I finally think it's time to seek help...
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 706
I finally think it's time to seek help...
I finally think that it is time to get help. My beer count is up to 12-15 per evening, and more on the weekends, because the drinking starts around 9:30am on the weekends. I'm not in denial, I know I'm an alcoholic. I've spoke with my wife about A.A., and got info on local meetings. Tonight is a newcomers open meeting. God. I hope I go, but I have the hardest time keeping myself from driving to the liquor store on the way home from work. I'm not even 40, and after seeing a specialist for an illness a few weeks back, he advised me to speak with my family doctor about a high mcv blood count. I'm afraid of going cold turkey, after reading about the severity of withdrawl. But I do want a change. I'd love to see myself sober 5 years from now. Hell, I'd love to see myself sober 5 months from now. I've overcome a lot of difficult things in my life, but the most difficult as of today is not having that first drink. God, I feel a lot of guilt in my life right now, and I do need a change.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 157
Welcome to SR. Just a couple of suggestions based on my own experience. It would probably be good to see a doc about the withdraw symtopms you might face. Also, if you call the local AA office they can help with having someone meet you at the meeting. That might ensure more of a likelyhood of you showing up. There are also lots of great resources and info here on SR. Best wishes,
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 35,731
You should speak with your Doctor and come clean about your drinking. He can help you detox." Hoping "to change your life doesn't work. You need to take action. Stopping today at the liquor store will prolong your misery. Ride by and go to the AA meeting. Just for today. Try it just for Today Zube.
My Best To You!
My Best To You!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 4,682
Just get to the meeting...is there one directly after work? If you have to buy the beer and then have it waiting for you after the meeting then do that...most important thing is to get to the meeting...AA is for alcoholics who cant magically will themselves to stop drinking, its a great first step...
Be honest because then you will get help...you will be looking toget asponsor asap to help guide you through the steps of AA asap as if you were like me reading stories about how someone has stopped drinking for x days by willpower alone will seem like fantasy world...there is a solution...you can be a recovered alcoholic in 5 months or 5 years or die of this...that choice is yours...get to that meeting like your life depends on it...because it does!
Let us know how you get on...good luck!
AS said it would be wise to see a doc about withdrawls i was drinking 2 bottles of wine and 8 beers a night and was ok but that same amount to a different body could kill them in withdrawl...ask someone at the meeting...not a crazy person someone who is a recovered alcoholic and see the doc yourself too:-)
Be honest because then you will get help...you will be looking toget asponsor asap to help guide you through the steps of AA asap as if you were like me reading stories about how someone has stopped drinking for x days by willpower alone will seem like fantasy world...there is a solution...you can be a recovered alcoholic in 5 months or 5 years or die of this...that choice is yours...get to that meeting like your life depends on it...because it does!
Let us know how you get on...good luck!
AS said it would be wise to see a doc about withdrawls i was drinking 2 bottles of wine and 8 beers a night and was ok but that same amount to a different body could kill them in withdrawl...ask someone at the meeting...not a crazy person someone who is a recovered alcoholic and see the doc yourself too:-)
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Originally Posted by Zube 
I'd love to see myself sober 5 years from now. Hell, I'd love to see myself sober 5 months from now.
No one has gotten sober by thinking about not drinking. You get sober by not picking up that first drink.
But lest I forget, welcome to SR. Everyone here knows or can relate to what you are going through. I myself was a daily beer drinker for over 30 years. I think now of all those hours I spent with a beer in my hand and can cry at the shame and waste of it. It's a daily struggle, believe me, but I am thankful to be sober since Sept 4th of this year.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 34
Dude. My story is identical to yours.
I drank a 12pack of beer everyday after work and much more on the weekends. I would get a 30 pack on friday and I would be excited if some was left for sunday! That had gone for 6 years straight at that exact pace religously. I would almost always drink at home and never get sloppy, unless I was partying with a bunch of friends on the weekends. For a long time I didn't think it was an issue until I quit wanting to do anything at all. Hated having family events later in the evening where it forced me to wait until I could start drinking.
