From the article: Getting Help for Drinking Problems
There are many kinds of help and support available for anyone who decides to stop drinking alcohol, including detoxification, residential treatment programs, counseling, pharmaceutical treatments and support groups. Tell us what you found to be the most helpful to you when you made the decision to quit drinking. Post Your Answer
just stop
- I been a drinker all my life and at some point the realization comes that drinking isnt a coping device And in order to gain experience with a full set of coping skills then I had to pick one or the other So my friends, my choice is/was 1. 12 pack daily or 2. working on myself as a person, and learning new emotions and coping skills for a better life for me and my family kinda of no brainer for me alcohol free 4plus years now and it really only gets better every day
- —Guest John
A.A.
- There is a way out! Going on 5 years sober. A.A. helped me.
- —Guest Molly T.
The Haze
- I am 30 yo and have been drinking since I was a teenager. I was working nightclubs and pubs so alcohol has always been a part of my life. Even now as I work part time in a bottle shop while studying for at university. Drinking affected my work ethic. Before I started studying I went through 5 jobs in a year and the following year lost someone who I wanted to marry. Now I see all those around me getting married and having kids and I'm always the one with no plus one. I still have a problem, I will drink an entire 375ml bottle of brandy most nights by myself, sometimes more. I call it the haze, because if I stop for more than 3 or 4 days the world seems clearer, but then I get that craving again and I step back in. I hide in it I guess. I know it is affecting my studies and my health, but I can't stop. I keep saying that I'll stop when I finish my degree and start a new career, but will I? I feel that the haze will follow me wherever I go. Unless I actually do something about it.
- —Guest hazetourist
Deep down finally knew had to quit
- What helped me most was not wanting to let myself or my family down anymore. The more sober time I could build up the easier it seemed and the stronger I felt because I didn't want to throw away what I had achieved. For years and years I had drank. 1.75 Liter bottle of vodka or a 30 case of beer a day and that usually started as soon as I could crawl out of bed. Held a job and never went to work drunk, but every other second of my life involved alcohol. I couldn't ever control the drink. Once I started I couldn't stop and I started every day. I couldn't picture my life without alcohol anymore. I didn't think I would be "myself" anymore if I somehow could quit. Drinking just always felt so good. Made everything more fun or at least bearable. I feel so grateful to be sober almost 3 years now on my own power with no relapses. It is so incredibly difficult in the beginning everyone, but it feels so good physically and mentally to finally beat the drink. I still get cravings occasionally.
- —Guest Grateful
Control....
- What is control? I thought I could "control" my drinking. I went from drinking every night, to drink NA Beer every night to 3.2 beer every other night. Last night I invited a few buddies over to hang out for a bit. Well it was a short bit, after them only being there for about an hour, I was puking and passed out. Oh fun. What the heck is wrong with me there is no "Control" when it comes to drinking. My mother was an alcoholic when I was growing up, I certainly don't blame her entirely. Its time I stand up for what I really want, and that is to be happy and sober, and to live a healthy life with my wife. She had to sleep on the couch last night. It's now or never, today is the first day of the rest of my life. I know with her support and my own will power I can't defeat this demon.
- —Guest M.Z.
Smudge
- I am trying to quit but just keep failing, I know that this thing is going to ruin my life and my families if I dont do something about it, I just want someone to talk to. Is anyone listening if so please respond.
- —Guest Dave
Out of control
- I have been thinking and thinking for a long time now, but for me, it's time to start doing. I am a binge drinker. I am verbally abusive towards my husband. And I won't remember any of it in the morning. Convenient for me, not for our relationship. I am afraid if I don't stop I will lose him. It's not fair for me to curse at him, while he puts me to bed and I wake up all happy, like nothing happened. Because I don't remember. He deserves better, I am already out of hand but, I know it could get much worse. So, for him and my 2 year old, I am done. They deserve all the best of me. Saturday was the last for me. Hopefully, my husband can let go of his anger, which he is rightfully entitled to.
