Aware to say the least
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 20
Aware to say the least
I just need to get out my story, listen if you care to.
Im a 20 year old college junior going to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA
I turn 21 in 3 months...
15 years old: started drinking, stole the family car before I had a permit, passed out at a friends house.
16 : heavy alcohol use, weekends and after school were dedicated to beer and marijuana, started smoking cigarettes
17: heavy cigarette addiction, at least a pack a day. was in a rock band, got wasted before the shows, my first serious relationship with a woman.
18: found out my woman had cheated on me, continued serious drinking. went camping and got arrested for a minor in possession of alcohol as well as contribution to minors(people under 18) with alcohol. Misdemeanor and community service and 3 year probation. Started college. Excited, but severely depressed. used my pain to quit smoking cigarettes( a positive response). lived in the dorms. binge drank, (around 8 + drinks a night, passed out every single weekend)
19. Continued to not smoke cigarettes, had a different girlfriend. quit smoking weed as well. Broke up around christmas. Relapsed weed. Continued to drink. Ripped my asophogus and vommited about a liter of blood due to binge drinking. Had a 2 day hangover.
20. Continued to binge drink. picked up cigarettes again. Got caught with a 6 pack of beer in my trunk which in SLO county= loss of drivers license for a year.
Currently: Without a car, 2 alcohol based misdemeanors
Week 2 of nicotene abstinence. Day 1 of marijuana abstinence.
At this point alcohol is my only drug. But i realise ^ and know what I must do eventually.
Im a 20 year old college junior going to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA
I turn 21 in 3 months...
15 years old: started drinking, stole the family car before I had a permit, passed out at a friends house.
16 : heavy alcohol use, weekends and after school were dedicated to beer and marijuana, started smoking cigarettes
17: heavy cigarette addiction, at least a pack a day. was in a rock band, got wasted before the shows, my first serious relationship with a woman.
18: found out my woman had cheated on me, continued serious drinking. went camping and got arrested for a minor in possession of alcohol as well as contribution to minors(people under 18) with alcohol. Misdemeanor and community service and 3 year probation. Started college. Excited, but severely depressed. used my pain to quit smoking cigarettes( a positive response). lived in the dorms. binge drank, (around 8 + drinks a night, passed out every single weekend)
19. Continued to not smoke cigarettes, had a different girlfriend. quit smoking weed as well. Broke up around christmas. Relapsed weed. Continued to drink. Ripped my asophogus and vommited about a liter of blood due to binge drinking. Had a 2 day hangover.
20. Continued to binge drink. picked up cigarettes again. Got caught with a 6 pack of beer in my trunk which in SLO county= loss of drivers license for a year.
Currently: Without a car, 2 alcohol based misdemeanors
Week 2 of nicotene abstinence. Day 1 of marijuana abstinence.
At this point alcohol is my only drug. But i realise ^ and know what I must do eventually.
1 bite&all resistance crumbles
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: IRELAND
Posts: 2,208
Glad you found us! 
My suggestion : google an AA meeting, go to the nearest one, ask for a 'Big Book' and read it...you can save yourself many years of pain and suffering by finding recovery now! It's unusual for someone so young, but do-able - why wait for more unneceswswary suffering, cause trust me, it's coming! good luck you have a lot of wisdom - use it! you'll be welcome with open arms! good luck!
cathy31
x
My suggestion : google an AA meeting, go to the nearest one, ask for a 'Big Book' and read it...you can save yourself many years of pain and suffering by finding recovery now! It's unusual for someone so young, but do-able - why wait for more unneceswswary suffering, cause trust me, it's coming! good luck you have a lot of wisdom - use it! you'll be welcome with open arms! good luck!cathy31
x
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Welcome to our Alcoholism Forum!
Glad to see you are working towards a drug free future.
You may have missed this Time article...
How We Get Addicted - TIME
Please post often...we do understand
Glad to see you are working towards a drug free future.
You may have missed this Time article...
