Need (and Want) to Stop Again
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: DFW area, Texas
Posts: 521
Need (and Want) to Stop Again
Hey there fellow SRs! Just wanted to check in and say that I've decided to stop drinking (for about the millionth time).
A little backstory...in Fall 2014 I was in horrible shape as I was drinking a lot of vodka every day. I was able to stop cold turkey, but that caused horrible withdrawal and post-withdrawal problems ultimately leading to me going inpatient for several days...won't ever do that again!
Part of my earlier heavy drinking was that I have an underlying problem with anxiety and depression (since I was a kid) and was "medicating" it away with that heavy drinking. We all know how that can play out.
Fast forward to today...I've gotten the underlying mental issues more or less under control with a med I've been taking about four years and have learned a lot of coping skills that really help. However, I still just like to drink. It had been mostly one glass a day and maybe two for a long time, but lately I've been creeping into the 3/4 to whole bottle range which cannot continue because it makes me feel like crap after doing that for a few days and is slowly raising my blood pressure.
I plan on tapering down with one glass (possibly two) per day and then bring it to zero *fingers crossed*. Thank God I'm not where I was back in 2014, but again it has to stop.
Everyone is always so supportive of each other here and I appreciate your time and great insight!
A little backstory...in Fall 2014 I was in horrible shape as I was drinking a lot of vodka every day. I was able to stop cold turkey, but that caused horrible withdrawal and post-withdrawal problems ultimately leading to me going inpatient for several days...won't ever do that again!
Part of my earlier heavy drinking was that I have an underlying problem with anxiety and depression (since I was a kid) and was "medicating" it away with that heavy drinking. We all know how that can play out.
Fast forward to today...I've gotten the underlying mental issues more or less under control with a med I've been taking about four years and have learned a lot of coping skills that really help. However, I still just like to drink. It had been mostly one glass a day and maybe two for a long time, but lately I've been creeping into the 3/4 to whole bottle range which cannot continue because it makes me feel like crap after doing that for a few days and is slowly raising my blood pressure.
I plan on tapering down with one glass (possibly two) per day and then bring it to zero *fingers crossed*. Thank God I'm not where I was back in 2014, but again it has to stop.
Everyone is always so supportive of each other here and I appreciate your time and great insight!
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,510
Hi Plure and welcome back.
I'm glad you've noticed that your consumption is increasing and that you are ready to stop drinking. I believe that stopping drinking completely is easier than tapering for alcoholics. I do hope that it works for you, and I hope you will continue to post and let us know how you're doing.
I'm glad you've noticed that your consumption is increasing and that you are ready to stop drinking. I believe that stopping drinking completely is easier than tapering for alcoholics. I do hope that it works for you, and I hope you will continue to post and let us know how you're doing.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 513
Welcome Plure! As Anna has said, if you're an alcoholic drinker, then quitting rather than tapering is definitely the best action to take. it sounds like you're definitely determined to stop, so may as well go the whole way and ditch booze now 
Wishing you luck!
Wishing you luck!
The opposite of addiction is connection.
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 373
Welcome back. Tapering was never an option for me, once I had a drink in me all bets of plans or predictably were out the window. Maybe it will work for you, I hope so! Just be brutally honest with yourself, the alcoholic voice will do its best to convince you to continue!
Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,909
Congrats on the recognition of a red flag and the decision to stop drinking. I too enjoyed drinking and didn't want to stop entirely because I couldn't imagine ever enjoying a beverage as much as I did beer. I thought that if I could keep my consumption to 3 beers everything would be fine. The flaw in that logic was that I am an alcoholic and the time period between the 3 beer consumption kept getting shorter and shorter until it was, if I was awake, I was consuming one of my 3 beers.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 31
Nice to chat to you in the chatroom earlier Plure. Glad you are here.
As I said there, tapering never works for me, like others in this thread. The only drink I ever had a choice over was the first one. I hope you find a way that works for you and hopefully chat again soon.
As I said there, tapering never works for me, like others in this thread. The only drink I ever had a choice over was the first one. I hope you find a way that works for you and hopefully chat again soon.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: DFW area, Texas
Posts: 521
Originally Posted by gettingsmarter 
If you are going to try and taper make sure you set a date where you will be at 0 and stick to it. If not the 0 date never comes.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: DFW area, Texas
Posts: 521
Originally Posted by Michael2018
Hey Plure
Good decision to stop!
If you're worried about coming off alcohol, remember your doctor can help with at-home detox to more safely come off alcohol.
Good decision to stop!
If you're worried about coming off alcohol, remember your doctor can help with at-home detox to more safely come off alcohol.
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