Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
I should first say that I never went to AA and had only diagnosed myself as a possible alcoholic. I think my behaviors were that of an alcoholic. I could drink a big bottle of vodka over a 3-4 day period, not counting wine I might have or whatever. I drank every single day for about 2 years. I hid it from people, I lied about it, I did it alone, I blacked out, I passed out, you name it. All the bad stuff. I truly love(d) drinking and come from a very social-drinking family. It's never been seen as wrong or something to be avoided.
However, I just had surgery recently, and I had to give up alcohol prior to the surgery, and pretty much after surgery as well. And I literally went from drinking all that vodka to nothing. Besides getting a little tipsy on Valentine's day, I haven't had anything to drink in well over a month. No trips to the liquor store for booze, nada. In fact, I went to my liquor store simply to get my mom (who does drink) some club soda, and the cashier said, "What, no alcohol?" And I said, "Nope. Not today." (God! He recognized me. Tell you anything?)
I didn't have the shakes. I didn't go through horrible withdrawl. What does this mean?
I think it means that the tendency will always be there. That I don't think goes away. I guess I just expected to miss it more than I do, or to crave it more than I do. I really don't care that I'm sober right now. Feels OK.
Anyone else go through this type of thing, or do y'all think it's BS?
However, I just had surgery recently, and I had to give up alcohol prior to the surgery, and pretty much after surgery as well. And I literally went from drinking all that vodka to nothing. Besides getting a little tipsy on Valentine's day, I haven't had anything to drink in well over a month. No trips to the liquor store for booze, nada. In fact, I went to my liquor store simply to get my mom (who does drink) some club soda, and the cashier said, "What, no alcohol?" And I said, "Nope. Not today." (God! He recognized me. Tell you anything?)
I didn't have the shakes. I didn't go through horrible withdrawl. What does this mean?
I think it means that the tendency will always be there. That I don't think goes away. I guess I just expected to miss it more than I do, or to crave it more than I do. I really don't care that I'm sober right now. Feels OK.
Anyone else go through this type of thing, or do y'all think it's BS?
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
If that is your experience then it is not BS.
Personally for me, i couldnt stop drinking like that and needed help.
That doesnt mean your experience is wrong it just means you dont have the same problem as me right now.
At least you know that AA is there so if you things changed for you and you ever thought you did have a problem you would know where to go.
If things dont change it is great news that you have been able to stop.
Again welcome.
Nicky
Gette's suggestion about the AA big book is a good one if you want more info about alcoholism.
As a complete stranger hearing this short story I have to say that:
"If it looks like a pig, smells like a pig, sounds like a pig, chances are, it's a pig." Be careful.
On the same notion, I must agree with Moonflake and her analogy of the pig (although I learned the duck version). All the signs are there so I would think long and hard about ever, ever, ever testing your alcoholic tendencies.
All that being said, Gette had a good suggestion about checking out the AA website, you'll find helpful information there and if you decide that you are indeed an alcoholic and don't want to continue the journey of sobriety alone you'll be able to find a meeting or two in your area. Then of course there's always us folk here on DS also.
I would like to (lastly) congratulate you on your venture into the world of sobriety. Good for you for giving it up; it's amazing that you were fortunate enough not to go through horrible withdrawals and don't really have a craving for it now. Very, very rare bird you are, and fortunate. I would run to the first AA meeting I could find though if I were in your shoes and thought well maybe I'm really not one of those sad saps, maybe I'll go drink again. Really you don't want to find out the hard way; it sucks, just take my word on that.
An alcoholic is not a person that always drinks but someone when they drink cant always stop. My problem wasnt stoping it was staying stopped.
And AA has helped me stay stopped for over 16 and half years now. And life couldnt be better.
I would suggest you give AA a go for one month it could be a turning point in your life after that month the bottle shops, clubs, bars will still be there.
With having no withdrawal can I ask with the surgery where you given or are still taking other medications. Such as painkillers or Benzodiazepines, barbiturates. These can take away the withdrawal symptoms.
Just a thought.
And with the BS what matters mostis what you think youre the one with you 24/7.
God bless
Lionel