re: I’m headed to rehab tomorrow. ((Updated OP))

Just as a general question does anyone on here know of someone that had a real problem with alcohol and finally quit abusing it but was able to just be a social drinker?
Seems like it’s always all or nothing. If there is some underlying problem it seems then once that is fixed you can just enjoy an occasional drink.

Good luck to you Whit and also to Bama and Beer have not heard how he was doing.

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Just as a general question does anyone on here know of someone that had a real problem with alcohol and finally quit abusing it but was able to just be a social drinker?

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Yes. Turns out the underlying problem was severe bipolar depressive disorder and once he was able to get that under control with therapy + medication then he no longer felt the need to self medicate through alcohol abuse.

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Just as a general question does anyone on here know of someone that had a real problem with alcohol and finally quit abusing it but was able to just be a social drinker?
Seems like it’s always all or nothing. If there is some underlying problem it seems then once that is fixed you can just enjoy an occasional drink.

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Yes, those people do exist. But I think then the argument could be made that they weren't true alcoholics, they were just people that were problem drinkers and finally the problem part was enough to make them stop doing it to the extent that caused the problems. Risk vs. Reward type thing. But for some of us, we just absolutely cannot stop once we start. Or, we'll stop for a period of time and then start again by having a drink with dinner. But then, we twist that in our brains to lie to ourselves that indeed we can drink like normal people. So then we have two drinks with dinner, than a drink before and a one after, then before long we're drinking every night again. For many of us, there is a distinct point where we suddenly lose all sense of control. There is a saying that once a cucumber becomes a pickle, it can never become just a cucumber again. It will always be a pickle. That's how some of us are, we reach the tipping point and can never go back to normal drinking.

For me, I was always a problem drinker from the first time I ever drank. I ALWAYS drank more than those around me. Over time, that pushed people away from me so I mostly only hung around hard drinkers, and I still drank more than them. Once I started having problems (DWIs and lost jobs), I would have bouts of sobriety but start doing like I mentioned above. Have a drink or two but not get rowdy, but within a month I was getting completely loaded again. I had a girlfriend that started getting onto me about, so I started trying to hide my drinking which meant hard liquor. Once the hard liquor was introduced, the fall was hard and quick. Everyday, all day, quickly causing much destruction.

Palmetto saved my life and in a few months (God willing), I'll make 3 years sober. I've had to change a lot in my life and see the world a different way and react differently to things. I pray often. I watch bad habits because I know what they can lead to. There is a lot that goes into staying sober and until you realize that, it's hard to live a sober life.

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supadave3

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palmetto

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I'm a poor so I went to rayville recovery.lol. did home of grace in vancleave ms the first time. I was good for about a year after the first rodeo but did a lot like you said in your post. Got cocky and thought I could be a normal drinker. I can't though. Just wired differently I guess. About to make 3 years in July though and in those three years have done very well with my career, married an amazing woman, and had my first son (7months old now ).. life is a lot better and it really seems to get easier once you get completely used to a different lifestyle. Now that I have a family and things are awesome now I couldn't imagine even flirting with a drink. Too much to lose. Keep fighting the good fight sir.

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Was cabin 5 the fancy one that they put the doctors in?

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No, that's Cabin 10. It's pretty damn nice.

I know Palmetto well.

Haven’t had a drink since March 28, 2012

Whit, I stayed up here in NELA after treatment. Not saying what you should or shouldn't do and I don't know your situation, but they are definitely going to steer you in the direction of a halfway house. They own some in Rayville and there are several others in Monroe. Email me at supadave3@gmail.com and I can answer any and all questions that you have. Hell, I'll even come up there and visit you one weekend if you'd like. WHatever you do, you already have one friend up here in ME. Shoot me an email next time they let you use the computer or on your next weekend pass.

Stay strong, brother! You can and will do this if you follow simple directions. It's simple,but it's definitely not easy.

I'm watching Intervention right now and a very pretty alcoholic/heroin addict just agreed and went to Palmetto, of all places. At last update, she was still sober and regained custody of her daughter.

Palmetto gives you a chance at sobriety, but you have to earn it from the time you walk out those doors and down that long windy driveway...

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I will be happy to buy you lunch at George’s

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After you woo him, Will you take me to George's Place for drinks and dick rubbin.

Yes. One of my relatives stopped pot and alcohol.
No pot ever now but ok with a glass of wine at celebrations. One glass. And not regularly.
She's really into aa.