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Sober Punx United

@soberpunx

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Connect with a global community of #alcoholfree, #drugfree & #straightedge peeps who share a passion for punk rock.

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It is a huge honour to share this story from Matt Henson of Noi!se @noi7se. Pls join me in offering him a word of thanks & congrats on 1yr

"I took my first drink at 18 & very quickly realized that it temporarily mitigated the #anxiety & #depression I had struggled with my entire childhood. After an #alcohol related arrest, I joined the Army to 'get my shit together' & in many ways, did just that. However, my involvement with the #punkrock scene & my career as a soldier both facilitated alcohol being a completely normal, ever present part of my life.

My ability to succeed in my career, raise a family & play in a band, seemingly juggling all 3 with ease only served to fuel my denial of my ever growing dependency. The unfortunate reality was that I was almost playing a part & I was quite literally dying inside.

Success coupled with my #addiction meant that I was never really present in anything I did & I eventually reached a place where I realized that it was all at the expense of the people I loved the most. I made the decision, after 25yrs of abuse, to #stopdrinking. I couldn’t do it for anything or anyone else. I did it because I finally reached a point where I knew I simply could not drink alcohol. 'Cutting down', 'having just one', 'only on the weekends' all of the bullshit excuses I used to continue drinking were over, & once that happened, the romanticizing ways to still drink were gone as was the temptation to do so. I look at alcohol as an allergy. Some ppl may be able to use it in moderation, but I am simply not one of those ppl.

I then focused on reworking my daily, work, band & travel routines to omit alcohol. I am sharing my story in the hope that it helps someone else, but also to highlight that the functionality of my addiction was possibly the most dangerous part. I try not to think about how much better things would be had I made this decision sooner, but I know that my ability to (seemingly) function while struggling with addiction robbed me of years I could be living with the happiness & peace that #sobriety provides. If my story can help just one person in my situation make the decision to stop sooner, it is worth every word I am writing." by @soberpunx

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2 years ago

Hey everyone, it's Jill the host of @soberpunx. Thanks for your patience while I've taken a break from posting. I am working on a few new stories so will be posting again soon. If you want to share your story and help others, please DM me.

In the meantime, I've had a lot of requests about online meeting groups, so I would like to share this new and very cool #recovery meeting that George Alexander @papageorgio13 started for our global scene of #punx, #skins and #hardcore peeps. I've checked it out and highly recommend. It happens every Monday night at 8pm eastern time. Note this is not a step group it's a community support meeting. Here are a few words from George....

"Tomorrow night we have a friend from Houston TX sharing there story with us. What it was like, what happened & what its like now.

This meeting is all inclusive: #Alcoholism, #DrugAddiction, #MentalHealth & for those that are #SOBERCURIOUS. It's geared towards helping #punks, #skinheads & #HardcoreKids in our community. It's a safe place to be your authentic self. See youse Monday Aug 5th at 8pm est 5pm pacific."

Hope to see you there!
Jill
P.S. Be sure to save this post so you always have the meeting deets handy

#soberpunxunited #recoverypunx #recoverygroup #PMA by @soberpunx

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2 years ago

Happy New Year's to all the #soberpunx out there! And tip of the hat to the #sobercurious. Consider a #soberjanuary to start your year out on the right foot.

📣 A massive shout out to the folks featured above and to all of the amazing people who have taken a moment to share their stories with us this year! 🙌 Together we are building a stronger sober community 🤜🤛

Join the conversation - Tell your #straightedge or #sobriety story to give & get support from a like-minded global community of #soberpunx! Let others trapped in addiction know that it is possible to build a better life. Share the freedom you feel & inspire the sobercurious to take steps to become #substancefree!

👉DM @soberpunx for details

#upthesoberpunx #soberpunxunited #xvx #veganstraightedge #straightedgevegan #straightedge #str8edge #sxe #straightedgepunx #PMA #antifastraightedge #outofstep #straightedgepunk #straightedgesociety #soberpunk #soberpunks #soberskunx #alcoholfree #drugfree #dharmapunx #recovery #sober #recoverypunx #recoverystory #soberstory by @soberpunx

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3 years ago

I am very honored to introduce our next #soberpunk, Acey Slade! @aceyslade 🎸💣💥

"My name is Acey Slade & I’m 51yo from the NYC area. I play guitar & bass for a living. I also own @catfightcoffee with my wife. My #sobriety date is Mar 15, 1997. Sobriety has allowed my wife & I to scale our little coffee biz, be a great cat dad & travel without fear of detainment.

