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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Panama City, Panama
Posts: 28
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Hi all, I'm new on this forum and my English is not so good. I think I'm struggling with alcohol for about 25 years now. Sometimes i have the feeling it is under control but it is not. The only way not to drink is by using antabuse apparantly. But some periods I "forget" to take it and then I'm lost.
For work I relocated to Panama whilst my (second) wife, children and grand children are about 10.000 km away from here. And this makes it even more difficult to control.
Thing is that it seems as if there is no fun in a life without alcohol? All my closest friends are heavy drinkers but most of them seems to have it under control (apart from one or two execptions) and I connect everything i do with alcohol. And I do not know to break this vicious circle ....
For work I relocated to Panama whilst my (second) wife, children and grand children are about 10.000 km away from here. And this makes it even more difficult to control.
Thing is that it seems as if there is no fun in a life without alcohol? All my closest friends are heavy drinkers but most of them seems to have it under control (apart from one or two execptions) and I connect everything i do with alcohol. And I do not know to break this vicious circle ....
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,831
Muffin, this a great place to start. I would suggest taking some time to read posts here and to post your feelings and thoughts. A good place to start is a thread called October class of 2014 part two. It is generally made up of those of us who have chosen October as our month to become sober. You'll get lots of encouragement. Welcome.
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 2,872
Hello and welcome.
I had a drinking problem for 25 years, too. It took me many tries to quit, but with the help of AA and the people here, I've managed to.
Looking back on it, my close friends weren't really close friends- they were drinking buddies. I found I could live without them.
You'll find a lot of support here so please keep reading and posting.
Best to you.
I had a drinking problem for 25 years, too. It took me many tries to quit, but with the help of AA and the people here, I've managed to.
Looking back on it, my close friends weren't really close friends- they were drinking buddies. I found I could live without them.
You'll find a lot of support here so please keep reading and posting.
Best to you.
Life is an unlikely miracle.
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: England
Posts: 1,859
Welcome, Muffin ! I used to think that I would miss out on all the fun, but that was because I spent half my life in bars. In reality there are lots of people who don't drink heavily and still have fun. You could go to places where you could have fun without a drink, it might mean making some new friends or taking up a new hobby. You will find lots of support here and people's stories.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Panama City, Panama
Posts: 28
Thanks all for the support, promised myself to go to a AA meeting tonight. See what this can do to help me. Still I know I cannot do without this Antabuse medication, therefore find myself very weak person, low selfimage for the moment whilst I have to be strong, need all my energy to get the new business up and running
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
Muffin, welcome to the site here.
I found it easiest to take one day at a time. Wake up in the morning and make a plan. Promised myself I wouldn't drink, just for that day. I can do anything for 24 hours. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Try to stay in today, and have a plan for activities each day. Stay busy, eat and sleep well.
You can do it.
I found it easiest to take one day at a time. Wake up in the morning and make a plan. Promised myself I wouldn't drink, just for that day. I can do anything for 24 hours. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Try to stay in today, and have a plan for activities each day. Stay busy, eat and sleep well.
You can do it.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,066
Welcome, Muffin.
Taking Antabuse is NOT being weak! It's a tool and you still have to have the skill and smarts to use it. I wanted my doctor to prescribe it but he wouldn't.
We are NOT WEAK. We are addicted. The first thing is not like the second thing.
Taking Antabuse is NOT being weak! It's a tool and you still have to have the skill and smarts to use it. I wanted my doctor to prescribe it but he wouldn't.
We are NOT WEAK. We are addicted. The first thing is not like the second thing.
It really helps to talk things over with our friends here. We're happy you joined us.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,066
Originally Posted by Muffin2 
@ Stevie1, why did yr docter refused to prescribe the antabuse???
Mainly, he didn't want to open himself up for a potential lawsuit, I'm thinking. I'm in the US and this is definitely a factor in determining care: fear of lawsuits.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Panama City, Panama
Posts: 28
Originally Posted by Stevie1
This was about a year ago, and he was a new-to-me doctor, so he didn't know me. He was concerned about Antabuse causing potentially life-threatening emergency medical situations.
Mainly, he didn't want to open himself up for a potential lawsuit, I'm thinking. I'm in the US and this is definitely a factor in determining care: fear of lawsuits.
Mainly, he didn't want to open himself up for a potential lawsuit, I'm thinking. I'm in the US and this is definitely a factor in determining care: fear of lawsuits.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,251
Hi muffin and welcome. First, your English is great, I know how difficult it can be to communicate, especially write, in your non-native language.
I too am taking antabuse and am so thankful to have it as a tool right now while I figure out how to make my way sober. Keep taking it everyday. Try not to forget it, it is important.
I sometimes find it frustrating to not drink, simply because I want to. But I haven't found that life is boring without alcohol. I can still do all the things I did before, I just do them sober. I would definitely suggest avoiding places that will stress you- bars, etc. But you have the anatabuse as a shield, you can still go out to dinner with friends, dancing, what do you like to do? Do you play any sports? You could met up with friends for a football match or to watch a game. It feels a little weird to do these things sober at first, but it is totally possible to do them.
I too am taking antabuse and am so thankful to have it as a tool right now while I figure out how to make my way sober. Keep taking it everyday. Try not to forget it, it is important.
I sometimes find it frustrating to not drink, simply because I want to. But I haven't found that life is boring without alcohol. I can still do all the things I did before, I just do them sober. I would definitely suggest avoiding places that will stress you- bars, etc. But you have the anatabuse as a shield, you can still go out to dinner with friends, dancing, what do you like to do? Do you play any sports? You could met up with friends for a football match or to watch a game. It feels a little weird to do these things sober at first, but it is totally possible to do them.
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