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Alcoholism Discussion Thread Version 6.0

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weekend addiction said:
I just woke up today and decided today was the day I was going to stop getting drunk every night. I'm ready for the withdrawals because there only temporary and at the level I drink psychological. Don't congratulate or encourage me I have not accomplished anything yet. I'm sick of the way its affecting my sleep and am afraid I'm close to developing a strong psychological dependence. I started drinking daily at 21 and I'm half way to 23 now. I've quit a lot of drugs over the course of the last couple years... Most recently cigarettes and chew. But I have so few vices left that it will be interesting to see how I handle myself through this withdrawal.

Tonight instead of getting drunk I did 3 or 4 loads of laundry and smoked a bowl. I don't even want to smoke much grass because I'm not drunk. This may turn out to be a huge win win. I'll post back once I reach a significant point in my recovery or if I decide fuck my seventies and go back to the bottle.

Would like to add that I am using valerien root capsules and wanted to know what you guys thought of them for alcohol withdrawal?
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Well first things first I think the Valerien Root helped a short time but I had to take extra's. It seems to take a lot of time to kick-in\build up in your system so you might want to take it a couple days before you quit drinking I don't really know if that would be better or worse but it sounds right.

So I was smoking too much grass during my little detox. I had a couple sober days and maybe 2 days with only one pint of beer. I quit caffeine for 4 days because my anxiety was so high from not drinking. I think quitting both drugs at the same time wasn't a good idea for a bipolar person. I got close to having a mini-breakdown and went back to both. But I think it will be easier next time around. I just have to save up some motivation and will-power for my next go. This process is really taking a lot out of me. Silly addicts always underestimate and then get shocked by their own withdrawals symptoms.

I realize that I do most of my drinking with in an hour of getting home. I realize I waste a lot of time drinking, buying alcohol, budgeting for alcohol etc. My room is a wreck. Why? Because I get shit-faced every night and make a mess that I never feel up to cleaning in the morning. I decided that instead of getting on subs or done that I would drink to deal with W\D and PAWS. I thought it might be easier to taper off the drink than off the done. Maybe at the level I drink it is.

I quit heroin, cigs, 4mg Xanax a day, Vyvanse every day, chewing tobacco, excess sugar, a lot of shit. But as I'm coming up on the home stretch I've got a relatively manageable addiction that I just don't want to let go of. I will seek the help of a counselor most likely before I try to quit again. There's a lot of mental stuff in my subconscious that I'm just not processing fully.
 
GenericName12 said:
The guilt you feel is very typical.

You can't save him. You HAVE to focus on yourself. He has to save himself. None of this is your fault.

Perhaps you could move out for a little while? If you're afraid, now is the time to go.
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appreciate the words of wisdom. Had a good talk with him, told him everything calmly; it's tough but he's a good man. Only feel fear when he gets bad.
I know I sound like a broken record but he is of pure heart and chances are what's needed here. Still, I know and it was good to hear from a stranger what I know inside to be true. thank you
 
So just woke up from a bender. Alcohol always make me wake up earlier than planned and incredibly harder to get back to sleep. Basically starting to realise i am most definitely an alcoholic at 23. This has progressed in the last 18 months living with my father, also an alcoholic. Started out with just drinking in the evenings with him. It's now moved on to secretly swigging on the spirits and replacing their levels every couple of days, which is denting my bank balance more than id really wish. It's like i cant even escape these feelings of wanting to be pissed when i wake up and places id go, such as the library, in order to get my assignments done without the temptation of "oh just one beer" at 3pm and then no work gets done. Like yesterday, went all the way into the city to do dissertation work. Went straight to the pub, then bought a record, then went to the cinema. All of this on my own might i add. I drank a horrendous amount. Didn't black out thankfully. I've told myself today is a new start, especially since i need to get this work done thats been neglected cos of my drinking. But im not sure how true that will be. I dont get withdrawals, well physical at least.
 
