I might really be able to do this?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 11
I might really be able to do this?
Hey all.
New to the forum though I've been reading for years. Wasn't ready to come to grips what was just a problem I had on weekends often turning every Friday night through Sunday into a party with friends. Maybe it wasn't a problem then but it is now. And maybe I did have some grip that it was or I wouldn't have been lurking for years, right?
What was partying turned into drinking a few beers every night and binging weekends one I got my high stress well paying gov job at 27.
I'm 32 now and my body hates me with a passion.
Today is DAY 4 and I'm actually over the worst of the withdrawal systems. I have a bit of itchy skin and a muddled mind, but all the worst has come and gone.
So now I need to get my life back on track and I'm trying to figure out how to do that. I tried AA and it wasn't for me- at least now the few I went to. also the surrendering to a higher power thing.
What alternatives do i have that do offer some face to face?
Would love your support. I never want to drink again. I can tell that it's impossible for me to just moderate.
Thanks!
Zoned
New to the forum though I've been reading for years. Wasn't ready to come to grips what was just a problem I had on weekends often turning every Friday night through Sunday into a party with friends. Maybe it wasn't a problem then but it is now. And maybe I did have some grip that it was or I wouldn't have been lurking for years, right?
What was partying turned into drinking a few beers every night and binging weekends one I got my high stress well paying gov job at 27.
I'm 32 now and my body hates me with a passion.
Today is DAY 4 and I'm actually over the worst of the withdrawal systems. I have a bit of itchy skin and a muddled mind, but all the worst has come and gone.
So now I need to get my life back on track and I'm trying to figure out how to do that. I tried AA and it wasn't for me- at least now the few I went to. also the surrendering to a higher power thing.
What alternatives do i have that do offer some face to face?
Would love your support. I never want to drink again. I can tell that it's impossible for me to just moderate.
Thanks!
Zoned
Last edited by ZoneEater; 06-20-2015 at 05:37 PM. Reason: Spacing srove me batty
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
AA wasn't for me back at your age / stage either.
Then, almost ten years later, it was.
What changed?
Well.... things got a fair lot worse.
I'm not a hardcore AA. In fact, I haven't been to a meeting in a couple months. But the program and its people have been a tremendous tool in my overall sobriety toolkit.
For me, it wasn't AA or therapy or exercise or SR or meditation or spiritual pursuits or changes in my lifestyle or friendships or activities or interests.
It was all of that.
And it has been so, so worth it.
You can do it.
Then, almost ten years later, it was.
What changed?
Well.... things got a fair lot worse.
I'm not a hardcore AA. In fact, I haven't been to a meeting in a couple months. But the program and its people have been a tremendous tool in my overall sobriety toolkit.
For me, it wasn't AA or therapy or exercise or SR or meditation or spiritual pursuits or changes in my lifestyle or friendships or activities or interests.
It was all of that.
And it has been so, so worth it.
You can do it.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 24
My skin would itch like hell too and fortunately seems to be calming down. As someone who turned weekend drinking into a 7 day a week thing and am now only on day two, I want to wish you the best of all possible fortune my friend.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 11
Originally Posted by FreeOwl 
AA wasn't for me back at your age / stage either.
Then, almost ten years later, it was.
What changed?
Well.... things got a fair lot worse.
I'm not a hardcore AA. In fact, I haven't been to a meeting in a couple months. But the program and its people have been a tremendous tool in my overall sobriety toolkit.
For me, it wasn't AA or therapy or exercise or SR or meditation or spiritual pursuits or changes in my lifestyle or friendships or activities or interests.
It was all of that.
And it has been so, so worth it.
You can do it.
Then, almost ten years later, it was.
What changed?
Well.... things got a fair lot worse.
I'm not a hardcore AA. In fact, I haven't been to a meeting in a couple months. But the program and its people have been a tremendous tool in my overall sobriety toolkit.
For me, it wasn't AA or therapy or exercise or SR or meditation or spiritual pursuits or changes in my lifestyle or friendships or activities or interests.
It was all of that.
And it has been so, so worth it.
You can do it.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 11
Originally Posted by Edge78
My skin would itch like hell too and fortunately seems to be calming down. As someone who turned weekend drinking into a 7 day a week thing and am now only on day two, I want to wish you the best of all possible fortune my friend.
Thank you for your kind words and I hope you seek DR help if the withdrawals get too bad.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Ma
Posts: 3,553
Welcome to the site, Zoned.
I think besides using this site as a tool.
I had to find a hobby that would be interesting, creative and rewarding when completed or achieving goals.
It helped to fill in those times that I would be bored and be apt to think about drinking. Everybody is different, but, that worked for me.
I think besides using this site as a tool.
I had to find a hobby that would be interesting, creative and rewarding when completed or achieving goals.
It helped to fill in those times that I would be bored and be apt to think about drinking. Everybody is different, but, that worked for me.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 581
Welcome, I am only on day 11 myself. I realized I was self-loathing and depressed every morning because of the drinking of the night before, and then would drink again that night to feel better, or ignore. Not sure exactly what changed, but something snapped in me, and I did the first few days by sleeping, then one day 4 I started looking around and ended up here. I keep this sight up on my computer to look at. I reached out to a friend who is 2 years sober, and we have started a nightly hike around various different parks. For me it was important to feel I was gaining something, not losing something and this definitely helped.
I have not joined a group, partly as I work as a nurse in addiction recovery and at this early stage I do not want to risk bumping into people and losing credibility.
It is a problem if you think it is a problem...I think my drinking truly only became a problem in this last year or so, and luckily I had the tools to recognize before it became really bad, however, I never want to get to that point.
You have recognized a problem, and so keep reading here, and if you have someone in RL you can confide in that also offers some accountability...Good luck
I have not joined a group, partly as I work as a nurse in addiction recovery and at this early stage I do not want to risk bumping into people and losing credibility.
It is a problem if you think it is a problem...I think my drinking truly only became a problem in this last year or so, and luckily I had the tools to recognize before it became really bad, however, I never want to get to that point.
You have recognized a problem, and so keep reading here, and if you have someone in RL you can confide in that also offers some accountability...Good luck
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 2,332
Welcome 
I am not sure AA is for me either. I have only been to one meeting and am having trouble getting the courage up to go to another one. I spend a lot of time here reading which helps a lot, and I am seeing a therapist weekly.
I am not sure AA is for me either. I have only been to one meeting and am having trouble getting the courage up to go to another one. I spend a lot of time here reading which helps a lot, and I am seeing a therapist weekly.
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,574
Great meeting you ZoneEater - I'm glad you've been helped by SR. It saved my life when I came crawling in here. I was drinking daily at that point. In my 30's I still insisted I could control it - damage and destruction lay ahead. You're doing a wonderful thing for yourself.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New England, USA
Posts: 3
Maybe try an NA meeting?
It seems like NA is more about working on yourself than surrendering to a higher power. And I've seen quite a few alcoholics that attend the same NA meetings I do because they like the atmosphere of the NA meetings better than the AA ones.
There's nothing to lose, but everything to gain. Stay strong, but don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. The people here are wonderfully supportive.
It seems like NA is more about working on yourself than surrendering to a higher power. And I've seen quite a few alcoholics that attend the same NA meetings I do because they like the atmosphere of the NA meetings better than the AA ones.
There's nothing to lose, but everything to gain. Stay strong, but don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. The people here are wonderfully supportive.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
