Anyone else in recovery?

[gomper]

Long story short my drinking career has reached massive levels and I couldn't handle it anymore. Started going to AA. Anyone have advice on how to stay sober? Please no wise cracks. Anything would help. Thanks.

[Stl Bills]

Long story short my drinking career has reached massive levels and I couldn't handle it anymore. Started going to AA. Anyone have advice on how to stay sober? Please no wise cracks. Anything would help. Thanks.

I'm not in recovery but I was heavily involved in AA with a family member and it really does work. The key is to find a group you like and to stick with it. My family member relapsed a few times until hefound a group that worked for him. He relapsed a few times and then tried going to 90 meetings in 90 days and after completing that has been sober for over 3 years. I'm not an alcoholic but I think if you really want to give up drinking you just have to take it one day at a time and do the things you can do just to worry about staying sober today. Good luck, you can do it.

[Fezmid]

Long story short my drinking career has reached massive levels and I couldn't handle it anymore. Started going to AA. Anyone have advice on how to stay sober? Please no wise cracks. Anything would help. Thanks.

 

My wife runs a drug and alcohol treatment center. I'd recommend looking into that. If your problem is severe, you'll probably want to consider an in-patient treatment where you live there for 30-60 days, attending groups and one-on-ones with councelors. AA is a tool, but from everything I've heard her say, it's unlikely that you'll be able to stay sober by nothing other than attending them.

 

What state do you live in? I can ask her if she has any resources she can recommend.

[DC Tom]

Anyone have advice on how to stay sober?

 

Don't watch the Bills.

 

 

 

I can at least make that wise-crack, can't I?

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Don't watch the Bills.

 

 

Indeed.

[Fezmid]

Don't watch the Bills.

 

 

 

I can at least make that wise-crack, can't I?

There's actually some truth in that. If he normally drinks while watching football games, he's going to want to avoid that trigger for awhile, regardless of how well they're playing.

[damj]

Long story short my drinking career has reached massive levels and I couldn't handle it anymore. Started going to AA. Anyone have advice on how to stay sober? Please no wise cracks. Anything would help. Thanks.

Takes a man to admit he needs help. I have no advice for you, but I wish you well with your recovery.

[Chilly]

Is boredom drinking a problem? One piece of advice would be to join a gym and start hitting that instead of going out drinking.

[BarkLessWagMore]

Takes a man to admit he needs help. I have no advice for you, but I wish you well with your recovery.

 

+1.

[The Senator]

Keep busy. Stay active. Exercise vigorously - both your body and your brain. Surround yourself with interesting and supportive friends (sad to say, but you may have to avoid the friends that you used to drink with - at least for a while).

 

Drink cranberry juice with a lime (unless 'Cape Codders' were your beverage of choice) and lots of water. 'Designer water' with a lemon wedge may ease the angst of having a glass in your hand at social events.

 

As a 'borderline guy' myself - who walks that thin line between admitting he has a problem vs. 'drinking to make other people interesting' - do not be at all ashamed to seek help from a professional or a trusted friend.

 

Be well.

[tennesseeboy]

this is pretty much the standard test.

 

http://alcoholism.about.com/od/problem/a/blquiz1.htm

[Fezmid]

Ironically (?), some of the best addiction research is apparently coming out of UB.

[Chef Jim]

I stopped drinking in the early 90's for about 10 year. I'm just a casual drinker now and am glad I can control it. When I stopped I did it solo and refused to go to AA. I went to the library and pulled a 12 step progam book off the shelf and read only the first two steps and put the book back.

 

1. Admitting that one cannot control one's addiction or compulsion

2. Recognizing a greater power that can give strength

 

I called bull shiit. I can control it and what is this greater power? What is this religion? No way. Quit cold turkey on my own with no help. What I did was buy a bike and rode and rode and rode every night after work. Kept my mind off it and I got in great shape and had a blast doing it. Good luck.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

I stopped drinking in the early 90's for about 10 year. I'm just a casual drinker now and am glad I can control it. When I stopped I did it solo and refused to go to AA. I went to the library and pulled a 12 step progam book off the shelf and read only the first two steps and put the book back.

 

1. Admitting that one cannot control one's addiction or compulsion

2. Recognizing a greater power that can give strength

 

I called bull shiit. I can control it and what is this greater power? What is this religion? No way. Quit cold turkey on my own with no help. What I did was buy a bike and rode and rode and rode every night after work. Kept my mind off it and I got in great shape and had a blast doing it. Good luck.

 

I used to be a heavy drinker (see my old screen name) until my daughter came along. Parenthood has a way of sobering a person up. Do I still drink? Yes, I do. But I maybe drink once a month, and only a couple. I even stopped drinking during Bills games, believe it or not.

