The crutch - would welcome your thoughts...
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: NC
Posts: 42
The crutch - would welcome your thoughts...
In 2008 I was up to about 1/3 of a fifth of vodka every day (for a while it was the 100 proof stuff, then the cheaper 90 proof) - total closet drinker! No vomiting, passing out, blackouts, etc. - talk about tolerance. I tried going stone cold teetotal on 1/1 but couldn't make it. I don't like wine or beer but did try wine coolers (with diet Sprite and Crystal Light lemonade for flavor). So I'm "down to" 8 oz of wine a day. It takes the burden of the "OMG, do I have to quite FOREVER??? Can I go to the ABC store NOW??" off of me - it's almost like a security blanket. So far it's taken a lot of stress out of the equation - while I can't tell myself that I'm a non-drinker, the fact that I'm drinking limited amounts of wine versus a heavy daily load of vodka has made me feel better about myself.
Has anyone else done something like this? Does it work or am I just delaying the inevitable need to break off entirely? Any insights welcome...
Has anyone else done something like this? Does it work or am I just delaying the inevitable need to break off entirely? Any insights welcome...
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,491
Hi,
I'm glad it's working for you.
I spent at least a year doing that. It would work for awhile, never for very long. And, when it worked, I found that I was thinking about drinking all the time - what would I drink, when, how much, etc. It was a relief to finally stop.
I'm glad it's working for you.
I spent at least a year doing that. It would work for awhile, never for very long. And, when it worked, I found that I was thinking about drinking all the time - what would I drink, when, how much, etc. It was a relief to finally stop.
I'm just a little unwell
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 2,219
I personally didn't do that, but I'm sure some others here tapered off.
I do think that you're trying to delay the inevitable. I do think that eventually you will have to quit completely and for good, just based on the little bits you wrote here. I'd be curious to hear more, though: do you lose the ability to stop drinking once you start? You said you don't have blackouts - that's good. Do you feel regretful or ashamed after you drink? Do you say you won't drink and then give in anyway?
If you're not having any trouble limiting yourself to a very specific quantity then I dunno... maybe you're just a heavy drinker with a potential abuse problem. Do you obsess over not drinking, or only when you think about quitting FOREVER?
You never have to think about quitting forever, btw. You only have to think about quitting TODAY. Then do it again tomorrow.
I do think that you're trying to delay the inevitable. I do think that eventually you will have to quit completely and for good, just based on the little bits you wrote here. I'd be curious to hear more, though: do you lose the ability to stop drinking once you start? You said you don't have blackouts - that's good. Do you feel regretful or ashamed after you drink? Do you say you won't drink and then give in anyway?
If you're not having any trouble limiting yourself to a very specific quantity then I dunno... maybe you're just a heavy drinker with a potential abuse problem. Do you obsess over not drinking, or only when you think about quitting FOREVER?
You never have to think about quitting forever, btw. You only have to think about quitting TODAY. Then do it again tomorrow.
peaceful seabird
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: floating
Posts: 4,822
Hey there Crayola,
If you are able to maintain 8 oz of wine per day, without cravings for more; they you are doing good at moderating your drinking.
I wasn't able to do that. I would reward myself with a little splash more wine (read: glug, glug goes the bottle) if I had maintained moderation for a set period. But I could always justify the bonus amount of wine because I was good, had a few days off, dealing with other peoples crap, etc....
I cold turkeyed my daily vodka addiction, two years ago this month. It wasn't pretty. I was able to keep it out of my daily diet. But I continued to drink wine and beer. Then I escalated back to shots of whiskey or tequila, and well you know how this ends..
Happy to be here and sober!
If you are able to maintain 8 oz of wine per day, without cravings for more; they you are doing good at moderating your drinking.
I wasn't able to do that. I would reward myself with a little splash more wine (read: glug, glug goes the bottle) if I had maintained moderation for a set period. But I could always justify the bonus amount of wine because I was good, had a few days off, dealing with other peoples crap, etc....
