I us d to think I couldn't live without my friend Mr. Booze. He solved all my problems so easily. I liked the effect that was caused by booze. The problem was I became reliant upon it, I became hooked. Nothing else worked.

So one day, on a Monday, I decided to get some help. See all my life I was fiercely independent and thought I could take care of things. Well I was wrong, I was stuffing feelings and emotions down and not dealing with them. It was a miserable existence. Today I just deal with things as they come up. No big deal. It is so worth it to be out of the hooks of mr booze.

1is2many

Thank you for your reply. How did you stop? Also, did you go through any physical withdrawal? I have stopped before but not for very long. But I never experienced anything physical. Did you? I honestly just can't imagine my life without booze. It petrifies me and I'm so embarrassed and ashamed especially since my only son is struggling with this and I attend NarAnon meetings for support to deal with having an addict as a son. How crazy is that???!!! I just need to stop. Period. I can't believe I am swigging from a bottle now. And I'm also starting to buy the little airplane bottlese and putting them in my purse so I can take swigs when nobody is looking.

you must come to the option of stop or do not stop....right now you want to stop but saying that your not sure you have had your last drink....when the party is over you will no longer want to drink....

I use AA and since your using NarAnon with son I suggest checking into where the nearby AA meetings are get going and stop with the help of AA....some come and still drink when they come to AA it is ok as long as desire to stop is present and as I said when your party is over you will know....until the waiter brings the check for your drinking and you have no option but to stop the party will continue....hugs

thank you billwfriend....makes sense. I just hope and pray that I get there. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired....

Hello Gratefulee,

You don’t have to wait for anything worse to happen in order to get sober. Alcoholism is a progressive condition, meaning it will always get worse over a period of time. The end result is often insanity or death.

I too would have described myself as a functioning alcoholic until I heard a guy asking: “Functioning, compared to what?” I believe today that there is really no such thing as a functioning alcoholic – just people who fool themselves as I did into believing that it was not really that bad.

The video at the link below describes the problem of alcoholism very well. If clicking on the link does not work, just copy and paste it into your search engine.

https://youtu.be/phHXCn25MmY

Maybe this link will work directly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phHXCn25MmY

I would say AA would be good for you too. Addiction is a family problem. It takes a lot of courage to get sober. Doing it with your son will be good for both of you.

There are lots of yucky feelings that lead to drinking and drug use. Hopefully you can uncover them and solve them.

Reaching out on this site is a good sign that you are ready to begin the steps needed to stop drinking. Have you considered entering a rehab unit? I know you are embarrassed about this, and going to rehab could cause you more embarrassment, but if it's what you need to do to stop drinking, then do it. It will be worth it. It might embarrass you, but it will also inspire those around you to not be afraid to address their own problems. I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. Don't give up, find a treatment center that can help you. You have to do the hard work, but I believe that God can help you through it. I am praying for you today.

Thank you all. alwaysgrow, I was actually thinking about looking into a treatment center I can go to after work. I can't take off 30 days of work - I will lose my job. It is quite embarrassing especially when everyone knows that my son is in treatment and that I've been worried sick about him for the past 7+ years!! Thank you for your prayers....

A bottom is simply the day that you decide to quit. There is no shame in being an alcoholic. I am not ashamed that I am an alcoholic, nor am I ashamed that I am conquering cancer. I am very proud of what I did to conquer both disease. Kaiser and other hospital plans have out patient treatment. I used a secular group at my medical group for 6 months. Now I get by using Daily Strength. Live groups are not my thing. You need to follow, whatever is the best fit for you. Many go to AA and love it. I hate it.

whoop that link is great!!! Gratefulee go and have a listen and a chuckle
Thank you PJ54 the two guys talking make great sense of the cravings and the difference between physical and mental addiction just awesome

Abstaining from alcohol, without a way to expand the healthy spirit inside of me was "boring" like you spoke about. Also, some hit a bottom they can't come back from, and you can decide to have your bottom be right now. I suggest you make not drinking your priority for a year, make it the most important thing in the day. Go to meetings, read the alcoholics anonymous text, speak to other alcoholics, pray to God, do things that make you feel whole and "alive", in a good way, and consider surrendering or "conceding" to the idea that you can't drink, without experiencing misery or drinking behavior your aren't ashamed of.

Staying sober, and experiencing recovery is much harder than continuing to drink, however, the rewards are much greater. Sustained relief as opposed to temporary relief was the biggest gift for me in sobriety. Every lesson I learn by not deciding to drink, or not deciding to let my life become unmanageable again, becomes permanent, and the feelings that come from those little victories, equally become permanent.

Message if you'd like to speak more about what I did and how it worked, and also don't lose hope, everything will make more sense in due time.

Have you also considered speaking to your doctor as well as setting an appointment with someone who specializes in addiction? If you are drinking WAY too much, going through withdrawal is not to be entered alone without medical supervision. Of course feeling embarrassed is a normal emotion. Continue to reach out, get to an AA meeting. All you need is a desire to stop drinking

That was my story about 10 months ago. No one really knew how much I drank. I was functioning, but not well. I too his it from my husband and started lying about it and that was when I knew it had gone to far. I tried on my own to stop and relapsed 2x in about a months time. Only difference was I was honest about it this time. After a really bad second relapse I decided AA was the next step. Through the Big Book, help from my sponsor, and my group meetings I am now almost 9 months sober. Reach out and get help would be my advice. Once it isn't a secret and you are being honest it makes you accountable. I remember feeling terribly ashamed, but have learned to regain power and dignity through AA

Hello again. It's been a few days since I wrote from my initial (first) post. Of course, now that I haven't drank all week, I feel like I really don't have a problem. I know it's my mind and the disease playing tricks on me. I'm nervous about the weekend being here. Any help/advice/tips would be greatly appreciated. Also, I noticed that I can't see some responses. I have the notifications in my inbox but can't see them here. Any advice on that? Thank you in advance.