I want to cut back
 

I understand that I signed up to a forum with a lot of people that went through a lot more than I have. And the automatic response is : go see a doctor and all that. Look, I don't want to be labeled an alcoholic the rest of my life. And I will if I seek help. Just please just bare with me, I'm not asking for medical advice.

I drink about 10-15 drinks a day. Usually beer+hard liquor. I don't want to stop drinking, I just want to drink socially on the weekends, but I can't stop drinking because I fear withdrawal. If I could, I'd stop cold turkey tomorrow.

I've gone 2-3 days without a drink in the past month without no signs of withdrawal. But going into seizures and all that got me scared to quit. I usually drink and go about 16 hours before I drink again. No signs of withdrawl... sometimes 24 hours.

My question is, in your experience and based on what I've said (I'm not asking for medical advice), can I just cut back? I don't want to see a doctor... I don't want this on my record! Yes I have a problem, I admit that. But if I could stop tomorrow I could but I'm just afraid to. And if I do try to stop, will I know if I'm going through life threatening withdrawal?

I am not quite sure I understand. Did you have seizures or are you afraid you will?

If you did then I would see a doctor.

If you did not then I would do what you are thinking of and cut back or stop and see where it takes you.

I had no major withdrawal symptoms when I quit this time.

I know for me cutting back was not an option. The first drink gets me drunk. There is no control after that first drink.

I do not have seizures but reading about alcohol withdraw has got me afraid to quit drinking. I'm in my 20s male and never had any signs of withdraw when I went 2-3 days without drinking, I just want to quit for a good few months and drink on the weekends with friends. Not every night like I do now.

I basically want to know will I know if I'm in danger? If I quit cold turkey, will I know if I need to see a doctor? or just go into seizure randomly? Reading forums like this actually makes me continue drinking because it scares me.

If you felt no physical withdrawal symptoms then I say go ahead and cut back

Are the withdrawal symptoms the only thing you are worried about?

Is your plan to just quit during the week and only drink on weekends?

Hi Seemedrink, thanks for posting. I think you've raised some interesting points, and I admire your wish to cut down. These are just my thoughts; you can take or leave what you want.
1. A doctor's records are not like police records. I'm not sure what country you're in, but doctors generally don't share records. Furthermore, they are brilliant for what they do and would probably be able to give you sound medical advice, especially if you find (through the medical association) one who specialises in addiction. Doctor's are lied to every day about their patients' drinking, and to have one come in and honestly seek advice on withdrawal is refreshing for them and can take a huge burden off the patient. If it's because you don't want to admit you have a problem, well that's a different story.
2. Can I ask why cutting down gradually to a level where you don't have to worry about withdrawal is not an option? I understand withdrawal happens with a sudden stop, not a gradual one. Are you able to cut down? If not, if you've tried and can't keep it up for long, you may have to consider whether you are an alcoholic.
3. At the moment, your intake is well above a healthy level and you could be damaging your health permanently. Please do what it takes to give up.
4. The idea that you can confine drinking to the weekend is a common thought amongst alcoholics. If you do get past the withdrawal thing, and find you are still drinking during the week, you may need to be totally abstinent.

Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best. Plenty of support here on SR so keep posting.

I just don't want to drink just because I feel the need to because I don't want to go through withdrawl. I am an alocholic, I admit that. I like being drunk. But I don't think abstinence is the solution. I'm still young and I still want to have fun, I just don't want to be home drinking by myself every night. I've seen what is does to people... it destroys you, you lose friends because of it. I don't want that... I just want to be normal.

I'm at 12 right now and could probably take it to over 20 if I wanted to until I puke. I know that's not normal. I put on weight, I alienate myserlf, and I hate it. I just want to stop but I don't want to kill myself in the process.

I honestly don't trust many people... even doctors. I seriously avoid going to one until I'm all but deathly sick. I really don't want to see a doctor here.

Cutting down gradually doesn't seem to work... when you're at 6 and need to stop at 8 your drunken mind just seems to say F*** it. Leaving logic up to drunk people simply doesn't work.

I read your post and this stands out.

The way you describe your drinking is not normal. You admit you are an alcoholic.

Are you a normal alcoholic?