[aussiew]

Never had a drinking problem. But I've been surrounded by (and dated) some alcoholics. I smoked for 30 years b4 stopping cold turkey.

 

The only 2 pieces of advice I can give are:

 

1. Change ALL your current lifestyle habits and routines to avoid "triggers"

2. Don't ever, ever, ever, ever, ever take a sip (or a puff).

 

Good luck to you - keep reaching out for whatever help you can find.

[Mike In Illinois]

Cutting back on consuming alcohol can help in weight loss if that's a problem for you as well. It was widely reported that eliminating Patron helped LenDale White drop 30+ pounds over 6 months. So maybe that can be used as motivation for getting this problem under control.

 

Good luck to you and much respect for asking for help!

[plenzmd1]

If this is serious thread, than congrats to you. While I do not as of yet have a drinking problem, I was a heavy smoker till last year. Tried all kinds of methods to quit, not a one worked.UNTIL, i read a book by Allen Carr ..The Easy Way to quit smoking. His method shifts the paradigm that you approach quitiing any drug that you are dependant on.

 

Quick peruse of Amazon shows this book is having success as well. I like Chef am not so sure on 12 steps, but I will evangalize Carrs method all day long!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Way-Stop-Drinki...iews/1402736479

[BuffaloBill]

Good luck - best advice I know to give you is surround yourself with people that support what you are trying to do. Your true friends will do this automatically.

[Lt. Dan's Revenge]

If this is serious thread, than congrats to you. While I do not as of yet have a drinking problem, I was a heavy smoker till last year. Tried all kinds of methods to quit, not a one worked.UNTIL, i read a book by Allen Carr ..The Easy Way to quit smoking. His method shifts the paradigm that you approach quitiing any drug that you are dependant on.

 

Quick peruse of Amazon shows this book is having success as well. I like Chef am not so sure on 12 steps, but I will evangalize Carrs method all day long!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Way-Stop-Drinki...iews/1402736479

 

That's interesting. What would you say was the biggest difference with his method(s) as compared to the others that are often predictable and redundant?

[Gordio]

Interesting topic. I really do not consider myself an achoholic. I do not ever come home from work & crack a beer open, never drink during the week, never let it effect how I am to my son or my recently born daughter. My wife says I have a problem. She calls me a binge achoholic. See I can not just have one or two beers,(part of the reason I will never touch a beer during the work week). If I drink one beer I really have to have at least 12-15 beers. I can not stop. That is why I usually save my drinking for Saturdays & Sundays during football season. The other thing she gets mad about is often times, especially during college football season I will go down in the basement & watch the football games & drink by myself. Sometimes a friend or 2 will come over but I am at the age now where all my friends have families & we do not see each other nearly as much as we did 3, 4 or 5 years ago. My son is at an age now where(5 years old)where I will bring him down in the clubhouse(the basement) on a saturday & we will watch college football all day. We will play mini basketball down there & watch the games & have alot of fun. I know it is not the best influence on him but hey what are you going to do, it is still quality time we are spending together & he really likes it.

 

I am not judging anybody as everybody has their demons so to speak in life. Good luck to the OP, it has got be difficult quitting. Although, from the sounds of it, I do not drink as much as you, I do not know if I could do it or not. & alot of posters, if they are really honest with themselves probably could not quit either. Imagine going to a bills tailgate & not drinking. I would rather not even go.

[DC Tom]

There's actually some truth in that. If he normally drinks while watching football games, he's going to want to avoid that trigger for awhile, regardless of how well they're playing.

 

I am, of course, aware of that...but I was saying it in more of a "drink to dull the pain" context. But hey, thanks for ruining it.

 

And good luck, gomper. Wish I had real advice I could give.

[Fezmid]

I am, of course, aware of that...but I was saying it in more of a "drink to dull the pain" context. But hey, thanks for ruining it.

 

And good luck, gomper. Wish I had real advice I could give.

 

I know you were, but this time it was also 100% true!

[JLO]

I did it for a year and 1/2, should be back in there, almost got a DUI last night

[Jim in Anchorage]

I did it for a year and 1/2, should be back in there, almost got a DUI last night

I am drunk right now. Sorry, tasteless but I couldn't resist. Seriously I got a DWI in 94 and I hated the cop at the time. But looking at it though the perspective of 15 years of not drinking,, he may have saved my life.

