I've tried cold turkey. Couldn't stay stopped for more than a few weeks.

I staed sober for 161 days which was I'm not going to lie ok in some places and hell in others. But, got back into drinking again because i felt like I couldnt cope wit my problem s without drink. I'd suggest you try it to be honest because it's good for your body especially the liver. :).x

I tried a few times to quit everything. Managed to stop for a month once. Hated, life, hated getting out of bed in the morning, everything bothered me. I quickly became depressed and went back to drinking and drugging. And then I quit for 2 years using the marijuana maintenance program. Marijuana really wasn't a good replacement for alcohol, which is my main drug of choice. I missed my booze. When I went back to drinking it got worse for me and the DTs began. In 1982 I decided I'd had enough. That's what it takes. WE have to decide we want to stop. Alcohol itself convinces us. Then nothing will get in our way. I quit CT, but my friend was bugging me to go to AA and, lucky for me, I went. AA then changed me completely into a new person. So I stayed stopped. Nothing changes if nothing changes...

well for 12 months...3 months....then a few weeks. So not really!

So far, I've made it 5 weeks cold turkey.

Depends what you consider cold turkey WG. I don't know anyone who has without some support, even if it's just a group of fellow alcoholics on an internet support group.

As for giving up the grog cold turkey, I did that, but in a hospital. That took care of the physical, but then there was me. Took a few extra steps to avoid going back to the old life. Rehab, AA, 12 Steps, cognitive stuff, exercise, meditation, staying connected to other alkies, and anything else that was in my path.

Grateful for it all.

Have done it many times. For 4 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks. No physical withdrawals, but psychological, yes. Noted an increase in anxiety, depression. Usually passed within 3 days. It depends on how much you have been drinking and for how long.

Awesome ladycin! I'm about 46 days now. Cold turkey. Only support is on this board. Finding it increasingly difficult. Stresses in every day life, going out of town on the weekend, etc.

Sure. It's been 15+ months for me. I have been using DS for support -- so maybe that doesn't count as cold turkey?

I don't like the phrase "cold turkey." Most people think that means that it must be a struggle. The first couple months were pretty intense, but it felt so great to quit that it was worth it.

I am very happy to be sober.

Hi WebGirl,

Cold turkey never worked for me. I could go a couple of months sober then having to deal with reality sober sent me back to the bottle.

Then, about four months ago, I tried to quit and couldn't. If I went more than a few hours without alcohol, I was shaking uncontrollably.

Just my opinion, but don't do this alone. You have a lot of company in this fight.

Good luck.

2 yrs and a couple months cold turkey, I saw a counselor for a short time, and tried a couple meetings... it just didn't click with me at the time. I was on this site a lot during that first year though!

You mentioned that it's getting a little tougher to maintain, and that you're a little leery about the weekend out... I remember dreading attending my first sober wedding reception, first sober family bonfire, first sober Halloween party, first sober PTA meeting (haha just checking if you're still paying attention... but towards the end it wasn't funny, I was starting to pre-drink for school functions...) Here's what I have found: each time you make it through one of these big "marker" occasions, it gives you more strength and self-confidence, each time that you relied on your own social skills and your own real emotions, your own abilities... it feels so great! And then the next thing that comes up, you will look at it in a different light.

I'm still not discounting AA, I would still like to go to some meetings and make some friends, but it's just not priority right now, I'm not exactly struggling with alcohol. But that's my experience. Yours may vary. :) Just keep going, keep your eye on the prize, and take care of your wellness. Go out of your way for your own wellness. Don't apologize for it either!

Well, you are beginning to reach out here-good for you! Just get the support you need-via meds, counseling, group therapy, etc. There is no shame in needing help-this is some heavy duty serious stuff. I do believe it takes a lot of healing to get beyond our misery that brought us down, and this healing is difficult to take place in isolation.

I think this is good you are talking about this-keep it up.

BTW webgirl-someone who has quit cold turkey most likely does not reach out in chat groups...so finding someone who is doing this is very difficult-as they have moved on and don't talk much about it!

There are people like this-I am not sure if this is for you though as you say you are feeling depressed. Keep reaching out.

I'm going on day 13 of cold turkey. Praying, meditating, exercising and this website have been my main tools......honestly I feel so good and hopeful right now. It's still been pretty crazy in my head and I have had some pretty tough moments. I was sober 62 days last spring in AA and it was a negative experience, I felt trapped by the program, it just wasn't for me.....a long story.........anyway, I think with hope and gratitude for a new chance at life cold turkey is totally DoAble!