I gotta quit drinking.

[Hilljackoutlaw]

You can do it Brian!

 

[TheGrayRider]

Thoughts and prayers to you and your extended family and friends.

Generational addiction in my family…prescription drugs for my mother with eventual stint in mental institution - short-term … alcohol for my older brother - just completed first voluntary stint in rehab.

Neither of them have ever publicly confessed to their addiction - pride and ego. Both are extremely well educated (teacher and ER doctor) and always worked with decent jobs.

Addiction destroys families and friendships. Please seek professional help. Easy to get angry and frustrated as a relative with family addicts but love and peace is the only help. Addiction is a disease and recovery is the key.

Good luck and happy hunting to all,,TheGrayRider a.k.a Tom.

 

[recon6036]

My brother was an Alcoholic. He died at 53 y.o. and I sure do miss him.
You can do this!

 

[Nick87]

I think everyone's idea of being an alcoholic is different. Ive quit or taken breaks several times. Ive never had shakes or anything like that. Sure do get some cravings though. I think if you can stop drinking whenever you want without any consequences or cravings your probably not an alcoholic.

 

[hank4elk]

YOU showed up Brian. Now, are You reliable?

I got home in 1974 and wound up in MT in 1975. Working and started drinking and fighting. Foreman at 19. Lived above the saloon.
Did that across the west for ten years. Settled on the Central Coast and became a builder. Reliable...
I knew I had to quit. I could out drink & beat anyone. And do the job. Reliable...

PTSD and booze do not mix.
I got back into surfing with my partner and we would go before work & on days off...on big days.
I fell off the wagon one night, and showed up @ Marks house 10 minutes late.
He just said ,"Your late. Your never late, for anything."

A year later I was living and caretaking a horse ranch and working as head carpenter for a local family. I had stopped working with my best friend traveling where the good jobs were. I had left the gang.
Still surfing and hunting and hiking now. No booze for a year.

Sitting in a cafe with breakie and a cuppa, a good looking lawyer type sat next to me. Alcohol counselor. We chatted. Knew the same folks. She knew me.
A she was leaving she asked if I would like to go to a AA meeting that night. "I'll think about it".
Sitting there in the parking lot,15 min. early, she pulled up and walked over and said, "Huh, YOU showed up!" Yep.
I sat through that bad joe and stories of woe. Leaving I said, "Thanks, I got this. These folks are really screwed up".
I went for a year. Never spoke til one year later. I just told of a young kid in a uniform who the Chief wanted in his boat. I was reliable. I did not drink or use drugs. The crew could count on me.
I got a one year pin. Dated the counselor for a while, until we went to a friends wedding. I got the third degree from the Gang. Lasted until the vows where over. Went to say lets go and the counselor had a glass of wine in her hand. I went.
1987.
I became a Park Ranger & EMT. Met a divorcee and we were together 20 years.
She called yesterday to say high and chat.
As we said goodbye, she just stated "Henry ,your one hard man. But there is no one I would rather be in a life or death situation with than you. You are reliable."
It'll be 40 years in March. Not a drop. Never went to another AA meeting.

The ? you have to ask yourself Brian, "Are you reliable, to yourself."

 

[seeth07]

I think everyone's idea of being an alcoholic is different.

I would agree. As I mentioned before, I think the line is the dependency on the alcohol to feel good - i.e. getting that buzzed/drunk feeling.

For most people, you could have 2 beers every single night and not be an alcoholic. Is that healthy? Well no but that person I'm sure would easily be able to replace those 2 beers with something else just on their own will.

 

[Nick87]

I would agree. As I mentioned before, I think the line is the dependency on the alcohol to feel good - i.e. getting that buzzed/drunk feeling.

For most people, you could have 2 beers every single night and not be an alcoholic. Is that healthy? Well no but that person I'm sure would easily be able to replace those 2 beers with something else just on their own will.

Try it some time for a couple weeks and get back to me.

 

[seeth07]

Try it some time for a couple weeks and get back to me.

I would argue if you can't there are one of two things going on. Either you are getting personal satisfaction from those 2 beers per night or you have a mental inability to change your routine. Either way, at that point you have put your body in a dependency situation on the alcohol to establish happiness in your life.

 

[Nick87]

Either you are getting personal satisfaction from those 2 beers per night

Why else would you drink them?

 

[CRJR45]

I would agree. As I mentioned before, I think the line is the dependency on the alcohol to feel good - i.e. getting that buzzed/drunk feeling.

For most people, you could have 2 beers every single night and not be an alcoholic. Is that healthy? Well no but that person I'm sure would easily be able to replace those 2 beers with something else just on their own will.

I think everyone's idea of being an alcoholic is different. Ive quit or taken breaks several times. Ive never had shakes or anything like that. Sure do get some cravings though. I think if you can stop drinking whenever you want without any consequences or cravings your probably not an alcoholic.

I'm not sure what the definition of an alcoholic is , but being able to stop is not it for me .
I blacked out from drinking when I was 17 , and then tried everything to master the art of drinking .

