first off I commend you for seeking out advice for your drinking... secondly, if you're afraid of bed withdrawals I would consider seeking out inpatient, they can set you up with a detox unit, and they will monitor your progress off of drugs and alcohol... a 28 day impatient is a good starting block for you... once you are done, I suggest getting into outpatient counseling... and if you are experiencing mental health issues, maybe find a outpatient office to help... those are the beginnings of a better life... but in the bitter end, you have to WANT it, or you can never succeed...

I think medicare will pay for outpatient treatment but not sure.

The best starting point is your own doctor. Tell him you want help to quit drinking and he will get the ball rolling on your behalf.

Keep us posted because the path you take on your road to recovery, may help someone else.

In the meantime, we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers!

God Bless!

Hello westdenali,

What I can tell you with complete honesty is that I have been where you are and had lost all hope but life today is very good indeed.

Rock bottom is a much abused term and it can really be anything you want it to be. For me it was a combination of things such as big changes to physical health and a realisation that some very bad things were appearing on the near horizon. Then I tried to stop and found that I could not.

There will also be many reasons why you should not stop drinking and many perceived difficulties but there comes a time when you just have to grasp the nettle and go for it. Withdrawals can be managed, with the help of a doctor if necessary so there is nothing to worry about there.

Cutting down may work for some people but for an alcoholic this approach is like fighting a fire by adding gasoline to it. The reason is that the body of an alcoholic has developed an abnormal reaction to alcohol and as a result, one drink produces a craving for more.

If you are finished with drinking and sobriety is your goal you need to become willing to do whatever it takes. Posting on internet forums and reading inspirational books about how to stop drinking will work for some but not for many others. Some stop drinking but are far from happy about it and many of these people will relapse. Some others will remain sober but will be so difficult to live with that those closest to them will sometimes wish that they were still drinking.

If your desire is for emotional sobriety and a chance to live life to the full, it may be necessary to bring about big changes to your way of thinking. There are probably many ways to bring about those changes but for me, the answers were to be found at Alcoholics Anonymous.

During my drinking years, I existed but was not really living. Now, like you I am retired but I have never been so busy. Life without alcohol is very good indeed.

Hi and welcome to our little piece of DS!

My name is Dianna. I very much related to what you said. Been there, done that. I blamed others for everything, even knowing as I did that, that I was the one responsible. Desperation drove me to AA. I was willing to do ANYTHING to not have to live that way anymore!

I'm looking forward to getting to know you. If I can stay sober, anyone can. I went the AA route and now lead a life I only dreamed of having when I was still the town drunk. Lots of experience around here. I hope you stick around and read some of it. Hugs

Some people cannot do it alone like I did. A group could be a great help for you. You will only know what is best for you by trying a group. If you have medical insurance you can try an inpatient treatment. Try seeing a therapist. Stay on line with us.

We are different and need to find the path that is right for each of us. Once you find that, it's a dream. I am having a great time sober. In fact it is way better than it was in my years of drinking.

This is all your doing, your choice, and all in your control.
Just how you 'choose' to drink, you can 'choose' to NOT to drink.
You should be more afraid to continue drinking vs. afraid of withdrawals.
I did not do AA, but I told myself that I was done with drinking and I got a therapist.
What really did it for me was the book: The Easy Way To Quit Drinking, by Allen Carr. It is hardcover only, on Amazon and less than a bottle of booze.
I know ALOT of folks here say AA, but I am just giving another option. U may get a different outlook that you can relate too like I did. The only reason why I know about that book is because someone here recommended it to me.
You said "U don't want to die".
Reality is we all are sooner or later, BUT DON'T RUSH IT and DON'T BE THE CAUSE OF IT YOURSELF!!!
Make a positive change today!!! U will be ok...

i tried many times and couldn't get sober. I finally went to an aa room and asked for help. See I was self reliant and all machismo. That's what got my lips locked around a bottle. I couldn't cope.

Today I still go and find that it helps me to stay sober

Cmon!

1is2

Thank you for all your advice. I have my options and will do what i need to. I am thankful for having to come here because this helps. I know i will not be ostrasized or put down.

Hi West Denali,

When you say you drink a "pint plus" every day, what does that mean?

In any case, you are obviously not happy with your drinking addiction whatever level that is, so you are in the right place.

Brutal honesty? You already know what the answer is. When you are really ready to quit ingesting alcohol you will do it because you believe you will be happier. And you will be right.

I'm glad you came to this group. Making a decision to quit drinking is a brave one. Good for you.

This group has a lot of sobriety and lots of ideas about how to stay sober. My doctor told me to take what I need and leave the rest. Eventually I found that I needed the rest, but in my own time.

If you want sobriety, this is a good place to start.