Normal as in what? This is about 2 years now. I take a few days off here and there and keep going every day. No it's not normal and yes I'm an alcoholic. By normal I mean I just want to be able to drink when I'm out with friends... even if that means getting s*** faced. I honestly see nothing wrong with doing that once a week... I'm sure most would disagree. I just need to stop drinking every damn day.

Look I just want to make sure I don't fall over dead here, I'm not looking for Jesus or the holy grail on how to be the perfect sober man. I'm not that guy. I like being drunk just like I like smoking cigarettes. I just want to cut back to once a week in social situations without it killing me.

I don't either. If I could do that I would. Maybe not every Friday or Saturday but now and then. Nothing wrong with having a good time. But when it stops being a good time I think we have to stop and ask ourselves why we are continuing to do it.

I cannot do this. I have one drink and I spend the rest of the day/evening chasing the drunk. So in my case, the first drink gets me drunk.

You say you are an alcoholic. Do you fit into the normal alcoholic patterns? Have you asked and honestly answered the 20 questions.

1. Do you lose time from work due to your drinking?

2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?

3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?

4. Is drinking affecting your reputation?

5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?

6. Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of your drinking?

7. Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when drinking?

8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family's welfare?

9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking?

10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily?

11. Do you want a drink the next morning?

12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?

13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?

14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?

15. Do you drink to escape from worries or troubles?

16. Do you drink alone?

17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of your drinking?

18. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking?

19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?

20. Have you ever been in a hospital or institution on account of drinking?

Then by all means do that. Then cut back.

If you need support we are here. If you have questions, we are here.

I just want to know if I'll know when I need help if I stop cold turkey from where I'm drinking at (10-15 drinks a day). I think if you posed those question above to anyone that has ever had a drink you would get some "yes".

I'm the same way though, once I stop it's hard to stop. 1 drink always leads to hammered, so I drink at night before sleep. I've been able to just have "a beer", but it's rare. So my night out usually ends with drunk... which is why it's hard to just cut back. Again, logic to the drunk mind simply does not work.

I don't know if you've gone through severe withdrawal or not, I haven't. But all I honestly want to know is if I'll know when to call for help if I choose to try cold turkey.

No one here can give you a guarantee.
I detoxed without apparent ill effect many times.

The last time I suffered a series of mini strokes.
All I can tell you is I really wish I'd seen a Dr.

I've never heard of Drs records being used that way, at least in my country, but even if that so, sometimes health is more important than other considerations.

Given the maximum recommend intake for men is 2 drinks a day and 1 for women, you're 10 to 15 times over that.

As for moderating... I wanted to be a social drinker too. But I was never a social drinker. Ever.

Drinking was always about getting wasted for me.

D

Could you see them coming? Did you know you were in trouble or did they just randomly happen? I honestly just want to know if I'll know before it happens or not. I will go to the hospital if I have to, I just want to make sure I'm not walking and fall over dead randomly.

No I never saw anything coming.

I'm not trying to frighten you - or suggest this will happen to you.

I had other health considerations as well - I'd hit my head and I'd already had other strokes in my life....but I really wish I'd seen a Dr, cos as much as I love my life, I'll never be the same again.

D

There is no hard core yes and no to your question. If your are really afraid then see a doctor. I am not a doctor. I can't tell you yes or no. I doubt a doctor can tell you yes or no. Everyone is different. Some have major withdrawals while others have almost none.

If you have gone 2/3 days with no alcohol and have had no physical symptoms then I don't see what is keeping you from stopping for 2/3 days again. Are you worried about day four?

Yes, from what I read DTs happen on day 4.

And some happen on day one. Again, everyone is different.

"In the U.S., less than 50% to 60% of alcoholics will develop any significant withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of alcohol intake, and of these, only 5% of cases of acute ethanol withdrawal progress to DT"

Where abouts in the world are you seemedrink? While I can understand your concerns I don't think having this 'on your record' can ever be a problem. Also in the UK, I am pretty sure that your A&E records don't automatically sync with your doctors records and I have also seen a doctor at a specialist addiction agency and they did not forward any notes on to my doctor. There are ways of doing this without going directly through your family doctor. You need to find out what resources are available in your area though. There will be stuff you haven't heard of before or considered an option. A good way of finding out about these things is to go to a local AA meeting. You'll meet people there who will know everything available in your area and will have plenty of advice. Glad you're here. Stick around :) x