[el Tigre]

Interesting topic. I really do not consider myself an achoholic. I do not ever come home from work & crack a beer open, never drink during the week, never let it effect how I am to my son or my recently born daughter. My wife says I have a problem. She calls me a binge achoholic. See I can not just have one or two beers,(part of the reason I will never touch a beer during the work week). If I drink one beer I really have to have at least 12-15 beers. I can not stop. That is why I usually save my drinking for Saturdays & Sundays during football season. The other thing she gets mad about is often times, especially during college football season I will go down in the basement & watch the football games & drink by myself. Sometimes a friend or 2 will come over but I am at the age now where all my friends have families & we do not see each other nearly as much as we did 3, 4 or 5 years ago. My son is at an age now where(5 years old)where I will bring him down in the clubhouse(the basement) on a saturday & we will watch college football all day. We will play mini basketball down there & watch the games & have alot of fun. I know it is not the best influence on him but hey what are you going to do, it is still quality time we are spending together & he really likes it.

 

I am not judging anybody as everybody has their demons so to speak in life. Good luck to the OP, it has got be difficult quitting. Although, from the sounds of it, I do not drink as much as you, I do not know if I could do it or not. & alot of posters, if they are really honest with themselves probably could not quit either. Imagine going to a bills tailgate & not drinking. I would rather not even go.

I used to have drinking habits very similar to yours. Never an everyday drinker,never let it interfere with work or family,but still drank way more than what is healthy. If you're like me,you probably handle your alcohol very well and even after 8 or 10 beers,no one can really tell. I always said there was no real reason to quit so I didn't,even tho I knew it wasn't a healthy lifestyle. Then one morning after a night of moderate (6 pack) drinking I started feeling ill. So bad that I went to the ER. My blood pressure was off the charts. Doc gave me blood pressure medication and told me I needed to change my lifestyle. So I did,and that included stopping drinking. It's easy to stop when you have a reason to. Sometimes God just needs to give you a wakeup call. I hope the OP finds his reason to quit.

[Tcali]

I stopped drinking in the early 90's for about 10 year. I'm just a casual drinker now and am glad I can control it. When I stopped I did it solo and refused to go to AA. I went to the library and pulled a 12 step progam book off the shelf and read only the first two steps and put the book back.

 

1. Admitting that one cannot control one's addiction or compulsion

2. Recognizing a greater power that can give strength

 

I called bull shiit. I can control it and what is this greater power? What is this religion? No way. Quit cold turkey on my own with no help. What I did was buy a bike and rode and rode and rode every night after work. Kept my mind off it and I got in great shape and had a blast doing it. Good luck.

thats good chef..but likely you arent/werent an alcoholic. The main thing I notice(not really a drinker myself) about drinkers who I would categorize as alcoholics is the weird personality change that they undergo. Not just getting looser and wilder---but the wholesale transformation.A bit creepy to say the least.Thats why I dont like being around drinkers.

[Steely Dan]

First off, IMO, is that you're more than ready to quit if you're posting about it here. Take the initiative and keep at it.

 

One suggestion I've had, for friends who smoke only, is to take a jar and put the money you'd normally spend on your vice into it every week. Then after a year spend it on something you want not on something you need. Watching that money accumulate will show you how much money you've wasted and give you a goal to reach for.

 

My wife runs a drug and alcohol treatment center. I'd recommend looking into that. If your problem is severe, you'll probably want to consider an in-patient treatment where you live there for 30-60 days, attending groups and one-on-ones with councelors. AA is a tool, but from everything I've heard her say, it's unlikely that you'll be able to stay sober by nothing other than attending them.

 

What state do you live in? I can ask her if she has any resources she can recommend.

 

He's right, IMO, avoid AA. You're much better off with a program like his wife's because they are there to help not convert.

 

Penn and Teller's BS on twelve step programs;

 

Part one. NSFW

 

Part two

 

Part three

 

AA after one year has a 5% success rate.

 

 

Interesting topic. I really do not consider myself an achoholic. I do not ever come home from work & crack a beer open, never drink during the week, never let it effect how I am to my son or my recently born daughter. My wife says I have a problem. She calls me a binge achoholic. See I can not just have one or two beers,(part of the reason I will never touch a beer during the work week). If I drink one beer I really have to have at least 12-15 beers. I can not stop. That is why I usually save my drinking for Saturdays & Sundays during football season. The other thing she gets mad about is often times, especially during college football season I will go down in the basement & watch the football games & drink by myself. Sometimes a friend or 2 will come over but I am at the age now where all my friends have families & we do not see each other nearly as much as we did 3, 4 or 5 years ago. My son is at an age now where(5 years old)where I will bring him down in the clubhouse(the basement) on a saturday & we will watch college football all day. We will play mini basketball down there & watch the games & have alot of fun. I know it is not the best influence on him but hey what are you going to do, it is still quality time we are spending together & he really likes it.

 

I am not judging anybody as everybody has their demons so to speak in life. Good luck to the OP, it has got be difficult quitting. Although, from the sounds of it, I do not drink as much as you, I do not know if I could do it or not. & alot of posters, if they are really honest with themselves probably could not quit either. Imagine going to a bills tailgate & not drinking. I would rather not even go.

