Let me ask you this (and please don't be offended or think I'm chastising you - I was also started drinking young and but the time I was 19, I was drinking heavily/bingeing several times a week)

When you drink to comfort yourself when things get bad, do they get better as a result of a drink or two (or 20)? I found that drinking didn't make be feel better (I felt ashamed and remorseful the morning after) and the my life became one bad decision after another.

I tried numerous times to stop drinking, tried numerous methods to stop, but the only thing that worked for me (got me stopped and I've stayed stopped) was AA. AA worked for me (after everything else failed) but there are other programs that may be effective for you.

As for being cured, I don't know if I'm "cured" but I haven't had a drink in more than 13 years. My life, relationships, "having fun" hasn't suffered for lack of alcohol. I don't crave alcohol, don't have to fight the temptation, don't care if others around me drink (although I don't enjoy being around drunk people - reminds me too much of my previous life and my previous behaviors).

Make yourself at home here; many of us will be happy to share our experiences with you in hopes that you may find a way out of the clutches of alcohol. Good Luck.

The only moment when it feels "good" or "better" is when I get dizzy from the alcohol because I can not feel anything at all and I forget about everything:my problems,the fact that I am miserble and alone.But as soon as I am sober again I feel like a failure because I wasted all my money and of course my problems are still there and I also have a massive headache.Not to mention the shame of acting stupid while I was drunk.

Wow, that brings back the memories! It was the same for me. Remember - nothing is SO bad that drinking won't make it even worse.

So you know drinking isn't a good idea, so if you decide to stop drinking you may need help to do so. Many of us, myself included needed help. That's why I went to AA.

Hello Emilysky3007,

It is good that you are asking these questions and vital that you should get the right answers. I would strongly urge you to watch the video at the link below as it will give you a lot of information. Whether you agree with the guy in the video or not, try to watch it all the way through.

You are now at a hugely important crossroads in your life so please choose carefully. One road leads to a life of endless misery, not only for yourself but also for those around you, with the real possibility of an early death or being locked up in a mental asylum. The other road leads to freedom, liberation and the ability to make the very most of your talents. Now to briefly answer some of your questions, based on 38 years of drinking and nine years of sobriety.

What did you do to quit thinking about drinking?
I tried a few things as I had a lot of faith in my own ability but nothing worked and I kept finding reasons to drink. When I had lost all hope for the future, I went to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous and have not taken a drink since.

How did you do it?
After going to AA meetings for a short time I noticed that there were two types of people at the meetings. There were those who were continuously struggling with alcoholism and there then, there were others who had recovered and had a certain serenity about them. I paid attention to the second group and copied what they had done.

Where did you find the strength?
Initially, I found the strength in the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. The people at the meetings knew exactly what I was going through and there was a great network of support. Later on, I learned that in order to recover from alcoholism I would possibly need some sort of spiritual help and I learned how to change my thinking so that I would be able to avail of that spiritual guidance. Today, I get the strength from a reliance on doing the right things with the help and guidance of some sort of power that I don’t understand but that I choose to call God.

What did you do to quit thinking about drinking?
This is where it gets interesting. An alcoholic who is still drinking or newly sober is obsessed with alcohol and will be constantly looking for reasons to drink, even after deciding to quit. It is only by removing that obsession for alcohol that recovery can take place and one way to achieve that result is through the AA programme of recovery.

How does it feel right now?
It feels absolutely fantastic and I never seriously think about drinking. For example, I was at a wedding recently and was surrounded by drinking all day, with free wine for much of the time. I did sober, all of the crazy stuff that drinking allows you to do, enjoyed it tremendously and could remember it all the next day. And I didn’t have to hide from or apologise to anyone.

What do you do during the hard times if you do not drink anymore?
I have learned to rely on spiritual guidance and try to accept God’s will. Look up the Serenity Prayer as it is a powerful tool for living.

I started drinking when I was 15 and I can say that I missed out on a huge chunk of life. An active alcoholic could be likened to a person who is under house arrest. Such a person can watch life go by but is unable to play any big part in it.

