Please help! Trying to quit alcohol but facing challenges from family.

myself | July Fourth, 2014 | myself

[proud American in Canada]

‘What the hell is wrong with you? ‘

__________________________

:) Thanks, BenLurkin. Did you write your own poetry on your FR page? It’s beautiful. Thanks for having my back and for caring. :)

I’ve seen your screen name around, and you remind me of dead’s tagline (’I’ve got my eye out for Mullah Omar’) LOL! :)

[SeaBiscuit]

A.A. worked for me, 28 years sober. Couldn't get honest with myself, even after losing everything, was full of blame and feeling sorry for my miserable life. A belief in God and A.A. changed all that, give it all you have. I notice your title for this thread is a little blaming.... It's always someone or something else that causes us to drink or slip, at least that's the BS we feed ourselves and others.. get honest with yourself and you can do that thru A.A. and God.

Good Luck

[proud American in Canada]

‘Just from experience, you need to part ways. It happens. Good luck to you both.’

_________________________________________

Thank you, Jennyscool. That’s kind of been my thinking. Getting sober, as best I can, so far, has opened my eyes to that.

Not everything bad in our relationship is my fault, but I’m all too ready to agree that it is, because I’m the ‘bad one.’

[Glennb51]

There is a doctor who postulated that alcoholics are hypoglycemic. In other words, they suffer from low blood sugar. When an alcoholic starts to feel depressed, he takes a drink. The sugar in the alcohol makes him feel better, temporarily, because it raises his blood sugar level.

I will suggest two things:

1) get to AA

2) carry some hard candy in your pocket.

[freerepublicchat]

You're stuck at the moment, unfortunately, and are drinking to forget that. You need put yourself into a different situation. That doesn't always mean a new geographic or social situation, necessarily. Sometimes it's a mental situation. And it also could mean all of those things.

You have to develop a plan. Once you have a plan, you have hope, and you won't need to drink when you have hope.

You can also make abstinence itself part of the plan. If you were sober more often, what would that enable you to do?

A plan would also help you with emotional restraint. The worst thing about regularly exhibiting emotional stress is that people can back away from you just when you need them most. Try to avoid being emotional and try to avoid any arguments with your husband. That doesn't mean you have to yield to his every request and order. His home is your home equally. Do your best to remain calm by reminding yourself of your plan.

Good luck and ignore the jerks that over-simplify things. Over-simplification is a bad habit among conservatives. Simple conservative principles are always an excellent starting point, but sometimes life is complicated and messy. Conservative principles guide but don't dictate.

[proud American in Canada]

Thank you so much! ***big time hugs*** :)

Can’t wait to get home! :)

[proud American in Canada]

There is a doctor who postulated that alcoholics are hypoglycemic. In other words, they suffer from low blood sugar. When an alcoholic starts to feel depressed, he takes a drink. The sugar in the alcohol makes him feel better, temporarily, because it raises his blood sugar level.

I will suggest two things:

1) get to AA

2) carry some hard candy in your pocket.
________________________________________
I definitely believe that; when I don’t drink I want chocolate!!! :) There is some sort of connection, though I’m not sure what.

Thank you! :)

Julie

(and I am getting to AA, a.s.a.p.)

[Chode]

her problem is prolly solvable, you on the other hand are an azz, and there's no fix for that...

[FlyingEagle]

Dear Proud American in Canada: say a prayer for yourself and read your private mail that I am going to send you now. I am praying for your complete recovery. God bless,

Flying Eagle.

[Longbow1969]

Whatever you do, I would advise AGAINST joining AA or similar x-step programs. They tend to pigeonhole you permanently as "an alcoholic." I've known several individuals who've gone this route, and, without exception, they wear their alcoholism on their sleeves as an attention-getter.

I think what you say may not be popular, but I'm glad you said it because that has been my experience as well. At least half the people I know who joined AA weren't even alcoholics at all - they just blamed their problems on booze. And like you said, they wore this "I'm an alcoholic and can't drink" thing on their sleeve to the point it was annoying just to be around them.