 

IMO, you're an alcoholic. JMO

[WellDressed]

No, I am in denial as I type. I have done numerous stints in rehabs some of them worked wonders while others left me wanting more than before I checked in.

[The Dean]

Keep in mind, AA (and its 12-step equivilents for other addictions) isn't right for everyone. There are alternatives to AA. Some of them are outlined here:

 

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php...28817&cn=14

 

There are many different definitions for what constitutes an alcoholic, or an addict. The thing that is most important, IMO, is what you think you need to do (quit forever, take a break, moderate) and what you can actually handle.

 

A friend of mine is a counselor who follows an alternative anti-addiction program. If you want me to get the specifics from him, PM me, and I will get the details.

[Cornerville]

Long story short my drinking career has reached massive levels and I couldn't handle it anymore. Started going to AA. Anyone have advice on how to stay sober? Please no wise cracks. Anything would help. Thanks.

 

 

I do not have a lot of advice for you, but have had some family members who have struggled with addictions, but like a lot of people said in this thread...surround yourself with people that are behind you 100 percent...not 80...100 percent...for your recovery to be successful, and find other interests that do not have anything to do with drinking, that is a big help too.

 

No matter what I agree: Coming here and posting this shows me you have what it takes to beat this addiciton, and wish you nothing but the best!

[gomper]

Thanks to all for your insight and advice Long road ahead but it can be done.

[buckeyemike]

My best wishes to you. It can be done; I've seen it.

 

God bless.

[bbb]

Thanks to all for your insight and advice Long road ahead but it can be done.

 

I can't believe with all these posts, there is not one that says Yes, they are in recovery........Well, I'll be the first......Let me say this - your life is not over (like we all thought at the time). It's just beginning. I do it the AA way, which doesn't seem to be in favor to all the posters above. Not only do I believe in the 12 steps, but it's also great to develop a whole network of friends who are in recovery, too. They are some of my best friends and we have a blast - going to games, concerts, etc. When I have a bad moment and think man, I wish I could have a drink like whoever, then I think about all my good friends who don't and really have it going on anyway - getting women, going to casinos, just having fun.

 

I still hang around even more with my friends from high school, college, etc. who still drink (some who drink insane amounts and definitely could use recovery). It doesn't bother me at all to not be drinking. I've been doing it now for 14 years..........The only times I don't like it is whenever everybody is totally plastered. Then, it's just stupid and totally boring. I've always said I don't mind being around people drinking, just can't stand being around people who are falling down drunk.

 

Somebody mentioned they can't picture tailgating without drinking. I can - I've had season tickets with my drinking friends for 25 years now. What's the difference if you're playing Kan Jam, eating brats, checking out chicks, laughing your balls off if you have a beer in your hand or not. The answer - none. It's still just as much fun.

 

Indeed it's one day at a time, but it's fun, not drudgery. Let me know if I can help.

[gomper]

Thanks bbb...i really needed to hear that.

[bbb]

Thanks bbb...i really needed to hear that.

 

You're welcome. I wish I knew it when I was in early recovery. I know it's hard to believe, but it really is true.......None of us come in on a winning streak, so you're probably going through all types of mental, emotional and physical stresses. Remember that this is not a permanent state. Things most definitely will get better. You only have to go through this temporary phase once. It keeps getting better from here on out.........Whatever I can do to help, let me know.

 

PS The guys I hang out with in AA, we talk about the Bills ALL the time, so you'd fit right in!

[mead107]

Hi my name is mead107 and I love to drink wine . (SORRY, I had to do it )

 

 

My dad was an alcoholic and died of cirrhosis of the liver . He did AA a few times . GE even sent him away to dry out twice , never worked for him . I think that was because he never really wanted to admit that he was that bad about drinking so much .

 

You are going to have to make some big lifestyle changes .If you are going to make it work stay away from the people that you drink with and as most others have said get involved with some other activity.

 

Good luck to you .

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

Long story short my drinking career has reached massive levels and I couldn't handle it anymore. Started going to AA. Anyone have advice on how to stay sober? Please no wise cracks. Anything would help. Thanks.

 

No specific advice, but best of luck on this. I know that beating an addiction is a hell of a trying experience...but you've completed the first (and arguably most difficult) step by admitting your problem.

 

[Kiwi Bills fan]

Takes a man to admit he needs help. I have no advice for you, but I wish you well with your recovery.

 

All the best of luck to ya, Mate. Keep your chin up and work through it one day at a time.

[gomper]

Thank you all.....its been a nightmare to be sure but here's hoping for better days

[KD in CA]

Have a kid. You won't have time for drinking....or anything else.

 

Seriously....good luck.