betterlife4me

Well I finally decided to slow down on my drinking..Heres my story..

Im 32 years old. I started drinking beers when I was 20 years old and slowly progress.

Im more of social drinker sort of. I got out to parties and clubs alot and when I got out I drink alot and cant stop drinking..

When i was young me and my friends drunk some beers some liquor, then it slowly progress with each year. When I went to college at 22 I started to drink at least 1-2 22 ounce beers almost everyday. other days it was more with liquor weather over a friends house or at a bar..

While in college I was drinking beers by myself at home or even while driving around.

Late 20's started buying 6 packs sometimes and drinking at home by myself..

Now all my friends drink just as much as I did just about but they only drink when at gathering or bar party etc..

I knew in the back of mind I wanted to stop.

Every since I was 20 years old I have been drinking atleast on the weekends heavy.

My 30's sometimes a little liquor by myself and a few beers when i get off work everyday. I slowly progressed..

So now I find myself drinking at least 2 24 ounces of beer every other day just about..


Im tired of drinking. Im really tired. I'm healthy but I want to reclaim my body and mind back. I tried taking a 30 day break from alcohol but it never works..

I mean it got so routine for me to buy beer that when I driving I would sub consciously stop at a gas station to buy beer before I caught myself ,and tell myself Im trying to stop and I would proceed to buy a pop or something..

When i tried quitting a month ago I was getting heavy night sweats,depression, couldnt think clearly, had lots of anxiety an bitterness with a feeling like I had to get something done now..

I just want to see how its feels to not drink as much. I want to only drink in light amounts..

I have to see how this goes. I know that I will not totally stop drinking anytime soon but my goal right now is to stop drinking for 30 days and workout and reclaim my mind body and soul. Then after 30 days go from there and drink like normal people do. 1-2 times month few beers at gatherings etc..


I finally decided to seek help because I'm on my 4th day of stopping and I can tell my that body and mind is going through changes. I just want to sleep alot,fatigue, and I cant think right.. It seems like I have a strong feeling of worries. I also had a few nights of heavy sweating when I try to stop..

I guess you can call me a functional alcoholic.. If you saw me you would think I was just a normal kid that likes to drink..


But yea, its a problem now I can tell just from me withdrawing..


Im so happy about doing 30 days to stop drinking. I will be active here and hopefully I can get some good advice and tips..

Right now Im craving for a beer and am tempted to drive to the store and get a beer.

When i moved from my hometown 2 years to a state where my cousin stays we use to buy atleast a 24 pack of beer and drink it among ourselves like every other day or so...ave

Sorry for the spelling. Im really depressed now and have some anxiety and have some jitters like i just drunk a 12 pack of coa cola of pop..

Also some days on my day off from work I would start drinking in the morning throughout day with friends and then go to a bar and drink more and realize that i never ATE anything for the whole day!

I just want to know what should I expect in this upcoming 30 days...


I really havent drunk liquor alot in last 2 years, just mostly beer.

Im excited about stopping but no so excited about withdrawls...

When i was at work yesterday on my 3rd stopping, I was feeling really agitated..

Now don't get me wrong I have went few days without drinking before but usually not longer then about 3 days before I buy a beer again..

Thanks for listing and sorry for spelling. I have medical insurance. I think I might consult with my doctor..


My goal now after my 30 days of no drinks is to cut down on drinking/ 1-3 times a month light drinking no binging..

Its gonna be hard. everyone I hang around and places I go is full of drinkers

Horselover

Welcome to SR. I can understand you not wanting to give it up entirely. I felt that way for many years and spent many, many years struggling to control it. I finally surrendered to the fact that I had no control over it. It was controlling me and I didn't like it. I wasn't the person I wanted to be. I wish you luck and you have found a good site here for support.

Impurrfect

Welcome to SR!!

Alcohol is not my thing, but I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell you what to expect.

I will tell you this...most people who consider themselves "functioning alcoholics" don't stay that way. They will try to control their drinking, only to find out that it doesn't work. If it does, well I think (IMO), they're not alcoholics. I tried the same thing with my DOC, crack, and had no success...I could use only once a month for a while, but that didn't last very long.

However, I also know that this is something most of us have to learn on our own. I hope you read around...you will find many posts of people who have been in similar situations.

I'm also glad to hear that you are considering talking to a dr....that is always a wise choice. When your body is used to the beer, it isn't going to like not having it. Please be honest with your doctor about how much you drink...he/she can't help you if they don't know what they're dealing with.

Hugs and prayers!

Amy

Hugs and prayers!

Amy

betterlife4me

Yes thanks ..

I just want to control it. I want to be able to go to a party or gathering and just have 2-3 beers vs drinking 12 beers ,and lots of liquor.

I mean sometimes I can have 15 beers and liquor and then when I go home get another beer to drink at home..Sad but ..

So my goal now is to control. I know that i wont be able to completely stop after my 30 days, so Im focusing on controlling it after my 30 days..


Even right now my wife is at work, Im off from work and bored and Im very tempted to drive to store and get a few beers

Bamboozle

Welcome to SR, BL4M.

I considered myself a functioning alcoholic for a long time. Whenever I tried to cut down I couldn't.

It's probably D who said it, but I agree that people don't find this place by mistake.

I hope you see your doctor...and take care of yourself.

betterlife4me

I forgot to add my dad is was a big beer drinker and has liver disease and my mom who was a big party drinker has a mental and liver disease now but she stopped drinking now, thats when her mental went downhill, after she stopped.

I always knew if she stopped, it was going to be bad because i knew her mind was use to it

My mom once she got older use to drink pints of E J Brandy by herself or with her friends at home like everyday just about.

