Alcoholism Thread v. A sober life is a good life <3

[STEEN]

neo:

i have been drinking 3 years now, i'm almost 17 now,i started drinking heavy since my 14th.

the drinking age is 16 in my country.

 

[justsomeguy]

well my dreams are coming back very full. quite intense and last night disturbing.

its quite rainy and cloudy here today, was hoping i'd get some sun and beach and that could be my entertainment and excercise for the day. have no work today so will try to alternate between reading and drawing.

 

[batmanplaybaseball]

reading and drawing.

reading and drawing is good business.



I got myself slightly slighted on drink last night and I am having to feel for it today. After successfully kicking an alcohol habit over the spring, I have fallen recently into a stimulant habit, which requires me to forcefully 'chill out' at the end of the day. Christ is it an old saw.

However, personal grade at the moment, which includes everything doing, work ect and personal healthiness, I am a solid B. Basically a balance of productivity being overshadowed by lingering substance abuse problems.

I have said it before and I shall say it now again. At least alcohol lets you know daily what you are doing wrong. Opiates take more from you and they do it in the night, while you're smiley and asleep.

I guess that's my blessing to all alcoholics.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Well after some family intervention yesterday, I at 25 am now a kid and am under my family's contro so to say. More or less I can't drink ever again, as i've been threatened.

I got busted after being at the pub on my own having a few quiet ones. I've been drinking for years now and well I guess i've been i denial about being an alcoholic, which I am.

I am not too sure where it goes from here, I know one thing is for sure, I want to be in control and not leave my control up to someone else whilst I am 25. I've hit a lot of lows in life and this seems to be the bigger one, especially since I have now curfew, who I can socialise with, what I can do etc......

Has anyone else ever been in a similar situation?

 

[justsomeguy]

noonoo.

yeah when i was about 21 or 22, my family tried this. suffice it to say it did not work, just caused a lot of grief for everyone involved.

meanwhile, day six here. another night of very deep, intense and emotional dreams. i woke up feeling well rested if not heavy.

the day stretches out in front of me with so many possibilities. almost too many really. having so much time and being in a physical condition that lets me accomplish (or at least start) so many different projects is kind of intimidating - like the donkey that starves while it can't decide which bail of hay to eat between 2 identical bales. regardless, this situation of abundance and indecision is much better than the chest crushing hangover.

my very rapid thoughts parallel my abundant possibilities of action. i would like to slow these down.

was a bit depressed when a friend called last night to invite me out to the bar / cafe. she knows what i'm going through, and insisted i could enjoy a coke or a water with them. told her that wasn't going to work.

anyways, this is getting a bit "journaly"

 

[agram]

Before I got into the trap of booze and gabagenics, there was always that 'sweet' spot after about two drinks. You feel great, and if it dwindles one could always top it off with a light beer.

Then I managed to get off the drink with benzos from an IOP, then got off the benzos with GBL, and then fucked it up needing booze and benzos to get off the bloody GBL!

Now back to 60+ diaz per night, and half a bottle of Vodka.

Really fucked me up. The only way I can seem like my old self again at parties or with friends is if I take a stim of some kind...

Just can't bloody get the time to an inpatient detox off the booze and most benzos (would still need some for PTSD). Maybe soon I could start to regulate things myself. Move away from spirits (I drink spirits because it's easier to get to sleep without getting up to piss) to ale, and slowly lower benzo intake. Despite having more impurities, ale or good beer would make it easier... At least then I can count the bottles. Shame the 'regular' treatment for booze is benzos... What then?

What a waste of a year this has been...

 

[blahman8000]

I've been relatively sober the past 24 hours or so. Had some beer but didn't get drunk (couldn't afford enough booze). I had a seizure this morning. Not a good time. And I know it's foolish and dangerous, but I don't want medical supervision for the withdrawals. I'm not good with hospitals ... I'm hoping I can just get through this and leave booze behind me. I don't want to drink anymore. I'll make it.

 

[n3ophy7e]

Mate, if you're having seizures you need to taper down your alcohol intake at the very least. You don't have to go to hospital but you need to be more careful about how you approach this, to minimise the stress on your body.
Could you even go to a doctor and explain your situation and ask for a small prescription of valium or something, just to help with the physical withdrawals?

 

[demon66]

I'm kinda trying to cut down on alcohol. It is however such a social drug and a big part of night life in my city. Any suggestions?

 

[n3ophy7e]

^^ Hi demon, welcome to the thread
I have the same problem with living in Sydney, well, anywhere in Australia really. Our whole social culture revolves around alcohol consumption so it's really hard to escape it.

It sounds like you might need to alter your social life a bit. Even if it means that you have to cut back on your night-time socialising, that could help to decrease your alcohol intake. Do things with your friends during the day in places where there's no alcohol.
Other tricks you can use to minimise how much you drink when you're actually out at night, only take a set amount of money with you, or only have a certain amount in your bank account (say, for 4 or 5 drinks and your cab fare home), so that when it's gone you actually can't buy any more drinks. Or make sure you drink 1 soft drink/water in between every 1 or 2 drinks. Either way you have to use a bit of good old-fashioned willpower as well

 

[blahman8000]

Mate, if you're having seizures you need to taper down your alcohol intake at the very least. You don't have to go to hospital but you need to be more careful about how you approach this, to minimise the stress on your body.
Could you even go to a doctor and explain your situation and ask for a small prescription of valium or something, just to help with the physical withdrawals?

