Hello MotherElectric,

You are very welcome to the DS forum. How people do it varies and it often depends on how strong a grip alcohol has on the person.

For some, all it takes is a decision to stop drinking and the willpower to carry it out. Many of those people are heavy drinkers or maybe they are just in the early stages of alcoholism.

A percentage of those heavy drinkers will pass a point where they become alcoholics and dealing with alcoholism is different to heavy drinking. If you have passed that point, the first thing that I would suggest is educating yourself about alcoholism. Once you know what you are dealing with, the way forward should be clearer.

As a quick crash course, there are a few things to remember about alcoholism. First of all, it is a progressive condition, meaning that it gets worse with time. It is regarded as a two-fold illness, with part of the problem being in the mind and part in the body. The mental part is that drinking becomes an obsession and all sorts of reasons will be found in order to justify taking a drink. The physical part is that the body of the alcoholic develops an abnormal reaction to alcohol. The first drink produces a craving for more and each extra drink makes the craving stronger. Therefore, the only safe option for an alcoholic is to avoid taking that first drink.

If you are an alcoholic, even though you may be determined to remain sober, your sub-conscious mind will be trying to convince you to drink. People who recover from alcoholism are usually those who find some means of changing that mind message. However, the problem often runs deeper and drinking is only a symptom of an inability to handle life’s ups and downs. Therefore, it is by tackling those background issues that many find not just recovery from alcoholism but also a happy and fulfilling life.

For now, take it a day at a time but always bear in mind that one drink leads to many more. DS is a good support mechanism and it will help you. However, DS alone may not be enough as alcoholism is a serious and deep rooted problem. If you find that you are struggling, do not be afraid to look for outside help.

It sounds like your stress is triggering your drinking. I had the same problem. Although I tried to quit hundreds of times on my own, I knew I needed help. I was at a point in my life when death seemed preferable to the life I was living at the time. I went into detox through the emergency room. I knew it was the fastest way to get help. I was in detox for 4 days, and from detox I went into an IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) I had counselors guiding me every step of the way and I was treated for the stress that was triggering my drinking.

All of that was 9 years ago. When I think back to how close to death I was, when I think about how much I wanted to check out of the hotel of life, I am so glad that I hung in there. I am so glad that I put myself in a place, both physically and emotionally where I was willing to except the help of others because today I have a great life and I have never been happier. Every day for me is a miracle and every day brings a ton of joy and happiness, and I wish the same for you!

God Bless

I finally said enough is enough and went to AA. That was 4 years ago, and I rarely think about a drink - and when I do, I think about how bad of a decision that would be. Keep posting. There's great support here with lots of methods for sobriety.