It's amazing how a healthy lifestyle can turn things around. Don't give up on yourself. Try to remember that you are worth this journey. Finding your authentic self and your true happiness is a wonderful thing.

I have been sober for almost a month and I can tell the difference already.Bloated feeling is gone.Losing weight.More energy.Healthier skin and bags under eyes gone.Normal blood pressure.You can do this.I went through detox and I honestly believe it is the best choice to quit.I couldn't stop on my own.I know this now.It is like a tornado.It sucks you in before you even know it and destroys you and everything around you.Thankfully I have an amazing family and for that I am grateful.Believe me you CAN do this.Good luck:)

I highly recommend you talk to your doctor, who will be the first person to congratulate you and support you through your recovery! He/she will discuss your options with you and point you in the right direction.

I reached that two way street, where you are right now, and I had to make a decision. Do I go left, and relapse again, or do I think of my family instead of myself, take that right turn, and get the help I know I need to live a life free from the devastation that alcohol has caused in my life. 9 years ago, I changed direction, made that right turn and I am happier now then I have ever been in my life! I wish the same for you!

God Bless

Are you going to AA meetings? I know there is a lot of stigma attached to those and it's kind of the stereotypical "go to" solution/response to give to people who are trying to get sober, but, the fellowship has helped me quite a bit. If you're interested, I'd be happy to talk to more about it. PM me.

Hello yvonne87,

Miracles are rare in this life but where alcoholism is concerned, miracles do happen to many. Nine years ago around this time, I had given up all hope for life. I knew that I would have to stop drinking or die, but believed that I could neither quit nor live without alcohol. I swallowed my pride, went to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous and have not taken a drink since.

You too can change your life for the better but you will need to be prepared to go to any lengths to get that reward. What you do is not my business but if I were you, I would look up AA in your area and go to meetings. You are welcome to message me if you have any questions or concerns about how to get and remain sober.

The nightmare will end if you are willing to change.

I can understand. That hangover or depressed feeling is really awful. Lather, rinse, repeat. That was me for years. There are many options out there to help alter your habit. Of course there's AA bit there are also other journeys. Know that the only requirement to attend any meeting of AA is "the desire to stop drinking".

Thankyou all for your supportive messages. It's nice to be able to talk to people who understand. I suffer with very bad anxiety ( because of the alcohol) so AA would be far too daunting for me. The nights nearly out and I haven't had a drink. I am determined to stop. It's effecting my family life. I'm either drunk or hungover, leaving no time for my family. It really is hard but realising there's a massive problem is the way forward. I have definitely considered seeing my gp. If I don't succeed this time with willpower alone that will be my next option. I wish I could be a social drinker as all my friends are but I think the only choice Is to give it up full stop. Thankyou

I totally get the anxiety thing.I drank to try to stop it but then it almost seemed to make it worse.My heart would race and my blood pressure and heart rate would shoot up so I would drink more because I was so scared and anxious.

It was a horrible,vicious cycle.Be careful stopping cold turkey because you don't want to have to go through serious withdrawal symptoms.If you can,see if your gp can help you with a detox program.

The thing for me was I drank to cope with life. Then remove the drink and life was too much to cope with. I found people that thought me how to cope in AA. I was very much anti social but by going to a group that changed. Today I'm sober and happy. And I sure don't miss those rosy red cheeks I used to sport. I was poisoning myself slowly.
1is2many

Anxiety is very common for chronic drinkers when they stop because the subconscious is anticipating alcohol, a depressant, and produces stimulants to offset it, even when you don't drink. It takes a few days to a week or more for this cycle to end. There's a excellent book explaining this and other aspects of alcoholism in a very readable format call "Alcohol Explained" by William Porter, 2015 (Amazon $10). He covers all the psychological and physiological aspects of addiction and topics such as the impact on sleep, triggers/urges and withdrawal. For me, it's been a great reference in understanding the impact drinking has on me mentally and physically and why.

4th day and my best friend lost her dad over the weekend. Brought wine over. I said no but I drank in the end. I was doing so well. My social circle involves drink. I've failed again. My family and my friends drink. I'm so mad at myself.

Hello yvonne87,

Being mad at yourself will not solve the problem. If what you have been doing up until now is not working, then you need to try a different approach.

Recovery from alcoholism requires that you become willing to do whatever it takes. Like you, I had a lot of anxiety when I was drinking. The thought of walking into an AA room was a nightmare and I am not exaggerating when I say that I was so anxious that I hardly knew my own name when I went to that first meeting. However, I swallowed a big chunk of pride and pushed myself to do what I didn’t want to do.

If you really want to get sober, this is what I would suggest. Call the AA General Service Office or send them an email, explaining your anxiety problem and ask if they would send a female member to bring you along to a meeting. Try it for a while and if you decide that AA is not for you, nothing much will have been lost in time and effort. You have everything to gain.

I remember my first AA meeting. I got there early and sat in my car because I was too nervous to go inside. I did that for the first 3 meetings I attended, and then I would lie to family and tell them I went to the meeting but I never told them I had a meeting with myself in the car. The 4th time I went, I challenged myself to walk inside. My heart was pounding as I stepped out of the car. I was so nervous, I was sweating profusely. I approached the door with the sign that read, "AA Meeting Inside". I stood there for a few seconds and opened the door. A man greeted me with a hand shake and I wondered what he thought of my sweaty palms!

9 years ago, I dared myself to walk inside and see what AA was all about. I am so glad I did. It changed my life for the better. I have a great life today and I have never been happier! The door man who was the first person to welcome me, eventually became one of my sponsers and in the succeeding years, he helped me out in ways I could never have expected! The AA 12 promises have all come true for me in my life. I am glad I swallowed my pride and faced my fears to attend that first meeting!

God Bless

Hi there. I understand your troubles. I am in the same boat as you. I was doing really well, then I slipped and drank last Tuesday. Then I said that was the last time. Then I drank yesterday. I always have an excuse. My husband makes me feel bad about myself so I drink because at the time it makes me feel better. Until the next day of course. I went to AA in April. I went to a meeting almost everyday for 2 weeks. I really loved the support and it really did help to be in a room with people that were not judging you and knew what you were going through. It made me feel like finally I wasnt alone. Then my husband had surgery and he couldnt get around or do anything so I had to take over with the house, kids everything. I intended to go back once he could help out again but its been over a month and he is just now starting to help out. He still says he is hurting and has to lay down. Some days hes up all night and then sleeps all day. So in the mean time of meaning to get back to meetings I drank again, twice. I am not going to let this happen again. I have already called my gp and he is calling in a medication that will curb the cravings for drinking. I am going back to AA today. I am also going to an outpatient treatment that I found near me. This is not something that we can do on our own and we dont have to. There are many resources available. Please find something that will help you stay on track. If you want a buddy to be accountable with I will be happy to do that. It would help me too. Good luck and God bless.