I would argue if you can't there are one of two things going on. Either you are getting personal satisfaction from those 2 beers per night or you have a mental inability to change your routine. Either way, at that point you have put your body in a dependency situation on the alcohol to establish happiness in your life.

How about we don't sully the message with an argument about the workings of alcoholism ?

 

[beagle001]

I don’t think there has ever been a better time than now to be sober.

Growing up here in Wisconsin, the reputation precedes itself and all the tropes are true. But now, after being sober for over five years, no one bats an eye.
I think the world has finally come to grips with how destructive alcohol can be. I can’t tell you how proud of myself I am… I’ve been drunk twice in my 7 year old’s life and never in my 5 year old’s. I remember having to wake up in the middle of the night to feed my son after been drinking… that was it for me. He deserved better.
Also, I’m not SURE I was/am an alcoholic, but I know I was damn good at it, after starting at 16. Good luck, if you need help, ask for it. No shame

 

[El Jason]

Breaking an addiction is very hard. Some days you take it one minute at a time. Like Ben said, find something to occupy your mind. Give yourself a focal reason to quit. When I quit chewing, it was for my wife and daughters.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

I think you just took the first step. Not making light of the 12 step process of course.

I felt the same way a few months ago and decided to use sober October as an excuse to test myself. I made it, and after a month with no foggy morning, and my pants fitting a little better, I had enough motivation to stop drinking. Its going to be tough, but find some people you trust and talk to them about it.

 

[Nick87]

Like Ben said, find something to occupy your mind

Ive found working out helps the best for me. Unfortunately when your working a lot of hours and have a long commute. Its pretty darn hard to want to exercise.

 

[CRJR45]

Ive found working out helps the best for me. Unfortunately when your working a lot of hours and have a long commute. Its pretty darn hard to want to exercise.

I plan trips , work out logistics comparing hunts per expenses.
But in the past it was racing , skiing , and fishing .
Something about sitting on the boat , in the middle of the lake , maybe catching a fish , it helped me cope .
Whatever it takes , find what works for you OP and embrace it .
IMO .

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

I don’t think there has ever been a better time than now to be sober.

Growing up here in Wisconsin, the reputation precedes itself and all the tropes are true. But now, after being sober for over five years, no one bats an eye.
I think the world has finally come to grips with how destructive alcohol can be. I can’t tell you how proud of myself I am… I’ve been drunk twice in my 7 year old’s life and never in my 5 year old’s. I remember having to wake up in the middle of the night to feed my son after been drinking… that was it for me. He deserved better.
Also, I’m not SURE I was/am an alcoholic, but I know I was damn good at it, after starting at 16. Good luck, if you need help, ask for it. No shame

I've noticed that a lot of my younger co-workers simply don't drink at all. 20 years ago, I'd go to training or meetings and every night a big group of us would go to dinner then sit around having beers until the placed closed down. Nowdays, everyone goes to bed early, calls their wife or husband, talks to their kids before they go to bed, turns in early and gets up early to workout before class. I mean, what has the world come to !?! LOL

I agree with the idea of finding an activity that makes alcohol inconvenient. Throughout my life, I've never had alcohol in camp and have never allowed it. Each year I may go a month around hunting season without a single beer. Usually, I lose weight, my joints stop aching and my mind clears up. The first few beers after a month don't even taste that good to be honest. I've been thinking the past few years about just giving up beer completely (I don't drink anything else). Would save me money and I know I'd feel better. Not sure what's stopping me other than habit and the idea that a few beers will help me sleep (but probably not really).

Brian I wish you luck, especially if alcohol is interfering with your relationships or the things you want to do. That's a tough one. My dad was an alcoholic and it cost him several marriages and relationships with his children. By the time he passed, he realized all he had traded for the booze and died a very sad and depressed man. It was painful to see.

 

[Tmbrgost]

It takes a lot to reach out and admit the issue, fantastic step in the right direction! You have lots of help at your disposal, reach out and take it. It’s not a journey best done alone.

 

[Johnny Bravo]

Why else would you drink them?

Because you like the taste and flavor, just like when you pick Pepsi over Coke.

 

[rtraverdavis]

I think you just took the first step. Not making light of the 12 step process of course.

I felt the same way a few months ago and decided to use sober October as an excuse to test myself. I made it, and after a month with no foggy morning, and my pants fitting a little better, I had enough motivation to stop drinking. Its going to be tough, but find some people you trust and talk to them about it.

There’s really something to be said for waking up in the morning not hating yourself. Good stuff.

 

[Johnny Bravo]

Many good options in here…I’m not sure what you drink, but if it’s beer try to do every other beer a Heineken 00, tastes great and less alcohol intake….then maybe move to more 00s…etc…etc…working out just makes me want a beer, so yeah, that would not work for me I drink mostly due to boredom so finding something to would help I’m sure. The problem there is I like a beer maybe while I’m doing that something as well. It’s all a double edged sword. I hope you find something that works for you.