philllyjstan

This is my second attempt at sobriety. I just can't take the drinking anymore. I waste entire weekends. The people I hang out with are all single. When the weekend hits we all party/ drink and it's ruining my life. I go on weekend binges until I get Ill. I would appreciate some suggestions on better ways to spend my life.

Robbie86

They say at AA that to be a member , all you need is a desire to stop drinking , maybe you could check out some meetings in your area , Good luck .

PaperDolls

I second the AA option. That's what has helped me.

Welcome to SR.

Ghostlight

Weekends? Man, I went entire months. I was hardcore. But have managed to scrabble together close to two years of sobriety.
I haven't quite made those two years yet, and I'm taking it one day at a time.

AA does work for many. There are other programs out there. I hope you find what works for you, because I fear you'll end up like me. Alcoholism is a progressive, chronic and relapsing disease. Please for your own sake, stop now and save yourself a bunch of misery.

My very best to you.

philllyjstan

I appreciate everyone's support. I did AA and was not a fan. I'm contemplating getting a counselor.

PaperDolls

Getting an addictions specialist counselor would be a great step!!

JoeJoeCA

How does one get a counselor? Do you have to generally go see a GP and get a referral? I have good insurance and would like to use this resource as well as some others if possible.

sugarbear1

If you weren't taken through all 12 steps and experienced the relief, all you did was attend meetings. The steps are experienced and can change your life.

There are other programs available. Find one or create your own. Put more effort into recovery than you did to drinking and you will be successful! One day at a time, you can stay stopped!

aasharon90

If I wanted to stay sober more than anything,
then I had to make some changes in my life.

At the time I got sober I had a little family which
i had responsibity and focus on everyday. During
that last yr, before family stepped in with an intervention,
I began going to a local club for music, alcohol
and people who drank like I did.

That activity took my away from my little family
and home for a couple nights a week or so.
Once I got sober, the club scene was over and
letting go of all those so call friends I thought I
had there.

I focused on my recovery following some simple
suggestions by others sober before me. I could
see and hear how they were learning and staying
sober one day at a time, then so could I.

AA stands for Alcoholics Anonymous. They call
AA a recovery program that you dont have to let
others know about if you chose not to. AA is a
recovery program consisting of steps, just like for
spiritual people who follow the 10 commandments.

The commandments are lived in our everyday life
just as the 12 steps and principles set down before
us in recovery. We incorperate those recovery tools
into our everyday living.

In doing so, you begin to build a stronger foundation
to live upon in recovery. You also begin to change
emotionally, physically, spiritually in becoming the
best person you'd want to be in life.

If you get a Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and
you read it and learn about our alcoholic addiction,
on one of those pages there is a list of promises that
are said to come true to each of us if we remain
willing, openminded and honest in our recovery.

Those promises will came true as they are still for
me some 21 yrs sober in my life.

Recovery is a journey in life without alcohol.

Dee74

welcome philllyjstan

If you found AA was not your thing maybe one of the other options here will be useful to you:

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...formation.html

look forward to seeing you around some more
D

Tosh

That's actually quite brilliant.

Sober through A.A. here too.

choublak

How many meetings have you been to? You may have to try a few different meetings before you find a group you click with.

least

I see an addiction counselor once a week and she's been very helpful in getting and staying sober, as well as help in other areas of my life. I found her thru our local substance abuse agency.

If you tried AA and didn't like it, don't despair. There are lots of ways to stay sober. I depend on my weekly counseling sessions and daily visits to SR and I'm coming up on two years sober next month!

DarrenW

That is how I started. The only problem is everybody else grew up and quit drinking, but I kept right on. Good luck.

debsam

Welcome Philly

There are a lot of ways to learn about sobriety and stay sober - I have never limited myself to any one thing (open mind - however, I do believe that the Big Book (AA) should be read, whether one attends AA or not.

"I would appreciate some suggestions on better ways to spend my life"

- be willing to do ANYTHING to achieve sobriety

Glad you're here!

NewBeginning010

I had to reach the "I just can't take it anymore" & I was sick & tired or being sick & tired.

Please know that you can do this one day at a time by just not picking up that first drink. Just doing that for a while and doing some real work on myself & my addiction has gone a long way for me.

All of the best on your path

philllyjstan

Why do all activities have revolve around drinking? It's absolutely frustrating.

philllyjstan

*to

eddie73

You have to stop simple as that. there is no easy way to do this if u were abusing alcohol for a long time. You can do it thou. good luck

philllyjstan

I agree. I want to find people who are sober, my age.