How We Get Addicted - TIME
Please post often...we do understand
Follow Directions!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Fredericksburg, Va.
Posts: 9,730
Welcome to SR reduced to zero, I assume by posting here that you have had enough to drink and have or want to quit drinking?
Keep it real simple, just do not drink today, that is it! Do not swear off booze forever, if you are like me forever is a LONG time! Taking it one day at a time is what has kept millions of alcoholics sober the rest of thier lifes.
Always keep in mind also, that you are not alone in this fight, you have the folks here at SR and if need be there are rooms full of people who are alcoholics who have found a way to get and stay sober one day at a time and would be delighted in showing you how they got and stay sober one day at a time. They know how you feel right now and can help you feel better.
BTW 21 is far from being to young to be in AA and find the solution, we haave a young man in the rooms in my area that is 15 and is doing well.
Keep it real simple, just do not drink today, that is it! Do not swear off booze forever, if you are like me forever is a LONG time! Taking it one day at a time is what has kept millions of alcoholics sober the rest of thier lifes.
Always keep in mind also, that you are not alone in this fight, you have the folks here at SR and if need be there are rooms full of people who are alcoholics who have found a way to get and stay sober one day at a time and would be delighted in showing you how they got and stay sober one day at a time. They know how you feel right now and can help you feel better.
BTW 21 is far from being to young to be in AA and find the solution, we haave a young man in the rooms in my area that is 15 and is doing well.
Not the center of the Universe
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Orchard Lake, Michigan
Posts: 974
Hey reducedtozero,
Welcome and thanks for sharing your story.
Many, many people get to where you are, make a decision to do something about their problem, and find a way to live life without the use of any drugs. I honestly wish I had woken up when I was 21 but it didn't happen. The 19 extra years it took me would have been better without the drugs. What's keeping you from doing today what you know you must do eventually?
Welcome and thanks for sharing your story.
Many, many people get to where you are, make a decision to do something about their problem, and find a way to live life without the use of any drugs. I honestly wish I had woken up when I was 21 but it didn't happen. The 19 extra years it took me would have been better without the drugs. What's keeping you from doing today what you know you must do eventually?
Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 226
I hope you get it but with drugs and alcohol eventually just means roll up another joint, pop the cork, and vomit another liter of blood.
You know I can choose not to drink today but I can’t rely on it. I found a solution to the stolen family car, the heavy weekends, the cigarettes, bad relationships, probation officers, and the near death experiences. I found a solution and once I made a decision to go ahead with the process sobriety has been a breeze.
Good luck with that 3 years probation in the beginning I had 4 years probation with a 5 year suspended jail sentence with random urines and home visits. When ever they wanted urine I gave them as much as they wanted and I gave it to them with a smile. I never once violated my probation and after two years they stopped asking me for drug tests and after 4 years I shook my probation officers hand and said thankyou.
I don’t have to tell you what my solution is or was. It’s the same solution that you eventually know you need to seek. If I were you the only question I would be asking myself would be how much blood am I willing to loose.
You know I can choose not to drink today but I can’t rely on it. I found a solution to the stolen family car, the heavy weekends, the cigarettes, bad relationships, probation officers, and the near death experiences. I found a solution and once I made a decision to go ahead with the process sobriety has been a breeze.
Good luck with that 3 years probation in the beginning I had 4 years probation with a 5 year suspended jail sentence with random urines and home visits. When ever they wanted urine I gave them as much as they wanted and I gave it to them with a smile. I never once violated my probation and after two years they stopped asking me for drug tests and after 4 years I shook my probation officers hand and said thankyou.
I don’t have to tell you what my solution is or was. It’s the same solution that you eventually know you need to seek. If I were you the only question I would be asking myself would be how much blood am I willing to loose.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 410
Your time is now to stop. Your story sounds similar to mine (except cigarettes) and now I'm 34... if it's a problem now and you recognize it, NOW is the time to do something about it.
You are in the right place for support, so use it.
