I've realised I just have to stop!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Staffordshire, UK
Posts: 712
Originally Posted by ukcarl 
Hey everyone, my names Carl and I'm from the UK and have had a problem with drink since my early teens.
Basically last night was the final straw and I need to get my life under control I went out after drinking 8 cans of lager at home, I went on spent £30+ while I was out so I can only assume I drank roughly another 10 pints.
As a result the following things happened:
* I got in a fight with 2 guys this resulted in a fat lip and I'm aching today
* I blacked out and have no idea where I was between midnight and 5am
* I woke up out side my house half naked lying on the floor behind a neighbours car
* I lost my house keys and had to wake my dad up at 5am to drive up to my house and bring me a spare key (was not impressed and looked quite ashamed)
* I also undoubtedly made a complete fool of myself in the pub
Its not the way I want to continue living my life and I need to change, every problem in my life is a result of drinking to excess and the above is a common occurrence and often much worse than this. In fact it has caused me hundreds of huge problems in my life some of the worst things include:
* 4 months in prison after a drunken fight
* many nights in a police cell for drunken disorderly
* banned from driving twice
* broke relationships
* Fired from a good job for turning up drunk
* fights and arguments with friends and family
And the list goes on.
Its not fair on my partner and my daughter and it is also affecting my business life, my health and family relationships.
I've tried many times to quit and the best I ever lasted was 2 months, but this time I really need it to be forever.
I hope that joining the community here at Sober Recovery will help with my goal of complete sobriety.
Carl
Basically last night was the final straw and I need to get my life under control I went out after drinking 8 cans of lager at home, I went on spent £30+ while I was out so I can only assume I drank roughly another 10 pints.
As a result the following things happened:
* I got in a fight with 2 guys this resulted in a fat lip and I'm aching today
* I blacked out and have no idea where I was between midnight and 5am
* I woke up out side my house half naked lying on the floor behind a neighbours car
* I lost my house keys and had to wake my dad up at 5am to drive up to my house and bring me a spare key (was not impressed and looked quite ashamed)
* I also undoubtedly made a complete fool of myself in the pub
Its not the way I want to continue living my life and I need to change, every problem in my life is a result of drinking to excess and the above is a common occurrence and often much worse than this. In fact it has caused me hundreds of huge problems in my life some of the worst things include:
* 4 months in prison after a drunken fight
* many nights in a police cell for drunken disorderly
* banned from driving twice
* broke relationships
* Fired from a good job for turning up drunk
* fights and arguments with friends and family
And the list goes on.
Its not fair on my partner and my daughter and it is also affecting my business life, my health and family relationships.
I've tried many times to quit and the best I ever lasted was 2 months, but this time I really need it to be forever.
I hope that joining the community here at Sober Recovery will help with my goal of complete sobriety.
Carl
I am 10 days into sobriety and these guys have been a rock to me!
You can do this!
EndGame
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,677
If negative consequences alone would have been enough for me to stop drinking and to have stayed stopped, I wouldn't have been drinking for as long as I did. Nor would I have relapsed for three years.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: London, Uk
Posts: 1,694
Originally Posted by ukcarl
I think I'll just tell them, they are all aware that I am a problem drinker, they even refer to me as Hyde when I've had to much to drink as a joke.
I was considering saying I'm taking a few months off to get in better shape, but I'm not sure though, as that kinda feels like I'm saying its not forever, it might be better to just bite the bullet and say I've quit
I was considering saying I'm taking a few months off to get in better shape, but I'm not sure though, as that kinda feels like I'm saying its not forever, it might be better to just bite the bullet and say I've quit
Only you can decide mate, but telling your friends might add extra support and accountability. The fitness one gives you an instant opt out when your friends wave that well meaning pint under your nose and it's going to be harder to stay strong....just a thought
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 596
Welcome aboard Carl. Your laundry list of problems sounds a lot similar to mine, especially the blackout stuff. I once required facial surgery after a bad blackout where I mouthed off to the wrong person. Apparently undeterred, I had another regrettable 2 years of drinking and blackouts after that too. I also lost a good job because of irresponsible absenteeism related to drinking.
SR is a great resource, it has helped me get a nice stretch of sobriety and always tons of support. You can quit this for good, you just need to make a good plan and put effort into it.
SR is a great resource, it has helped me get a nice stretch of sobriety and always tons of support. You can quit this for good, you just need to make a good plan and put effort into it.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 155
Hey Carl,
That was one rough weekend. The worst part, if it's possible to pick one, was like you said, having to call home for the key. I used to tear my house apart looking for keys, knowing I HAD to have had them to get into the house, yet having no memory of actually coming through the door or going to sleep......I could not find the keys. Then my wife would find them something ridiculous, and I'd make up some quick lie.."Oh yeah, I put them there ....."
(very recently by the way, I am only a couple of weeks clean for the first time ever)
Hey, you and your Dad just might look back on that as the best day in both of your lives. It's up to you now.
By the way, there are other meeting to attend. In my experience AA was not overtly religious unless you wanted it to be.
The only other meetings I have attended are Smart Recovery meetings. They are non religious.
I just googled: Smart Recovery UK Meetings
4th link had the UK meetings, I checked and saw a few in Leeds. Just passing along the information.
That was one rough weekend. The worst part, if it's possible to pick one, was like you said, having to call home for the key. I used to tear my house apart looking for keys, knowing I HAD to have had them to get into the house, yet having no memory of actually coming through the door or going to sleep......I could not find the keys. Then my wife would find them something ridiculous, and I'd make up some quick lie.."Oh yeah, I put them there ....."
(very recently by the way, I am only a couple of weeks clean for the first time ever)
Hey, you and your Dad just might look back on that as the best day in both of your lives. It's up to you now.
By the way, there are other meeting to attend. In my experience AA was not overtly religious unless you wanted it to be.
The only other meetings I have attended are Smart Recovery meetings. They are non religious.
I just googled: Smart Recovery UK Meetings
4th link had the UK meetings, I checked and saw a few in Leeds. Just passing along the information.
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
Originally Posted by ukcarl
I was considering saying I'm taking a few months off to get in better shape, but I'm not sure though, as that kinda feels like I'm saying its not forever, it might be better to just bite the bullet and say I've quit.
I agree so much with this, that saying I QUIT, DONE, FINITO, COMPLI is a decision which, once made, will immediately flood you with a tremendous feeling of relief. If you don't get a little giddy over this, you know you haven't quit for good.
Once you do this, you will know, in a deep and profound way, that all of that misery is behind you, never to be visited upon you and yours, ever again. You can do it, you deserve it, and if you decide, you shall have it. Onward!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Leeds West Yorkshire
Posts: 4
Thanks for the kind words everyone.
I've been reading up a lot on AVRT and I have to say, the idea seems very appealing to me so I have decided, that I'm gonna make this happen
I've been reading up a lot on AVRT and I have to say, the idea seems very appealing to me so I have decided, that I'm gonna make this happen
Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Gulf Coast, USA
Posts: 2,229
Welcome Carl. You can do this. Congratulations on making decision to quit. It is a powerful choice and you never have to have another weekend like this past one.
Lots of great support here. One of the keys to helping me was reading as many past threads here on SR as i could.
The more I read, the less alone I felt. I just kept hearing my same story again and again, over an over...
Good luck, glad you are with us.
Lots of great support here. One of the keys to helping me was reading as many past threads here on SR as i could.
The more I read, the less alone I felt. I just kept hearing my same story again and again, over an over...
Good luck, glad you are with us.
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