Musicalinspiration, you are ahead of the game if at the age of 25 you are determined to face this head on. I'm more than twice your age and just committed to stop drinking 66 days ago, so you're at least twice as smart as I am!

Regarding a recommendation, I can only give you mine. Everyone here has a story of their recovery, as you know, and each approach has worked for them. So there is definitely more than one right answer and hopefully one of these will work for you!

Concerning me, I got tired of waking up hungover and ashamed/depressed every morning after I drank. I knew the only way to avoid this was to stop meeting my friends for cocktails until the restaurant closed, or stopping by the carryout store for a bottle of Stoli on the way home. So, to answer your question, I felt so ashamed and tired of feeling like crap that I made the decision to stop.

But, I also changed my activities. Instead of going out to party Friday and Saturday nights with the usual group or drinking alone at home, I went to the gym or met non-drinking friends for dinner and committed to volunteer work (community kitchen that feeds the homeless). Regardless of what it was, I needed something to keep me from thinking about what I thought I was missing. After a couple of weeks, I started to get used to this new life change and liked it. I was waking up Saturday mornings without a hangover and actually able to do something. Plus, I also lost the guilt and shame. I still get depressed occasionally, but it's not because of shame and I deal with it separately.

I think it's key that if you begin by living one sober day at a time, with support of AA or counseling if needed. Eventually you'll start to get into your own rhythm of sobriety and it won't be so difficult as the first week or so.

Okay, that's my two cents. I'm sure you'll get some better qualified feedback, but that's how I did it.

You are on the right track my by reaching out to people who care and I know you will find the answer.

Robert

I used alcohol as a way to handle life. I was raised by a very good mother and father but as soon as I started drinking, at 15 I could not get enough. See I have a condition called alcoholism. I cannot have just one ... I will drink till its gone. And then the flip side is that when I'm not drinking , I obsess about when the next drink will be.

I stopped at age 40 after I had built up such a tolerance as to I was drinking about 12 beers plus a fifth of liquor a day. I was killing myself and had gotten so depressed that I was considering killing myself.

My last drink was June 9 ,12. I was only able to quit because I crawled into a room of aa and some people that had been there, taught me that drinking is a choice and I have the power to choose to be sober today.

Get strong and make the choice. It's you that's driving and will it be drinking and hiding or living and thriving.

I too had the resources to buy lots of booze and I honestly think I despised the fact that I was well off and poured alcohol on my life to sabotage myself. But I also know now I have a predispotion to abuse alcohol because if the escape it gave me. The short circuit to not feel. But eventually it stopped working and I had to quit

You can too

1is2many

This is just a suggestion but why don't you see your doctor and mention how you feel and ask to be put on antidepressant medication. At least for the short term.

It might make it easier to quit. Also tell your doctor how much you are drinking and why. It will help the doctor prescribe the right one.

Good luck!

I agree with bob - see a doctor but be careful you should not mix antidepressants with alcohol.

and at 25 - you recognize a problem... wow good for you... we have all been in your shoes... some of us for years and years... and we have tried again and again...

advise on "not buying" will not help... I know if I wanted it... not having it around would not slow me down... so instead find reasons to be sober (even if you have it)... I have alcohol in the house... it was hard at first and the first couple of days I walked by the liquor cabinet and actually flipped it off... focus on how you feel without it, focus on the positive things you could do and be... alcohol will never let you reach your potential.... good luck - I hope this helps - wishing you all the best.

Hello Musicalinsiration,

Your biggest problem may be a lack of knowledge and understanding of what you are dealing with. Once you understand the problem you will see that there is a way to overcome it and to go on to live a happy and sober life.

It looks like alcoholism has taken a grip on you and this brings about two significant changes, one in the mind and one in the body. The physical change means that once you start drinking you develop a craving for more alcohol and cannot stop drinking. The good news is that this craving will not affect you ever again if you avoid taking the first drink. This brings the focus back to the mental part of the problem what is it that makes you take the first drink? You will no doubt list many factors such as having a laugh with your friends, partying, feeling depressed and a host of other plausible reasons for drinking. However, and this is very important the real reason you are drinking is that having that buzz that comes from alcohol has become an obsession for you. Many people who share this problem are not aware that they have an obsession for alcohol and that it is only by removing that obsession that the problem will be solved.

Some can beat alcoholism by their own willpower, through reading inspirational books, the use of internet forums etc. However, for very many others and possibly for the vast majority of alcoholics this approach will not bring success and for these people, something else is required. You could pit your willpower against the urge to drink and have decent periods of sobriety but it is not a nice way to live as it is a constant battle with alcohol, always with the danger of with relapse. An alternative approach and one that will bring success is to find some means of permanently removing that obsession that drives you to take the first drink.

It looks as if you need outside help and I would urge you to consider all possibilities. One good place to get that help is through Alcoholics Anonymous so maybe you could consider going to some meetings in your area. It is also advisable to have a talk with your doctor so that you can withdraw safely from alcohol and to look at getting any professional help that you may require if you are suffering from depression. You are welcome to send me a private message if you think I can help in any way.

Whatever you decide to do, do something positive as ignoring the problem will only allow it to get worse. You deserve to have a happy and sober life and those things are within your grasp. Now is the time to act so why not start today?

Hello there. It's great that you recognize that you have a problem at this stage of your life. Many of us on here had been heavy drinkers for decades.

I ran into trouble by bringing alcohol into my home. It was easy to go out to a bar or restaurant and have a couple of glasses of wine. The problem was that when I got home If continued drinking. I also sat at home night after night and drank bottles of wine.

I FINALLY stopped around Easter time of 2014. I was physically and mentally sick and could no longer function. I also needed hip replacement surgery and knew that in my continued state, that it would be risky to perform such an operation and there was a strong likelihood that I'd fall or do something stupid to make everything worse.

So I quit cold turkey. It was rough, but not horrible. I also have anxiety and depression, which I was self-medicating. I went to a community mental health center and saw a psychiatrist who put me on a better antidepressant and got me off the benzos and onto a safer anti-anxiety med. (Today, I only take the anti-anxiety med PRN!)

I just discovered that I feel so much better sober and a good deterrent to not purchasing for home consumption is to add up how much I was spending each month on wine. That was a real eye-opener. I am saving enough now to make a monthly payment on a new car.

Like others said, see a doctor about the mental state and be honest about your drinking. Taking ADs with alcohol can be deadly and drinking negates the efficacy of the medication. Others have listed resources for getting and staying sober. I come here for my support and also enlist my family to keep me on the right path.

I honestly don't miss drinking at all. Once you start feeling better and notice the improvements and your health and bank account, it's like a whole new world.

Good luck!