you have to really really want it and then you will have to be willing to goto any lengths to get sober. You have to be really sick of all the things that driking does to you. I would first of all get rid of all booze in your house and then go and check out a meeting and see how you feel about it. I hit my bottom and it was not fun and I am now 137 days clean and sober and I am so glad I took this new journey. Also you took a great step by coming here and posting this. congrats.

Hey Ashley. I'm sort of the same way. I don't drink everyday so it was hard for a while to conceive of myself as having a problem. But the thing is I'm too tired of the embarrassment, the crazy things I do when I drink -which have to be told to me or otherwise are forever unknown because of the black outs. I'm seeing a therapist at school and we talked about the "drinking in moderation route" and I did that for a while until I realized how easy it was to give into temptation sooner or later. So after one of those times I just got fed up and decided to try to stop completely for a while until I really truly feel strong enough and in control. I'm only on day 3, so who knows. Also, I don't know what your "rock bottom" would be, I don't think I've reached mine since I'm still alive and healthy, but I really don't want to find out. Good luck! Hit me up if you ever need support!

Ashley,
Why would you want to go to any lengths toward self destruction? We need to live our lives as succesful as we perseive it to be. We can convince ourselves that we are not in that bad of shape and maybe someday we'll change our lifestyles.Truth be told normal people wouldn't even consider a change in lifestyle.Nor should they. Alcoholics on the other hand know they need to change but are so deathly afraid of the unknown that they put it off until there are no further options.Why put off the inevitable? Why suffer when we don't need to? Because we're alcoholics thats why.The sooner we admit we're powerless over alcohol the sooner we can focus on recovery.Freedom from the obsession,freedom from consequenses of our actions.Freedom to become the best person we can be.Try AA.you may decide you're tired of payin dues afterall.That there is a better course of action than the ostrich burying his head and pretending there really isn't a problem.We know there is or we wouldn't here on this page looking for a solution.

alcoholism is so sneaky-it will tell you you haven't hit bottom, but if you really look at your life-is all that good or in the shitter? we lower our standards so much when we drink. Me, i would say "my bottom is if at age 30 i am still a drunk on the road to nowhere"...then it was "my bottom is at the age of 35 i am still a drunk on the road to nowhere"...then it was "my bottom is at the age of 40 my ass can't fit through a door and i am living in public housing" and so on. Really, your brain is telling you you have not hit bottom because your disease wants you to keep going.

I don't have any profound wisdom as to how to convince anyone once and for all to quit. Really, does anyone?

Start with it as a daily process. Just say, "ok, just for today i am not going to drink". see how you do.

I can relate to not feeling like you've hit bottom. I have tried to convince myself over and over that I can drink normally or at least hide it enough so no one knows I'm drinking. Usually every time it doesn't work. I think I have hit bottom so many times then some sick voice in my head tells me it's okay to drink again. I am scared to death to think about what "bottom" could really mean for me- jail, losing my kids, losing my marriage, hurting someone..... But sometimes those worries just go right out the window and all I care about is that drink. Well, where I am at this moment in time, is planning on going to a meeting tonight, I want to get healthy and do good things for myself, and I've learned from other people that I have to work, work, work at getting healthier every day. That means praying, turning things over again and again, taking it one hour or minute at a time, meetings and reading AA materials- if that's the road you're taking- and NOT picking up the first drink because it's all downhill from there if I do. I have heard people in recovery say how grateful they are that they stoppped before they died or ended up insane and they did it by picking themselves up every time they failed and then working the steps and starting over when they needed to. I have a problem sticking to going to meetings and remembering to work on my stuff EVERY DAY so I don't slip. That is something I need to work on in my life. I really don't know how to quiet that sick part of your brain. I just know I've been there! I guess we just admit we are powerless over it and quit trying to fight it and allow others to help us. Maybe make a list of all the "bottoms" you don't want to get to and look at it every day. I have been told I will hit those bottoms if I continued to drink- it's inevitable- and I know I can't turn off the voices in my head right now. I will continue to listen to them if I don't work on my stuff. Maybe we could both make a commitment today to admit we are powerless over those stupid voices and figure out how to turn it over to someone or something that can make that sick part of our brains go away? I think I'm rambling on.... Just know you're not alone in what you're feeling. Keep in touch please. Hugs and prayers to you.

Ashley, in response to your question - has anyone else gone through this?

The answer if Yes - every alcoholic I know anyway.

"Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Therefore, it is not suprising that our drinking careers have been characterised by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death" (AA BB pg 30)

My recovery started when I recognised that thought that I would be able to drink like a normal person as the lie that it was and realised that I would never be able to control my drinking.

In terms of how you convince yourself to stop. Alcohol is the greater convincer - it will take everything of value from you if you let it - for me it was when it had finally taken my spirit/soul and I was an empty hopeless shell that I was convinced I had to do something.

I consider myself one of the lucky ones, I progressed to the gates of insanity but stopped before death.

When you become convinced that, if you are an alcoholic, you will never be able to drink like a normal person and the only drinking future you have will eventually lead to that insanity and death, you will be able to do what is neccesary to stop.

I hope that is now or soon for you. Message me if you want any help or to talk more.

Hi, why do you want to reach rock bottom to prove you have a problem. My rock was homeless for 6 months,family hated me, no job, lost my driving licience, oh nearly forgot, PRISON FOR 3 MONTHS. You are sensible to realise something isnt right, please do something before you really do prove yr point. Please take this as it was ment, a constructive comment, I would hate for you to really hit rock bottom.