chip

Hi Everyone,
Just a thought about "trying it again".

I had a friend who was an alcoholic like myself. He was only 2 years older than me (I'm 35). His doctor told him to quit drinking because his body couldn't handle it. He had many of the physical symptoms I had when I quit (bruising, withdrawals, chest pains, bloody stools etc....) He quit, and patched together some good sober time. At some point, he stopped going to AA.

Later, he decided he wanted to "try it again" (Drinking). They found him dead. He didn't even drink alot. His organs gave up on him.

This is a life and death disease. People die from it. PLEASE ask for help, here or elsewhere, if you feel like drinking again. It's sad when we see someone die....it's preventable.

If you are here because you are an alcoholic, remember that drinking = death. There is no such thing as "a couple beers". There are no more REASONS to drink, only EXCUSES. For any of us, our next drink could result in our death.
chip

Astro

I agree, to drink is to die.

Chip, I'm sorry you lost a friend. It still carries a message, I pray for those who are sick and suffering.

bstt03

Wow, thanks for the post. What a tragedy and so young. I think many a times I have said to myself, Why not try it again, the irrational side of my brain thinking it will be just fine. Deep down, I know it will not.

And seeing a post like this really reminds me that I cannot "try it again".

Again, thank you for sharing.

debs

Me too.......

Sorry this happened to you

chip

Thanks for the replies. This happened a little while back, but I think about him everytime someone I know decides to "try it again".

Since starting my journey of recovery, I've known many people who have died from this disease. It's so tragic because it's preventable. Abstaining from alcohol may be hard, but it's better than dying. It really is a life and death decision.
chip

smacked

Unfortunately a lot of people will have to learn the 'hard way'.

Sad story, but very important one there Chip!

Boleo

I was part of a AA group in a local prison and had a chance to meet some ex-AA members who had many sober years before they relapsed.

Most said they could not go back to their home group due to fear, guilt and shame.

sugErspun

I think the weirdest part of it all is the notion that somehow he made a decision to try it again.

If a doctor told me that I had to stop eating strawberries because they were killing me, and my life depended on it, I would stop - as much I love them.

It wouldn't make sense that I wait a few years and decide that some strawberries would be nice to have. It's not a rational decision...it's insanity.

tommyk

Thanks for the post, Chip.

Sometimes I get mildly criticized because I take sobriety too seriously.

But it is a matter of life and death to me.

"For any of us, our next drink could result in our death."