I cold turkeyed my daily vodka addiction, two years ago this month. It wasn't pretty. I was able to keep it out of my daily diet. But I continued to drink wine and beer. Then I escalated back to shots of whiskey or tequila, and well you know how this ends..
Happy to be here and sober!
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Michigan
Posts: 162
Hi Crayola,
Personally I find it so much easier not to drink, than try to control my drinking. It is also so nice not having to worry about hiding bottles, getting rid of empties, etc. When I tried moderation, it wouldnt take to long before I was on a binge again.
Personally I find it so much easier not to drink, than try to control my drinking. It is also so nice not having to worry about hiding bottles, getting rid of empties, etc. When I tried moderation, it wouldnt take to long before I was on a binge again.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,385
In your own words:
"total closet drinker"
"but couldn't make it"
"OMG, do I have to quit FOREVER???"
"its almost like a security blanket"
"taken a lot of stress out of the equation"
You say that you don't like wine but you admit that you are drinking it.
Only you can really answer the question you are asking.
"total closet drinker"
"but couldn't make it"
"OMG, do I have to quit FOREVER???"
"its almost like a security blanket"
"taken a lot of stress out of the equation"
You say that you don't like wine but you admit that you are drinking it.
Only you can really answer the question you are asking.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: NC
Posts: 42
Thanks
Thanks, everyone, definitely some things to seriously ponder. To answer Kent's question - I don't really like wine straight but I've always liked coolers or mixed drinks. I've got a sweet tooth, yep - if the only alcohol was Merlot I'd be permanently sober 
Thanks too for the warning, Pelican - I can see where the extra "treat" would be a hazard. Maybe once I think all of this through I'll see where cold quitting would be easier.
SR Folks are wonderful - I can't say how nice it is to be able to ask and get straight advice from you guys!
Thanks too for the warning, Pelican - I can see where the extra "treat" would be a hazard. Maybe once I think all of this through I'll see where cold quitting would be easier.
SR Folks are wonderful - I can't say how nice it is to be able to ask and get straight advice from you guys!
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Welcome back....
I had this on my browser and it seems to fit here
Good to see you again ..
I had this on my browser and it seems to fit here
What is moderation?
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control
Moderate drinking is no more than
2 drinks a day for men..1 for women
They consider a drink to be
12 oz. of beer..5 oz. of wine...1 1/2 oz of liquor.
Your body and mind processes all 3 toxins equally
so drinking only wine or only liquor or only beer
or mixing them is of no importance.
They all do the same damage.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control
Moderate drinking is no more than
2 drinks a day for men..1 for women
They consider a drink to be
12 oz. of beer..5 oz. of wine...1 1/2 oz of liquor.
Your body and mind processes all 3 toxins equally
so drinking only wine or only liquor or only beer
or mixing them is of no importance.
They all do the same damage.
It's time to change!
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: lake tahoe
Posts: 1,025
Hi Crayola,
My experience has been to taper down because I'm a hard core 24/7 alkie. If I wouldn't have, I'd have been hospitalized. But through my tappering down, it was with the sole intention of cutting it off completely within a 3-4 day period. I've done this before and know what to pretty much expect with my body make-up and detoxing. I wouldn't suggest going cold turkey without at least seeing and/or talking to your doctor first. The amount of liquor you're talking about doesn't seem to me like it would be a problem, but I'm not a physician and I don't know how you process alcohol.
Keep us posted and am wishing you strength and hope through this!
My experience has been to taper down because I'm a hard core 24/7 alkie. If I wouldn't have, I'd have been hospitalized. But through my tappering down, it was with the sole intention of cutting it off completely within a 3-4 day period. I've done this before and know what to pretty much expect with my body make-up and detoxing. I wouldn't suggest going cold turkey without at least seeing and/or talking to your doctor first. The amount of liquor you're talking about doesn't seem to me like it would be a problem, but I'm not a physician and I don't know how you process alcohol.
Keep us posted and am wishing you strength and hope through this!
Cause no harm
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 596
Originally Posted by crayola 
I've got a sweet tooth, yep - if the only alcohol was Merlot I'd be permanently sober
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Padraic
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