New "problem drinker" here!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 53
New "problem drinker" here!
Hi everyone, here's a little about myself:
I'm a 25 yr old female from CA. I've been regularly socially drinking since I was 17. Only in the past few years have I noticed that my drinking patterns have become unhealthy and have caused me lots of stress. I wish to live a sober lifestyle but I'm not quite sure where to start. I call myself a problem drinker because although I only drink socially, once I start to drink it is very hard for me to stop, I often make poor decisions like smoke a pack of cigarettes, (even though I don't smoke and am pretty much a health nut during the week) or do a bunch of lines of coke throughout the night and feel like absolute **** both mentally and physically for days after. Those are just too examples of how alcohol has affected my life negatively. I lose control when I drink and I make very unhealthy choices for myself. I'm really worried about this pattern and I think there is really nothing else to do but quit drinking completely.
I know this is going to be really hard for me because my social life is pretty much surrounded by alcohol. This is why I've had a hard time staying sober when I've tried before. I feel like this weekend was "rock bottom" for me and although my bottom may be more shallow than others....I really need this.
I'd love support and any advice you are willing to give me!
I'd also love to make friends who wish to live a sober lifestyle like me.
Thanks!
L
I'm a 25 yr old female from CA. I've been regularly socially drinking since I was 17. Only in the past few years have I noticed that my drinking patterns have become unhealthy and have caused me lots of stress. I wish to live a sober lifestyle but I'm not quite sure where to start. I call myself a problem drinker because although I only drink socially, once I start to drink it is very hard for me to stop, I often make poor decisions like smoke a pack of cigarettes, (even though I don't smoke and am pretty much a health nut during the week) or do a bunch of lines of coke throughout the night and feel like absolute **** both mentally and physically for days after. Those are just too examples of how alcohol has affected my life negatively. I lose control when I drink and I make very unhealthy choices for myself. I'm really worried about this pattern and I think there is really nothing else to do but quit drinking completely.
I know this is going to be really hard for me because my social life is pretty much surrounded by alcohol. This is why I've had a hard time staying sober when I've tried before. I feel like this weekend was "rock bottom" for me and although my bottom may be more shallow than others....I really need this.
I'd love support and any advice you are willing to give me!
I'd also love to make friends who wish to live a sober lifestyle like me.
Thanks!
L
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,313
Hi L
I had to make some pretty hefty changes to my life when I quit and although that was hard I don't regret them - for me the mix of me and some places and some people just don't mesh with recovery IMO.
You'll find a lot of ideas support and new friends here tho
Welcome!
D
I had to make some pretty hefty changes to my life when I quit and although that was hard I don't regret them - for me the mix of me and some places and some people just don't mesh with recovery IMO.
You'll find a lot of ideas support and new friends here tho
Welcome!
D
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,746
I was a home alone drinker so the changes in social life I had to make were inside myself. I had to change my whole attitude but it was worth the effort. I'm sober almost two years now and feeling better than I have in a long while.
You'll find a lot of support here from people who understand what it's like for you. Welcome to the family! :ghug3
I had to change my whole attitude but it was worth the effort. I'm sober almost two years now and feeling better than I have in a long while.You'll find a lot of support here from people who understand what it's like for you. Welcome to the family! :ghug3
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,507
Pleased to meet you, goal! Congratulations for recognizing your drinking is beginning to run your life. I never acknowledged that when I was in my 20's, & kept going until I almost destroyed myself.
I, too, did dangerous & out-of-character things when I got trashed. I feel lucky to be sitting here typing this and not in jail or dead. I'm sure you'll never reach that point, because you're going to take control of your life. Keep reading & posting - we're here to support you 24/7.
I, too, did dangerous & out-of-character things when I got trashed. I feel lucky to be sitting here typing this and not in jail or dead. I'm sure you'll never reach that point, because you're going to take control of your life. Keep reading & posting - we're here to support you 24/7.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,410
Welcome to SR! If you want to stay sober then you will most likely need to stay away from the social alcohol surround for the time be until you feel comfortable with not drinking. Second is to learn how you are wanted to drink drunk when you start drinking. Most people don't drink just because of the alcohol. They most likely have underlining issues that they are try to avoid. Third is to meet new people who don't drink or don't drink normally. Try meetup.com and see if you can find a group of people you have the same interest like you. A lot of them talk at coffee shops and it's a good way to meet new people that is not in the same circle you hang with.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 53
Originally Posted by AndreTT 
Your history look a lot like mine. I decided to not ever drink again this week
95% of my drinking is on weekends and I do a lot of dangerous things while drunk
I'm 21
95% of my drinking is on weekends and I do a lot of dangerous things while drunk
I'm 21
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 53
Originally Posted by ACT10Npack
Welcome to SR! If you want to stay sober then you will most likely need to stay away from the social alcohol surround for the time be until you feel comfortable with not drinking. Second is to learn how you are wanted to drink drunk when you start drinking. Most people don't drink just because of the alcohol. They most likely have underlining issues that they are try to avoid. Third is to meet new people who don't drink or don't drink normally. Try meetup.com and see if you can find a group of people you have the same interest like you. A lot of them talk at coffee shops and it's a good way to meet new people that is not in the same circle you hang with.
Good luck!
Good luck!
SR Fan
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 7,910
Welcome goalofsobriety!
I'm so glad you're not waiting until you hit some kind of bottom to stop drinking. You'll be saving yourself a lot of heartache (and the people who care about you too).
I wondered if I could live without it, but the more I did, the easier it got. It's amazing (once we get used to not drinking) to discover life can be ever better without alcohol. Glad you're here!
I'm so glad you're not waiting until you hit some kind of bottom to stop drinking. You'll be saving yourself a lot of heartache (and the people who care about you too).
I wondered if I could live without it, but the more I did, the easier it got. It's amazing (once we get used to not drinking) to discover life can be ever better without alcohol. Glad you're here!
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
but I worry about my ability to go through with it and not get tempted into drinking...
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 53
I'm attending the old Young Persons AA meeting tonight that I attended a few times about a year ago before I decided to go back to drinking. I'm going in with slightly new expectations now so I hope that I come out with something positive.
I'll let you know how it goes in a few hours!
I'll let you know how it goes in a few hours!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 53
I went to the meeting and I felt a lot more at home than when I tried to go to meetings last year. Lots of negative things have happened with my drinking in the past year which makes me feel like the meetings are more right for me. I still get confused and worried when I hear speaker stories that sound so much more awful than my history with alcohol...it makes me wonder if i'm making the right decision or if i'm just letting my anxiety tell me that I have a real problem...or my addiction is trying to steer me away from sobriety? ugh. Confused....
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Present Moment
Posts: 646
GOS,
That is the addiction, the Alcoholic Devil Voice talking to you..and it IS trying to steer you away. Your smartest thinking got you to that meeting.
As far as others stories being so much worse than yours...you can only say that NOW...keep drinking and YOUR story will be one of them.
That is the addiction, the Alcoholic Devil Voice talking to you..and it IS trying to steer you away. Your smartest thinking got you to that meeting.
As far as others stories being so much worse than yours...you can only say that NOW...keep drinking and YOUR story will be one of them.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,313
I used to judge myself against other drinkers too - I ran with a pack of very heavy drinkers so it was always easy for me to find someone else 'worse then me'...I used that rationalising to continue to drink and keep drinking for a lot of years...
but you know what? It doesn't matter - the important thing was what my drinking was doing to me
D
but you know what? It doesn't matter - the important thing was what my drinking was doing to me
D
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