What was it like? Well, it was fun until it wasn’t. I wanted to emulate my hero’s like Johnny Thunders who, I’m sure had fun until he didn’t. As a kid the allure of reckless abandon was attractive, but those urban legends are really just delusions of grandeur. Sure, I have great stories and great memories from those times. But I also have stories of my entire family thinking I was dead & not showing up for family members funerals. The story I would tell myself is, ‘I”m just a misunderstood artist!’ But #addiction robed me of my creativity. I wasn’t creating anything and life was going nowhere fast. Alcohol had given me wings & took away the sky.

What happened? I got #sober on March 15 1997. I walked into my first meeting with blue and purple dreadlocks, pink glitter doc Martens & a chip on my shoulder that said, ‘I’m not gonna change…I’m just gonna get sober..’ LOL. Well, change we must or die we will. Lucky for me I found a sponsor who never gave me fashion advice & focused on changing the inside.

What it’s like now? I have toured the world playing with some of the same idols I had growing up as a kid. I only get to do that because I stay sober. If I were to pick up (a drink), all that would go away - I know that in my heart. Life is FAR from perfect & every day is a hustle, but that hustle is a gift."
@aceyslade

Thank you for taking the time to share your story Acey!

@soberpunx strives to help build a thriving #sobercommunity within punk culture by sharing stories of #alcoholfree, #drugfree, #straightedge, sober, #dharmapunx & other peeps who prefer to keep it real. Follow @soberpunx & DM for deets on how to be featured.

#upthesoberpunx#soberpunxunited#soberpunks#sxe#recoverypunx#clnsbrpnx#soberaf#punxdorecover#pma#straightedgepunx#recoverystory#soberstory#soberliving#themisfits taken in New York City , USA by @soberpunx

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3 years ago

"My name is Lucas, 39yrs old from Springfield, MO. I kicked the hard stuff 16 years ago, and then replaced that #addiction with the bottle. I told myself that I still had control, but I didn't. I'd drink every night of the week until I blacked out, waking up wondering how bad I'd been the night prior or why my truck was wrecked.

I finally made the decision to get sober 2/1/2017. I had to cut ties with every friend and loved one I had, besides my wife and son and our immediate family. It was hard, but slowly I healed, and as I healed so did my relationships with my wife and our son.

I'll celebrate my 7th #soberversary in 2024 and I'm looking forward to it. I finally kicked #nicotine in November of 2022 after a pack a day or more for 25 years. I think seeing my biological mom going thru chemo might have helped. I'm proud of myself, and I'm finally able to say that I love who I've become."
@lucas_d_foltz

Thanks for sharing your story, Lucas, and congratulations on 6+ years of #sobriety!

@soberpunx strives to help build a thriving #sobercommunity within punk culture by sharing stories of #alcoholfree, #drugfree, #straightedge, #sober, #dharmapunx & other peeps who prefer to keep it real. Follow @soberpunx & DM for deets on how to be featured.

#upthesoberpunx#soberpunxunited#soberpunks#soberpunk#sxe#recoverypunx#clnsbrpnx#soberaf#punxdorecover#pma#recoverypunx#recoverystory#soberstory#soberliving taken in Springfield Missouri by @soberpunx

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3 years ago

"Hi! I’m Nikki from IL. I run a small jewelry business and work merch for my boyfriend's touring band in the UK. Nov 1, I hit 10yrs sober! Younger me would have never thought I’d make it this far, I know a lot of us say that.

I’m currently teaching myself stand up bass & will see where that takes me. I was in a band called @Mysteryactionsofficial as well @SuperSonicSpaceRebels along with a few projects in between.

Music, traveling & urbexing is what makes my soul smile. I love history, the good & the bad and often think of others whom are long gone. My BF & I travel the world visiting abandoned & forgotten morgues, asylums, sanatoriums, hospitals etc. It’s what truly makes me happy.

At around age 12, I discovered #alcohol. Everyone’s parents had liquor in the cabinets so it wasn’t hard to find. I instantly became hooked & used it as an escape.

As I got older I picked up on other things, but #booze always remained my biggest struggle. I stopped because I had to. I wound up in the hospital & I knew that it was time to face my demons.

