Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
Today, I too decided today that I needed to stop drinking.
This is my second "day 1". I promised my wife on October 6th that I would stop but including last night I wound up getting drunk 4 times since then.
I never used to be much of a drinker but as I got older (I'm 43) my friends and I became more interested in wine and over time my wine drinking increased to the point where I would often drink an entire bottle myself.
What I've found is that once I have a drink I want another (and another and another), but if I don't' start drinking I don't find myself craving it.
However, at the end of a long work day or a day of gardening or working in our basement I want to sit and relax with a drink.. but that's the problem. It's never just ONE drink.
During October when I had good days of not drinking alcohol I would drink Ginger Ale or Snapple Iced Tea.
Of course, on the mornings after a night that I did drink too much I feel crappy - hungover - plus guilty because I've let my wife down and myself, and I'm usually also tired because I don't get a great nights sleep when I'm drunk (because I often stay up late)
Finally, another big reason I NEED to stop drinking is that I suffer from anxiety / panic attacks for which I'm pretty heavily medicated. Of course there are all kinds of warnings about not drinking while on these meds and plus, when I do drink and wake up hung over I feel much more anxious!
Anyway, this is my story. I will try to check in regularly to update on my progress. As people always say about a lot of things "1 day at a time"
Rich
This is my second "day 1". I promised my wife on October 6th that I would stop but including last night I wound up getting drunk 4 times since then.
I never used to be much of a drinker but as I got older (I'm 43) my friends and I became more interested in wine and over time my wine drinking increased to the point where I would often drink an entire bottle myself.
What I've found is that once I have a drink I want another (and another and another), but if I don't' start drinking I don't find myself craving it.
However, at the end of a long work day or a day of gardening or working in our basement I want to sit and relax with a drink.. but that's the problem. It's never just ONE drink.
During October when I had good days of not drinking alcohol I would drink Ginger Ale or Snapple Iced Tea.
Of course, on the mornings after a night that I did drink too much I feel crappy - hungover - plus guilty because I've let my wife down and myself, and I'm usually also tired because I don't get a great nights sleep when I'm drunk (because I often stay up late)
Finally, another big reason I NEED to stop drinking is that I suffer from anxiety / panic attacks for which I'm pretty heavily medicated. Of course there are all kinds of warnings about not drinking while on these meds and plus, when I do drink and wake up hung over I feel much more anxious!
Anyway, this is my story. I will try to check in regularly to update on my progress. As people always say about a lot of things "1 day at a time"
Rich
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check out that smoke ring. It tasted really good. I smothered it with Maulls BBQ sauce which is Local to St. Louis and one of the best I ever had.....
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I was recently separated from my wife of 33 years and it's complicated. Anyway I rented a room about 15 minutes away and I see my kids about once a week. I see the people who own the house I live in once in a while but other than that I stay in my room where I do my cooking, wash dishes in the shower, read, color, and sleep. I get out at least once a day. I grocery shop and I attend 2 meetings...
The compulsion will always be there. That is, if you take one drink, you will want another and another. This will happen, if after any length of sobriety you decide that you can have one glass of wine. It's difficult to think of not drinking forever. Do it one day at a time. After some time you will not miss it.
My sober life has been one great adventure. I don't need that cup of Saki to unwind. Instead, I have the energy to make my life interesting.
Where you talk about thinking about drinking after working, gardening etc is what I have come to understand as the obsession of drinking.
Then when you talk about not being able to take just one is what I understand as not being able to control the amount of drinking I use once is start to drink. You mention this as a craving once you start which is the exact reaction when I drink.
You talk about your remorse when you wake up in the morning and the pain this has caused to both of your wife and yourself and I bet you make promises that you will never drink again and though this promise is true you still find your self drinking. Another way is the pain is not enough to stop me drinking.
So I guess at this point the question is do I keep living the problem or do I live the solution??
Wishing you well G8
We're going out to dinner with friends Thursday but they know about my anxiety (as do most of my friends and family) and so I plan to tell them (if they ask) that I've stopped drinking because of new medication that I'm on.
I feel a little guilty about lying like that but I feel better telling people that rather than telling them I have a drinking problem.
Rich
Today I look at issues and proceed to solve them, not defer till later
You can do this
1-2
After that I got drunk four times in the next 12 days.
This week will be challenging - my wife will be away for three days so I won't have anyone at home for support so I'll be on here regularly sharing my thoughts and emotions.
Rich
Even though I had to take less pay, it was well worth it to stay sober.
I am happier now then I have ever been and I wish the same for you. Good luck on your road to recovery and God Bless!