If any of you has said that to yourself, would you please share any of your experiences and trials you've had -- and what kind of discussion groups you may have participated in -- in order to keep your promise to abstain completely?
I'm an Alcoholic
by Bhagavad 11 Replies latest jw friends
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mike047
I am a SOBER alcoholic. Do you want Help or are gathering information for someone else?
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Bhagavad
Mike047, I'm trying to initiate an encouraging discussion among those who would like to talk about how they keep their resolve to KEEP sober when faced with different situations or pressures.
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mike047
OK, I many years ago was forced[while in the service] to go to rehab. Rehab in the service is not anywhere near the modern day versions. Traetment included force AA meetings etc. To make a long story short, I stayed sober for about 9 months. 24 years later I got sober again and have been since.
At risk of flaming ridicule....I quit drinking this last time because.....It interferred with my SCRIPTURE study. I do not attend any support group. I JUST DON'T drink. After about 2 years of physical problem[sweats, pains, seeing the snakes, etc] I began to see my pattern of behavior being altered. I drank alot of water and coffee....It was a substitute for bending the ole elbow. It was almost 6 years before most of my finer motor skills returned. I still have a difficult time driving an automobile. The biggest problem.....still with me....... is the inability to interact with other humans. During the time of my life that I should have been developing my social skills......I was DRUNK [Also a heavy drug user..of all types. but that is another story]. I prefer solitude, I don't get into as much trouble that way.
1 Jan. 2003 is my 7th year of being sober.
I don't have any magic formula or a set pattern of support to expound to someone that needs help, sorry, and I really mean SORRY!!!
Bottom line, Though...A person has to have the DESIRE to quit, or nothing will work!!!
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Bhagavad
A very encouraging and moving account, Mike. Thanks. I need to think about stuff you've mentioned and say more later. Anyone else with Mike's guts?
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hybridous
I wonder if I'm an alcoholic...
I'm going thru a gut-wrenching change of life, and....yes, when I get home from work....I usually want to drink until I feel good. I don't usually do it, but I sure want to an awful lot lately. What do you think?
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breeze
The old alcohol demon....
I have posted several stories about myself and alcohol. I have also resisted any organized meetings. I had enough of that as a JW.
I believe I am an alcoholic, although I have not admitted it until very recently. December the 9th I will be sober for three months?
I have had some physical problems in the past from the alcohol abuse. Earlier this year I began to have problems with my feet. They are sore all the time. My doctor finally sent me to a specialist, he has determinded that I have peripheral neuropathy. The pain begins early in the day and somedays I have a hard time just standing? Some days I have pain in my hands as well, not as extreme as in my feet.
I wish I had listened to everyone years ago when I started to have some stomach aches from the abuse?
I have not been a strong abuser, just a few drinks a day but for many years I have drank each and every day?
If you could stand on my feet just for a few days you would stop drinking without any meetings or outside help!
ALCOHOL is very sneaky.....once the habit has begun almost any person is in for a struggle to stop....and in the United States it is on every corner and legal.....
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Yerusalyim
Yeppers,
I'm a recovering drunk. I did it the AA way. AA was great at the time. After nine years I have outgrown the need to attend meetings, it's probably been four years since I've been to an AA meeting. They were VERY essential the first year though.
When I went into recovery I was at a point where I was beginning to see rats the size of dogs our of the corner of my eye (but as I glanced over to where they were, they just weren't there). I also broke out in a skin rash and itched for two weeks when I quit drinking. Black outs were so common for me that I hadn't really considered myself drunk the next day unless I had a blackout. They just didn't scare me, I quit checking for the car cuz I knew it would be there (except for that one time when it wasn't...long story).
Anyhow, ya need specific examples or input, just ask or email me.
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Bhagavad
Dear hybridous:
"I wonder if I'm an alcoholic... I'm going thru a gut-wrenching change of life, and....yes, when I get home from work....I usually want to drink until I feel good. I don't usually do it, but I sure want to an awful lot lately. What do you think?"
I've been there, for a year and a half after my wife died. Pretty regular drinking after getting home from work......after twenty-five years of abstinence. It's time to get a life....drinking like that felt good at the time, but started turning every aspect of my life into a bummer and made me black out and break lots of things. Especially mixing stuff like strong Port and economy wine and demon rum. I've had enuf. My telling myself I'm an alcoholic now helps me to not drink anymore. The abstinence felt good in the past, and now feels good again.
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