Finally, one day I came home to my wife and said, "I want to stop". Like you, I was scared of the withdrawls, so I just checked myself into a detox center. The released me after 5 days and I started going to AA. I having almost 4 months of sobriety now and each day gets better and better.
At first, I thought that life would be so boring and what the heck am I going to do on the weekends. Especially during football season lol. Anyway, over this short amount of time I'm having to do less and less to keep my mind off alcohol and enjoying life SO much more!
Having been in the same pattern you are, I can honestly say that I felt TRAPPED in a viscious circle of waking up and saying I'm going to slow down or not drink at all tonight, only to get off work want a drink immediately. Funny how we forget how fuzzy we felt in the morning and want more in the afternoon.
You CAN do this! It's just about taking that leap to get some help and support from your wife is the best thing to have in recovery!
I drank a 12pack of beer everyday after work and much more on the weekends. I would get a 30 pack on friday and I would be excited if some was left for sunday! That had gone for 6 years straight at that exact pace religously. I would almost always drink at home and never get sloppy, unless I was partying with a bunch of friends on the weekends. For a long time I didn't think it was an issue until I quit wanting to do anything at all. Hated having family events later in the evening where it forced me to wait until I could start drinking.
Finally, one day I came home to my wife and said, "I want to stop". Like you, I was scared of the withdrawls, so I just checked myself into a detox center. The released me after 5 days and I started going to AA. I having almost 4 months of sobriety now and each day gets better and better.
At first, I thought that life would be so boring and what the heck am I going to do on the weekends. Especially during football season lol. Anyway, over this short amount of time I'm having to do less and less to keep my mind off alcohol and enjoying life SO much more!
Having been in the same pattern you are, I can honestly say that I felt TRAPPED in a viscious circle of waking up and saying I'm going to slow down or not drink at all tonight, only to get off work want a drink immediately. Funny how we forget how fuzzy we felt in the morning and want more in the afternoon.
You CAN do this! It's just about taking that leap to get some help and support from your wife is the best thing to have in recovery!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 34
OH. And the sooner you act on this, the less damage you will put your body through! Better to take care of it while your still considered healthy and don't have any major health concerns now! My doctor told me I was lucky to have acted so soon and most don't do anything about their drinking until it's too late. In AA they say everyone has to hit rock bottom for them to want to get sober. The thing is, everyones "rock bottom" is different. If you can stop now, you'll be able to prevent A LOT of bad things that are sure to come!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Italy
Posts: 287
Originally Posted by doggonecarl
Set a more realistic goal of seeing yourself sober TODAY!
Last Monday I was drinking Vodka at 8am. Tonight I have done my first week sober. And the only way I managed it is to just not have a drink "today". Let tomorrow take care of tomorrow.
Good luck, Buddy!
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,444
Hi Zube
I totally agree with the others - get yourself some medical supervision - detox can sometimes be problematic.
And it's never too late to start this process...I drank heavily for 20 years, all day everyday for 7...I was nearly dead....I'm coming up to 4 years sober.
It is possible
You'll find a lot of encouragement support and hope here Zube - welcome
Hope you hit that meeting!
D
I totally agree with the others - get yourself some medical supervision - detox can sometimes be problematic.
And it's never too late to start this process...I drank heavily for 20 years, all day everyday for 7...I was nearly dead....I'm coming up to 4 years sober.
It is possible
You'll find a lot of encouragement support and hope here Zube - welcome
Hope you hit that meeting!
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 706
UPDATE: 5 Months, one day at a time...
Originally Posted by Zube
I'd love to see myself sober 5 years from now. Hell, I'd love to see myself sober 5 months from now..
5 Months, yesterday...one day at a time.
Thanks to SR, AA, and my HP!
Zube
Sober since November 21st, 2010
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: New York
Posts: 234
Congrats Zube!!! So happy for you! I am at a little over 7 weeks sober and I am so happy to have moved past the state of mind of being so fearful of a life without alcohol. I feel great about my decision too. All my best to you!
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