I'm new here and haven't, well I guess I have, decided I'm an alcoholic. I drink way too much at night and don't remember many nights. My husband isn't helpfull, he drinks too just not as heavily as I do most nights. He tells me I need help but doesn't want me going to treatment, I do too much for the family to be gone for any amount of time. Imagine that, I am sober and very productive until about 8:00 at night, then I just keep drinking! We have two kids and I don't want them to be affected by this, so I need to change. I threw out all my wine this morning (I drink at least a bottle a night) and that is my first step! I've tried before, but always go back but now hopefully this will work with some help from this group. Maybe just talking about it will help. I'm not sure where else to start, but know I want to be healthy and here for my kids. I hope for someday to be able to control it, but that time is not now. I'm not totally convinced I can do this, but I have to try. Any advice for the new girl?
Welcome to MIP. There are some super people here and they are so helpful.
Well done on throwing out your wine. That is a great step to take. But, I guess that the biggest step is to admit to yourself that you may have a problem. Well done!
I tried to stop drinking and always went back to it sooner or later (usually sooner!). But, for me, AA has helped me to put the bottle down one day at a time and shown me a whole new way of life that is vastly better than I could have dreamed of.
You could try calling AA in your area. Whoever answers the 'phone will be a recovering alcoholic and will want to help you. The 'phone number is in your local 'phone book. They'll be able to tell you where your nearest meetings are and arrange for someone to meet you outside, or even drive you to the meeting. They have all been right where you are now and understand how you are feeling.
AA meetings are full of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other. Without my meetings I couldn't stay sober and I have made some wonderful friends.
Please keep posting and letting us know how things are going for you, won't you? We're all here to help you.
Take care,
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Thank you for the support and advice, it is hard to take this first step but hopefully each day will get easier once I realize how great it will feel to be completely sober! I will definately be taking one day at a time! Christy
Trust me, I know how tough it is. Get yourself to a meeting, we don't bite! For me there was no way it could have worked without physically getting to many different meetings when I was new. Noone takes names, you can just show up, listen and leave- no pressure. You can also approach the person running the meeting and explain that you are new and want help. I suspect you will be pleasantly surprised at how normal everyone is and more importantly, inspired at how we are all turning our lives around. Good luck xx
For years I tried to stop drinking with no success. It wasn't until I went to AA that I learned why I continued to fail, it was because I'm an alcoholic.
For over 20 yrs I managed to 'function'. I ran a household, owned a business, held down a 2nd job and raised a child, all alone. I never went to jail, my bills were paid, my house was clean. But I was only functioning. I didn't know what real living was back then. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, so I did something about it. I put down the bottle of booze and I went to an AA meeting.
Alcoholism is a disease and like any other illness responds better with treatment. Alcoholism is progressive and will never get better. You may only drink a bottle of wine starting at 8pm now, but continue this path and that will change and increase, it did for me and women decline much harder and much faster than men. Alcohol damages the central nervous system, you can (and will) develop health problems. Millions of people die an alcohol related death annually and trust me when I say it's not pretty. Liver disease & wet brain has taken out some of my closet friends. If that happens then who will take care of your family?
If you truely desire to stop, for whatever reason, I'd highly suggest you make time to attend a meeting. Re-arrange your schedule and make sobriety a priority. Give a meeting a try. What have you got to lose at this point?
I'm glad you're here and I hope you'll keep coming. Thank you for reminding me that I never want to be where you are again.
Jennifer, alcoholic in S.C.
-- Edited by Doll at 22:52, 2008-06-22
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
Welcome Christy! Im glad youre here and posting. You'll find the AA way of life is an awesome way to live. Its not always easy but things do get better! I think its hard when two people in a relationship drink together because you feed off one another and think its ok. My husband and I are both in the program and its been a blessing for our relationship and especially for the kids! Do it for you!
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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
You might want to check out the online al-anon meetings here are MIP. They worked well for me when I was new to recovery - Good Luck and keep coming back!
!!!