that girl

I'm a candidate for the alcoholic label but I'm not certainly convinced. My life is effectively and positively managed but I do sense the dark side. Quitting and recovery and all that seems extreme. But so does pancreatitis. How do I decide?

that girl

Good talk

Bellamiaa

Easy. You have two choices. Life or death. Welcome to the light (hopefully)

least

It doesn't matter what you call it, if alcohol is causing problems, best to stop drinking altogether. Why wait til it's ruined your health and your life? Get sober now and you'll have fewer regrets when you get older.

AnonSara

I was puzzling over your statement that your life is "managed". Then I remembered myself in early recovery and my stubborn unwillingness to see that I couldn't live my life without alcohol and alcohol was ruling my life. I was in fear of the possibility of what change would bring and the feeling I had to experience sober. Only you can decide when you've had your share of misery. For your sake, and from personally having sat there longer than necessary, I hope you can find a way out. You don't have to live this way. Keep coming around and allow your mind to truly be open. Best to you.

that girl

It's that easy? Just say no? I know the no is hard but the decision?

Ariesagain

Have you had pancreatitis?

least

It's not easy, but it is simple: just take drinking off the table as an option. Learn better safer ways to cope with circumstances and problems.

I can tell you this: I've never woken up sober and wished I had drank the night before.

that girl

No pancreatitis but experienced it with a family member

that girl

Food rules my life. So does oxygen. As does kids and work. I suppose I'm waiting for the red light. I'm not sure it's time yet.

Ariesagain

Okay, rather than us try to convince you...try it out. No booze at all for the next 30 days. See what happens...an experiment of sorts. Gather data. Cravings? Withdrawal headaches? Better sleep? Improved focus? No heartburn?

Be careful...you imply you drink enough that you feel you might qualify as an "alcoholic"...withdrawal can be dangerous if your drinking is intense and/or of long duration.

Try it on. If it's hard, that tells you something. If it's better than you thought, that tells you something, too.

P.S. If that's a "Christmas Vacation" movie reference, you are my kind of people!

that girl

Christmas vacation? Lol no reference there. I must be missing something

AnonSara

How far down do you need to go to be convinced? My bottom kept dropping lower and I kept falling down the pit.

that girl

Idk.

ScottFromWI

Only you can decide thatgirl. Quitting entirely sounds scary and drastic, but for an alcoholic its freedom and a new beginning. An old but good exercise is to make 2 lists..one of the things you gain from drinking, and then the drawbacks or problems it causes. Then compare the lists.

Soberwolf

Welcome having a plan is vital to recovery

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ery-plans.html

Grungehead

If you wait for the red light, sometimes by the time you see it it's too late.

Berrybean

Welcome. To the forum.

I'm presuming that you have concerns about your drinking or you wouldn't be here, posting.

We don't know you. We haven't met you, so we don't know what your reasons are for being here. How about, instead of telling stories us what doesn't worry you about your drinking, you tell us what does. Then maybe we can be a bit more helpful to you.

As I've said to my sponsee. I can't tell you why you should quite, or that you should. But I can share with you how I did it. All any of us can do for another is be a way show-er. That is, if that person wants to find the way. But they've got to want it.