re: Sorry to post on Christmas night

Tough crowd

Realizing there is a problem is a step in the right direction.

Check out the book by Allen Carr, Easy Way to Control Alcohol.

LINK

A family member of mine read this, or listened to it in this case, and quit drinking cold turkey. He was always a heavy drinker in a family of drinkers. But he was looking for a way to stop and this did it for him.

I've always enjoyed drinking, but every once in a while I will quit, for the most part, just because I'm tired of it. I've essentially quit drinking at home, but lately been drinking more than I would like when going out. Kinda the same thing, once I have a few they just start flowing. I'm pretty good about cutting myself off though.

I wish you the best.

For many years I fought whether I had a "problem". I used to take a few week or even a 6 month sabbatical from drinking thinking that if I could do it I did not have a problem. I didn't need to drink every day, but once I started, I did not stop.

I got sober for the first time in AA in December 1985. I stayed away from alcohol for 9 years. The last 4 of them I quit going to AA. I started experimenting again with a drink here and there. But I vowed that if I ever drank like I did before I would have to quit for good. I was "out and about" from April 1995 until November 1995 and was truly crazy.

By the Grace of God I got sober again in November 1995 and have been sober since.

If you think you have a problem or if loved ones are suggesting that you have a problem, you owe it to yourself to find out. As far as I am concerned, the easiest was is AA but there are other ways. Do yourself a favor and find out how long you can go without a drink/drug. The more days you can put between yourself and the last drink will give you a clearer mind.

I will give you this warning, though, if you do the research and conclude that you do have a drinking problem, it will ruin your drinking forever. This is because any program you go to will say that once you are aware that drinking is a problem for you, you have an obligation to take responsibility to treat the problem. I can tell you that knowing what I knew in early 1995 and abandoning my responsibility to treat my alcoholism made my drinking less fun.

One last thing, do not get involved in the academic exercise of arguing whether alcoholism is a disease, a matter of self control, or some moral failing. I know people who died arguing this rather than treating the problem. At this point it makes no difference. If you have a problem, treat it. You can figure out the cause of the problem somewhere down the road.

I've babbled enough. Get some help to find out if you have a problem. If you do, treat it. Good luck!

I posted my response solely because this guy posted the same responses to my thread a day ago.

He came to a message board instead of going to a therapist. He’s an alcoholic and should get help. He was probably drunk when he responded to my thread. I hope this dude doesn’t drink and drive. He’ll have more problems than just being weak minded.

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when I start drinking I can’t stop.

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A few points stood out, but this one stood out the most. There are many types of alcoholics. Glad it has not affected your life *yet, but if your wife is already frustrated, it is probably time to correct your course.

Hey, Newrow, I' in the boat with ya. I always thought I could control it. When I was younger and in college, I would drink, but I limited myself to no more than three drinks even at late night fraternity parties. I never allowed a photo of me to be made with alcohol in my hand. I was diligent in ensuring I was the master. Until one day I realized that months and months of travel doing construction all across the country had me drink a full handle (1.75 liter bottle) in about three days' time. It had become a problem.

I've been lucky enough to fight it off from time to time without having to go into detox, but I've been on the verge more than once.

I spent Christmas in San Jose, CA, more than 2000 miles from my family in Georgia and Alabama. I bought a fifth of decent vodka Christmas Eve to relax with at the hotel, and I wound up going through about 2/3s of it by myself. Needless to say, Christmas day was filled with jitters rather than joy and I was reminded once again of how I am no longer the master.

I'm gonna endeavor to fight my battle with the bastard known as alcohol. I am at the point that I truly HATE it, and I need to make use of that as I set it down once again and vow to never touch it again.

Those of us who get to the point that we cant stop once we start have gone to the point that we really can't in truth. ever touch it again. We have changed our brain chemistry to fight the depressant, and our brains are now wired to fight to overcome the chemical that we drink. So, when we drink, even a little bit, our brains overreact to compensate and we get the jitters, bugs crawling on our skin, irritation, and all sorts of other unpleasant feelings. It can also lead to death in withdrawal, but I haven't crossed that threshold and I don't want to.

Put that shyte away for good while it's still possible without risking your life from withdrawals. I'll do the same here. If need be, we'll be each others' AA without having to go to meetings.

I;m here for you, and I'll bet I can rely on you too. to keep me on the straight and narrow. This is a battle we're both facing and it's one I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

Stay strong and stay committed to staying out of the bottle. Life can be enjoyed without alcohol, even the fine Scotches that I miss so much.

God bless you, and Merry Christmas.

These thoughts and struggles will get much worse

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. I live in New Orleans so also my life revolves around booze. It’s kind of frustrating. Also my hobbies revolve around it too: Hunting, fishing, and golf.

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Seems like you're full of excuses. Nothing has to revolve around drinking. You just make that excuse to try and tell yourself you're not an alcoholic. However, it's clear by what you described that you are.

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It has always been a point of contention with my wife.

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Maybe you should stop drinking so much. And stop making excuses that all your "hobbies" revolve around drinking. Many people do the same things each day, often as an escape and never need a drop of alcohol to enjoy hunting, fishing or golfing. Also, some people may drink while they do those things, but they don't have to. It seems like you have to, to be able to enjoy them. That's the behavior of an alcoholic.

I hope you get the help you need. Being a slave to something isn't fun.

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Hunting, fishing, and golf

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Have almost exclusively done all without drinking and was fine.

Edited frick