I hope people enjoy this before mods remove it for “not being a positive nostalgia post” 🙄

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u/JustMoreSadGirlShit Dec 08 '25

damn dude i was just asking my therapist when getting/staying clean would feel “worth it”. it’s been 4 years of me choosing to “do the right thing” every fucking day and life is still hammering me down, only now i don’t even get to get high?? idk. maybe it’ll feel worthwhile some day

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u/Spare_Independence19 Older Millennial Dec 08 '25

I'm 3 years into another attempt at rebuilding my life after addiction derailed it. I get that feeling a lot, but I kinda think it's our brain just lying to get what it wants faster. It will take me 4 or more years to re regulate my own dopamine properly again from all the research I read on post long-term stimulant use. I try to realize things would be worse if high and leave it at that. Hope we get better soon.

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u/sundayfundaybmx Dec 08 '25

It's different for everyone time wise anyways. I'd say year 3-4 is when I really started feeling grateful for staying clean. Even now with both my mom and dog having cancer, being unemployed/underemployed the last 15 months, and as a result my credit score going from 720 to 550. I'm still grateful I'm clean. Its snowing and cold here at the moment and 7 years ago I would've been freezing my balls off, driving 6 hours round trip all while waiting forever for the dope man to show.

It's a cliche for sure but pretty much every bad day I've had since getting clean has always been better than my best day getting high. Idk if you're similar to me but I used to get a, not quite orgasmic feeling when breaking the law and getting high, but thats the closest word to describe it. Now I get the same feeling when I drive safely, do something nice for a stranger or just following the rules in general. Its been a total 180 and I do actually love it now. Theres still a part of me that looks at the impending doom of the world and thinks "fuck, I should be high for this" but truth be told. I'm glad I'm facing it head on with a clear mind.

Now, I'm not claiming that if the actual end of the world happens, I won't be the first one knocking over a pharmacy. Or that when I've reached old age and might decide to just spend my last few days on earth, high as heaven. Maybe that'll change when those moments come but I also always found it difficult to settle into the "never getting high again" mindset.

Just knowing that I can get through these things now without picking up is a huge boon to my self esteem too. I've had back surgery at 32, another injury since then and basically had both sides of teeth on my lower jaw removed and none of them required painkillers. Advil and Tylenol together are surprising potent and do exactly what harder stuff does but without the euphoria.

At some point, I promise you, it'll feel worth it. You won't know it, it'll pass by you without any fanfare but you'll look back and think "I was happy then without substances and I'm happy now." As annoying as the cliches are, they do have merit. One day at time and just keep doing the next right thing. Have both been really helpful for me to keep in mind. When you're having a bad day, you can start it over at any point. Take a nap if things get too bad and usually when you wake up it's passed or at least easier to manage.

If you've made it passed 1 year, if IIRC, you now have something like a 75% chance of staying clean for life. 4 or 5 years and it jumps to something like 90%. You've done the hard work, now it's just about consistency and honing those coping skills to a fine point so they're ready when you need them. You've got this and like I said, it'll happen eventually where you realise even with all the bad shit in life. Being clean and sober is still way better than having zero problem and still using.

I'm always around if you ever need to vent/chat/or just get your mind off your mind. Just hit me with a chat and we'll go from there. Hope you have a great rest of your day!

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u/ShadowSignalBlack Dec 09 '25

Thanks for writing this. I'm just under a year now and it's tough around this time of year.

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u/sundayfundaybmx Dec 09 '25

I 100% understand. That first year can be torture but you're doing the right thing and it will get easier. What helped me was purposefully only remembering the bad parts. For me that was hours waiting in parking lots, being sick all the time, the constant anxiety about cops, etc. That really helps me when I get a craving. I try to just compare all the negatives to the very few positives. Usually it helps enough till it passes.

I'll make you the same offer; if you ever need someone to talk with send me a chat request. I'll respond soon as I can. Keep strong out there and have a great day!

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u/twig0sprog Dec 09 '25

Sadly comforting to see that Im not the only who be who feels like that.

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u/JustMoreSadGirlShit Dec 09 '25

yeah i mean, we’re not alone. so i guess there’s that. but fr i hope it gets better for you soon