What are your interests now ?
My interests were drinking, alone or with people, in good weather or bad, and because.
Something that is very hard is a big deal. Is what you mean- you don't want anyone focusing on you or asking you questions that are answer expectant ? That fits me and it fits most people I know in recovery. Well, it did. I'm not opposed to it much any more. Doesn't6 bother me the way it used to.
Arriving at the idea you might want or need to quit took some thought, ok, a lot of thought. How to seems to be your main inquiry. I used a 12 step fellowship. I met many people like me who drank like me, but also thought that it had gotten way out of hand. I did it without a doctor, but maybe some of the other people here have better options. I don't know how much or how long you have been drinking and you will want some good advice. I stayed stopped the same way I stopped and today I have a full and wonderful life. And grandchildren, but you don't want to know those experts on destruction.

Just to let you know...the depression passes after about 5 days somewhat....most of it does.

Why not tell your Dr that you want to quit and make a plan with your Dr. Make an appointment asap.

Hello chelepet,

It is always better to have an honest talk with your doctor about things like this. That said there are many who just quit and bear it for a few days until the symptoms ease.

What you are doing is a big deal and you have every right to treat it as such. The depression may well disappear once you have some time between you and the last drink. However, there is no shame in getting help for that too so dont be afraid to ask for whatever support that you may need.

One of the things that I have found about drinking is that the mind gets filled up with all sorts of rubbish thinking and there is little room for anything else. The hard drive of a computer becomes cluttered and full if you keep downloading stuff and not carrying out maintenance until eventually it will hold no more. The computers hard drive can be cleaned out and it will be like new and similarly when the rubbish is cleared from the mind there will be room for new thinking and other interests.

I often intended to quit drinking but it was always going to be tomorrow. Then it got so bad that I knew I was defeated so I grasped the nettle and with the help of AA, I stopped

The thing is. I come from a family of alcoholics and addicts. My dad died from alcoholism at the age of 54. My family also has a lot of mental issues. My youngest brother is diagnosed with schizophrenia. I also have had bulimia for the past 10 years. My mom was a Jehovah's Witness and growing up in with that religion was trauma enough. I swore up and down that I would never drink and here I am following in the same footsteps.I just wonder if I would be better off going into treatment?I have never had any type of counseling.

Hello chelepet,

You can break the cycle. If there was a problem with your TV, washing machine or your car you would not hesitate to get a repairman who knew his business because those things are valuable assets. The single most valuable asset that you have is the thinking that is in your head and yet when something goes wrong in that department we often leave it to chance. Why not treat your mind in the way that you would treat something so important and get the best repair person that you can get.

I grew up with religion too and I have no problem with religion. However when I lost control over alcohol religion could not fix it that was not the fault of religion but I simply could not live up to those ideas. Then I discovered spirituality and life had a whole new meaning.

Going into treatment could help you and counselling would help too so rule nothing out. A good starting point is that honest talk with your doctor. You could also check out AA meetings as they are free and offer a solution that works for many people.

I would definitely start going to meetings, multiple meetings a day. Find people you identify with, and stick out your hand and meet them.

The fellowship of AA is incredibly powerful. It has made huge difference in my life, and I never have those thoughts of "boredom."

Seeing a doctor about detoxing from alcohol is a very good idea, as alcohol withdrawal can cause serious problems. Counseling can be great as while some peoples mental issues improve with abstinence other individuals untreated mental issues (like myself) can make productive long term sobriety hard to attain. An alcohol specific support group (AA, Woman for Sobriety, SMART Recovery, etc) can be very helpful also.

it can be done without the doctor at first point...I do not think I told my doctor I was quitting...but then some lab work she did showed her mucho abnormal liver enzymes so I did then tell her I had quit drinking....I am sure your liver will flip out when it is no longer getting booze diet...and they usually flip out with enzymes getting out of their normal ranges...so I would make appointment to see the doctor and ask for some tests along the liver enzyme track and tell him why you want them done...he will support you if you are honest with him and of course why would he not support no longer drinking?

hugs and congrats of the commitment to stay sober....hugs bill

I'm with PJ54- talk to your doctor. It was a hard thing for me to do.

I made the appointment earlier in the week knowing what I wanted to do. I had gotten to the point of being so sick that I couldn't operate with alcohol and I couldn't imagine life without it.

When I made the appointment, I actually lied to the person telling them I wanted to discuss with my doctor my lack of energy and possible low blood count (turned out it was true but not what I thought at the time).

When the doctor came in and asked how they could help, I just told her I was a "hot mess" and needed help to stop drinking. She asked if I had already drank that day (10am) and I said "yes". She said "how much?" I said "2". I remember she held up her fingers to indicate a small mixed drink and I chuckled and corrected her (2 BIG ole' drinks!).

She ran some blood tests and told me she'd get me into detox. She called me later that afternoon and told me that when I was there that AM, my BAC was over three times the legal limit! And, I drove myself to and from that appointment.

Long story- just to point out that she took me seriously and I got the help that started me on this path to sobriety.

peace friend,
Peg