I was thinking of calling my old psychiatrist. He'd probably prescribe me something but I don't want to end up just substituting benzos for the alcohol. The withdrawals aren't too bad right now. I think I've gotten past the most of it.

What sucks is that I'm already having cravings. A good cold pale ale would be perfect right now, but I know it'll just lead to another and another, and I'll be right back at square one. I hope it gets easier.

 

[n3ophy7e]

It definitely gets easier mate. Just ride out the cravings and try to distract yourself until they pass.
I've been drinking loads of chamomile tea to help me sleep so that might be something for you to consider as well?

And it also might help to call your old psychiatrist as well, if not for meds then just to actually talk about what you're experiencing. It could help?

 

[agram]

The first time I got off the booze worked a charm.

See, I hate fish. Or seafood. The smell makes me feel like staining the pavement.

I bought a shitload of Vodka, and threw 750 mL into the first bottle. Then emptied fish oil into it.

That was day one.

Felt horrid.

Day two, 650 mLs, same deal wish fish oil.

Eventually got to 100mLs, and couldn't deal with the smell. I tapered from association.

Worked a charm. Well, for a while. Not much withdrawals. If any, from a litre of spirits a day.

Couldn't go to a party without 'imagining' fish on folks beer breath.

Shame though. Can't really do it again. I'd just go for another spirit, or beer.

But perhaps for some folk, this might be worth a try?

Measured doses, lock yourself away for a fortnight, and drink the most foul smelling liquids until you just want nothing of it. And as I mentioned, even beer from other folks breath brought back memories of that stench.

It's tricky though. I'm back on, but more scared to try this again than stop with other means.

 

[bignbrown]

The first time I got off the booze worked a charm.

See, I hate fish. Or seafood. The smell makes me feel like staining the pavement.

I bought a shitload of Vodka, and threw 750 mL into the first bottle. Then emptied fish oil into it.

That was day one.

Felt horrid.

Day two, 650 mLs, same deal wish fish oil.

Eventually got to 100mLs, and couldn't deal with the smell. I tapered from association.

Worked a charm. Well, for a while. Not much withdrawals. If any, from a litre of spirits a day.

Couldn't go to a party without 'imagining' fish on folks beer breath.

Shame though. Can't really do it again. I'd just go for another spirit, or beer.

But perhaps for some folk, this might be worth a try?

Measured doses, lock yourself away for a fortnight, and drink the most foul smelling liquids until you just want nothing of it. And as I mentioned, even beer from other folks breath brought back memories of that stench.

It's tricky though. I'm back on, but more scared to try this again than stop with other means.

i might do the same, but with shit

 

[n3ophy7e]

Wow agram that is a really novel idea!! Where'd you come up with that?

 

[blahman8000]

The first time I got off the booze worked a charm.

See, I hate fish. Or seafood. The smell makes me feel like staining the pavement.

I bought a shitload of Vodka, and threw 750 mL into the first bottle. Then emptied fish oil into it.

That was day one.

Felt horrid.

Day two, 650 mLs, same deal wish fish oil.

Eventually got to 100mLs, and couldn't deal with the smell. I tapered from association.

Worked a charm. Well, for a while. Not much withdrawals. If any, from a litre of spirits a day.

Couldn't go to a party without 'imagining' fish on folks beer breath.

Shame though. Can't really do it again. I'd just go for another spirit, or beer.

But perhaps for some folk, this might be worth a try?

Measured doses, lock yourself away for a fortnight, and drink the most foul smelling liquids until you just want nothing of it. And as I mentioned, even beer from other folks breath brought back memories of that stench.

It's tricky though. I'm back on, but more scared to try this again than stop with other means.

I accomplished a similar effect by drinking nothing but cheap, disgusting ice brews like Keystone and Natty for months. However, my intention wasn't to diminish my appetite for beer - I just didn't have any money. Now I'm disgusted by said beers and still can't afford anything better.

It was mostly the major health concerns I was beginning to have that completely turned me off from booze.

Been almost 36 hours without a drink.

 

[EoTorv]

I was thinking of calling my old psychiatrist. He'd probably prescribe me something but I don't want to end up just substituting benzos for the alcohol. The withdrawals aren't too bad right now. I think I've gotten past the most of it.

There are prescriptions for drugs that decrease cravings. I don't know what is on the market where you are but naltrexone and acamprosate are two examples. There are several other things without a primary indication for increasing abstinence/decreasing craving that are prescribed "off label" for alcoholism. You may still give that Doc a call and see if he recommends anything.

 

[agram]

Technically it's not a new idea, but I never really noticed it used for booze. But it's a well known technique in psychology. Association, et al.

I never really thought I was doing it until I was off the booze that time. It just seemed a sensible way to do it alone.

It took about two months for others 'beer breath' to not remind me of stale fish. Then I got back into it.

 

[justsomeguy]

one week woot.

didn't get enough sleep last night though lol

 

[n3ophy7e]

That's awesome jsg, keep it up man!!