The question is 'proud American in Canada', are you truly addicted or just irresponsible and prone to indulge in what makes you feel good despite the consequences. The last girl I knew who joined AA was no less irresponsible after the fact. In fact, I think she got worse. Quite frankly she is just immature and lazy and AA didn't stop her from losing job after job, getting her car repo'd, etc. The only difference was she was not the least bit fun to be around because her AA thing felt like she was in some kind of cult, and it caused her to blame all her problems on something that simply wasn't what kept screwing up her life.

If you are truly addicted, then something like AA may be helpful. But you first need to be sure that alcohol is really the core problem in your life.

It sounds like you started running and that is a good start. Maybe instead of joining a detox/AA program, just put yourself on a fitness routine. Running, maybe join a gym and set goals for yourself that require sobriety to achieve (like exercise in the morning and at night), etc. In fact, set little goals for yourself every day. Success breeds success. Start small. Even if that is just cleaning some part of the house that's been neglected, then do something the next day, then add more. Pair that with your health regiment and you may find that is sufficient to tackle your problem.

Good luck and God bless.

[kcvl]

Sounds like you are going through depression. Maybe your doctor could give you an anti depressant to control it so you don’t want to drink. You could have a chemical imbalance that an anti depressant could fix.

[Chode]

welcome, hugs back at ya, may God bless...

[tang-soo]

Celebrate Recovery a Christ centered recovery program. My wife is a state representative. I've seen many changed lives in the last 12 years. Find true and everlasting freedom through Jesus.

[proud American in Canada]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to post to me. I am getting up to bed, feeling really happy from the positive feelings you all sent towards me.

I’ve got my running shoes (new) next to my bed, and if I can exhaust myself through exercise, I won’t need anything else. :)

Thank you all for caring, and I wish you all the best, and will be praying for you, in gratitude.

Julie

[Chode]

'night

[Tx Angel]

That was just rude and uncalled for.

Julie, best of luck to you. I wish I had the answer.

[Conservative Vet]

I second all of the suggestions for AA. I am adopted and found out later in life that both of my biological parents suffered from addiction issues. (My father died before I was born driving home drunk from the bowling alley).

I could didn’t have the bad effects like hangovers to curtail my drinking. After the 2009 financial crisis, I started turning to the bottle and almost ruined my marriage as well. I went into an AA meeting and asked for help. In three weeks I will celebrate two years sober. My obsession to drink was lifted from me.

A word of caution, it took me 15-18 months sober before I noticed positive brain changes. Also, the liver is very resilient. I’m 44 and recently had all of my blood work done. My liver functions were normal. Two years ago I was pre-diabetic and had high blood pressure. Today my blood sugar is fine, my BP is normal as well—without medication. Abstaining from alcohol, losing some weight, and replacing a bad habit with good habits (hiking and riding my bike) changed my life.

Check online for some AA meetings and try to attend some women’s meetings so you can build up a support network and hopefully find a sponsor who has been where you are and can help you.

[warsaw44]

Good luck, Julie.

I’ve had to cut down as I feel myself easily sliding into habitual heavy drinking.

Wish I had some solid advice but it looks like you are getting some help on the thread.

And for heaven’s sake, pay no mind to the wandering jerks with their lousy opinions.

[fwdude]

Perhaps they have a 12-step program for being an AA addict? :)

“Hello, my name is Bob, and I have been going to AA.”

We had one of these at work, and the employee’s involvement in it was very disruptive. We had an out-of-town company-wide retreat, and this employee insisted that he/she had to find an AA meeting in the area, even demanded that transportation be provided by the company. Needless to say, he/she did miss several mandatory meet ups. It eventually was a career ender at our company.

[CurlyDave]

Call AA. They are in your local phone book. Or look on the internet.

I will guarantee three things will happen. First they will find a meeting near you. Second, if you tell them you need a ride, they will pick you up and take you to that meeting. Last, they will help you if you want help.

Talk to the people who pick you up and ask for help. They will not push themselves on you if you do not ask for help. If you ask and are serious, they will go to great lengths to help you. If you can not drive, members of AA will get you to meetings. Do not impose on their goodwill by asking for rides to other places or to work.

Do not be afraid. They will never ask you to do anything degrading, or anything that they personally have not done themselves.

I am not criticizing Churches, but I have never seen a Church program which had anywhere near the success rate of AA.

Good luck, and please know that there is help.