Hi I'm ready to quit drinking
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 718
Hi I'm ready to quit drinking
Just to introduce myself, my name is Gail and I have been a binge alcoholic 5 to 8 years. I am no longer able to keep control and need online help and support to help me quit.
I am ready to quit for good but can't go to detox, due to income issues,transportation and rural living. I am not a group type of person besides online on forums and twelve step is not for me. I could use all the support I can get and any advice as to options to help me recover. I am a firm believer in non phamacutical approach to help, more a meditation herbal and vitamin person. I developed into an alcoholic while learning to cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and although my PTSD is currenly under control I can't get the alcohism under contol. Thanks in advance
Gail
I am ready to quit for good but can't go to detox, due to income issues,transportation and rural living. I am not a group type of person besides online on forums and twelve step is not for me. I could use all the support I can get and any advice as to options to help me recover. I am a firm believer in non phamacutical approach to help, more a meditation herbal and vitamin person. I developed into an alcoholic while learning to cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and although my PTSD is currenly under control I can't get the alcohism under contol. Thanks in advance
Gail
Old & Sober Member of AA
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Nursing Home in Brick, New Jersey
Posts: 5,174
Glad you're "reaching out" for help, Gail...although you have already nixed any suggestions I would have made to you...those things that helped me to get/stay sober for over 27 years...detox, AA meetings, The Twelve Steps of Recovery, fellow alcoholics in the rooms of AA, an AA sponsor, etc.
I know there are other ways and means that have been helpful to others; but, since I have had no personal experience with them, I cannot recommend them. I'm sure other SR folks will be along with some alternative suggestions. Good Luck.
I know there are other ways and means that have been helpful to others; but, since I have had no personal experience with them, I cannot recommend them. I'm sure other SR folks will be along with some alternative suggestions. Good Luck.
Looking For Myself...Sober
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Where the heart is
Posts: 10,209
I Gail..Glad you are here.
You sound just like me.
There is lots of great info here about all that.
Just look around and keep posting.
If you dont like 12 step and like the online experience as I do.
Maybe check the Secular connection forum.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...r-connections/
There are alternative program options there.
I work the SMART program and find it suits me well.
Keep posting.
You sound just like me.
There is lots of great info here about all that.
Just look around and keep posting.
If you dont like 12 step and like the online experience as I do.
Maybe check the Secular connection forum.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...r-connections/
There are alternative program options there.
I work the SMART program and find it suits me well.
Keep posting.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 718
Thanks any support at all helps. I had a lot of time off work last year and used up my sick pay when my PTSD relapsed, I can't afford any time off work that's why detox isn't an option. I have thought about contacting community mental health in the town where I work but will mean more time off even on an outpatient basis. Also I have a deep faith in god but an aversion to organized religion of any sort. I that's why I couldn't bring myself to participate in AA.
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,491
Hi gail,
Welcome!
There are other options to stopping drinking than using AA. But, you don't need to believe in organized religion to belong to AA. I am not an AA person myself and have used books as stepping stones on this journey. I'm glad you have your PTSD under control and I hope you continue to post.
Welcome!
There are other options to stopping drinking than using AA. But, you don't need to believe in organized religion to belong to AA. I am not an AA person myself and have used books as stepping stones on this journey. I'm glad you have your PTSD under control and I hope you continue to post.
Hope3
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Upstate, NY
Posts: 2,155
Welcome gail.
Sounds like you are pretty determined. I used therapy and other things that you
said you can't, but there is other things that helped me, here they are.
1. Made lists of all the reasons, nomatter how trivial they seemed as to why
I wanted to quit drinking....
2. Then next to those reasons, listed what would happen if I didn't quit, and what would happen if I did quit, all the possibilities, good and bad..
3. I read books on alcoholism: 1."Under the Influence" 2. Beyond the Influence" 3. Addiction, from the HBO series.
4. I expected cravings, so I had a list of things that I would do when faced with them, example....Take deep breaths and exhale slowly....if it persisted for more than 7 minutes...call my partner..Scream out to myself no...I am not going to drink, I do not need to drink, hey what ever works for you...
5. Start new hobbies and start enjoying the ones I put on the back burner
because alcohol became the front burner...
I guess the biggest thing that helped me is to look at it as a journey, just like life, there is going to be good times and bad times, lemons and lemonade...
I try to embrace all, do the best I can today, put it to bed and start fresh everyday...
Good luck on your new journey, and welcome..
Hope4
Sounds like you are pretty determined. I used therapy and other things that you
said you can't, but there is other things that helped me, here they are.
1. Made lists of all the reasons, nomatter how trivial they seemed as to why
I wanted to quit drinking....
2. Then next to those reasons, listed what would happen if I didn't quit, and what would happen if I did quit, all the possibilities, good and bad..
3. I read books on alcoholism: 1."Under the Influence" 2. Beyond the Influence" 3. Addiction, from the HBO series.
4. I expected cravings, so I had a list of things that I would do when faced with them, example....Take deep breaths and exhale slowly....if it persisted for more than 7 minutes...call my partner..Scream out to myself no...I am not going to drink, I do not need to drink, hey what ever works for you...
5. Start new hobbies and start enjoying the ones I put on the back burner
because alcohol became the front burner...
I guess the biggest thing that helped me is to look at it as a journey, just like life, there is going to be good times and bad times, lemons and lemonade...
I try to embrace all, do the best I can today, put it to bed and start fresh everyday...
Good luck on your new journey, and welcome..
Hope4
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Murrieta, Ca
Posts: 2,683
Hi Gail ! Welcome !
Something in your post really jumped out at me
AA is a very spiritual program, but it is far from being an organized religion.
I would really suggest giving it a try before deciding if it can help you or not.
I had pre-conceived notions about AA too. Happily for me, they were wrong.
Something in your post really jumped out at me
Also I have a deep faith in god but an aversion to organized religion of any sort. I that's why I couldn't bring myself to participate in AA.
I would really suggest giving it a try before deciding if it can help you or not.
I had pre-conceived notions about AA too. Happily for me, they were wrong.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