X2thec
I know where you are because I was getting like this a few months back n have nearly lost my masters over it. Do you have a local drugs n alcohol team Whom you could contact to help you? Please get this sorted. With you saying dissertaion you're either doing a bachelor's degree or a masters n you do not want alcohol to ruin that for you.
Sorry I can't really advise further as I'm from the UK n not sure what service so you have in you area.
Here you need to talk,
Evey xxxx
 
I decided to post here, it has been 10 days since I last drank alcohol, and am so discouraged. I just looked up the prognosis for alcoholism in academic journals and lets just say, I couldn't find a single one that was at all encouraging. It just makes me think 'I'm not even 30, best case scenario, I have to put up with this shit until I am in my 70s or 80s after a pretty miserable life' and so I ask myself, what is the fucking point? I have every single 'risk factor' for a 'poor prognosis' anyway.

Not to frighten you x2thec, well actually I take that back, you should be frightened, I was in a more or less identical situation to you at 23 and 5 years later, I have been detoxed once by my doctor,\ I have RUINED my life because of alcohol and when I am 'drinking' I probably easily get through a bottle and a half of vodka for days, or if I am more honest, months/years in a row. I would really get in touch with an addiction agency in your area and see if they can help you before you progress further down this horrible path in life. However, that you are not having physical withdrawal is really positive, sounds like you have a good chance of beating it if you really want to, but act sooner rather than later :).

ha, what a depressing 100th post!
 
x2theC said:
So just woke up from a bender. Alcohol always make me wake up earlier than planned and incredibly harder to get back to sleep. Basically starting to realise i am most definitely an alcoholic at 23. This has progressed in the last 18 months living with my father, also an alcoholic. Started out with just drinking in the evenings with him. It's now moved on to secretly swigging on the spirits and replacing their levels every couple of days, which is denting my bank balance more than id really wish. It's like i cant even escape these feelings of wanting to be pissed when i wake up and places id go, such as the library, in order to get my assignments done without the temptation of "oh just one beer" at 3pm and then no work gets done. Like yesterday, went all the way into the city to do dissertation work. Went straight to the pub, then bought a record, then went to the cinema. All of this on my own might i add. I drank a horrendous amount. Didn't black out thankfully. I've told myself today is a new start, especially since i need to get this work done thats been neglected cos of my drinking. But im not sure how true that will be. I dont get withdrawals, well physical at least.
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Dear x2theC,

You will get withdrawal symptoms if you continue.
You have your youth and the strength that goes with that.
Take the good bits from your FAther and learn from the rest. Ask yourself if you want the cycle to continue because one day it may be your son filling your bottles up.
I'm sorry but that's a possibility I'm sure you wouldn't want.
Control. Don't lose it
 
I've not posted in Sober Living since it opened, but am infact feeling I could use a bit of support myself tonight. I'd ask that anyone with comment or suggestion on what I'm going through speak their mind. No worries, I won't be offended.

Starting at the beginning, over the past couple of years my group of friends has drasticly transformed from people drinking in reasonable moderation, to heavy and unpleasant binge drinking. Along the way new people have entered the equation with other party substance I'd rather not have to be in the presence of.

For about the first year, the change was perhaps a bit welcome simply from the perspective of something different. However that feeling hasn't lasted, and while I'm not prone to drink if not with my friends, I do have a bad habit of overindulgence once I get to drinking.

I've made countless attempts to break from drinking, but keep my old group of friends. Put simply it hasn't worked in the slightest for any length of time. I've now went 13 days without drinking, as well as not seeing the vast majority of my friends. I declined a party invite tonight, as I refuse to go back at it.

Just a bit of a lonely feeling when you realize your group of friends has morphed into an entity waning more to get fucked up than caring about what ought to matter. I've also no true objective opinion if the fault lies with myself, them, or is just a side effect of the circumstances.
 
bronson said:
I've not posted in Sober Living since it opened, but am infact feeling I could use a bit of support myself tonight. I'd ask that anyone with comment or suggestion on what I'm going through speak their mind. No worries, I won't be offended.

Starting at the beginning, over the past couple of years my group of friends has drasticly transformed from people drinking in reasonable moderation, to heavy and unpleasant binge drinking. Along the way new people have entered the equation with other party substance I'd rather not have to be in the presence of.

