New Member looking for tips
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 8
New Member looking for tips
Hi,
Im a northern european guy in his late 20s, seeking tips for alchohol addiction. I am 27, and been drinking daily for about 7 years. My body is getting tired and I know I have to stop, or die. I have tried quitting but anxiety, depression, chronic pain is to much to handle..
Every tip will mean a lot
Im a northern european guy in his late 20s, seeking tips for alchohol addiction. I am 27, and been drinking daily for about 7 years. My body is getting tired and I know I have to stop, or die. I have tried quitting but anxiety, depression, chronic pain is to much to handle..
Every tip will mean a lot
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,516
Welcome! It's always a good idea to have a plan for recovery. Following is a list of various recovery programs and lots of ideas:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 421
Anxiety, depression, that's the name of the game, my friend.
It isn't fun, it's miserable, but the reward is a life free of alcohol, and behaviors that tend to contribute to more negative.
Biggest concept for me that I really grasped onto was the, "one day at a time." I don't know if I'm going to drink tomorrow, all I know is I'm NOT going to drink today. My first week was hell, I had to actually FEEL feelings and it sucked. I stayed busy, worked out a lot, my focus was shot, I was miserable at work, I accomplished very little besides NOT DRINKING. I expected the worst and what I got was close (for me).
Set realistic goals. Make a plan so you don't drink for this hour. Just because you THINK about drinking doesn't mean you are caving in. I still think about drinking a lot, especially on weekends, but I know it leads to misery, depression, sadness, anxiety, regret.
Support system, who is a POSITIVE person for you in your recovery?
Recognizing your habits and high risk times? Are you a nightly drinker? Weekends?
What brings on your urge to drink? Boredom? The feeling? Confidence? Numb the pain?
Once you really acknowledge your habits, you can formulate a plan to combat your cravings. I was a nightly drinker to numb the pain and reality of life.
Are you a group person? What have you tried in the past that hasn't worked? You need to prepare to be uncomfortable for awhile, but it's SO WORTH IT.
Read here, post here, these forums have been pivotal in my recovery, it's a habit now to post here and read here.
Good luck, you can do it!
It isn't fun, it's miserable, but the reward is a life free of alcohol, and behaviors that tend to contribute to more negative.
Biggest concept for me that I really grasped onto was the, "one day at a time." I don't know if I'm going to drink tomorrow, all I know is I'm NOT going to drink today. My first week was hell, I had to actually FEEL feelings and it sucked. I stayed busy, worked out a lot, my focus was shot, I was miserable at work, I accomplished very little besides NOT DRINKING. I expected the worst and what I got was close (for me).
Set realistic goals. Make a plan so you don't drink for this hour. Just because you THINK about drinking doesn't mean you are caving in. I still think about drinking a lot, especially on weekends, but I know it leads to misery, depression, sadness, anxiety, regret.
Support system, who is a POSITIVE person for you in your recovery?
Recognizing your habits and high risk times? Are you a nightly drinker? Weekends?
What brings on your urge to drink? Boredom? The feeling? Confidence? Numb the pain?
Once you really acknowledge your habits, you can formulate a plan to combat your cravings. I was a nightly drinker to numb the pain and reality of life.
Are you a group person? What have you tried in the past that hasn't worked? You need to prepare to be uncomfortable for awhile, but it's SO WORTH IT.
Read here, post here, these forums have been pivotal in my recovery, it's a habit now to post here and read here.
Good luck, you can do it!
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,784
Welcome to the family. Getting sober for good was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I hope our support can help you get sober for good too.
In order to stay sober, I had to want to be sober more than I wanted to drink.
Getting sober for good was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I hope our support can help you get sober for good too. In order to stay sober, I had to want to be sober more than I wanted to drink.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: uk
Posts: 2,428
Welcome.
What helped me a lot was to start to take good care of myself. Healthy foods, lots of na fluids, gentle exercise, rest.
Building a good solid routine in my life instead of chaos. Setting a sensible bedtime. Distancing myself from toxic people.
Those are just a few of the changes I made that supported my quit.
What helped me a lot was to start to take good care of myself. Healthy foods, lots of na fluids, gentle exercise, rest.
Building a good solid routine in my life instead of chaos. Setting a sensible bedtime. Distancing myself from toxic people.
Those are just a few of the changes I made that supported my quit.