I moved to Portland for a year & lived in a sober house, went to meetings, held myself accountable & started healing. That year saved my life. Meeting people just as F’d up & dependent on #substances as I was, was absolutely freeing, because I discovered through others that I wasn’t in that mindset alone. It was my spiritual awakening.

My Father passed 6yrs ago on my sober date... that holds meaning & added even more strength to my #sobriety.

We are what we think. Thoughts are things. We must learn to love ourselves, fight for ourselves & talk highly of ourselves. Don’t be afraid to seek support. That makes you powerful, not weak. You won’t get to your destination until you believe it, live it, breathe it, manifest it.

Spirits 🥃 it’s really called that for a reason. It’s almost like a possession. Take yourself back."
@arocknrollsuicide

Thank you for sharing your story, Nikki, congrats on 10yrs!

@soberpunx strives to #normalizesobriety within #punk culture by sharing stories of #alcoholfree, #drugfree, #straightedge, #sober, #dharmapunx & other peeps who prefer to keep it real. Follow @soberpunx & DM for deets on how t taken in Chicago, Illinois by @soberpunx

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3 years ago

"My name is Maggie, pronouns she/they. I'm a 21yo trans woman who lives in Northern CA. I'm in college, studying rec admin. I love to skate, make art, poetry, write raps, spend time outdoors & ofc punk rock (& hip hop). My sobriety date is Nov 15 2020, so I have 3yrs, one day at a time.

I was always a weird kid, & drugs/alcohol allowed me to feel cool. At 14, I got bulimic, lost weight, cut my hair short, started bullying people & using drugs. Though I had come out as queer & was trying to be kinder, I realized I couldn't use drugs & treat people well.

In 2019, I went to wilderness therapy. I was also required to go to #AA meetings to come home & it worked. It took 1.5 yrs of chronic relapsing, but I finally got #sober through the #12steps. 12 step programs are my shit, but all paths of #recovery are valid.

Today I can love myself and my community. I'm active in #activism, & #punk is a huge part of me.

I thought getting clean would mean no longer partying, but I party like an animal in #sobriety. Moshpits are better sober.

My wisdom is: let go. You have to let go & feel everything. Abandon yourself to service & love & everything will eventually be ok. Keep trudging the road to a happy destiny."
@maggies_rash

Happy #soberversary Maggie! Thank you for sharing your story.

@soberpunx strives to #normalizesobriety within punk culture by sharing stories of #alcoholfree, #drugfree, #straightedge, #sober, #dharmapunx & other peeps who prefer to keep it real. Follow @soberpunx & DM for deets on how to be featured. taken in California USA by @soberpunx

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3 years ago

“Hi my name is John John and some may recognize me as the bassist from #NYC #punk band Nausea @nausea_nyc and also the guitarist for Morning Glory.

I had a life of crippling #addiction to #narcotics and #alcohol since I was about 15. After a 15 year career of using I got clean on March 14 of 2000. I surrendered hands up. I could not go on like this anymore. Not a second more.

I got clean in the #NA and #AA programs in the Lower East Side of New York City. I recently celebrated 23 years of #sobriety. It has not always been an easy journey but here I am. Alive and keeping that #PMA (positive mental additude).

Currently living an Pennsylvania, I have made my career as an #artist thanks to staying clean. Thanks @soberpunx for letting me share this brief tale of my life.”
-John John
@johnjohnjesse

Congratulations on your recent 23rd #soberversary, John John!

@soberpunx strives to #normalizesobriety within punk culture by sharing stories of #alcoholfree, #drugfree, #straightedge, #sober, #dharmapunx & other peeps who prefer to keep it real. Follow @soberpunx & DM for deets on how to be featured.

#upthesoberpunx#soberpunxunited#soberpunx#soberpunks#soberpunk#sxe#soberaf#punxdorecover#clnsbrpnx#recoverystory#recoverypunx#straightedgepunx#outofstep taken in Pensylvanina by @soberpunx

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3 years ago

"My name is Lori Lust, I'm 43yo & live in Mckinney, TX. I lived in San Jose, CA for 13yrs, where I use to be a DJ in the goth clubs in the Bay area, even ran my own for a bit, called Koffin Korridor. I love going to shows, traveling, #horror movies & hockey. My #sober date is 2/20/22. I’m only a year in, but it’s made a huge impact on my life in a positive way.

