Jus

Today I've been thinking of the people I once knew who've lost their lives due to their choice to drink.
They are just a drop in the ocean.

None of it was pretty.

Does the idea of having a stroke, or two scare you?

Does the idea of your liver stop doing it's job, scare you?

Does the idea of liver cancer scare you?

I've read, and been told, it's a very painful way to die.

I once knew a guy who never went for help, he died at
the tender age of 35. He was a friend, and a SHOCK when
we received the news his life had ended in his home, due
to his drinking.

I once knew a gal (a friend) who never went for help. Her life was INSANE.
She passed away from a disease due to her drinking, at the age of 40.

I once knew another guy (childhood friend) He never went for help
died of liver cancer age 40s. His aunt said it was a HORRIBLE death.

I used to think I was invisible too, and it doesn't matter what age we are
part of us loves to go into denial. Ohhhhh that only happens to other people, that won't happen to me. Ha!!

There's nothing funny about this disease, it KILLS. And the sad part about it
it literally kills us before it kills us.

So please find something that works for you. It's up to YOU to stop
the insanity once and for all.

I've said this before, and will say it again.

IF I CAN DO IT
SO CAN YOU.

And repeatedly, remind yourself, you AIN'T invincible.
Don't wait until it's to late.
You have a life to live.
You're not living it making
that choice.

I hope I've given you something
to really think about.

It will get easier as time goes by.
This I PROMISE you.
Be patient with yourself.


Thank you.

LBrain

My BIL passed this past fall. He was only a couple years older than I. Liver destroyed from alcohol abuse over the years. My sis is very pleased with me in abstaining from alcohol. I am now the most important man in her life. I know the pain she is still going through over the loss of her husband. I would surely be an ass to continue destroying myself too.

SoberLeigh

Thanks, Jus. I lost a friend to liver failure; he was not a drinker. Liver failure is HORRID.

SoberLeigh

I am sorry about your brother-in-law, LBrain.

Mags1

Hi jus, I don't think I'm invincible, in fact I'm amazed I've lived to this age. I'm hoping it's because I drank a lot of water when sober hoping it would combat the booze, so much for enjoying ourselves, hey?
But, this alternative, sober constantly, is better than the foggy haze I had when drinking. Life is becoming much clearer now, day by day, I know I'm changing or seeing clearer.

I agree, jus, if you or and me can stop, anyone can. Xxxx

resolute50

There is no death more horrible, than one that could have been prevented.

Jus

I've lost 2 brothers, stokes, one went fast, one suffered for years.

Now I wait for another brother to go. I see a broken man, who is fading away to nothing, but he doesn't want to help himself. He's to deep in depression and self pity, he can't see past it. He used to be a tall striking looking man with a laugh, that would make everyone laugh. Not today, he only has tears.

It's heartbreaking

I don't think there is one family on this amazing beautiful planet that we on, who's not been affected by this.

It really needs to STOP.
There is a solution.

It's heartbreaking beyond words the families affected by this.

LBrain and SoberLeign I'm so sorry for your loss too.

And LBrian good for you choosing a better path today.

Mags you got it girl, if WE can, anyone can.

Jus

Amen!!!

Jade1224

I am so glad you posted this.

I am fortunate enough to have not witnessed much death in my life.

This is a reminder to me that it does happen.

toddle118

Yes, indeed dying from ALD is dreadful, I worked as a nurse on a liver unit for many years. Bleeding from every orifice, swollen up, weeping sores, encephalopathy, it is truly a horrific way to die ...and our patients got younger and younger

resolute50

I know 3 that left this planet due to alcohol.
Enlarged heart,and two liver failures.

If you ever want to see an alcoholic go down fast. Watch when one comes into a lot of $$ suddenly. Less than one month and Richie was in the hospital dying of massive organ failure.

Jus

You've been very fortunate Jade.

It's been a different story for me.

GracieLou

I used to think I was invisible. That if I disappeared tomorrow that nobody would really care. The world would carry on without me. I never thought I mattered enough to anyone.

Since I got sober I have found that my family was there all along, I was so wrapped up in my alcoholism that I could not see them.

I lost my brother and the father of my children to alcoholism. There have been at least a dozen people over the years that have died as a direct result of alcoholism ranging from suicide, choking on their own vomit to car crashes. I always felt bad but removed myself from relating to them because I was not that bad. I was not like they were, I had not lost it all or my ego had me convinced I was of a different class of alcoholic, I was functional.

Then I was almost not functional. If not for AA and the people that keep those doors open and meetings running I could have easily joined the ranks of an early alcoholic death.

Jus

I was outside, walked past the garage, to hear beer bottles clinging together. At one time that would do it for me, not today. I ignored it and kept walking.

Am I happy about it? No, not really. But I chose not to drink, simple.

Earlier in my recovery, I would get so resentful, and angry. Not today. I am amazed how well my program works for me.

Keep working those programs.

That's why I keep saying
If I can do it
So can you.

Mags1

Thanks GracieLou, I felt like that sometimes and in a way still do but I guess I hurt my husband very deeply , although he is here, I feel he is here because it's easier. Anyways, I digress

My uncle died two months ago,cancer, but he drank at least one bottle of rum a day, it can't have helped. I thought he'd maybe stopped but when I went to funeral and their home there was empty rum bottles in the recycling tub.

Jus

Hmmm, I just finished talking to a friend. Guess her denial and invincibility, caught up to her.

While making dinner and a few drinks, she had a heart attack. Four days in the hospital, and facing open heart surgery.

I talked to her about this before, but we know how it goes, it only happens to other people. So now she's working on changes. Funny how a lot of humans do that, wait till they get a massive wake up call, then decide it's time to change.

A lesson for all of us, not to WAIT.

Scary!!!

matt4x4

There is more then one road to recovery. I know of a wide road that has taken millions upon millions of its members to sobriety, with an astonishing recovery rate of more then 75%. Now those are the best odds in town that I am willing to gamble with.



Do You Think You're Invinsible? No

Does the idea of having a stroke, or two scare you? No
Does the idea of your liver stop doing it's job, scare you? No
Does the idea of liver cancer scare you? No

Does the idea of not having enough liquor scare you? Yes

deeker

I have to agree it didn't scare me at all when I was drinking, the only thing that scared me was when I got to that point of not being able to picture life with or without alcohol. The jumping off place as AA refers to it. Hitting all the yets, jails, institutions, suicide attempts.

Not wanting to live but not sure of dying.

Scare tactics never worked but hope did. People who gave me hope. But overly happy people drove me crazy in the beginning. And I didn't buy it.

Until I realized they had no real responsibility. It's easy to be positive when the only thing you have to think about is working on your recovery.

I became one of those overly happy people in the beginning too, as I lost everything, I had just gotten out of a nursing home and I had no responsibilty, my parents were taking care of me at 52 yrs old.

When reality set in and I needed to find work again and become self supporting, I began behaving like other people in recovery, good days and bad days. But not joy, joy , joy everyday.

If I am not having any bad days in my life or in recovery then I am not learning anything. I am grateful for the good days and the bad days.

I have no idea why I went into this lol. My fingers just kept typing.