Highercall

doggonecarl

I'd say what you are trying isn't working.

Time, perhaps, to look at what you aren't doing, and try that.

WhoDeyPI

Perhaps you need to look into professional help, if you haven't already. Do you find that you drink because your mind wants to, or your body needs to? Meaning, do you drink because your brain is telling you to drink, or are you having physical withdrawal?

Snowydelrico

Talk about putting your finger in the plug socket.
That’s what I was like.
I went to get help from specialists at a alcoholism treatment facility, and used AVRT unknowingly.
It was the push I needed to make my brain know I meant business.
I was assigned a key worker to lean on and plan my way forward.
Maybe you could benefit from something like this.

Dust yourself off an try a different approach
Take care

ReadyAtLast

maybe post here before you pick up?
go to an AA meeting when you want a drink instead of picking up?
Exercise
have a bath
Read a book
Go for a run
Clean your teeth
Do anything other than go to the bar and drink or buy alcohol and take it home and drink it.

If you don't do something different the result wil never be any different,

ScottFromWI

My personal thought on that is that it's because you keep asking why. And that you "try not to drink"

I had to accept the following to achieve my sobriety goals
1. I cannot drink any amount of alcohol without consequence.
2. I will never know why I cannot drink alcohol without said consequences
3. I can never change those 2 facts listed above.

Whether you go about that via a structured recovery program is one thing, or figure out a different way on your own - it really does't matter. But the bottom line is you can't have it both ways ( drinking without consequence ). And one you can accept that it gets a lot easier to make the decision to not drink. After a while it simply becomes second nature.

Anna

HC, I think you need to add something to your plan and/or to change your plan when you get an urge to drink. Try to come up with something different that you can do when you want to drink.

CupofJoe

I think most, if not all, of us struggled severely with trying not to drink. People who don't struggle probably don't have a problem.

Like others have said, what are you doing to help yourself not to drink? What have you not tried yet? What happened when you decided to drink? What are you willing to DO?

You have to move from "trying not to drink" (which invariably fails) to "not drinking." But it does take action and effort and commitment. Are you ready to change? I hope so.

Wishing you well.

Zebra1275

A good plan addresses your behavior before you pick up a drink, not after.

So what are you going to add to your plan, that’s preventative?

Hopeful528

Are you going to AA meetings? Do the 90 meetings in 90 days to start your footing off with support. Go tonight.

I'm right there with you. I'm on day 3 today. I realize I can't do it on my own and need support. I'm going back to AA today.

Keep trying don't ever give up, be happy you have awakened to knowing its not a way to live. Start thinking of how to do it.

How many days can you stay sober in a row?

Hopeful528

Or try rehab or outpatient therapy but find some support that you can attend everyday for now.

Stronger2017

secretchord

You aren't alone in your feelings. I've had so many day ones I've lost count but I'm not giving up. I remember quitting smoking. It took me years, but I did it.

What do you do when you're having an intense craving? Do you have a plan?

AnvilheadII

one good new habit that has been suggested is to post here DAILY....pick a time each day, say 8am or noon, and post - it doesn't matter what you say, we are not here to be enthralled or entertained. just POST, create a NEW habit.

the only way to quit drinking is to actually QUIT. as noted above, to accept and commit to NOT drinking at all, ever. not for any reason, no excuses. and then do everything in your power to create a sober life. no booze in the house, the car, the office. no going to bars. no happy hour. no just a little, just a couple. zero sum alcohol consumption.

whatever it takes.

that's the secret.

Dee74

Lots of good suggestions here HC.

D

weewillie

Highercall, Hi.

Very helpful replies you have received from members.

At the beginning I had to go about my daily business with very little money in my pocket whilst taking detours in order to avoid the places I used to frequent in the city where I worked.
I was a partner in a business in the city, can imagine how awkward that was with hardly any cash in my pockets, however apart from a couple of slips at the beginning of my road to recovery, it was that awkwardness along with all the detours that helped me avoid slipping up. But I did it, and I survived.

What you don't want is to arrive at a stage in your life where you feel "that's it, it's over, I am never going to gain sobriety", so decide to end it all. That's the stage I was at in the end. I am not sure whether it was a genuine attempt or "a cry for help" as they say however, I prefer to think it was a cry for help. If I'd been successful, I would have left my darling wife and my little baby daughter behind. A horrible thought that only comes to mind now and again, like now.
Don't be like me, don't let a near tragedy shock you onto the road of sobriety. Do all you can in your power to gain sobriety. Be strong, be determined, be mindful, keep the sobriety you can achieve at the forefront of your mind each and every day and yes, even every hour if it is necessary.

Have faith, have faith in yourself.
Don't think "Nobody truly understands" everybody in here fully understands for sure, and wishes you all the very best in your endeavours. I would like to join in with these good members.

Fight the good fight...you win.

Positive Regards,
weewillie