Welcome.
You are in the right place for support, so use it.
Welcome.
Ending the Old Me.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Under a Rock
Posts: 377
Zero -
Welcome. Some random thoughts for you. You made it into a very good school and even with the issues facing you, your still there. That tells me two things; one, your smart, smart enough to start looking for answers and two, you have self-discpline, at least enough to attend class and not get kicked out.
I flunked out twice because I cared more about the next party than attending class the next day. So your way ahead of where I was, I was never that smart.
Please find an AA meeting to attend. You don't need to stand up and ask for help, you don't need to say anything. Just sit and listen if you want to. At the end of the meeting, you just might be comfortable enough to talk with someone.
I recently quit drinking but I did two things this week that really helped me. I attended my first AA meeting and picked up an awesome book; "Getting Sober"- "A Practical Guide to Making Through the First 30 Days".
Hang in there, things can be a lot better.
Welcome. Some random thoughts for you. You made it into a very good school and even with the issues facing you, your still there. That tells me two things; one, your smart, smart enough to start looking for answers and two, you have self-discpline, at least enough to attend class and not get kicked out.
I flunked out twice because I cared more about the next party than attending class the next day. So your way ahead of where I was, I was never that smart.
Please find an AA meeting to attend. You don't need to stand up and ask for help, you don't need to say anything. Just sit and listen if you want to. At the end of the meeting, you just might be comfortable enough to talk with someone.
I recently quit drinking but I did two things this week that really helped me. I attended my first AA meeting and picked up an awesome book; "Getting Sober"- "A Practical Guide to Making Through the First 30 Days".
Hang in there, things can be a lot better.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: some where / no where
Posts: 1,019
Welcome reducedtozero
Thanks for sharing your story. Congrats on your abstainence from cigarettes and pot. Those are two hard things to quit.
It sounds like alcohol has caused you more problems in your life. It sounds like you are willing to tackle this problem next. I hope you can find the strength and support you need to get rid of this drug. I hope you'll stick with us. You are not alone. Millions of people recover from alcohol problems every year, and you can be one of them.
I am a recovering alcohoic and pot addict. I was also in a touring rock band at one point. Today, I've reduced my alcohol and pot to zero. My life is much better, and I don't get into trouble anymore. It's like being free from a prision...Alcohol and pot enslaved me. Getting clean and sober was like having a heavy burden lifted off my shoulders.
If you want to get better, it is possible. I look forward to hearing more from you on these boards.
peace,
chip
Thanks for sharing your story. Congrats on your abstainence from cigarettes and pot. Those are two hard things to quit.
It sounds like alcohol has caused you more problems in your life. It sounds like you are willing to tackle this problem next. I hope you can find the strength and support you need to get rid of this drug. I hope you'll stick with us. You are not alone. Millions of people recover from alcohol problems every year, and you can be one of them.
I am a recovering alcohoic and pot addict. I was also in a touring rock band at one point. Today, I've reduced my alcohol and pot to zero. My life is much better, and I don't get into trouble anymore. It's like being free from a prision...Alcohol and pot enslaved me. Getting clean and sober was like having a heavy burden lifted off my shoulders.
If you want to get better, it is possible. I look forward to hearing more from you on these boards.
peace,
chip
Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto,Ontario
Posts: 1,027
Hey -
Keep your head up ! You're still alive, sounds like you're getting an education as well, good for you !
You're 21, with plenty of exciting things ahead of you.
You need a plan to get and stay sober. There is no shame in reaching out for help.
We're here, and we're also in rooms of NA & AA...
Is there any counselling through your school that can assist you ?
Keep posting.
Keep your head up ! You're still alive, sounds like you're getting an education as well, good for you !
You're 21, with plenty of exciting things ahead of you.
You need a plan to get and stay sober. There is no shame in reaching out for help.
We're here, and we're also in rooms of NA & AA...
Is there any counselling through your school that can assist you ?
Keep posting.
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