Me in a nutshell - and my bike!

[pikey-cider]

Hi all! My name is Chris and I'm a 31 year old from the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales in the UK.

My drinking started at the end of 2002 when I got my own place with my then fiancee, Kelly. My drinking got steadily worse until in August 2004 she left me. Whether it was the drink, the mood swings or whatever I don't know. After that I drank more and more and now I can't go a day without getting drunk without suffering from the shakes and sweats.

I'm trying (hard) to beat it and have recently bought a Gilera Cougar 125cc and plan on getting sober enough to ride safely by the Summer (August 2007)

The hardest part for me is the fact that I feel more relaxed and "open" when I'm drunk and socialise better. If I stay sober I'm a loner and prefer to stay couped up in my own room on my own. I want to cut down on the drink so I only drink on special occaisions (like I did before) but at the moment it seems impossible.

I get throught about 120+ units a week (UK recomended is about 24 a week) so I know I'm drinking a lot and I want to cut down.

Finally thanks to anyone who reads this message and feel free to get in touch; especially any Rhondda Bikers!!

Chris

[Julygirl07]

You have to want to be sober more than you want to be drunk. You're on the right path. Admitting you have a problem is the first step. There is lots of help and support out there, your family doctor, AA, internet. You don't have to be alone, get support and find others going through the same thing. It will all come together. Good luck

[Hurricane]

"I want to cut down on the drink so I only drink on special occaisions (like I did before)"

That my friend is what we call the great obsession.
I can not have one drink or I'll be toast.
Do yourself a ,find some local meetings and give it shot.

[Rarly Harley]

Originally Posted by pikey-cider

The hardest part for me is the fact that I feel more relaxed and "open" when I'm drunk and socialise better. Chris

P.K.: Welcome. If you didn't think you had a problem, you wouldn't have found us. The good news is, if you join A.A., the time will come when you feel relaxed and open without alchohol. Stick around, hit a few A.A. meetings and tell us what you think...

[toad]

Welcome, It is no accident that you have posted here on this forum. I want to thank you for your honesty. You have helped me to continue in my daily decision to not take that first drink. By what you have said of your own experiences, I can see that for me.......alcohol is still the same low down high it always was, with the end result being jail, institutions, or death.

AA is teaching me a new way of living, a new way of being the person that I always wanted to be.........thanks for sharing.

I pray that you receive the help needed to stand strong with your Higher Power............toad

[BillJ]

Welcome, Chris! Good to have you here. I'm not from Wales, but my grandfather's family was, and I hope to visit someday soon.

I'll second what's already been said. Your choices aren't limited to "drunk and sociable" or "sober and miserable."

There's a passage in the book Alcoholics Anonymous (page 152) that speaks directly to your dilemma. It reads:

We have shown how we got out from under (the drink problem). You say "Yes, I'm willing. But am I to be consigned to a life where I shall be stupid, boring and glum, like some righteous people I see? I know I must get along without liquor, but how can I? Have you a sufficient substitute?"
Yes, there is a substitute, and it is vastly more than that. It is a fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. There you will find release from care, boredom and worry. Your imagination will be fired. Life will mean something at last. The most satisfactory years of your existence lie ahead. Thus we find the fellowship, and so will you.

Those words were first published in 1939. They were still true when I sobered up in 1978, and they're still true today. If you want the better life sobriety has to offer, it's yours for the taking.

I'm going to quote once more from the AA book; quite possibly my favorite line of all, and the reason I still love my life in AA after all these years:

We absolutely insist on enjoying life.

Come join us. :andy:

[TonyB]

Welcome Chris,
Glad to have you with us.

[recoveringnky]

Welcome Chris...so very glad you are here. Keep comin' around and you'll find a lot of support and wisdom. I absolutely ditto what has already been said and I think BillJ put it out there best.... We absolutely insist on enjoying life!! Trust us, we've been where you are and we all, for the most part, enjoy our lives and our bikes!!

Keep on the sober road!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace,
Kym

[The_Hammer]

Welcome my friend. At some point, the drink will crush you if you're like us. There will be no chance for you to drink socally. Damned if I didn't try though. Messed with social drinkin for 10 or more years. Only to wind up drunk busted and disgusted and damned sure not to be trusted. No harm for you to be here at any rate. The only requirement for membership in A.A. is the desire to not drink. Sounds like ya got that.

Blessings,

Jimmy

My family is from England as well.