grubby

I think this would benefit the newbies and especially the ones who are on the fence about quitting.

Anyways, here is the question:

HOW did you quit?

Pretty simple poll here.

As for me, I was totally ignorant/un-informed of how serious alcohol withdrawal can be....... i quit cold turkey on February 17, at home. What ensued was almost 2 weeks of absolute physical hell.

I got the "crash course" the first week as i went onto Google and started snooping around wondering why i felt so bad and couldn't sleep (at all!). Found this website and just absorbed absorbed absorbed the information like a sponge. Now in hindsight everything that was happening to me makes perfect sense...... turns out my body was simply reacting in a "shocked" manner to the sudden absence of alcohol.

Thankfully i am still here alive and breathing and nothing happened to me, but it could have been a lot worse........ after a good 4 days with pretty much no sleep i was worn out and my will-power hung by a thread, i seriously considered going to the ER i felt so bad. I ended up toughing it out and made it through the second week, after which my body seemed to calm down.

that's how i quit, how did you quit?

thank you for sharing your experiences, im sure people who are thinking about quitting will also appreciate it

freshstart57

There is a thread on this topic that many people have found useful. http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html You might find it useful too.

I broke up with alcohol the same way I broke up with an abusive GF, all at once. Scorched earth, never again, no matter what.

Aarryckha

Right there with you, Grubby. At home, alone. I had no clue that it was dangerous. I didn't bother to research it because it's just alcohol, right?

First 3-4 days were hell on earth. Message received. I am not going to put my body through that again or end up in a position that I would have to.

My body is still fixing itself. I can be patient. It's been more than forgiving of me.

LBrain

Unfortunately - actually fortunately - I was sent to a rehab. After a week I saw the light. Having had time to reflect over my life I came to the conclusion that yes indeed, I was truly an alcoholic. I made the decision to quit then and there. I do go to AA meetings and study mindfulness teachings. And spending time on this forum has been very inspirational. So, how did I quit? I just quit.
Having the benefit of three weeks in a facility got me over the yearning for the alcohol. I was determined to end it for good. Plus my wife reminds me now and then that it is for good.

GreenEggsAndHam

I can't choose more than one option.

Rehab + psychiatrist + meds + therapists + AA all at the same time. All of this was a requirement of rehab which is the best decision I've ever made.

(I selected rehab but "rehab" was essentially this combination of treatment - the group therapy component was powerful as well)

Johnston

Reason, willpower, personal responsibility. Helps that my wife doesn't drink either.

kiki1988

AA + SR + attempts at mindfulness.

PaperDolls

+1 Rehab + psychiatrist + meds + therapists + AA plus SR

least

Counseling plus SR. Still working after four years.

aasharon90

Family intervention with the willingness to
do whatever I needed to do to remain sober
a day at a time.

deeker

detox, started meetings day I got out , 90 in 90 days,

To learn to live that way
Sponsor, work the steps, service, faith in God

Dee74

This is really two questions tho, isn't it?

I got sober cold turkey like an idiot...I stayed sober with the help of SR.

D

Mountainmanbob

quit cold turkey after a major vehicle accident

it wasn't the first but was the last drunken accident

MM

Zencat

Wow I could check all the question answer options.

Getting thoroughly disgusted with my alcoholic behaviors, angry even at myself, helped immensely. I said enough was enough and detached ("let-go") from alcohol and drugs. Its a tired but true saying that apply to my recovery. "I finally became sick and tired of being (constantly) sick and tired". Surrendering to the fact that drinking is spiritual/moral/mental/physical/emotional death I had nowhere to go but up.

Nothing is so bad, a drink won't make it worse.

Coldfusion

I checked myself into a week-long, no-cost detox program; then stayed sober with AA and SoberRecovery.

bizzybee

Hi! I'm "bizzybee" and I'm an alcoholic! I stopped cold Turkey and that was the worst 3weeks ever! Severe shaking, sweats, felt disoriented, and alot the other fun stuff! Detoxed alone! EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! Don't do what I did those of you that want to stop drinking! If possible, go to a detox place! People do DIE from alcohol withdrawals! I have a friend that ween'd himself off slowly and he's been clean & sober for almost 7 years! Next week I pick up my 90 day chip!

cusper

I weened myself off alcohol for about a week. I read a lot of books and came on SR for support.

Jeni26

SR, morning noon and night to GET sober.

To STAY sober I used AA, a therapist, a course in mindfulness meditation...oh and SR morning noon and night..

mecanix

As an alcoholic binger who was often sober a week or 5 days in-between 2 or 3 day blackouts . i just stopped on a friday night and poured the drink away .

Then i found SR after 3 months sober as it helps remind me of the obsession and madness .

Now i get on with making sober life as glorious as possible however i might achieve that

Bestwishes, m

afloatsober

In the end i quit cold turkey. It was stupid. I was very ill and could have died. My partner knows of a man who recently died doing the same....
But it was never really about how i quit. It is about how i STAY STOPPED. AA,S/R,daily disciplines and continued help and support from others in recovery.
I stopped literally hundreds of times.
I can only stay stopped once.
It's the staying stopped that will save us the misery and ultimately our lives......