Really need some help.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 5
Really need some help.
I’m 43, I’ve been dealing with the throes of alcoholism for 25 years. Would love some support and encouragement going cold turkey. Have done it in the past for long stints, but always came back to the bottle. Would like to end the addiction once and for all. Any encouraging words will help. Thanks SR community.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 245
Hey. I'm dealing with quite a bit myself. Been sober a little over a month now. It's hasn't been great, but it's better than it was. We will have our rough periods. But trust me fighting thru the storm is worth it. Changing your life and getting through these hard times is doable. I say that because I was at a point after relapsing that I didn't believe it was. I went back out after being sober almost 3 years. Which was the longest for me and was drinking pretty bad to the point I thought it would end like this.
But the fact that you came here, shared and looking for encouragement means in your heart you want a change. I sincerely believe a higher power provides us the courage and introduces us to the support we need to make it through the rough instances that we face. I'm down myself about quite a few things, but I refuse to have them make me take the path of destruction that I usually would go down when life gets like this.
You can beat this thing and become a stronger person for it. Don't doubt yourself. My prayers go out to you as well as my confidence in your ability to prevail.
Take care
But the fact that you came here, shared and looking for encouragement means in your heart you want a change. I sincerely believe a higher power provides us the courage and introduces us to the support we need to make it through the rough instances that we face. I'm down myself about quite a few things, but I refuse to have them make me take the path of destruction that I usually would go down when life gets like this.
You can beat this thing and become a stronger person for it. Don't doubt yourself. My prayers go out to you as well as my confidence in your ability to prevail.
Take care
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,416
Welcome aboard Macro 
I know you probably have good reasons for not wanting to involve a doctor but don't hesitate to do so if you feel concerned about the way things are going cold turkey.
Not everyone has problems withdrawing but some people do.
I turned my life around with the help of this community - I know you can do the same - I'm really glad you found us
D
I know you probably have good reasons for not wanting to involve a doctor but don't hesitate to do so if you feel concerned about the way things are going cold turkey.
Not everyone has problems withdrawing but some people do.
I turned my life around with the help of this community - I know you can do the same - I'm really glad you found us
D
Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 464
Hi Macro,
Maybe a sobriety game plan is in order.
I drank for decades and tried on numerous occasions to simply stop on my own.
I failed every time. Like you, I'd have a few bursts of sobriety...but always topple back into the booze abyss.
One morning, following another dismal night, I simply had enough. I phoned my medical provider and made an appointment to enroll in an out-patient alcoholism program. Along with that, I made an appointment with my personal physician...and spilled the beans about my alcoholism.
I was in the out-patient program the very next day: for 1 year, with 1 year of mandatory spot drug/alcohol testing, 1 year of mandatory AA meetings.
That, my friend, is what finally worked for me....structure, accountability, discipline, effort, penalty. That's what I needed to roll out of the recliner to get sober.
Maybe a sobriety game plan is in order.
I drank for decades and tried on numerous occasions to simply stop on my own.
I failed every time. Like you, I'd have a few bursts of sobriety...but always topple back into the booze abyss.
One morning, following another dismal night, I simply had enough. I phoned my medical provider and made an appointment to enroll in an out-patient alcoholism program. Along with that, I made an appointment with my personal physician...and spilled the beans about my alcoholism.
I was in the out-patient program the very next day: for 1 year, with 1 year of mandatory spot drug/alcohol testing, 1 year of mandatory AA meetings.
That, my friend, is what finally worked for me....structure, accountability, discipline, effort, penalty. That's what I needed to roll out of the recliner to get sober.
Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 365
Hey Marco, I'm a lot like you. "Quittin's easy! I've done it a thousand times!" I can't give you advice on how to achieve decades-long sobriety because I've never done that myself. My longest sober streak was five years, and I've had a lot of shorter ones in there. For me what seems to work is reminding myself constantly that I don't drink because drinking will kill me or make me wish I were dead. When I say, "constantly" in that last sentence, I mean it. You have to work it into your subconscious.