There is no cure for alcoholism and if you have crossed that line, you cannot now or at any time in the future drink safely. You can, however, recover from alcoholism so that it will never bother you again but you will probably need outside help in order to do that. You are afraid and unsure and that is natural but I can assure you that countless people have been where you are now and have gone on to recover.

There are several options open to you but you will need to push yourself to ditch the pride and ask for face to face help of some sort. You could start with AA meetings and see how that goes.

What looks like a big problem right now can turn out to be a huge blessing that can transform your life if you play it right. Whatever you do, keep trying and never give up. Keep posting here or if you have any questions that you do not want to post on the public forum, you can send a private message to myself or other people here if you ‘Friend’ them.

Remember to watch the video all the way through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMC62Y_5dyE

Alcohol is a symptom of deeper emotional issues. I went through an outpatient treatment program and discovered during my intake that I was suffering from ptsd, depression and anxiety. I had no clue previously that those three things were my triggers. I was treated for those problems which made sobriety alot easier.

If you feel you might have some of those problems triggering your drinking, which it sounds like you do, then talk to you doctor who can make that diagnosis and recommend treatment options for you. That would be the best place to start imho.

God Bless

I'm a mother to a daughter who is only a year younger than you were when you started drinking - it would break my heart if she turned to drink to get her through difficult times or even tastes alcohol before she turns 18!! I know the latter is wishful thinking on my part but that is because I am hyper aware of how my relationship with alcohol has impacted on her, I have seen the fear in her eyes. .......

Unfortunately there is no "minimum age" for alcohol addiction and the numbers are becoming increasingly alarming for youngsters your age that are dependant. As a mum I would suggest that you confide in your parents but of course that is only if you feel able and comfortable doing so. If you can't speak to your family then how about someone like a teacher, form tutor or pastoral manager at school/college/university??? They may be able to assist you in finding the right help you clearly need and support you during your journey.

Big hugs sweetheart and please don't feel alone. xxx

Good questions. I stopped battling alcoholism in order to treat it. I stopped trying to drink with the hope it would end up normal or I wouldn't be worse off. I was convinced it was in my future to be alcohol free or else exist in a void filled state of misery for the rest of my existence.

I found strength in knowing God is real, God has interest most humans aren't interested in, and making life a purpose of building a relationship with a God I know is real gave me incredible strength. Admitting God is our best friend, and admitting I was not so smart denying it's existence helped greatly. I have to say I am around tons of godless people or people who aren't sold on the existence of God, and they make life very difficult leading themselves and with their desires to control. God is the strength I have now to no longer drink, and most importantly be happy with that fact.

To quit obsessing about drinking I had to learn how the mind of an alcoholic works, and the ego, I had to learn how the ego mimics god and gives directions, however when examined, the directions the ego was giving was making life unfulfilling and conditioning me to be in a survival without peace mode. I had to learn that my mind chatters, and I don't have to listen to it, in fact, the less I listen to my mind, or the less I give it a voice, the worse off my actions are, if I listen to the mind first, then act. I know now that I take action, despite my mind saying it isn't necessary, and I get spiritual, so much that my mind no longer desires to give input, and I become serene and sanity filled.

After being sober for years, I wish I could say I feel great, but I don't always. I can say I feel great that I don't drink anymore, and that I don't have to worry about that burden.

I was nineteen once, and if I had to do it all over again, I would have not partied at all, I would have not drank, or done drugs, or tried to be cool, I would have asked God to help me create a life where I can create my own happiness, without a desire to drink or do drugs, and to always be in a close relationship with him. (or her) whichever you think makes the most sense.

I'll try to keep short.

Started at 15
Drinking heavily from 16-40
Tried to rationalize and make excuses my whole life.
Destroyed a marriage
Had bad relationships with two kids.
Almost lost a second marriage
Pissed away a lot of money in booze cossts, mishaps, accidents, wasteful things
41 got drunk for the last time
Went to an AA meeting - haven't drunk since.

No cure. It's like herpes. Always under the surface (thankfully I don't have those)

But I have a sponsor, I've worked the steps and I'm accountable

I'm well aware of what just one drink will do to me.

Never again