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
Death was the only option left
- After pleading guilty to my second DUI in 20 years, having been told by the attorney that I would never see a nursing license again, and finding myself alone in an apartment in another state than my family, I had no choice but to stop drinking after 32 years! I tried to die because living had become so incredibly painful. I found that it was a blessing in disguise. I went to rehab, found A.A., a great sponsor, and am sober 15 months. Life still has trials, but I am able to face it with my family, my fellowship in A.A., and a sense of hope that every day will bring me closer to being the woman God wants me to be. I leave the future in His hands, and I'm happier than I've ever been during my using days. I'm lucky that I found help...the only alternative was death.
- —vampire1964
AA Program
- AA is the only thing that worked for me. Once I admitted that I can never drink again successfully my life started changing for the better. AA and the steps gave me a goal and a new purpose for life. It is a spiritual program and I believe that asking my higher power to remove my obsession to drink on a daily basis is what keeps me sober. I am not a religious person, and I had serious doubts that this would work. I have no idea how or why this program works, and I don't care. I just know that for me it works .
- —Guest Brian
Death or Jail
- My attempts to quit drinking have been half way because I've always wanted an easier way than doing the work AA requires. When you buy your way out of DUI's and pay more for treatment that doesn't require you attend AA, you're not really saving your self from pain, you may actually be prolonging, it like I did. Three treatment centers, three totaled vehicles and numerous bad calls all related to booze would be a sign to many, but we alcoholics are a tough lot that seem masochistic at times. This trip through AA, I'm doing the steps with a sponsor and have gotten further than the last three tries. Keep coming back...Easy does it..., the cheesy slogans do actually help if you'll follow them. Relearning how to live without alcohol is very hard, but the rewards of sobriety and feeling good about yourself again are more valuable that all of the "achievements" I've had materially, or as is more often the case, thought I had. I'm lucky to be alive and realized it while I have time.
- —Guest seasick
12-Steps are the way
- By the grace of God and the 12-Step programs, and I mean not just one program but two I celebrated 24 years continuous clean time on April 1 of 2009. After 27 years of using I was ready to stop. Went to detox where I was introduced to AA and NA. From there I headed for in-patient treatment, completed that and began my outpatient. I attended several meetings a day for 365 days, never missed a day. I drank or used daily so what not put the same effort into my recovery. And, IT WORKED. I believe what has helped me the most are the adolescents that I have worked with over the past 24 years. They have been an inspiration particularly when they "get it." I have introduced so many kids to NA and AA that I have lost count. When they enter treatment they tell me that it is the same and in some cases worse than it was when I was out there. Thank all of you that were there when I showed up - climbing out of my bottom. One day at a time.
- —haf2fly2
Rock Bottom
- I was going nowhere with my life. My son and I were living in a one bedroom apartment with no heat. I drank and used from the time I woke up to till I passed out. My own self pity and self loathing were killing me. One day I woke up and looked at my son sleeping, steam pouring out with every breath he took. At that moment I decided to go to a detox. A week later I took a bus ride home and that's when it happened. I looked out into the frozen January sunlight and said a prayer, at that very moment a warm sensation engulfed my body. It was a spiritual awakening. Since that day I haven't had an urge to drink or use once. I've incorporated a 12 step program into my life known as AA. In the past nine months I've experienced pain and suffering, triumph and defeat, and a new freedom and happiness I haven't known since a child. I've gone from a rock bottom addict with nothing, to owning my own home and attending college full time making straight A's. You really have to want it to get it.
- —Guest hank
A.A. Has Been Most Helpful
- Going to meetings even though I was afraid, anxious and withdrawing in my early sobriety was extremely helpful. Also, I busied myself by going to weekly D & A counselling and psychotherapy sessions, a 16 week womens group, read up and learned all I could about alcoholism and addiction, and worked the 12 steps. A.A. has done for me what I could not do for myself. I am over 2 years sober without relapse (so far so good). One day at a time and even minutes at a time not drinking helped me through some tough times. By the grace of God, there go I.
- —mistermisty
Had enough!