Friendly Folk
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Powers Lake, Wisconsin
Posts: 21,721
Hi, Reedx,
If you have never experienced detox/withdrawls from quitting alcohol, please see a doctor and get help. It is best to have medical help because it can be dangerous.
The symptoms start about 8-12 hours after your last drink and peak at about 2-3 days. It can be tough and I hope you will start to make a plan to stay sober so you will never have another Day 1.
Glad you found us. Lots of love and support here!
Welcome to SR
If you have never experienced detox/withdrawls from quitting alcohol, please see a doctor and get help. It is best to have medical help because it can be dangerous.
The symptoms start about 8-12 hours after your last drink and peak at about 2-3 days. It can be tough and I hope you will start to make a plan to stay sober so you will never have another Day 1.
Glad you found us. Lots of love and support here!
Welcome to SR
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,574
Good to meet you, Reed. It really helped me to talk things over here - I realized I was never alone. It's great that you're taking action now at such a young age. You'll be avoiding so much misery.
Life Goes On
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 6,069
I also think starting with a physician (hopefully one who specializes in substance abuse) is the best first step. She or he can work with you to manage your chronic pain during and after withdrawal. You will likely have some pain as the poison leaves your system because your body has become accustomed to the sedation of alcohol. It's best to have a medical professional on your side to support you through this.
Additionally, I recommend going to some sort of support group. There is nothing more helpful than being around people who get you without need for explanation. I'm currently in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) - mine did an outpatient detox for me. Additionally, I attend outside meetings on days that I am not at IOP and post here. It's a lot of work for sure, but no more than the effort I invested in getting, ingesting, detoxing and "hiding" my habit. (At the end there was no hiding IT, I could only hide myself away and that was a bad place to be indeed.)
So glad you're here!
I sure wish I'd been so brave when I was your age...
O
Additionally, I recommend going to some sort of support group. There is nothing more helpful than being around people who get you without need for explanation. I'm currently in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) - mine did an outpatient detox for me. Additionally, I attend outside meetings on days that I am not at IOP and post here. It's a lot of work for sure, but no more than the effort I invested in getting, ingesting, detoxing and "hiding" my habit. (At the end there was no hiding IT, I could only hide myself away and that was a bad place to be indeed.)
So glad you're here!
I sure wish I'd been so brave when I was your age...
O
waking down
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,641
Chronic pain fueled a lot of my misery and alcohol consumption. I found relief with MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) and then Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention. I suggest reading about it and maybe searching to see if there is a program in your area. I can say, though, that quitting drinking reduced my pain over time (even before I had surgery to address it). It took a while though...
Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 611
What I once thought was insurmountable depression turned out to be easily managed when I quit drinking. You'll find many other things are more easily managed when you're not living at a disadvantage.
There are many techniques to use, but the one that clicked for me was understanding the concept of the addictive voice (AVRT) and learning how to override the urge to drink. Read as much as possible here on SR — it's a rich resource. Also, books, podcasts, blogs ... I tried a bunch of stuff at first and stuck with what worked best.
Mostly, congrats for taking the first step! I was in my twenties too when I realized I had a problem.
There are many techniques to use, but the one that clicked for me was understanding the concept of the addictive voice (AVRT) and learning how to override the urge to drink. Read as much as possible here on SR — it's a rich resource. Also, books, podcasts, blogs ... I tried a bunch of stuff at first and stuck with what worked best.
Mostly, congrats for taking the first step! I was in my twenties too when I realized I had a problem.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 8
Thanks everyone all tips means a lot, I will talk to my doctor, maybe he can get me in to a program to stop this madness I have pretty strong painkillers for my chronic pain, but i do not take them, because I drink and is scared to damage my liver.
all tips means a lot, I will talk to my doctor, maybe he can get me in to a program to stop this madness I have pretty strong painkillers for my chronic pain, but i do not take them, because I drink and is scared to damage my liver.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by ChloeRose63 
Hi, Reedx,
If you have never experienced detox/withdrawls from quitting alcohol, please see a doctor and get help. It is best to have medical help because it can be dangerous.
The symptoms start about 8-12 hours after your last drink and peak at about 2-3 days. It can be tough and I hope you will start to make a plan to stay sober so you will never have another Day 1.
Glad you found us. Lots of love and support here!