For about the first year, the change was perhaps a bit welcome simply from the perspective of something different. However that feeling hasn't lasted, and while I'm not prone to drink if not with my friends, I do have a bad habit of overindulgence once I get to drinking.

I've made countless attempts to break from drinking, but keep my old group of friends. Put simply it hasn't worked in the slightest for any length of time. I've now went 13 days without drinking, as well as not seeing the vast majority of my friends. I declined a party invite tonight, as I refuse to go back at it.

Just a bit of a lonely feeling when you realize your group of friends has morphed into an entity waning more to get fucked up than caring about what ought to matter. I've also no true objective opinion if the fault lies with myself, them, or is just a side effect of the circumstances.
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My brother who is a few years younger than me was in a similar situation. Lived with a bunch of other guys in a house. Every night was party, party, party....

He got sick of going to class and work sick every morning and like you knew he was headed down a path he didn't necessarily want to be on.

He eventually had to move out of that house and really not be around those friends anymore. Because no matter how hard he tried, it was always the same result...he drink himself stupid with those friends
 
Do you think you could break away from these people? Are they life-long friends ? Could you take any one of them aside n discuss this with him/her? If yoh cannot do that then maybe you need to break ties? I don't mean never talk to them etc just don't go out with them as much (like you declined tonight).

I'm sorry I can't help any further but unless they can see how upset you are n if they are unable to change n do not wsnt to go down this path, it seems the only way.

All the best to you. I understand what being lonely feels like.
Evey xxxx
 
I figured it would be appropriate to post here.

I've always thought my biggest problems stemmed from my pot, dope, meth and Xanax abuse but lately I've found myself so attached to the bottle it's literally taking over my life. In the past 3 months I've lost some of my best friends. They all drink and smoke weed too but I always drank too much until I guess they had enough and want nothing to do with me.

I find myself drinking a pint of Jack Daniels every night along with a few beers. A month ago it was just a beer or two every night, then I went to liquor and it was a half pint every night. Now it's a pint. It all happened so fast. I've been cutting down on all my other other drug use in pursuit of more alcohol. I know I'm an alcoholic, I've been told I was one since I was 16 at my first in patient program. I even went through all 12 steps in AA but relapsed rather quickly on Meth. I tried to keep my drinking down for the past couple years and I've been successful but lately... it's just been a nightmare that is only getting worse. I don't know what else to really say. I never thought alcohol would cause me so many problems in life.
 
bronson said:
I've not posted in Sober Living since it opened, but am infact feeling I could use a bit of support myself tonight. I'd ask that anyone with comment or suggestion on what I'm going through speak their mind. No worries, I won't be offended.

Starting at the beginning, over the past couple of years my group of friends has drasticly transformed from people drinking in reasonable moderation, to heavy and unpleasant binge drinking. Along the way new people have entered the equation with other party substance I'd rather not have to be in the presence of.

For about the first year, the change was perhaps a bit welcome simply from the perspective of something different. However that feeling hasn't lasted, and while I'm not prone to drink if not with my friends, I do have a bad habit of overindulgence once I get to drinking.

I've made countless attempts to break from drinking, but keep my old group of friends. Put simply it hasn't worked in the slightest for any length of time. I've now went 13 days without drinking, as well as not seeing the vast majority of my friends. I declined a party invite tonight, as I refuse to go back at it.

Just a bit of a lonely feeling when you realize your group of friends has morphed into an entity waning more to get fucked up than caring about what ought to matter. I've also no true objective opinion if the fault lies with myself, them, or is just a side effect of the circumstances.
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Bronson,
many moons ago I was in a similar situation and on a steady downward spiral. Eventually, a choice needed to be made. Stay and suffer the consequences or make a move for life. Life was chosen. A move was made both in mind and geographical location and a slow journey back to myself began to take place.
If your friends are enablers and for reasons with many variables, fail to see their own habits as negative influences, chances are your not the only one in the group thinking the partying is going too far.
Perhaps as you choose life, others will follow.

