I have been exactly where you are and you are probably feeling hellish now but you are not alone. We have all used the excuses I could write the book on them. I was 3 years sober and lapsed on my 70th birthday - celebration or what and ended up in hospital. That was four weeks ago and haven't had a drink since which I am sure has been helped by Daily Strength as I have no access to AA due to remoteness of my home. Keep in touch and I send you a hug and love. Mairi

Oh babes happy late birhday..
I have started my jounal today so im hoping that writing it all down ach day helps to keep me away from the bottle.I would like to add u as a friend if thats okx

Welcome to DS allicx. I am 10 days sober now. I had several relapses. It's true. So I know exactly where you are coming from. I too made excuses and convinced myself that it was ok.

Knowing that you are not alone is great. It's now what do you want to do about it.

I go to on-line meetings. You should check it out sometime.

The link is www.londonppbbs.com/ourprimarypurposechatroom.html

We meet regularly every night at 8pm eastern time. Official meetings are Mondays and Wednesdays at 8 pm eastern time.

Maybe I'll see ya there eh.

Great that you want something to change. Good luck on your quest to sobriety.

Thks.. i will go have a look, its nice to no ur not alonex

Welcome to our community. There is a solution if you want it.

JMRH Sobriety date: 9/13/1988

I didn't make excuses for drinking anymore. I drank because I wanted to and in the end I drank because I had to. The withdrawel got so bad I had days where I was throwing it up as fast as I could get it down. I would keep at it though because the intense pain of withdrawel was, I thought, more than I could handle.
As far as being a drunk went, I had it made. No rent, free booze, cable, internet, oh, and did I say, free booze.
I became a 24 hour a day drinker, if I was awake I was drinking. I was locked in a room for 2 years this way.
My landlord/friend was a hard drinker too and he became increasingly abusive, more so when he'd get really loaded. I put up with it though. Free booze. I finally came to the conclusion that if something didn't change I would die like that.
No one gave a shit if I drank or not. I had lost everything, I thought.
I realized I had lost my integrity and I couldn't stand myself anymore. I drank and cried for 2 days. Before I went to sleep that night, I did something I never have done before. I got on my knees and asked the powers that be for help. I asked to wake up and not need to drink.
I haven't had or wanted a drink since. Not that my life is completely managable, wouldn't want to get too well. I'd be bored, but the things I have to do and deal with, I do sober. As a result, I am for the first time in my miserable existance trying to take care of myself. I got a job and am looking for my little dream home.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is, how bad do you really want to be sober?

Since no one's done it yet I'm going to make a shameless plug for AA. I'm almost two months sober and I'm quite sure I couldn't have done it without the program. If you're ready then they're ready and waiting.

Welcome to DS!
This isn't an AA community, but I do suggest trying AA. Nobody understands a drunk better than another drunk, and I think we need live interaction as well as internet support. I'm glad you're here and I'm glad you want to be sober.

Here is another useful resource if you feel like chatting to other alkies in your situation or who have lived it:

http://www.londonppbbs.com-a.googlepages.com/ourprimarypurposechatroom.html

Read the big book of alcoholics anonymous - all the answers to your questions will be in there. It will help you ascertain whether you are an alcoholic or not too. Only you can decide that. It could be that you are suffering from clinical depression and you are not necessarily a slave to the booze. You seem to be using the drink as an aid to fix certain emotions in you and that isn't sounding too good to me though...

Here's the big book online and please come to our chatroom:

http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/

Hi...you are not alone. I have been sober this time for just over 2.5 weeks. Everybody has their excuses. If you need to chat or want a friend I am here several times a day.

welcome to the site, have you ever gone to AA, that's where i have found peace.

Drinking is what alcoholics tend to do. That's what got us here. Drinking never made anything better in my life not once. The trick is not drinking in situations like the one you had. And, maybe it just takes a little practice to learn.

Hi Allicx, Welcome, i have been sober for 2 weeks and i dont think i could have done it without the friends i have made on DS, I understand completly where you are coming from, i think i have used every excuse in the book. Chat anytime. Big Hug. x

Do we truly lay a friend to rest by drinking, probably not.

Mourning is a natural process, or it should be unless we numb that process with Alcohol.

So really on this occasion, there was no excuse, except you made it one.

It seems as though you like excuses, perhaps it takes the blame away from you and maybe detracts from the point that you may be an alcoholic or that you have a severe drink problem.

Your asking for advice, advice for what Occasions, excuses or drinking ??????? Lol

Of course I can give advice and had you asked me before the occasion, my advice would have been not to drink, as there was truly no reason.

However your asking for advice after the occasion, so my advice is different, its still stop drinking but also get some help because it seems as though you may need it.

Its all as simple as that really

Trickey

I am happy to have you as a friend and I am sure you will make it and just remember it is always a day at a time. Mairi