So I start treatment for alcoholism next week... *UPDATED! #2* 1/6/08

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
:thumbsup:

hang in there, one day at a time

:thumbsup:

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: 911paramedic
I'm so full of shit.

Are you Atheist by chance? You apparently can't tell the difference between "spiritual" and "religion". AA is a spiritual but nonreligious program.

AA provides tools for its participants to maintain sobriety, including the 12 steps, group identification, and mutual help. More specifically, ?AA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking?

Either way, WTF is your problem with AA? There's no reason to bash it and say it's BS just because you don't like it's spiritual basis. You said out of 50 of the people you know, 10 went on to stay sober for over 10 years. Others attained many years.

So you're saying there's an 30-40% success rate in helping individuals stop drinking? Show me ANY alcoholic program that has a 80-100% cure rate. The problem is people are HUMAN. They make mistakes. A large amount of these people have problems with themselves that leads to their drinking. What AA is trying to do is providing group meetings in hopes that you will identify with people who may have your problems and provide tools that could help you to achieve sobriety.

Is it better to try and help than to not help at all?

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: JohnCU
Found one who is nationally and state certified to treat alcoholism but I can't help but wonder what she could possibly say/do to help me stop if waking up every morning feeling like shit and ruining my health isn't enough to stop me? I've read every article there is to read, bought a book to self-help and know what I'm doing to myself, but it isn't enough.

Here's hoping she has the magical answer. If anyone else has it, I'd be willing to listen.

How old are you? How long have you been drinking?

23, 2 years but not every night (well 4 times a week) until last october

What happened last October...a major thing in your life?

BTW, the American Hospital Association, the American Public Health Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the American College of Physicians classify "alcoholism" as a disease, as has the AMA.

I've known a lot of Alcoholics in my time and the one common thing I believe is that the addiction is progressive. While they drink they always get worse, not better. A guy I knew who would just have a couple drinks every night turned into 10, 12, 24 and so on, over time. After several years, he started to get so drunk he was an embarrasment to his family when they would have guests over. Then it effected his work and he lost his job. The marriage went away and he was seriously injured in a car wreck while drunk.

He had hit ground zero and with nothing left to lose made the decision to get treatment, but not before trying to OD on pills. When that didn't work, he finally checked into a treatment facility. Some people cannot stop drinking on their own.

My friend "Bob" has since rebuilt his life, is remarried and has a successful career. He knows if he ever again takes one drink, he may as well throw it all away.

If you really want to stop drinking you can.

 

[SirStev0]

Unless you are religious or willing to become so watch out with AA.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: dug777
On a more basic level, can you find some work that precludes drinking on a regular basis?

In my work I can get away with a big dinner n drink once every few months at the very most, but any kind of regular week night drinking would see me in a significant amount of trouble...

Best of luck mate :beer:

fluffer?

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
You just don't want to quit drinking. I don't care how many times you write that you do, when it comes down to it you really don't want to stop.

I've dealt with this too many times in my life and I don't believe anybody when they say they want to quit drinking. I believe it when I see it myself and when I can tell they really quit. Yes, I've had friends and family members in the hospital with the DTs. Yes, I've had friends and family members with DWIs. I have a close friend who is on a waiting list for a liver transplant mostly due to his drinking and his hepatitis. But yeah, I've heard all of the excuses.

Fuck the excuses. Alcoholism is not a disease and it pisses me off when people say that. You're just too fucking weak to take care of yourself and, in the end, you'll make everybody around you pay for it. Right now you're telling yourself that it's all fine because nobody close to you knows but chances are they're alcoholics or big-time enablers themselves.

If you want to do it, you'll do it (I hope you do BTW). Until then, shut the fuck up.

You may be surrounded by the problem, but you don't understand it.

I like drinking personally. It's a craving I have, but not an addiction. My wife asked me to do weekends only, 12 beers max and I am ok with that.

