Great start. All potential realities. Go to an AA meeting tonight or tomorrow and get some support. Save your job. Save your dignity. Save your life.

Believe it there is life without booze. A good one. It's just waiting for you to make the choice to get sober
I know it's a scary thought but the only way for me was to find other alcoholics like me. They showed me it is not only possible but it is kickass to not have to be a slave to the drinking today
1is2many

So here are your options

Continue drinking and die a slow painful death from liver sirosis,

Or, you can get the help you need, put up with a little temporary discomfort from withdrawals, and be happy for the rest of your life!

If you go to the emergency and ask to go into detox, they will give you medication to help you get through those withdrawals. I fell in love with lithium while I was in there....it made my life sooo much easier!

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

God Bless!

During the recent months, I have heard friends say they are not drinking anymore. Some said it was doctor's advice, others decided on their own. All said they have more energy and feel so much better. One (just 50) said he quit because he has too much to do at work and on his house. He hasn't shown any signs other than looking very healthy and alert!

Hope you will contact your doctor/AA and start the road to enjoying the rest of your life. Read the stories here.

That's exactly why this is such a cunning and baffling disease, its powerful and we become powerless over it. over the alcohol. When we do become powerless and our lives had become unmanageable, and our willingness to admit that, is the very first step in finding sobriety and anew journey into a life of recovery.
I found AA when I needed it most and its a program that I've embraced into my life and its changing my life each and everyday.
Step 1 is always the first step, admitting that we are alcoholics and our lives had become unmanageable. Once we hit that bottom and take that first step is when we discover that gift of desperation and then to work those steps, it then becomes a life of its own, when we are willing to go to any lengths. Sounds to me like you have already taken that first step.
Try an open AA meeting and go from there, one step at a time, one day at a time.

No need to apologize, Spider. I think we all rambled on a bit in our first post. I wrote mine in the fog of a world-class hangover. that cost me a day off work. It is difficult to admit that we have a problem which we have no control over. The first two weeks sober were rough for me, but I was fortunate that the withdrawal was manageable. That is not true for everyone. Your life IS worth saving, no matter what the reasons are that you are drinking. As the others have said here, it does get much better without alcohol. Take that first step-get help and you won't regret it!!!

Hello spidergabrielle,

You are very welcome to the DS forum and there is no need for apologies. You have taken an important first step in acknowledging that there is a problem but in order to recover you will need to build on that solid foundation.

This is not a criticism but just my opinion, based on my own experience with alcoholism. I fear that your present approach is not going to solve the problem. First of all, you are concentrating on the problem rather than the solution. In that way, you are re-enforcing negative thoughts, entrenching the problem deeper into your subconscious mind. It may be wiser to concentrate instead on the positive things that you can do.

You are scared of what lies ahead and I know how that feels because I have been in that place where all hope had been lost. A big part of the problem is a lack of information and an ignorance of how to tackle the problem. Therefore, I would suggest educating yourself about alcoholism. Take a look at the link below as it explains the problem very well and suggests a possible means of recovery:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pVBDQPC2XQ

Do not underestimate the seriousness of the problem as it may be a lot worse than you think and if left untreated, it will get worse. Now that you have taken that first step, fill your heart with hope, do what needs to be done and you can build a bright future.

If you work for a large company, it's time to call EAP and get the help you need. This would likely include time away from work. Do you think you're the only person who's ever done that to save their life? I think not!!!

Pull your medical card out of your wallet, the 800 number is right there.

Thank you guys for the advice/support. I am currently looking at the treatment and counselling options available through my benefit plan. I've also logged into a few online AA meetings as I'm currently located on a remote site for a few weeks. Dipping my toe in the waters, as it were.

I look forward to starting this new journey and reading more of this site.

Thank you.

Welcome to the Club here, where people have many methods of sobriety that aren't AA.

I am AA and I might suggest hitting a live meeting remotely where you are to get the feel for the meeting. AA is amazing. It's portable. We are everywhere.

Hi Spider,

Welcome, I'm new here too.
I told myself very similar things, I was convinced I didn't have a problem, that lots of people were worse than me and so on.
I was pretty much given an ultimatum to quit, so I reluctantly went to an AA meeting with the idea in my head that I would quit for a couple of weeks and then start drinking again, I'd been to an AA meeting once before, toying with the idea of cutting down my drinking but I fell straight off the wagon and never went back...until I did.
It was the best decision I ever made. AA isn't for everyone, there are other groups and treatment methods out there which you can try if AA doesn't appeal, but it's definitely worth giving it a try. I have found so much hope and support there.
I have joined the online AA groups too, they are an excellent source of meetings when you can't get to a face to face one, and they can even help you out with a temporary sponsor.
Counselling is a great idea also, I find my therapist helps me with the problems and mental health issues that often go hand in hand with alcoholism. Don't be afraid to get all the help you can, and keep us posted, lots of people care :)

Welcome to the group.
What you wrote is a good start. It is hard to believe, but at the start every single small step you take in the right direction matters in the long term: the fact you wrote this post, postponing your usual drinking start for 5-10 min, etc. Do not look at the mountain ahead of you as it is discouraging, rather just at the step in front of you.
Get help wherever you can. Again, do a minute step a day but DO IT!

Hi spider and welcome! Just to let you know, there is no way to screw up an introduction here, lol.

Withdrawing from alcohol can be fatal. Treatment in a psych hospital would be ideal. I bet your doctor could help with that.

Does alcohol still "work" for you?

I think all of us were scared in the beginning. I sobered up through AA's 12 Steps. Ever been to a meeting? There's a pamphlet called "44 Questions" you can google and take that may be helpful in answering some of your questions.

In the meantime, stick around and read or contribute. The light's always on.