Welcome to SR
If you have never experienced detox/withdrawls from quitting alcohol, please see a doctor and get help. It is best to have medical help because it can be dangerous.
The symptoms start about 8-12 hours after your last drink and peak at about 2-3 days. It can be tough and I hope you will start to make a plan to stay sober so you will never have another Day 1.
Glad you found us. Lots of love and support here!
Welcome to SR
I have tried to quit a couple of times, but always relapses within 2-3 day 
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by SaturatedSeize
Anxiety, depression, that's the name of the game, my friend.
It isn't fun, it's miserable, but the reward is a life free of alcohol, and behaviors that tend to contribute to more negative.
Biggest concept for me that I really grasped onto was the, "one day at a time." I don't know if I'm going to drink tomorrow, all I know is I'm NOT going to drink today. My first week was hell, I had to actually FEEL feelings and it sucked. I stayed busy, worked out a lot, my focus was shot, I was miserable at work, I accomplished very little besides NOT DRINKING. I expected the worst and what I got was close (for me).
Set realistic goals. Make a plan so you don't drink for this hour. Just because you THINK about drinking doesn't mean you are caving in. I still think about drinking a lot, especially on weekends, but I know it leads to misery, depression, sadness, anxiety, regret.
Support system, who is a POSITIVE person for you in your recovery?
Recognizing your habits and high risk times? Are you a nightly drinker? Weekends?
What brings on your urge to drink? Boredom? The feeling? Confidence? Numb the pain?
Once you really acknowledge your habits, you can formulate a plan to combat your cravings. I was a nightly drinker to numb the pain and reality of life.
Are you a group person? What have you tried in the past that hasn't worked? You need to prepare to be uncomfortable for awhile, but it's SO WORTH IT.
Read here, post here, these forums have been pivotal in my recovery, it's a habit now to post here and read here.
Good luck, you can do it!
It isn't fun, it's miserable, but the reward is a life free of alcohol, and behaviors that tend to contribute to more negative.
Biggest concept for me that I really grasped onto was the, "one day at a time." I don't know if I'm going to drink tomorrow, all I know is I'm NOT going to drink today. My first week was hell, I had to actually FEEL feelings and it sucked. I stayed busy, worked out a lot, my focus was shot, I was miserable at work, I accomplished very little besides NOT DRINKING. I expected the worst and what I got was close (for me).
Set realistic goals. Make a plan so you don't drink for this hour. Just because you THINK about drinking doesn't mean you are caving in. I still think about drinking a lot, especially on weekends, but I know it leads to misery, depression, sadness, anxiety, regret.
Support system, who is a POSITIVE person for you in your recovery?
Recognizing your habits and high risk times? Are you a nightly drinker? Weekends?
What brings on your urge to drink? Boredom? The feeling? Confidence? Numb the pain?
Once you really acknowledge your habits, you can formulate a plan to combat your cravings. I was a nightly drinker to numb the pain and reality of life.
Are you a group person? What have you tried in the past that hasn't worked? You need to prepare to be uncomfortable for awhile, but it's SO WORTH IT.
Read here, post here, these forums have been pivotal in my recovery, it's a habit now to post here and read here.
Good luck, you can do it!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by rascalwhiteoak
What I once thought was insurmountable depression turned out to be easily managed when I quit drinking. You'll find many other things are more easily managed when you're not living at a disadvantage.
There are many techniques to use, but the one that clicked for me was understanding the concept of the addictive voice (AVRT) and learning how to override the urge to drink. Read as much as possible here on SR — it's a rich resource. Also, books, podcasts, blogs ... I tried a bunch of stuff at first and stuck with what worked best.
Mostly, congrats for taking the first step! I was in my twenties too when I realized I had a problem.
There are many techniques to use, but the one that clicked for me was understanding the concept of the addictive voice (AVRT) and learning how to override the urge to drink. Read as much as possible here on SR — it's a rich resource. Also, books, podcasts, blogs ... I tried a bunch of stuff at first and stuck with what worked best.
Mostly, congrats for taking the first step! I was in my twenties too when I realized I had a problem.
Thanks alot Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 504
Reedx - Thinking about you and hope you are doing well. Sending positive thoughts your way. I know you can ride this out. In my first days of recovery, I just held on for dear life and stayed here posting and reading. I hope to see you in the chat room again soon. I'm here, got your back....and just know the pain will subside. LuLu
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