Originally Posted by
ScottFromWI 
Thanks for coming to SR for help DMB. I'd echo others' comments in that you need to find help for yourself above and beyond anything else. Good move on going to see a counselor, do you think total sobriety is going to be your goal? I finally found that was the only way for me, moderation never worked after many attempts.
Regarding your friend, as much as you are trying to help at some point you have to let them help themselves. No matter what you do, your friend won't quit his addiction until he decides to. So literally, turning your back an him might be exactly what you need to do although it seems like exactly the opposite of what you think is right.
Good question. When I had the doctor's appointment, he suggested I quit drinking. At the time, I sort of dismissed the idea, thinking that I was doing ok by cutting back slowly. But the only time I was mostly sober at the bar was last week, and even then I probably drank 2 or 3 beers and half a mixed drink over a 6-hour period. In my mind, that was me being sober but it's still so easy for me to lose track of how much I'm drinking and overdo it. Also, I only go to that bar twice a month to play and I can go the 2 weeks in between with almost no temptation to drink. As I'm typing this, there's about 10 bottles of booze in my kitchen (which will be removed this week) and I have no interest in them at all. It's only when I deal with people in public that the problem comes up for me. I don't know what will happen in the future but next time I go there, I'm only drinking plain soda or water.