I had to quit drinking
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 3
I had to quit drinking
Hello everyone, I was happy to find this place. I'm unable to attend in-person meetings because I'm on chemo for an incurable cancer. Even though I'm vaccinated against COVID, my doctors said the vaccines don't work well on people like me. The past two years have left me feeling isolated. I live alone (with a cat). I never considered myself an alcoholic because I only had a drink or two in the evening. My doctors said I should not have more than one drink per day, but I wasn't satisfied with just one and would have up to three drinks per night.
Last month my stomach started bothering me. I wound up with a bleeding ulcer. That's when I decided to quit drinking completely. I still had some in the house. I went a few days without touching it. Then I had just one. The next night I had two and my stomach started hurting again so I quit for good. I no longer have any booze in the house, but I have been craving it quite a bit at night. That's when I realized I had a problem with alcohol and needed help staying sober.
I kept telling myself that because I've never blacked out and have been able to stop on my own, that means I don't have a problem. But my stomach was telling me something else.
I've been reading the posts here and learned what AV means (alcoholic voice). The battle seems to be inside my head, with part of me rationalizing why I should have a drink. I mean, heck, I'm dying of cancer anyways, why not enjoy myself? But I'm not enjoying myself if my stomach hurts whenever I have a drink.
So that's where I am right now in my sobriety. Thank you for providing this group. I realize I need some help in staying sober.
Last month my stomach started bothering me. I wound up with a bleeding ulcer. That's when I decided to quit drinking completely. I still had some in the house. I went a few days without touching it. Then I had just one. The next night I had two and my stomach started hurting again so I quit for good. I no longer have any booze in the house, but I have been craving it quite a bit at night. That's when I realized I had a problem with alcohol and needed help staying sober.
I kept telling myself that because I've never blacked out and have been able to stop on my own, that means I don't have a problem. But my stomach was telling me something else.
I've been reading the posts here and learned what AV means (alcoholic voice). The battle seems to be inside my head, with part of me rationalizing why I should have a drink. I mean, heck, I'm dying of cancer anyways, why not enjoy myself? But I'm not enjoying myself if my stomach hurts whenever I have a drink.
So that's where I am right now in my sobriety. Thank you for providing this group. I realize I need some help in staying sober.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: NSW - Australia
Posts: 14,588
Welcome, oldie. 
It makes no difference how much, or how little you drink. It depends on how how alcohol effects your life. Sounds like you don't want to drink because it IS effecting your life, and making you unhappy.
Sober life is a good life oldie, gives us the opportunity to examine our lives, well, or unwell. I reckon that's a good deal for living.
I'm glad you have joined us. Good people here.
It makes no difference how much, or how little you drink. It depends on how how alcohol effects your life. Sounds like you don't want to drink because it IS effecting your life, and making you unhappy.
Sober life is a good life oldie, gives us the opportunity to examine our lives, well, or unwell. I reckon that's a good deal for living.
I'm glad you have joined us. Good people here.
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,503
I'm very sorry about your health issues. Alcoholism is a progressive disease and it would likely continue to worsen if you continued to drink. And, being an alcoholic isn't about how much you drink, or even how often, it's what happens when you try to stop. Good for you for stopping drinking.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,578
Welcome, oldie. This is a good place to hang out. That voice will try to convince you that it's ok to drink, or necessary to drink. But you can learn to just dismiss that voice as irrelevant ... it has nothing to offer you. I find sober life to be more vivid and meaningful ... a better way to make the most of my time on earth, however much time I have (and none of us knows for sure!). We're here to support you.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Canada
Posts: 400
Originally Posted by oldie 
I've been reading the posts here and learned what AV means (alcoholic voice). The battle seems to be inside my head, with part of me rationalizing why I should have a drink. I mean, heck, I'm dying of cancer anyways, why not enjoy myself? But I'm not enjoying myself if my stomach hurts whenever I have a drink.
So that's where I am right now in my sobriety. Thank you for providing this group. I realize I need some help in staying sober.
So that's where I am right now in my sobriety. Thank you for providing this group. I realize I need some help in staying sober.
Sorry to hear about your health issues. Sometimes things just really suck. Kudos to you on not drinking and making the most of the time you have left. You rock! Hope you continue to post here. Sometimes just doing that can help a lot. Wishing you all the best oldie.
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,564
It's great to have you with us, oldie.
I hope you'll find the encouragement here will help you achieve your goal of zero alcohol. I'm sorry for the health problems you're dealing with.
We're here to help.
I hope you'll find the encouragement here will help you achieve your goal of zero alcohol. I'm sorry for the health problems you're dealing with.
We're here to help.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,436
Welcome oldie
I’m sorry for your diagnosis but I’m glad it sounds like you are coming to realise that the way to really make the most of every day is to be sober in it.
If you want to attend an AA meeting there are a lot of them all over the world now on Zoom now because of the pandemic, so that might be a safe option for you?
I’m really glad you found us oldie - this is a great community
D
I’m sorry for your diagnosis but I’m glad it sounds like you are coming to realise that the way to really make the most of every day is to be sober in it.
If you want to attend an AA meeting there are a lot of them all over the world now on Zoom now because of the pandemic, so that might be a safe option for you?
I’m really glad you found us oldie - this is a great community
D
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