11 days without a drink

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I am not a drinker, but I have a young neighbor who has a major alcohol problem. Has had a lot of abuse and false starts in his life, but on the good side, has a lot of natural curiousity.

He is fairly open to concepts. One which I am going to try on him is the idea that he is looking for the good things in life, but instead of going for those good things (the deeper meaning and richness of existence and reality), he is stopping and picking things up from the junk table as a distraction.
 
Good thoughts your way. Never had the issue myself, but my wife's family had a mix of highly functional and dysfunctional members effected with problems.
 
Congratulations! My dad used to drink quite a bit, and he seems glad he gave it up entirely at least 25 years ago.

I've been lucky enough to not like alcohol nearly as much as many, even when I was frequently binge drinking in college, and I never crave it. I question whether that's a good thing at times though, when I see others enjoying the social aspect so much more than me. Even without alcohol though, I have my own problems with a self-destructive substance that I'm far too fond of for my own good, so I can relate to the feeling in a slightly different way. I've convinced myself that it's not good for me, but I'm still far from convincing myself that my life would be better off without it.

[ September 05, 2006, 08:19 AM: Message edited by: rpn453 ]
 
Way to go. Ethanol and me have never been great friends. Luckily (or so I say) my addictions don't happen to be of the chemical nature. But all humans have addictive attractions in some direction.

Hang in there - if there is anyone I know who is tenacious enough to beat something, that would be you! I'm no expert - but the other guys have good advice about not going it alone.
 
MSparks,
I have 14 years of sobriety.And yes there are times I feel a want for a beer or a snort.But I really feel I would waste so much on top of my previosly wasted life.Fell into drugs and alcohol early.And I wanted to break the pattern of alcholism in my family.I went solo.
But I feel that sobriety is worth being an oddball or outcast at friend and family parties.
Seems odd when I'm asked how can you do that like something is wrong with that?
You have to do what is right for you.
And give youself the power to change your life!
Good luck.
 
Michael, kudos to you and the new direction. You are a strong young man and show a stiff constitution. In life we ALL need more than just that. I salute you!

I know from experience that if a need is not filled whatever drives the "need" in the person will attempt to fill the void in another new way.

I filled my "need" with Yahweh.

BTW, my Brothers Wife, Marla finally passed a few months ago( 8 year fight with cancer).

Chris is struggling but strong in his faith. You are both about the same age and both Amsoil Dealers so it might not hurt to email him and share the positive and negatives of how to handle the tougher things you BOTH are going through.

In the meantime I will keep you and your positive efforts in prayer.

Sincerely, Terry
 
Congratulations on everyone's accomplishments actually. Having grown up with two alcoholic fathers (my biological and then my step-father), I started recognizing signs in me so I stopped drinking the real stuff a while ago, probably a year and a half I would say. I didn't track it like some of you guys. I will buy the occasional 6 pack of Odouls of Kaliber or Busch N/A but thats it. Break the cycle and the habit. One day at a time and get a copy of the Serenity Prayer.

My hat is off to you sir.
 
Msparks,

Everyone here has said just about everything I would have said. Don't worry about the six months, just concentrate on today. I tried that "going dry" thing once; made about four years, and within two years was worse off than when I stopped. AA was the thing that worked for me, and has been for twenty years (and an odd number of weeks).

And Mike, I fully second the recommendation of Block's Matt Scudder stories. They are vivid, compulsively readable mysteries anyway, but he took the whole thing to a much higher level, right from the start, by working in Scudder's drinking.
.
 
Well, is it 12 days ??
smile.gif


P.B.
 
i dont have a desire to quit drinking because i love beer more than any other food or beverage there is and cant imagine eating certain foods without a beer but very good job on your 11 days without a drink.i wish you the best. i can say that im very proud to not have drank more than 2 beers and drove in over 2 years and that was my major downfall was getting drunk and driving like an idiot.
 
Lets see,

I "quit" smoking in 1990. I have smoked a few every now and then to see what it's like. You know it's like how in the heck did I ever start this thing. It's nasty.

I'm guess that drinking will be the same. I definately feel much better. I think I've lost some weight, and actually have lost that "taste" to used to come in my mouth around 3:00 pm.

I'm not saying I'm out of the woods, but I think once I put something in my mind, it's done.

Yes another day has passed. I ordered Pizza tonight after riding my bicycle for about 1 hour. Pizza and Beer was usually the norm. Well I had Pizza and Milk. I've really started drinking alot of milk it just tastes so good.

Thanks for all the words. I'll post back every few days to be sure I'm still on the "wagon".
 
I have switched to drinking mostly O'douls or Busch N/A. That way I still get the beer flavor to go with foods like pizza, steak, burgers, etc. A squirt or two of lemon juice helps reduce the aftertaste that near beers have.
 
Sorry guys, I messed I was a day ahead. Actually just made it passed day 11, now on Day 12. Still doing great though. No worries. I looked on the calendar and counted wrong.
 
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