Hello Photo and welcome to the group!

Your dr is right. Your chances of staying sober by just seeing an addiction counselor are pretty low.

It took alot for me to stay sober. I tried hundreds of times to do it on my own and I failed every time. I also had a very big addiction to narcotic pain killers having had a prescription for chronic back pain, and I thought they were the answer to all of my physical and emotional problems. Then my doctor cut me off and my other sources were taken away from me so I started drinking when I couldn't find anymore pills.

I had a mountain of stress that I just didn't know how to handle and there was no pill available that could heal all my problems so I drank over them. When I lost everything, I finally reached out for help. I went through detox followed by a 3 week IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) and this was followed by 3 months of group counseling. Through all the treatment I had, regular attendance at AA meetings were a requirement. I got a sponsor and did the steps and took the suggestions that were given me and I am here today, 12 years later because of AA. When I reached my one year anniversary, my home group had a party for me and people from all the other area groups were in attendance. What a rush that was. I told all kinds of stories and thanked everyone who helped me along the way.

So in summery, let me say, there are all kinds of people willing to help but you can't be afraid to ask.

God Bless

I can relate to your situation very much. I also had my last drink on April 23, and I ended up in the hospital for IV fluids, very disoriented and barely remember the events of that night. May have also been a bit of a medication interaction. I have started to look into AA, and joined in just to observe a zoom meeting today. Truthfully today was the hardest day yet with really having cravings for a drink. Maybe because I stay busy during the week with work, so that's a distraction. Now its the weekend... what will I do to stay distracted all weekend? One day at a time. Hang in there, maybe we can stay on track and keep each other accountable. I'm fairly new to this group as well, and so far, everyone has been very kind and helpful. Best of luck to you :)

Yes, that put fear into my bones being in the hospital for that even though it could have been something else. All the men on my moms side of the family have heart trouble and I thought it was my turn to deal with it but so for that's not the case and as long as I can control myself it may never be the case. Yesterday I had a craving after reading a letter that my car insurance wanted to drop my coverage so I called and asked why and they said because they don't have my DL # Seriously!? They've been my carrier for a year now, still I refrained but still got in the car and went for a drive so a win for me. I usually can distract myself with work also but with this covid-19 deal I haven't been to work since March 23rd and I spoke to my boss 2 days ago and he said it will probably the end of June before we get another update and I think that is a huge factor for me because I'm used to a schedule/routine everyday and since then it has been all crazy. Do you have any hobbies to keep you busy? I like photography, Geocaching, and camping but with the quarantine all of those are on the side burner so I'm trying to find other ways of dealing with my stir craziness and it doesn't include the booze. If you like the stars there is a cool meteor shower going on this month the (n-Aquariids) if you can find a quiet dark spot to view the sky the shower peaks on the 5th. Yes so far the people I have spoken to have been very understanding and that helps tremendously. Keep your chin up and a smile on your face and all of these strings holding us back will just fall away.

Wow sounds like someone I know... I too was in bad shape due to drinking daily. I found this place and that was July of 2012. I now know booze is not my friend and a very adictive DRUG that was killing me. I had to stop but would quit and then something would happen and BAM back on the nipple of the bottle. This time I found help by working on the problem, me. I try to remain positive. I stay out of the negative. I keep a schedule. Best of luck.

Hint the story sounds a lot like Bill W. He went in to the hospital and they basically said he was ready for the asylum and death. That’s what got him to begin to work on staying sober. And help millions to get and stay sober. Like me.

Keep in touch
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Thanks for sharing, I'll do my best to keep in touch, may you do the same.

That's a good doctor. Interacting with other alcoholics who are more interested in not drinking than drinking, makes me feel much better much quicker.

The first time I drank it was heaven. The second time I drank I almost died in a pool of vomit. The third time I drank, projectile vomit. Each time after for years when I drank it would produce unbearable negative feelings and made life so confusing and so very hard.

Make a long story short, I could not do anything productive when alcohol was an option in my life. Fast forward to today, alcohol is no longer a part of what I do to manage life and stress. Most importantly, I have been introduced to a spiritual side of living as an option, that I never thought was available while drinking.

I gain access to this spiritual reality when I accept without question that I do have alcoholism, and that it needs to be treated or else it will make my life very difficult even if I am dry from alcohol through willpower. After admitting that I then really invest in the reality that there is a God, he is not what I was taught he is, and he loves me more than I can or any other human being ever could, and he wants me to live a life that has meaning, consequentially that means it will be a life free of alcohol.

After that two step process, I then start interacting with people and live life to my best ability keeping the faith, having hope, trusting in God, and being unselfish and helpful as much as possible.

Sounds easy, and it is.

Let me know if you would like to talk further.