- I was so sick of paying so much for a poor life. Twenty six years of alcoholic drinking with a lot of the yet's after happening. A A was and is what works for me.
- —Guest clarence
The last blackout
- The last time I blacked out had to be my last time of drinking. I was on a trip to leave my daughter at college and I had decided I wanted a drink at a bar after already having four beers in my hotel room. I was brought back to my room by the front desk people and do not remember a thing and finding out the next day all that had took placed and don't remember nothing is what made me decide that was the last time I would hurt the people that I love so much.
- —Guest Sassy
Is AA the only answer?
- I started in AA when I was 18 and met some pretty sick people with years of sobriety. They got involved in my personal life with my ex (an NA member) and really hurt me. If alcoholism is like diabetes why is there not a diabetes group that meets instead of taking medication? Why has there been no progress in treating the imbalance in the brain instead of sending people off to a room filled with other people that are a sick as I am? It is like the blind leading the blind. I feel hopeless, there has to be something else, physical that can be addressed and let that be the treatment. Not frail, zealot people that may be clean but still sick and hurtful.
- —istheremore
Why I won't drink again
- I had been sober for about 7 months (after drinking more than I liked for longer than I felt right about) when my husband went into a blackout and I woke up with him beating the ^&*( out of me. He'd never even yellled at me or called me a bad name. A friend of mine who is very open about being in AA told me that's called the "yets." I haven't hurt someone I love yet. Scarey stuff.
- —Guest Karen
Enough is a Enough
- It took more then 15 years to get it right, but I chose to go to treatment to get away from an abusive relationship. Much to my surprise I got educated on tools about alcohol,but not enough time for it to sink in, I relapsed after 7 months for several more years and tried again in an all woman's treatment. Once again 7 month's clean then relapsed again until 5 years ago. I had enough and decided that was not going to be anymore fighting with the bottle. What I knew was that it was I who could end the battle with the bottle once and for all. It was not going to take me down as it did my bother.I ask our creator to keep me strong and the courage to carry on to a clean and healthy life that is so much better than what has been in the past.
- —Guest Jessie
I am worth more
- I have decided after 15 long years of drinking that I have had enough. I have just finished my second detox and I am stronger than ever. I appreciate the trees, birds all the things I never saw before and I believe in small steps and our angels will guide us
- —tammyfitz
Quitting and staying quit!
- I am Phil, and I am an alcoholic. I had my last drink 22nd Oct 2006. I was exhausted and decided that fighting alcoholism was a 'fight I could not win.' On Monday 23 Oct 2006 I walked away from my foe. I knew I had never to fight it again, provided I accepted my condition with every sinew and every remaining brain cell that I had left. No more lost days, no more jail cells and no more fear of what I may have done in my last 'black-out.' Revelations 21:4, 'All things made new,' a passage in the back of a book abook I read whilst serving a prison sentence (for three drunken assaults, two on the police) inspired me. Sadly, it took eighteen months to do so! I now live with an active alcoholic. My sobriety is tested every day to breaking point. God really must love me, as I have not had a relapse since quitting. I am thankful for each and every sober day.
- —Guest Phil in London.
How To Quit
- I have now been sober for 23 days, a medical emergency ( I call it my angel). On June 14, I had a seizure at home in my bathroom. My last drink was sometime the day before. I believe I was scared straight. On the Internet I found a "Sobriety Group" for women, called "Women for Sobriety." So far this has helped me greatly. They are also in the process of starting a program for men. I have also learned to start eating healthy, to exercise, read sober literature, (it helps to see others have experienced much the same things you have) That you are not alone, It has given me the much needed support, that family and friends can't seem to do. I also, fit in time to enjoy myself, by reading, gardening, studying up on all the birds that stop by my feeders, and learning about the plants I am growing. This is the first time this original Philly girl, now a 25-year-old country girl, grew flowers from seed, what an awesome feeling. I just keep working this program. Whatever works for you!
- —Guest biffsmarian
Determination
- I had to make the decision for myself. The more people lectured me about my drinking and/or drunkeness it just made me want to have another one! Finally I am determined to quit and haven't had a drink for one week.
- —Franchesca09
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