endlesspatience

I am planning to take a three week trip to Japan in a few weeks time. I'm really looking forward to it. The thing is that I have often been very drunk in Japan in the past.

Here are some problems associated with drinking in Japan.

Someone cloned my credit card and stole thousands of dollars.
I missed a crucial meeting and was formally disciplined by my employer.
I was assaulted by a member of the criminal gang called the Yakuza.

I could go on. Maybe I should. The thing is I still want to drink when I get there and I think I will not get into all those problems again. It wasn't always that bad.

Anyway, I told my addiction counsellor about this on Monday and he said that I should share about it. Which I am now doing. I also shared about it in person at an AA meeting today. I've also rung my sponsor and told him.

I am 11 days back from my last relapse by the way.

It hurts to say all this because I feel like I'm forfeiting a lot of fun if I decide not to drink in Japan.

biminiblue

Well, the above certainly sounds like fun to me.

doggonecarl

Too soon to be going to Japan. But you know that.

EndGameNYC

So, you want to drink.

Whenever I wanted to drink, I made excuses. When I finally decided I'd had enough, I made a plan.

Mentium

Sorry to say this, but I am 11 days in as well and what I read in your post is that you intend to get hammered and to hell with it. I hope I'm wrong of course!

Anna

It does sound like you have a plan to drink. Is that what you want to do?

endlesspatience

Anna, you asked me if I want to drink. To be honest, when I woke up on Monday morning the answer to that was yes. However, another part of me says the answer is no. That part of me confessed to my addiction counsellor on Monday and then I started some action to prevent this being a massive booze up. That's why I've been posting here about it. I am hoping that posting about it, talking about it in meetings and telling people in advance will prevent it being a problem when I actually get there in three weeks time.

Soberwolf

I seen your post in the alcoholism section regarding aa in tokyo i gave a link on that thread

If this trip is not necessary i 5000% wouldnt go its far too soon imo

Hang back and build your sober muscles up EP

if you do decide to go look at the link i sent for meetings in tokyo

ScottFromWI

If you are going no matter what, I'd say that your plan cannot be to simply "prevent a massive booze-up". Your plan needs to be total abstinence the entire trip. If you have even a minute crack in that thinking and feel that it would be ok to simply "have a few" and avoid the bad things that happen when you drink a lot, I think you already know exactly what the outcome will be.

Plan out your days so that you can conduct your business and have alternate plans for the evenings/days off that are away from alcohol. Attend some AA meetings while you are there. Spend time here. There are a whole host of things you can do - but you have to have them planned out and ready before you leave.

strategery

I see your AV trying to make rationalizations as to why you should be able to drink. Print off this list. This list alone should give you plenty of reasons why not to drink.

Soberwolf

Heres the link EP im going to pm you it aswell AA Tokyo - Home

i 5000% agree with Scott's post

PurpleKnight

Sounds like you're not fully sure on Sobriety, a non drinker doesn't wake up and want to drink, they go about life without the thought of should I drink, or should I not?

Therein lies the problem with this trip!!

tomsteve

I'm going to assume, beings how yer rather premeditating a drunk, yer not working any of the steps.
But what I'm reading are a few things showing examples of
Powerlessness
Extreme unmanagability
A d completely insane to think you won't get into those problems again, when it very well could be even worse. The first time showed how unmanageable you are with alcohol in you and you want to risk it again?


It hurts to say all this because I feel like I'm forfeiting a lot of fun if I decide not to drink in Japan.
Wee but of self pity don't ya think?
I'm sure there's gonna be a whole lotta people in Japan having fun without drinking.


I must be doing something wrong as by not drinking I have forfeited a lot of misery and gained a lot of fun in life.

canguy

Japan is a paradise / hell for drinkers.
It's everywhere....24 hour convenience stores all carry every beer etc. Vending machines on every floor of the hotel. Beer doesn't seem to be regarded as drinking....just a kind of adult soft drink.

The place is bad news if you're trying to be sober.

Dee74

11 days sober is really early - but I'm going to assume this is one of those trips you can't get out of.

I've read your threads for a long time EP. Personally I think drinking stopped being fun for you a long time ago.

Japan's an amazing place by all accounts. You'll remember it all sober

yeah it will help but not as much as a detailed plan will.

I'm not sure if this trip is business or pleasure but think about what you'll do if a craving hits, think about find local support there, think about what you'll do if you're offered a drink, think about how you might handle being around ather drinkers. Always have an escape plan.

If you really don't want to drink, you don't have to

D

endlesspatience

There's a lot of sound support here. Thanks for that. I met a group of Japanese people here tonight and shared with them a bit about the trip and we prayed together. I've also discussed it with my sponsor.

I will keep you posted with more information soon on how I will make a plan to stay sober in Japan.

thomas11

Hi endless patience, just a little perspective if I may. I am here in the U.S. and if I had an opportunity to go to Japan, the last thing I would want to do is spend it drunk and hungover. I envy you. I will never see japan in my whole life.

Alynn

You can get through it EP! Please keep us updated! Enjoy Japan! Keep a list of things you enjoyed on your trip sober. Rooting for you!

SoberLife90

All 3 of those things sound terrible. Why would you jeopardize so many things by drinking? It sounds like you have made up your mind...if you go to Japan you are going to drink. Doesn't sound like a good move because statistically speaking something bad is likely to happen to you. Good luck.

Mountainmanbob

Japan sounds to be a slippery place,
don't it ??

Guess that it all boils down to,
how much our sobriety means to us ??

Under those circumstances,
I wouldn't go for a million dollars.

Money would mean nothing to me,
if I returned to the pit of hell.

MM