I used to drink 12 a day, just about every day for a long time. These were spaced out so I was never falling down drunk, but many would say I was just a functioning alcoholic. My recycling bins had neighbors asking how I kept my parties so quiet.

There were two major times in my life when I was challenged (this is the BS I don't agree with...the question that qualifies you as an alcoholic because others have questioned your drinking), I did 3+ month stints without a drink even when the people challenging me decided to play drinking games.

I don't require beer, but I like it. Some people have to have COH and they will drink rubbing alcohol to get it....that is a fucking disease/condition/whatever that you can't just decide to turn off. Also the BIG thing in beating something like this is to make sure whatever you replace the bad habit with is a good habit.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: XZeroII

Your line, 'AA is BS' is BS itself. Sure, it may be religious, but it works. So what if believing in a doorknob helps IF IT HELPS??!! The goal is to stop drinking and if it works (which is has worked for lots of people), then why is it BS? The quality of these people's lives has improved dramatically and I would say that this is what really matters.

qft, religion is basically BS in many people's books as well, BUT if you can get those that buy into it sold...you have cured them.

90% of the world is BS...most people whether they like it or not are a sucker.

 

[JohnCU]

update #2.

 

[Daaavo]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
update #2.

Interesting update. I hope things work out well for you.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
update #2.

I am curious why only the two options?

 

[aplefka]

Sounds rough man. Part of it sounds like pride though man. You're ruining your life and you're too hung up on spirituality to get help. Seems pretty ridiculous to me. Think of what's more important to you I guess.

Good luck with it all.

 

[dawp]

Spiritual does not mean religious and there are atheists in AA. I have an alcoholic ex-wife and have been to several meetings and I'm agnostic. It's your higher power and that does not necessarily mean 'GOD', just what you want it to be. give it a try and ignore all the god bs that others spout. AA did help her in not drinking. it can't hurt and may help. And besides they do have social functions from time to time to take the place of going out to bars and clubs.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Good luck.

I guess bragging about how drunk you got in college is coming back to bite you in the ass huh?

 

[rise]

what literature have you read that made you decide not to go to any meetings, to at least try them?

 

[Azraele]

I wish you the best of luck. It saddens me that had "been out drinking since 6pm" and that you have not attended any AA meetings.

Let me ask you some questions. You don't have to answer me, but you do need to answer truthfully to yourself.

Do you want to stop drinking?
How does drinking affect those you care about?
How do you feel about yourself when you drink?
What other recourses could you take?
Where do you want your life to be in 5 years? 10?

Consult your doc about your anxiety and alcoholism. He or she may be able to give you some good leads.

 

[Mo0o]

have you looked into a inpatient program?

if you really want to quit you should at least let your friends know about your condition so they can help you out.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: rise
what literature have you read that made you decide not to go to any meetings, to at least try them?

went to several online meetings and other forums and from what i've seen, they tell you to find god and straighten up. that's not how i see it. but if that works for people then by all means, use it.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Azraele
I wish you the best of luck. It saddens me that had "been out drinking since 6pm" and that you have not attended any AA meetings.

Let me ask you some questions. You don't have to answer me, but you do need to answer truthfully to yourself.

Do you want to stop drinking?
How does drinking affect those you care about?
How do you feel about yourself when you drink?
What other recourses could you take?
Where do you want your life to be in 5 years? 10?

Consult your doc about your anxiety and alcoholism. He or she may be able to give you some good leads.

the first person i went to was my doctor. i told him about my problem and he just prescribed a stronger anti depressant. i'm going to go back and probably request naltrexone at my next appt, or even antabuse, atleast then i'll know i can't drink (even if that's just a crutch).

ON to your questions:
1. yes
2. hard to answer, haven't screwed up anything yet (yet being the key word)
3. drinking just soothes those cravings, it's hard to resist, even with all the negative problems that come with it
4. i dunno?
5. still not sure.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: rise
what literature have you read that made you decide not to go to any meetings, to at least try them?

went to several online meetings and other forums and from what i've seen, they tell you to find god and straighten up. that's not how i see it. but if that works for people then by all means, use it.