Doctor told her she had to quit recently, and the sad thing, once she stopped her mental health went downhill.

I always thought she should still drink somewhat because her body and mind was use to it. Completely cutting out liquor seems like it would do more harm then good..


Now with me, i dont know if you ever saw that Sandra Bullock movie 28 days.. The movie where her and her boyfriend drunk alot.. Thats how I was somewhat.. No so much liquor but lots of beer at parties or by myself.. Liquor was on the weekends.

I want to consult my doctor but I dont want my job to find out in case he want me to admit myself to a treatment center

suki44883

Please DON'T go get beer. If you don't drink tonight, I can guarantee when you wake up tomorrow you won't wish you had. But if you do drink, you will wish you hadn't. Hang in there. Don't let the stinkin' thinkin' convince you that going to get beer is okay. It's not okay. Okay?

least

Welcome to SR! I too tried many times to drink like 'normal' people do. Never could do it. Too much thinking about it, too much giving up and just drinking it all... and then getting more. I'm sober now for five months and feel so much better. You might just feel so much better after your 30 days sober that you don't start drinking again.

splendra

Congrats on your 30 days!

I think you have a very good start. Please be gentle with your self!

betterlife4me

Thanks. Thats what I was thinking too. You know alcohol is very sneaky.. You never know you rin trouble until the last moment when its almost too late..

I went to a weekend alcohol class and they taught me how to control drinking vs stopping. i kind of like the class. I did good for a moment but went right back to old was slowly..

They said its nothing wrong with have 12 oz of beer a day and infact it was healthy to do so...

he also said people who drink 12 oz of beer of day live longer then people who dont....??

Now he wasnt saying to drink 12 oz of beer a day but if you do, dont drink no more then 12-24 ounces, by doing that has no affect on mind body

betterlife4me

WOOW my dad has the same thing.. Hep C.. Sorry to hear that..

For some reason everytime i try to stop drinking, i have to use the bathroom alot

suki44883

Well, drinking mass quantities of beer will definitely make you have to go to the bathroom a lot. When I was drinking, I had the beer sh*ts almost constantly. That was in addition to drinking one and then peeing three.

betterlife4me

Im going to get the same blood test now.. What are the symptoms?

Dee74

Hey bl4me

Beer is no less dangerous than any other kind of alcohol. I was a beer drinker (or cask wine when I couldn't afford beer) I still have some lasting health hassles that stem from me detoxing on my own.

I would see a doctor - just to be safe. I'm an Aussie, but it's my understanding ppl can't be involuntarily committed to treatment centers unless they're a danger to themselves or others.


My experience, after 20 years drinking, is the complete opposite BL. My life restarted.

I'm not surprised he said all that. His whole programme is based on controlled drinking after all.

I'm not sure about the longevity statistics either - sounds like horse hockey to me. I know damn sure what drinking beer nearly did for me - dead at 38.

Moderate daily drinking standards are pretty universally designated as one standard drink - but so what BL?

Most of us here are alcoholics. One daily drink is BS to most of us. If we could do that, SR would be deserted.

D

Taking5

Well your Dr. cannot tell your boss - he could lose his license to practice medicine if he did.

In terms of the 30 days without drinking followed by "controlled" drinking, there is a group called Moderation Management that follows this plan to a T. The sad thing is their founder could not control her drinking, relapsed hard, and killed 2 people driving the wrong way on the interstate.

Can Problem Drinkers Learn Moderation? - CBS Evening News - CBS News

Hopefully you will fare better than this.

artsoul

Welcome betterlife! Glad you decided to come here and talk about your drinking. More power to you if you can control it (30 days is a good test). Of course, that in itself, is a real red flag. We set drinking "goals" (don't drink before 5:00, go for extended periods of time sober, change the kind of alcohol we drink, try to space the drinks out, limit the number of drinks, buy a smaller amount, etc. etc. etc.). True social drinkers don't seem to have to do that. I'm really glad you're here, though and hope you'll keeping reading!

Kmber2010

Welcome to SR! I personally have not been able to control or reduce my drinking. I quit drinking in January and by April I thought a few here and there would be ok. I was soooo wrong. Once I had that taste well over a few weeks...I was back at the shoppette buying the booze and wasting my days away again.

It took this relapse to get with the program that I just can not drink. I almost died so for me.....yeah....I am not throwing my sobriety away again. Never will I drink because....I actually like myself when I am sober. Took a long time and support to get back to me but being clean everyday is such a huge weight off me. I was miserable when I drank and I feel so refreshed and positive. Plus, I never want to go through the detox I went through again and the anxiety/panic attacks.

Wish you all the best. I hope that you will choose sobriety my friend.

God Bless.

betterlife4me

(CBS) CBS News Correspondent John Roberts reports a growing of number if treatment programs are using moderation to help people who abuse alcohol, if they're not yet addicted.

John Morgenstern of the Mount Sinai Medical Center says: "Those are people who are drinking excessively but are not actually dependant on alcohol. And at least some of those people, we know from research, can control their drinking by cutting back."

Good Info..

betterlife4me

Thx,, Yea right now Im not really dependent on alcohol now. I mean if I didnt have money I probably could go without it no problem, but when I have them money I drink a few beers or liquor a day with a binge day once or twice a week.. Just getting real tired of excessive drinking.

Im not really looking to stop, just want to be a social drinker. Meaning a few here and there every now and then .Or if im at a party, learn how to sip on 1 or 2 beers instead of trying to get smash face drunk.

But all the things u mention above is exactly what i use to tell myself all the time

betterlife4me

I'm just curiosity, how much did most of you drink thats posting here? Are you mostly everyday hard liquior drinkers, weekend drinkers,drinkers that let alcohol affect there life?