Hello Anna534,

The good news is that no matter how bad things may be right now, you can turn it around completely and have a great life without alcohol. Countless other people have done it and you can do it too.

I cannot tell you anything about the treatment centres in your area but I would urge you to rule nothing out. Sometimes people can recover from alcoholism by reading self-help books etc. but very often it takes far more than that. Have you considered going to some AA meetings? If I were you I would try AA and give it my complete attention. That means putting everything else, including family and friends down the list for a few months. If you find that you are still struggling, then you could consider going to an addiction centre.

I was in the same boat just a short while ago. I would drink every day and then after a bad night would try to quit. I could go for some shirt time and then my NEEd for the escape booze offered was just too great. I tried so many times and failed. See for me booze solved my bad feeling s so well. It made life less edgy. But I became hooked. I HAD to drink.

So I found this board about 4 1/2 years ago, kept drinking for awhile and then after a bad Saturday on June 10 I decided I needed help. I looked up an AA meeting and went. Finally I found hope. I was able to learn how to handle life without drinking.

It is a tricky thing drinking. B/c as soon as I quit I felt better and then I would go back. I didn't need help stopping , I needed help staying stopped. It is possible. I have not had to drink in four years. It's a miracle.

1is2many

I had many "quit" spells. I can go without drinking just fine. When I drank I never knew if I'd be normal or an absolute mess.

It wasn't the last drink that got me in trouble. It was the first drink.

You can google AA meetings in your area. Try that first and if you don't think AA is for you then try something different but try to keep an open mind. The support you receive from AA may be just what you need.

God Bless

Once every 4 days was my routine. It's really hard to break. If you've tried reading and everything, try AA. I think if you have access to a rehab clinic and time to go, I'd go and do that for sure. Hugs

Have you read book Alcoholics Annomous? (The Big Book) It has a few stories of how people have recovered It also explains the phenomena of craving and the allergic reaction we have to booze.

There is a site called "In the Rooms" that has a lot of members that offer support and understanding because a lot of us have been there.

HI there. I read tons of books on addiction, and alcoholism specifically. I tried therapy, and tried all sorts of other things ranging from yoga practices to self help books. Nothing worked until I went to AA and let go of all the pretenses that I could do it alone. I personally couldn't.
Maybe try AA in your area? I've been to meetings in Toronto -- very good!