So you just gave up without trying it? How the heck did going out drinking help?

 

[purepolly]

You do have a GOD - it's called alcohol.

(shakes head... walks away from this train wreck)

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: rise
what literature have you read that made you decide not to go to any meetings, to at least try them?

went to several online meetings and other forums and from what i've seen, they tell you to find god and straighten up. that's not how i see it. but if that works for people then by all means, use it.

So you just gave up without trying it? How the heck did going out drinking help?

i'm almost anti-religion, so there is no way i'm going to go in and sit there and listen at how these people found god and how it saved their life. well, guess what, god made you what you are, he gave you this disease/problem/whatever you want to call it, so you go ahead and thank him if you want.

 

[Cogman]

I wish you the best of luck, it is never fun trying to overcome an addiction. (I've dealt with several people that have tried). Some Suggestions for you, quit cold turkey, avoid even a little alcohol. If you have an addiction but you just want to find a balance, you will fail. The best way to succeed is to completely cut off the source and go through whatever it takes. With that in mind, avoid places where drinking is easy and accessible, you won't have to avoid them forever, just for a couple of months. You need to remove any temptation to drink so as to make it easier on yourself. One more thing you need to do, and this is probably the hardest, let people know that you are trying to stop drinking. The more of your friends know, the more support you will get (generally), even when you have company over, if they are going to drink or ask for a drink just tell them you are trying to quit drinking and it would be really helpful if they didn't drink either. Trust me, people won't be offended, this is just an excuse your mind will make to try and get you to drink.

You may have heard these tips before, but they do help. One more thing you might try and do is put up little signs everywhere that say things like "I'm stronger then the drink" Anywhere you would keep alcohol normally replace it with a sign like that (don't know where you could find them, you might have fun just making them yourself) You need to remind yourself that you aren't drinking anymore, and that is the best way to do it.

One last thing, Never assume that you are strong enough to have just one drink, even after months of being clean. Stopping means stopping and you will be far better off with no alcohol then with just a little.

I hope this helps, and good luck. Remember, let people know that you are trying to quit, that will probably help the most (If you buy the alcohol from a general store, let the manager, the checkout clerk know they might say something to keep you from purchasing in the future)

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: rise
what literature have you read that made you decide not to go to any meetings, to at least try them?

went to several online meetings and other forums and from what i've seen, they tell you to find god and straighten up. that's not how i see it. but if that works for people then by all means, use it.

So you just gave up without trying it? How the heck did going out drinking help?

i'm almost anti-religion, so there is no way i'm going to go in and sit there and listen at how these people found god and how it saved their life. well, guess what, god made you what you are, he gave you this disease/problem/whatever you want to call it, so you go ahead and thank him if you want.

This is just an excuse because a part of you doesn't want to give it up. You haven't even gone to a meeting so how do you know what people will say or how they will act?

Do you self a favor and just go. I don't care if you are Anti-Religion, you shouldn't either. Help is help.

 

[Q]

I've never had alcohol before, so I can't really understand how hard it is to stop drinking. I see it like smoking (which I don't do either): try to do something else in the time that you really are feeling a craving. We have a guy in my gaming clan who has been using chewing tobacco for years, and wanted to quit. We helped him through our forums and gave him tips, got him some new games to play with us, and he did quit! He started off by chewing on straws when he had the urge.

So maybe trying something like that would help? I understand it is very different since it is a drink and nothing to really 'replace' it -- anyone have ideas?

 

[Cogman]

Heres another that your probably won't go for. Go find a good ole' mormon missionary, tell him you are trying to quit drinking and that you would like his help. Most will check up on you regularly and do whatever they can to get you to quit (If you want persistence, tell them you are thinking of joining, if not, just tell them you don't want to join but would like their help)