Any ex-drinkers in the house?

[HAL9000]

Hey People,

I need to stop drinking, I drink too much, I drink almost every day, it's not good for me, I use it to self medicate. So I'm stopping, or at least I'm trying to stop. I was teetotal until I was 19 so I know I have the capacity to do it again.

Looking for advice or just personal experiences on giving up.

 

[IronWing]

Stop drinking.
</thread>

 

[HAL9000]

Stop drinking.
</thread>

That's what I'm doing, did you not read the OP?

 

[SparkyJJO]

Stop cold turkey.

 

[JSt0rm]

Start drinking the expensive stuff

 

[IronWing]

That's what I'm doing, did you not read the OP?

Then what's to discuss? You want to stop, so you've stopped. You want a fucking medal?

 

[HAL9000]

Stop cold turkey.

That's what I'm doing, I'm an all or nothing type person so I can't drink in moderation I don't have the will power.

Start drinking the expensive stuff

Then I'd just bankrupt myself.

 

[HAL9000]

Then what's to discuss? You want to stop, so you've stopped. You want fucking medal?

OK fuck off this thread clearly isn't for you, thanks for stopping by and doing some trolling though.

 

[FoBoT]

just stop
i quit in 1998
if you have no self control, become more Introspective to learn why you cannot do what you want to do

 

[IronWing]

OK fuck off this thread clearly isn't for you, thanks for stopping by and doing some trolling though.

So you're just another alkie who hasn't gotten past the self absorption.

 

[BoomerD]

Stop drinking.
</thread>

Oddly enough, that's the only way to quit drinking.

When I quit, I was drinking a fifth of Crown Royal every night.
(when you open a bottle of whiskey, you HAVE to drink it all. If you put the cap back on it, it'll go bad overnight! :whiste: )
I never missed a day's work because I was hungover, never called in sick, and never went to work too hungover to work. In fact, on the days when I might not have felt 100%, I pushed myself (and my crew) harder than normal...

Finally, with some encouragement from my wife, I decided enough was enough, and I quit. Didn't touch any alcoholic beverage for several months, then an occasional drink or beer, but never more than one, and only VERY occasionally.
Nowadays, (more than 16 years later) I can have a beer or cocktail...or two and not have another one for many months.

 

[HAL9000]

just stop
i quit in 1998
if you have no self control, become more Introspective to learn why you cannot do what you want to do

Unfortunately I'm a very introspective person, I know why I am the way I am, but that doesn't really help me be the person I want to be. That's why I created this thread, to hope to get some advice from other people who have had similar problems and have had some experience with how best to cope

 

[KaOTiK]

I'm not a quitter.

 

[JSt0rm]

drinking expensive stuff will give you a greater understanding into why people who dont have a problem drinking drink.

 

[HAL9000]

drinking expensive stuff will give you a greater understanding into why people who dont have a problem drinking drink.

Why will it?

 

[HAL9000]

Oddly enough, that's the only way to quit drinking.

When I quit, I was drinking a fifth of Crown Royal every night.
(when you open a bottle of whiskey, you HAVE to drink it all. If you put the cap back on it, it'll go bad overnight! :whiste: )
I never missed a day's work because I was hungover, never called in sick, and never went to work too hungover to work. In fact, on the days when I might not have felt 100%, I pushed myself (and my crew) harder than normal...

Finally, with some encouragement from my wife, I decided enough was enough, and I quit. Didn't touch any alcoholic beverage for several months, then an occasional drink or beer, but never more than one, and only VERY occasionally.
Nowadays, (more than 16 years later) I can have a beer or cocktail...or two and not have another one for many months.

Did you drink to deal with a problem or to escape some kind of issue?

 

[Train]

...
I never missed a day's work because I was hungover, never called in sick, and never went to work too hungover to work. In fact, on the days when I might not have felt 100%, I pushed myself (and my crew) harder than normal...

A functional alcoholic. My brother is one, as long as he never misses work he can claim to not have a problem.

 

[HAL9000]

A functional alcoholic. My brother is one, as long as he never misses work he can claim to not have a problem.

I don't get hangovers, I don't miss work, I don't get sick. I have a problem.

 

[JSt0rm]

Why will it?

Because you will learn to appreciate fine wine and beer for its taste and not the head spins.

If you are a alchy then you have bigger issues and you can deal with them with AA or whatever. Posting here about it isnt going to help you at all.

 

[HAL9000]

Because you will learn to appreciate fine wine and beer for its taste and not the head spins.

That's true and I have a real passion for a nice ale, also a nice single malt, that doesn't stop me from drinking 20 of them.

If you are a alchy then you have bigger issues and you can deal with them with AA or whatever. Posting here about it isnt going to help you at all.

Unfortunately my underlying issues are not something I can deal with directly, so I need to fix the symptoms, drinking is one of the symptoms, I just want some advice on dealing with stopping.

 

[JSt0rm]

then you need to use that uhc system you have and seek help.

 

[HAL9000]

then you need to use that uhc system you have and seek help.

Hmm. I'm in therapy already and I'm not sure I want to be on any more medication, I just want to try and stop on my own.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

You shouldn't need medication to help you quit drinking; that's just replacing one crutch with another. I had a good friend who got so messed up on drugs and alcohol that he had to go to a rehab center for six months. Since then, he hasn't used or touched alcohol, except apparently on one recent occasion after losing his job. He says the thing that helps him most is meetings (Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous). Surrounding yourself with other people who are actively abstaining will make the process a lot easier and give you people to talk to about the emotional issues that are presumably at the cause of your problem drinking. Ultimately, it has to be on you. If it's something you actually want to do, quit bitching about it and do it; if you fall back on how it's all a disease, you're taking away your own responsibility and replacing it with a feeling of powerlessness, and that is detrimental to your progress.

Go to some AA meetings (or whatever the British equivalent is). It might work for you; it might not. It's cheaper than therapy, and it seems to help a lot of people.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Hmm. I'm in therapy already and I'm not sure I want to be on any more medication, I just want to try and stop on my own.

Then STOP.

Throw away all your alcohol and don't buy another drop.

Really man what do you want us to tell you? Or do you just want a pity party?

 

[KlokWyze]

Hal, stop posting in P&N. That should solve it.

Seriously though. Medication is not the answer. Sack the fuck up. Cold fucking turkey. Exercise, meditation, sex, etc..... WHATEVER. Medication is not the answer. That's what alcohol is.....!!!!!!!