95% of what we do in life is controlled by the subconscious. You don't consciously decide to do very many things, you just do them. I think the reason I was able to make it five years was that sobriety became normal, and my go-to behavior in times of trouble or times of celebration was not drinking. Then, inexplicably, at one moment I made the conscious decision to drink. I'm still trying to reprogram my subconscious this time around. After that, I'll have to do something to guard against making that one stupid conscious decision in a moment of insanity. The point is, for me it's about making it automatic to not drink instead of to drink, at least in the beginning. Hypnosis, affirmations, meditation -- these are all ways of getting that autopilot on the right course.
Anyway, best of luck.
95% of what we do in life is controlled by the subconscious. You don't consciously decide to do very many things, you just do them. I think the reason I was able to make it five years was that sobriety became normal, and my go-to behavior in times of trouble or times of celebration was not drinking. Then, inexplicably, at one moment I made the conscious decision to drink. I'm still trying to reprogram my subconscious this time around. After that, I'll have to do something to guard against making that one stupid conscious decision in a moment of insanity. The point is, for me it's about making it automatic to not drink instead of to drink, at least in the beginning. Hypnosis, affirmations, meditation -- these are all ways of getting that autopilot on the right course.
Anyway, best of luck.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 5
Originally Posted by TNTStill 
Hey. I'm dealing with quite a bit myself. Been sober a little over a month now. It's hasn't been great, but it's better than it was. We will have our rough periods. But trust me fighting thru the storm is worth it. Changing your life and getting through these hard times is doable. I say that because I was at a point after relapsing that I didn't believe it was. I went back out after being sober almost 3 years. Which was the longest for me and was drinking pretty bad to the point I thought it would end like this.
But the fact that you came here, shared and looking for encouragement means in your heart you want a change. I sincerely believe a higher power provides us the courage and introduces us to the support we need to make it through the rough instances that we face. I'm down myself about quite a few things, but I refuse to have them make me take the path of destruction that I usually would go down when life gets like this.
You can beat this thing and become a stronger person for it. Don't doubt yourself. My prayers go out to you as well as my confidence in your ability to prevail.
Take care
But the fact that you came here, shared and looking for encouragement means in your heart you want a change. I sincerely believe a higher power provides us the courage and introduces us to the support we need to make it through the rough instances that we face. I'm down myself about quite a few things, but I refuse to have them make me take the path of destruction that I usually would go down when life gets like this.
You can beat this thing and become a stronger person for it. Don't doubt yourself. My prayers go out to you as well as my confidence in your ability to prevail.
Take care
The opposite of addiction is connection.
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 373
Hi Macro, depending on the severity of your drinking, there are options for help. I’ve found detox centers helpful. The last one I went to was in a house, and was very comfortable and filled with people like me. Nurses and a doctor on call and to provide meds to help with withdrawal. Not a scary place but to the contrary a very supportive and welcoming place. If you’re not feeling too bad than there’s AA, Smart Recovery, inpatient and outpatient programs of all types. Whatever path you go youll find support. Good luck.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Greater Boston MA
Posts: 17
Hi Marco, I just wanted to let you know that I'm here to support and help you. Today is my first day on SR and I am truly thankful to have found this place. I am trying to get my life back together and I will not drink today. That is my plan. I hope that you will join me.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 184
Got triggered quite legitimately last few days. I'm facing the same thing. I've only been drinking last few days so plan not to drink tommorrow.
Any longer drinking in my experience you probably need medical help. But the best thing you can do is make yourself eat even if you don't feel like it.
Any longer drinking in my experience you probably need medical help. But the best thing you can do is make yourself eat even if you don't feel like it.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: I'm sitting right here ...
Posts: 918
Hello,
Like many others here, I too have relapsed countless times. This last time I got sober, I stopped taking Xanax and drinking cold turkey. And I had problems with it. That said, I'm still here and I'm just glad it's over.
I'll add this - two things: If you have a history of alcoholic seizures and if you drank a lot every day, you may want to at least let someone know that you're about to stop cold turkey. It can be dangerous and someone should be aware of it.
Like many others here, I too have relapsed countless times. This last time I got sober, I stopped taking Xanax and drinking cold turkey. And I had problems with it. That said, I'm still here and I'm just glad it's over.
I'll add this - two things: If you have a history of alcoholic seizures and if you drank a lot every day, you may want to at least let someone know that you're about to stop cold turkey. It can be dangerous and someone should be aware of it.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: S.E. MI
Posts: 1,025
Originally Posted by Outonthetiles
I did it, and if I can get sober, anyone can.
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