reggiewayne

Hi all,

I am hungover today. I drink 3 to 4 times per week. Typically 10 - 15 drinks per sitting. I cap the night off with a Xannax... I smoke about 10 cigs per day and dip when I don't drink. I also take addeerhal on my non drinking / non hangover days to "get myself going". I am stuck in a cycle that has gone on for five years. I am about 80 pounds overweight...

I want to get sober, but I don't seem to know how to do it. Before a lot of you tell me to see a Dr. I have already done that. I don't have shakes, sweats, etc... I just simply need to quit. I am a father and husband and want to be there for my kids I just can't seem to shake this cycle I'm in. I am under the influence of some type of substance all the time... When I'm hungover, take a xannax, when I wake up after a day or two of non drinking, take an adderhal, when I'm "speedy" from the Adderhal, get hammered to bring myself down... and round and round I go....

I have tried to quit so many times and I ALWAYS FAIL. I have been to AA, I have a sponsor who is a great guy, I've just derailed so far from Sobriety and clean living it's as if I don't know how to get back. A part of me wants to dump my pills in the toilet and dump out my booze, but my past behavior would suggest that this would just be a waist of money cuz I would just go out and buy more anyway...

HELP PLEASE!!!

keithj

Hi reggiewayne,

Sounds like you are talking about two related issues, really. One is how to quit drinking and using, and the other is how to stop from drinking and using in the future.

First one is easy. Throw out your stuff and do whatever works. It might be a terrifying thought, how am I going to survive without being loaded all the time, but many of us have done it. I found that being utterly hopeless and desperate was essential. As long as I could get by, even if it sucked, I was going to get by.

The second one is much tougher. But I also found that being hopeless and desperate was essential.
Maybe find someone who isn't a great guy, at least in the sense of being fun to hang with or good to talk to.

I had to find someone who could offer a solution in AA. That guy didn't necessarily tell me the things I wanted to hear. He just told me the truth as he understood alcoholism. He told me I had two options only; to keep on doing what I was doing, or accept spiritual help.

If I was willing, he would show me how. I didn't like that much, didn't think he was a great guy at the time, but the results were nothing short of a miracle and a peaceful, contented sobriety since then.

CarolD

Welcome to our recovery community......

As you are useing 3 addictive substances
and your weight has increased...
I do suggest an addiction specialist is wise.
Your GP is writeing you the scripts ..yes?

As you mentioned....you are staying stoned or drinking.
Mixing alcohol with some meds is risky behavior.

Good to see you here.....

Che

There is no magic answer... When you stop looking for the magic answer, quitting becomes easier.

What helped me a lot was asking myself who I wanted to be in a months time. I told myself 'On April 26th, I want to have not drank for over a month.' Strangely that made it easier than saying 'today is the last day I will drink.' This is based on my own psychology, but it made me stop thinking of things in terms of how long I've quit, but in terms of what I was becoming.

DayTrader

That's for sure. AA's supposed to be fun and all but it's not fun if you're not getting better. Not that my sobriety is contingent upon having a good sponsor.....but if I'm not having a spiritual awakening and I don't know how to have one..... I darn well better find someone who can show me how to get there!