Self love Man. Do it up.
and hey, good on you for the stint without the substances. Make a choice and choose yourself
 
TweakFace said:
I figured it would be appropriate to post here.

I've always thought my biggest problems stemmed from my pot, dope, meth and Xanax abuse but lately I've found myself so attached to the bottle it's literally taking over my life. In the past 3 months I've lost some of my best friends. They all drink and smoke weed too but I always drank too much until I guess they had enough and want nothing to do with me.

I find myself drinking a pint of Jack Daniels every night along with a few beers. A month ago it was just a beer or two every night, then I went to liquor and it was a half pint every night. Now it's a pint. It all happened so fast. I've been cutting down on all my other other drug use in pursuit of more alcohol. I know I'm an alcoholic, I've been told I was one since I was 16 at my first in patient program. I even went through all 12 steps in AA but relapsed rather quickly on Meth. I tried to keep my drinking down for the past couple years and I've been successful but lately... it's just been a nightmare that is only getting worse. I don't know what else to really say. I never thought alcohol would cause me so many problems in life.
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Tweakface,

Sorry your going through this. Please read Cartsmanns Kitty's story. I believe it will inspire you to fight for your life.
 
Thanks for the replies to my post junegreenjeans and Eveleivibe. I'm 2 days into not drinking. I'm aiming initially for 30 days. Will hopefully go longer; but im not wanting to set myself something too drastic. Bought some Milk Thistle and managed to get 5 x 10mg valiums just to help me sleep the first couple of evenings. Very hard to come buy for me so it is not like im gonna suddenly swap over to taking valium. Gone back to my balanced vegetarian diet too. Just keeping busy is going to be the key i feel, so i've pledged to go skateboarding in the evenings too, when i'd usually be drinking. For the same price as my booze for the evening i can pay in to the skatepark and actually do something i love. I am well aware this is very early days and i'm probably being optimistic.

So one question, if i've been exhibiting this sort of alcoholic behaviour, is it for the best to eliminate alcohol from my life for good? Or can one eventually return to a socially acceptable level of alcohol (e.g. special occasions in controlled amounts).
 
I have a love and hate relationship with alcohol but I am ones who can control my drinking nowadays and yes I believe that one can eventually return to a socially acceptable level of alcohol. I have encountered health issues that made me snap out of it and take good care of my body and not abuse alcohol. We only live once so why abuse our bodies?
 
right on

x2theC,

Get through the first chunk of time first and then see how you go.
Really glad for you your setting realistic goals and don't beat yourself up if any strays happen. Sleep and start fresh. Good on the diet sure to help and the thistle for the liver and something to help sleep, great.

Again, get through the first chunk of time and take it from there.

good vibes to you
june.g.j
happy for you
 
Maya, While I agree that many people can go back to social acceptable drinking - I also believe that many really do not have a choice other than not drinking at all or totally over doing it.
 
x2theC said:
Thanks for the replies to my post junegreenjeans and Eveleivibe. I'm 2 days into not drinking. I'm aiming initially for 30 days. Will hopefully go longer; but im not wanting to set myself something too drastic. Bought some Milk Thistle and managed to get 5 x 10mg valiums just to help me sleep the first couple of evenings. Very hard to come buy for me so it is not like im gonna suddenly swap over to taking valium. Gone back to my balanced vegetarian diet too. Just keeping busy is going to be the key i feel, so i've pledged to go skateboarding in the evenings too, when i'd usually be drinking. For the same price as my booze for the evening i can pay in to the skatepark and actually do something i love. I am well aware this is very early days and i'm probably being optimistic.

So one question, if i've been exhibiting this sort of alcoholic behaviour, is it for the best to eliminate alcohol from my life for good? Or can one eventually return to a socially acceptable level of alcohol (e.g. special occasions in controlled amounts).
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Very controversial question. Obviously it is possible to return to controlled drinking some people do. Only time will tell if you are or even can be one of those people. AA and conventional wisdom recommends you to avoid drinking altogether and avoid finding out which type of person you are. Whether you want to figure it out or not is up to you.
 
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