I started out drinking & experimenting with drugs at 15yo. By 19 I had started dating an older deathrocker who was an #alcoholic. We were together for years but I was verbally abused & one night even physically. Then I had enough.

I eventually ended up in CA where I met someone, got married & had a daughter. Our marriage later failed, my heart was broken & I started going out to clubs & drinking again. As time went on I eventually got arrested & got a DUI. I became sober for a bit after that happened & my daughter & I ended up moving back to TX.

When COVID hit I started drinking a lot. Then stopped for a bit, but when everything opened back up I went full throttle & ended up totaling a car, making bad decisions & having all the regrets. I started getting to a point where I couldn’t go out without blacking out.

I felt like I was hitting rock bottom. Wondering if I stop drinking, will I have any friends? What about dating? I was very depressed, but I still didn’t stop until a year later when I blacked out & woke up in a hotel room & I had no idea how I got there.

My life sober has been a lot better! I enjoy waking up & knowing what happened, knowing my car is ok, that I have my debit card & phone. The guilt is gone, no fights, waking up feeling so much better. All the drinking & drug abuse caused me some health issues, so now I'm working on getting healthier.

I’m still crazy sober & enjoying my life.
Thank you to everyone who’s been there for me along the way & whoever stopped to read this. I get featured in @retrolovelymagazine (@retro.lovely.publishing) sometimes if anyone wants to check that out. Thank you for letting me share some of my story."
@lmessenger88

TY for sharing, Lori, well done on 1yr of #sobriety!
#soberpunx#soberpunks#soberpunk#recoverypunx#recovery#recoverystories taken in McKinney, TX by @soberpunx

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3 years ago

"My name is Niklas, I am 48yo & live in Stockholm, Sweden. I work as a graphic designer by day & have a few side projects like @pigeonskateboards. I skate as much as I possibly can & I like to shoot photos, mostly of #skateboarding or at shows.

I’ve been straight edge since the early 90s, I got into #punk & #hardcore through skate videos and after a while I found out about straight edge through bands from the Swedish hardcore scene like Refused & Abhinanda. I’ve always been sober though, I never had any interest in alcohol or drugs. It was more like I found a name for what I already was. Staying committed isn’t hard, this is just who I am and I can’t imagine it any other way.

My friends have always been cool with me not drinking. The ones trying to get me to drink, the old ”Come on, just one sip?!”, people I don’t really know. I don’t think I’ll ever understand why me not drinking can bother people so much.

Don’t give in to pressure from others, if you don’t want to drink that’s totally fine. Maybe you can inspire others to do the same."
@niklasisaksson

Thanks for the interview, Niklas!

@soberpunx strives to #normalizesobriety within punk culture by sharing stories of #alcoholfree, #drugfree, #straightedge, #sober, #dharmapunx & other peeps who prefer to keep it real. Follow @soberpunx & DM for deets on how to be featured.

#upthesoberpunx#soberpunxunited#soberpunx#soberpunks#soberpunk#sxe#soberaf#pma#straightedgepunx#straightedgesociety#outofstep#straightedgepunk#skatestraight#skatesober#straightedgeskaters#straightedgetattoo taken in Stockholm, Sweden by @soberpunx

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3 years ago

Thank you to all these amazing #soberpunx for taking the time to share their stories & inspire others to lead sober lives! 🔥🔥🔥 👉 Check out their stories on @soberpunx.

And thanks to you for following & supporting people who are making positive changes in their life. It you or someone you know would like to be interviewed, please DM me for details.
Jill

@soberpunx strives to #normalizesobriety within punk culture by sharing stories of #alcoholfree, #drugfree, #straightedge, #sober, #dharmapunx & other peeps who prefer to keep it real. You do not need to have a substance abuse issue to share, just the desire to lead a #soberlife & at least 6 months of #sobriety.
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#upthesoberpunx #soberpunxunited #sober #soberpunks #soberpunk #sxe #xvx #recoverypunx #clnsbrpnx #teetotaler #soberaf #punxdorecover #pma #straightedgepunx #soberskunx #outofstep #straightedgesociety #antifastraightedge #outofstep #straightedgepunk#recovery #sober #recoverypunx #recoverystory #soberstory by @soberpunx

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