- —Guest Sandy
It really felt almost impossible
- My name is Heather, my father is an alcoholic. I know thats the reason I am one, not to mention I am only 21. I want, need, to stop. Though I look normal, act normal, the urge to drink is always there. I dont want the drink to have me, so why did I decided to quit drinking? I will not be like my father, such a wonderful man. He is. At only 21, I am not going to be him at 52. My children will not see me like that. I felt like it was almost impossible, but I know I'm ready. I have always wanted children, and that is the reason I decided to quit. I will not make them part of my cycle.
- —Guest I am Heather
Offended
- Guest Dolly73, It's hard. I have an impressible 11 year year old niece who is like my child yet stunned by my behavior, She is so smart & I am embarrassed. She looks or did look up to me. I love her & saddened by what I have become ... a drunk. Lost my husband, her loved uncle. Looking where to go from here.
- —Guest Natasha
Totally ashamed
- I have never felt so low in all my life, its not the drinks fault its mine, I drink every weekend and normally pass out, my Daughter is scared when I drink, I can not believe its getting to me like this now, I need to stop otherwise, I love waking up normal, last night was the final straw for me, I will eat and not even remember that I have eaten, I'm disgusted with myself, I need to do this for my beautiful Daughter who will be 10 this year, I promise you Hope mummy will be back again, not the devil when she drinking, like so many of you, I cant stop at 1 I have to carry on I want to love myself not hate myself anymore, you guys have helped me big time thank you and I wish you all the best xx
- —Guest Dolly73
I have a problem
- I am drinking again. Supposed to see doc at 10.10. Don't think I can make it. This alcohol thing snuck up on me. Im thinking of anto booze tablets. I lost my kids,my home and my independence due to car crash whilst drunk, was in a wheelchair 3 months and I cant quit. Ive lost so much weight and cannot eat.
- —Guest shar
To young to be trapped.
- I am 22 now and I am almost done with my undergraduate degree. I feel that I drink too much because of the environment that I am in. In college it is so easy to miss a class here and there. I have joked with people in the past that as long as you are able to function you are not an alcoholic. I know and I have known that statement was never true, it was something I told myself to make me feel better about my habit. I love my life now as it is, I stay in shape and I keep my grades up; however, I fear the worst. I feel myself falling into a trap. I don't want to become a slave to this thing that has gradually slipped its way into my life. Both sides of my family have had problems with alcohol, including my mother and father. Three of my family members in my grandfathers generation died from alcohol related problems. I am a philosophy and polysci major, being able to control myself is something I use to pride myself on. Now I am not so sure.
- —Guest Tyler
Dead End
- I'm currently in the grip of a bad relapse but start from today to get back on the wagon. Why? because I have no job. About to become homeless and while I drink I can never hope to resolve these issues. It's horrible to admit and write down but there it is. Addiction is all consuming, nothing else matters. You don't even have the relief of dying,(not guaranteed anyway!) so you just have to carry on living in a drink and drug induced haze which is no life at all. Easier said than done though. That is the choice though. 1 addicted messed up disastrous life. (going nowhere but insanity) 2 clear concise successful happy life (going anywhere you want to)
- —Gibsonfirebird
Best times
- I am 55 and have been a binge drinker since I was 13. I stopped drinking for 4 months last year. Those were the best days of my life. I can't seem to get back there again. There was an open AA meeting that i was going to once a week. That is what made it easy but I never committed to the program and that site closed. I am an alcoholic but I never said it there. I drink on weekends and wake up feeling ashamed. I promised myself I would go to AA if I drank again and now I am making up excuses again. For me alcohol is a very effective depressant and I know i need to stop. My whole family is focused on drinking when we get together so that makes it hard also. I also feel ashamed because our kids and nieces and nephews are now at the age they can drink and this is the example we have set for them. I know I need AA. I don't worry about the higher power thing. It doesn't get in the way of my spirituality. I would encourage anyone who is considering AA to not let that get in the way.
- —Guest Anna
To: danlooking if you still are
- I recommend staying on this same site but under the section of real people something rather (I cant remember the rest after real people) there is a section about withdrawals there are a lot more people talking on there that give good advice and listen and respond. I found it because like you I am not a very religious person (I may say god or o lord but for me its more of a figure of speech) anyhow I've only been sober for 4 days and it has helped me a lot getting thru. you might find what you're looking for there. good luck to you! god bless (just kidding) no offense to anyone please.
- —Lrlongest
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