Tried to be a "normal" drinker. Need Help!
 

Hello everyone, I have been experimenting with trying to be a normal drinker for about a month now, everything was fine till last night and this morning when I woke up edgy from crossing the line last night on to much beer. Had hair of the dog and now on another bender...How did this happen?I thought I had this under control..How do I tell my wife I'm drinking again already in the morning again? Please help, I don't know what to do.

Hey easyrider!!

I found with my addiciton that it was progressive, I couldn't have just 1 drink or 1 beer, I drank till I could drink no more, but then when I didn't drink for a while, that didn't in some way cure me of my addiction and I could then be a "normal" drinker.

1 drink now and I would quickly spiral back to drinking until I blacked out, for me it's addiction or sobriety, no inbetween.

Hey EasyRider,

I understand your dilema, been there.

For me there's no such thing as 1. Never has been. It took a long track record of failure to moderate for me realize that its on or off, so I just leave it off. :)

CJ.

Hi. I was taught that if I needed to control something it's out of control.
It's the old story we resist "The first drink gets me drunk." Like it or not!

The solution is simple, we just don't have the first drink! Simple but not always easy.

BE WELL

I am compulsive.

Sugar, cigarettes, alcohol, relationships, shopping, internet, TV, I don't do anything half-way. All or nothing. I'm learning.

With alcohol all or nothing really had serious consequences. I'm choosing nothing.

Hi easyrider73, the other have said it all really we can't control our drinking. For a time my drinking was controlled by circumstances outside of my control. One drink and only one drink was hell for me.

Sounds like you may need medical intervention, and a solid plan to start toward sobriety.
I'm so sorry you're suffering.
Been there.

I tried to control my drinking for years. To many wasted years of black outs and regrets. No more alcohol is the only answer that worked for me. You can do this. One day at a time.

I agree with what everyone else said. It is very rare that an alcoholic at any stage of the game can just turn into a normal drinker.

I stopped for several months ,Started back up ,VERY soon up to a 6 pack or more daily .
And a 12 pack when I was off .

Only way I found was to stop .

Harsh , but its reality .

Good luck with Step 1.

I will never be a normal drinker. I will never be able to control my consumption beyond the choice not to take the first drink. Finally truly and completely understanding this has taken a huge weight from me. I hope it can for you also.

Drinking is not a part of life ,that you must do to live .

Easy enough to quit ,once you focus on the negative parts of its use or misuse .

When recovery members share their own
ESH - Experiences, strengths and hopes
of what their life was and is like before,
during and after alcohol, they, like I, share
how when we began our recovery, we
learned that we didn't have to go thru
this journey alone. That thru fellowship
we can help each other anytime, anywhere.

Thru a program of recovery consisting of
steps and principles to build a sturdy, strong
foundation to live upon each day we remain
sober, that we can learn to live happy, healthy,
honest in all we do.

It was important to me to be educated
about my addiction to alcohol and its
affects on my body, mind and soul and
those around me. It takes time and much
willingness to want to make healthy changes
in my life that doesn't include destroying
my life with poison, mind altering drugs or
alcohol. Each change Ive made, each step
ive completed has strengthened me into
becoming a healthier, happier, honest person
I can be to the best of my ability.

My journey in recovery began 23 yrs ago
and today I am still on that journey continueing
to share my own ESH with others struggling
with addiction. In doing so, it allows me one
more day sober filled with grafefullness and
graditude.

Welcome to your new journey in life. :)

I have also tried to be a "normal drinker" but it always leads me to the same dead-end. It sounds like you are far better off staying away 100%!

An alcoholic can never drink 'normally'. It was easier for me to give it up for good than to try to moderate my drinking. I'm a lot happier sober. :)

The choice is simple: put down the bottle. Not easy, but simple. :)

Stop drinking, ER. Seriously.

I tried so many times to moderate. I would go ok for a few weeks and then bam...back to the usual.

Alcohol changes me - all my good intent goes out the window.

I had to realise if I wanted to stay true to my intent, and be the man I wanted to be, I *had* to stop drinking alcohol.

It's not the 15th beer that causes the trouble, it's the first one.

D

Abstinence is the only option for me now.

What Dee said. For me, there is no such thing as "normal" drinking. I either stay sober -- and sane -- or I go back to drinking and accept the consequences -- all the consequences.

It's a no-brainer.

I too am trying to find my way back from a moderation experiment...although experiment does not feel like the right term. Despite mounds of evidence to the contrary, I too somehow believed that I could somehow control something I have never been able to (and in ways never wanted to). Truth is, on many occasions it was the lack of control I was actually seeking in certain circumstance. Perhaps not on drink one...but it soon became the mission once alcohol hits the bloodstream. Take me away...get me higher...make me forget...turn me into someone new.

Leaving the barstool permanently is the only safe option...yet convincing certain parts of ourselves is tough business.