zerothehero

I had to deal with injury, surgeries, and the opioid thing on top of alcohol, as well. So good to have that all behind me.

I wanted to add to what I posted that on top of being sick of hangovers, I had to admit to myself that I was deeply miserable before I decided to quit alcohol for good. What I was doing wasn't working. Luckily, I was sober for a year before injuries and opioids became an issue, so as much as the painkillers were a risk, I was already well into recovery when that all hit me.

KAD

Can't really say for certain I "needed" to lose my relationship with my kids, my job, my car, and risk losing my life, but that was certainly what it took to finally get my full attention.

Pathlesssodden

Almost die

NessunDorma

Alcohol was the most important thing in my life, apart from my family. Before stopping for good, I had to accept that I could not have both.

thomas11

^^^^^^this.

BackToSquareOne

I had to let go of the illusion that it would be different this time around. Even if I could make it work for a time or two the experiment would eventually fail. I had stamina though, I kept trying for decades until I threw in the towel for good! (Stamina or a slow learner, hmmmmm?)

Gottalife

I had to be able to see what everyone else could see. The truth about my condition and how serious it was.

PhoenixJ

yep

MelindaFlowers

Before I stopped drinking I had to.........

Before I stopped drinking I had to realize that I would never, ever be able to moderate my drinking. I would never learn how to drink less. I would never be a normal drinker.

BullDog777

be told i was a virtually hopeless case and i was probably going to die.

NatVT

Realizing I was on the verge of losing everything and I wouldn't be around to see my kids grow up. That I'm only 37 and I have an entire life ahead of me.

shortstop81

I needed to be sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I came to a point where I was starting to lose people important to me, and couldn't bear to lose anything more.

I wasn't willing to go down the road of total self-destruction.

FBL

I needed to...realize that if I kept it up, I'd be dead and/or dying within a year or two, it was really just a matter of time.

HTown

I had to become sick and tired of being sick and tired. I had to admit my life was becomming unmanagable as it was, and I could not continue a life with alcohol involved.

My wife died about a year and a half ago from cancer. I tried to drink away the grief. It did not work. It was not helping, the hangovers were murder, and the guilt and shame unbearable. I thank God every day for not drinking. I am incredibly thankful.