Where is the bottom?
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 120,874
Originally Posted by riig 
I can accept it. But how can I make my commitment last?
There is also information on methods and techniques one can use to achieve and maintain sobriety. Here's the link:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...r-connections/
And AA, of course.
For me, acceptance was absolutely key - acceptance that I could not moderate and that alcohol had nothing of value to offer me.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: California
Posts: 2,693
My bottom was related to my health. There are three stages of alcoholic liver disease: fatty liver, alcoholic hep. (Inflammation), and then finally cirrhosis. I was at stage two and didn't want to progress to stage 3. I am 32. Never lost a job though! Lol. Every bottom is different.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,443
Bottom is when you decide you've had enough, you want to change - and you start working for that change.
Some people need to crash the car to reach that point, others simply wake up one day and decide.
I know which one I'd pick if I had my time again
D
Some people need to crash the car to reach that point, others simply wake up one day and decide.
I know which one I'd pick if I had my time again
D
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,476
All it has to be is a point at which you become willing to put in the action to change.
Not just stop drinking.
Of course that is priority number one, but only the tip of the iceberg.
I personally had 3 wrecked cars, licence loss, beatings, jailing....the whole box and dice before I turned 23.
Nothing "scared" me sober.
That kind of stuff happens to a lot of alcoholic folk, but it isn't necessary at all.
Like I said, bottom is a point at which you just say "enough and I can't do it on my own ".... Ask for help / advice and then follow the advice ie: take action.
Not just stop drinking.
Of course that is priority number one, but only the tip of the iceberg.
I personally had 3 wrecked cars, licence loss, beatings, jailing....the whole box and dice before I turned 23.
Nothing "scared" me sober.
That kind of stuff happens to a lot of alcoholic folk, but it isn't necessary at all.
Like I said, bottom is a point at which you just say "enough and I can't do it on my own ".... Ask for help / advice and then follow the advice ie: take action.
Sober Alcoholic
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: northern AZ
Posts: 796
Originally Posted by riig
I have always imagined that hitting rock bottom for an alcoholic was supposed to include crashing a car and injuring yourself or others, or losing your family after years of disappointment, or perhaps losing your job upon showing up drunk and insulting a coworker.
Im not there. I have hurt people i love by saying stupid stuff or acting stupidly while drunk. So far they have forgiven me. I crashed my car and no one got hurt. I was also arrested once and taken to the hospital on a different occasion for public intoxication. I have cheated on my gf, argued with my dad while drunk, and said mean things to him.
I have made my gf cry and my parents worry. And somehow i believe it can be much more worse. I have heard stories. Im afraid because each new bottom hurts more. I dont want to fall deeper. But i keep wondering: is it possible to get out before hitting a real hard rock bottom?
Im not there. I have hurt people i love by saying stupid stuff or acting stupidly while drunk. So far they have forgiven me. I crashed my car and no one got hurt. I was also arrested once and taken to the hospital on a different occasion for public intoxication. I have cheated on my gf, argued with my dad while drunk, and said mean things to him.
I have made my gf cry and my parents worry. And somehow i believe it can be much more worse. I have heard stories. Im afraid because each new bottom hurts more. I dont want to fall deeper. But i keep wondering: is it possible to get out before hitting a real hard rock bottom?
p***enger
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 19,042
You only see your bottom once you turn around and start swimming up to the surface. Usually running out of air and chased by sharks!
Until then, as long as you're drinking, you can't predict how low you'll go. Afterwards, you'll know it as the last place you never ever want to go back to.
I wouldn't worry too much about if you've hit the right bottom -- every one is different. Worry about how fast you can get up to the air!
Until then, as long as you're drinking, you can't predict how low you'll go. Afterwards, you'll know it as the last place you never ever want to go back to.
I wouldn't worry too much about if you've hit the right bottom -- every one is different. Worry about how fast you can get up to the air!
A Day at a Time
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Grand Rapids MI
Posts: 6,435
There are a thousand different opinions on SR but I think just about every one agrees that alcoholism is progressive. It only gets worse.
So the question is when do we get off the elevator to hell
So the question is when do we get off the elevator to hell
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 105
It's funny you ask where is the bottom. I used to all that myself.
What I've found through extensive research is that the norm keeps getting lower.
I would call myself a functional alcoholic. That being said. I've been dragged to the nut ward in hospital. I've hurt myself and family. Done things i never thought i would.
So you ask where is the bottom. The bottom is the grave. Alchol addition only stops until it's taken everything from you or you stop.
What I've found through extensive research is that the norm keeps getting lower.
I would call myself a functional alcoholic. That being said. I've been dragged to the nut ward in hospital. I've hurt myself and family. Done things i never thought i would.
So you ask where is the bottom. The bottom is the grave. Alchol addition only stops until it's taken everything from you or you stop.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 72
I think a lot of times whether someone hits a "low bottom" or not is due to luck. For example, you could drive drunk 99 times with no consequences, and on the 100th time get in a serious car wreck. So does this mean that before the car wreck, your drinking problem was less serious than after the wreck? In my opinion no. You are ready to stop drinking when you decide. I hear a lot of people in AA say they stopped because they were "sick and tired of being sick and tired" whether or not there were other consequences such as losing license, job, spouse, etc.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: new york
Posts: 49
Well I agree with all of you. Then it is a matter of committing and staying committed. Because Im pretty sure that after climbing for a while and seeing the light I will start doubting if there was really a problem to begin with. And there is a problem.
From what you guys say I get to choose my bottom. And so I choose this one with the sincere hope that it will be the lowest I will get. I feel sad, but if I tell myself it will all be better from here it makes me feel a little better. Of course, telling that to myself is the easy part. I have to fight for it.
From what you guys say I get to choose my bottom. And so I choose this one with the sincere hope that it will be the lowest I will get. I feel sad, but if I tell myself it will all be better from here it makes me feel a little better. Of course, telling that to myself is the easy part. I have to fight for it.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 120,874
Originally Posted by riig
Well I agree with all of you. Then it is a matter of committing and staying committed. Because Im pretty sure that after climbing for a while and seeing the light I will start doubting if there was really a problem to begin with. And there is a problem.
From what you guys say I get to choose my bottom. And so I choose this one with the sincere hope that it will be the lowest I will get. I feel sad, but if I tell myself it will all be better from here it makes me feel a little better. Of course, telling that to myself is the easy part. I have to fight for it.
From what you guys say I get to choose my bottom. And so I choose this one with the sincere hope that it will be the lowest I will get. I feel sad, but if I tell myself it will all be better from here it makes me feel a little better. Of course, telling that to myself is the easy part. I have to fight for it.
Recovering ostrich
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Tampa Bay, Florida
Posts: 2,551
Yes it is. The weird thing is, and it is so hard to see when you're still drinking, is that you have some control over your bottom because you ultimately decide When will be enough. I didn't do any of those things, but man I was miserable. I wanted to die.
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