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.
I remember when I first found this website and learned about alcoholism. In particular I remember reading that alcoholics are allergic to alcohol. That my body has a reaction to alcohol that makes me to continue to drink until I was drunk and then some. I read the horror stories of what alcohol does to an alcoholic.
My doctor, who did not know I was an alcoholic, told me that unless I got my blood sugar levels down, I would surely become a diabetic. I knew one of the main reasons why my blood sugar was so high was due to alcohol.
This was all happening last July.
In August I went on vacation with my family. I decided to not drink like I had always done when on vacation. You see, when you're on vacation, you can drink in the middle of the day and it's OK.
This time I didn't drink. Vacations disrupt your normal routines. It's a great time to start a new habit.
I didn't have a drink for eight days. I felt great and confident that I was on the right path. I thought I had finally kicked the habit.
Coming back from vacation and getting back into my normal routine brought along all of the triggers to start drinking again. Stress, passing my watering holes on the way home, the liquor cabinet, all cried out to me to have just one drink.
Fortunately I had found this site and I went to it every day to write to friends, to read posts, to learn more. I remember one night screaming at myself in the car to fight off an urge.
Today is my six month anniversary. I still have urges but the thought of giving in and breaking a promise to myself, my family, and to God after keeping it for so long makes it easier and easier to ignore the urges.
Life will always be a struggle. It's never easy. But winning the battle against the bottle is something I can look at and say to myself, "If I can stay sober and defeat those urges, I can do anything". I just know that I can never ever have that first drink for the rest of my life.
I will always be grateful to the friends who have sent me messages of encouragement and advice early on in my battle. Thank you all.
I am looking forward to my one year anniversary on August 24th.
It took me 59 years to get control of this monster. If you are wondering if you can do it, you absolutely can. And when you do and see how great you think and feel, you will wonder as I do, "What took you so long?"
My doctor, who did not know I was an alcoholic, told me that unless I got my blood sugar levels down, I would surely become a diabetic. I knew one of the main reasons why my blood sugar was so high was due to alcohol.
This was all happening last July.
In August I went on vacation with my family. I decided to not drink like I had always done when on vacation. You see, when you're on vacation, you can drink in the middle of the day and it's OK.
This time I didn't drink. Vacations disrupt your normal routines. It's a great time to start a new habit.
I didn't have a drink for eight days. I felt great and confident that I was on the right path. I thought I had finally kicked the habit.
Coming back from vacation and getting back into my normal routine brought along all of the triggers to start drinking again. Stress, passing my watering holes on the way home, the liquor cabinet, all cried out to me to have just one drink.
Fortunately I had found this site and I went to it every day to write to friends, to read posts, to learn more. I remember one night screaming at myself in the car to fight off an urge.
Today is my six month anniversary. I still have urges but the thought of giving in and breaking a promise to myself, my family, and to God after keeping it for so long makes it easier and easier to ignore the urges.
Life will always be a struggle. It's never easy. But winning the battle against the bottle is something I can look at and say to myself, "If I can stay sober and defeat those urges, I can do anything". I just know that I can never ever have that first drink for the rest of my life.
I will always be grateful to the friends who have sent me messages of encouragement and advice early on in my battle. Thank you all.
I am looking forward to my one year anniversary on August 24th.
It took me 59 years to get control of this monster. If you are wondering if you can do it, you absolutely can. And when you do and see how great you think and feel, you will wonder as I do, "What took you so long?"
Thank you so much for sharing that...and congrats on your six months. Wonderful :)
I so can relate to what you are saying about how great it is to quit and how if we can do this, we can do anything!
Your post made me stop and take a few minutes to think about what an accomplishment it is to finally but the bottle down, and how much better life is now. Thanks. And CONGRATS!