terribob

I don't know what to do. I keep going back to old habbits. I've been drinking on average every other day. Most days have been fine but yesterday I was falling down drunk. I've been to AA meetings though I haven't found one that "clicks" with me. I always feel like an outsider. Does anyone have any other ideas? Thanks in advance.

Dee74

I know this sounds like a wiseguy answer, but the best idea I can give you is don't drink, Bob.

Find the right support - trying a meeting or two is a step in the right direction, but I don't think just showing up and sitting there for an hour does that much to protect anyone from not drinking, y'know?

if AA's not for you then try any one of the million other approaches out there.

here's some links to some of the main recovery players:

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

I recommend you visit the Secular Connections forum if you think you may benefit from a non 12 step approach.

D

hypochondriac

I hear so many people say stuff like they went to their first AA meeting and never drank again... or some terrible event happened and they never drank again...

Never worked that way with me. I literally had to force myself to stop drinking. I felt like someone was having to pry the drink out of my hands. I wanted to quit but didn't feel like I could. When I eventually put it down I tried whatever I could to avoid picking it up again. I didn't go to AA for a few months so in the beginning it was AVRT (very useful to me) and CBT stuff, working on changing my thinking patterns. I changed my routines, shopped at different places, cooked alot (and I hate cooking), went on long walks. Lots of distraction techniques. I may have gone overboard on the support I got in a way but I found it really hard and didn't trust my mind to not keep wandering back to that drinking place.

Just do whatever it takes Terribob. Only you can figure out what will help you. Keep trying stuff til you find what works, read lots of recovery books, Maybe some SMART recovery stuff...

I hope you find what you need x

BabyJane

I felt the same way about meetings, especially when I moved to a new area. I didn't feel like anything or anyone was making sense to me or relatable. I had a decision to make, it was either find some other kind of support or drink. I was really uncomfortable and lonely, spent most days alone in my house. Finally I thought about it some more and decided I needed to put more effort into finding meetings where I did feel comfortable and also opening up to people and saying hello. It's working. I still use Smart Recovery techniques too but I am going to 5-6 meetings per week and I'm finally feeling like I belong because I'm seeing faces I know.

TTBABP

Terribob - I am sitting here right now thinking how nice it would be to have a nice big glass of red wine. Instead I have a cup of mint tea. I have repeated behavoirs for so long. I still don't have the answer except try each day. I think the one day at a time metality is the best way to go!

artsoul

I had a similar experience to hypo's...... I knew I had to quit, but a big part of me wanted to keep drinking. It was like having a split personality.

I finally decided that I might as well get sober and "get it over with." It wasn't getting any easier to stop and I figured that the sooner I did it, the sooner I could get on with my life.

The main thing was deciding that I wasn't going to drink, no matter how I felt. Even if I went crazy or was miserable, I wasn't going to use it as an excuse to drink. I figured I could get help for that - I could find other solutions.

Have you looked at AVRT?

cat1961

terribob - an AA meeting or two or a gazillion won't fix your problem. You have to WANT to quit drinking and just do it. Yea, easier said than done but you have to make the initiative to NOT pick up that first drink.

I've tried the moderation approach and all I do is polish off what's left in the house. I do have one suggestion though.... next time you want to drink, log in here (especially the chat thread) and get immediate support.

You gotta be stronger than the booze is.

Stay sober my friend!

2granddaughters

I suggest you go back to AA and click with it. Keep going until you feel like an insider.

All the best.

Bob R

terribob

Keeping it out of the house is going to have to happen Cat. I'm sure of that because yesterday I drank everything in the house, even the stuff I can't stand that my wife likes to drink.

I do know that I'm going to the Saturday AA meeting here locally. I think it's the best one I've been to so far. Hopefully at the end of the day tomorrow I can report 2 days to everyone who's taken the time to support me here.

Wouldn't it be nice if the local liquor store had an opt out policy much like the casinos do for problem gamblers?