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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Alcoholics Anonymous -> Alcoholics Anonymous -> Hi. Well here goes..
Post Info TOPIC: Hi. Well here goes..
johnphilip19


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Hi. Well here goes..
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I consider myself an alcoholic since age 16, when I was first introduced to alcohol. My mother bought me Carter's Nut Brown Ale, and I enjoyed drinking large quantities of beer until approximately age 18, when I moved away from my hometown due to a divorce. There I made a friend who drank, and I got the opportunity to drink beer, whiskey, and gin until I was well inebriated. By the way, my current age is 19.

However, after that time, since my mother has bipolar disorder, I moved back to my original hometown, which is Palm Desert, CA, because of personal reasons. There, I stole from my parent's liqueur cabinet until I was found out two months later. Since then, as a method of concealment, I have begun drinking anything I can get my hands on, meaning surrogate alcohols. I have used money to purchase mouthwash, hand sanitizer, and even pre shave/aftershave to drink. I am definitely considering attending AA or other programs, because of I don't, I probably will die.

Also, just tonight, I was attending a community party, and was talking with several people, when I was told to "watch my language". Of course I had been drinking mouthwash and other stuff that night and I don't feel good about it. That is just my story, and I hope for some help.

-- Edited by johnphilip19 on Thursday 26th of November 2009 12:45:23 AM

-- Edited by johnphilip19 on Thursday 26th of November 2009 12:49:08 AM

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carlasober


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Welcome, Keep Coming Back!

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ljc


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Welcome to the group John,
You may want to check into some sort of counselling, or perhaps even a treatment center to get a full discovery of your illness.
Then start attending AA meetings, find a sponsor, work the steps,and one day at a time see what happens.

Booze kills ppl. I have seen it happen.  Get yourself some help if you cannot stop on your own.
Thanks for sharing here.

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K.i.s.s.
jasperkent


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"I consider myself an alcoholic since age 16"

That's when I knew for sure, too. Now I am 50 and looking forward to 90 days sober. I hope you don't have to go through decades of HELL like I did.

Love ya.
Glad yer here.
Keep coming back.

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Serenity,

jasperkent
turninggrey


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Hey John,
You are not alone AND your story is not new. It seems fantastic that others out there may have been accomplished drunks at such an early age, but many of us on this board did the same thing. I am 50 now and I stopped drinking through AA at 22. By that time I was a wreck. You will be too. Jasper above is telling you he went through hell for 34 years!
The way this program works is through action, something that is difficult for a drunk. The action is going to a meeting and learning how the program runs. Before you go, look through this online book:
http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/

Look at a "Bill's Story" "How It Works" and a few of the tales in "Personal Stories".  I know that I was bowled over when I read it for the first time, because it was the first time I realized I was not alone and that there was a reason why I was the way I was!  I had a disease.  So do you.  The disease is terminal unless treated, and AA is a treatment that works.  I am blessed that I have had 27ish sober years.  They have been good years however not perfect years.  I have slipped. The AA program is a well built program that does not demand perfection, just progress.  Check back with us whenever you want to talk, but try the book some and ask questions.  Is this where you live?
http://www.aainthedesert.org/

If so, go to a meeting.  Just listen if you want or speak up and ask questions.  You will be welcome. 

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Just Toni


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Hi There John,

And Welcome to the Miracles in Progress site, not just words, we all are Miracles,
just 24 hours a Day.

So happy you found this site, such a young age, with the whole life to look forward to in Sobriety!!

This is for sure a WE program, we ALL share what you have, a Disease, not a moral issue, like a Disease that is as trecherous as Cancer, or any other life threatening Disease.

Please do follow the suggestions already mention, it well could be the beginning of a brand new life, as if your life depended on it, and it DOES.

Finding a Newcomers Meeting, for many too are very young just like you.

I did not get started til my early 30's and it did indeed take many years like Jasper to finally surrender.  My own belief is young age is a big plus, perhaps still so much more Teachable.

So please do find a meeting, and read that first part of the BB of Alcoholic's Anonymous, surely you might find YOU in that book, as so many have.

Godspeed to you, and sending up a Prayer for you, go get your Life Back, it Can be done with the Program of AA and the Steps.

Hugs to you dear, and again Welcome!!

Please do come back really soon, and stay in close touch with us dear, ok. We care and offer no judgment ever, just a ton of Support, no matter what!

Consider me one of your new friends here John, along with all the rest of us.

Toni

-- Edited by Just Toni on Thursday 26th of November 2009 11:18:46 AM

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DBZ


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John,

Hi, and thanks for sharing. From what I've read this is a very supportive group/message board, and I hope you get the help you're looking for, wherever it may come from. Best of Luck.

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StPeteDean


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Hi John welcome to the board. Please don't drink and especially stay away from mouth wash and other products contain "de-natured alcohol". Drinking can cause brain damage and/or death. It's chemically altered to avoid being taxed by the federal government (liqour taxes) and is toxic. Find a meeting schedule for your area (try Alateen also) and get busy. I wish that I had not wasted 15 years drinking before I surrendered to the fact that I couldn't drink.


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pinkchip


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Welcome John. I have had the honor of watching 2 different alcoholics in my fellowship go over a year sober at under 20 years old. There is a tinge of jealousy, but mostly I feel awestruck that they got the message so young. I also know someone who stopped at 19 and stayed stopped and is now at 24 years sober at the age of 43. The things you are describing regarding mouthwash and hand sanitizer are not uncommon for alcoholics who can't readily get their hands on alcohol. I did drink mouthwash at 1 point when I was concealing my drinking (or thought I was). So...I do think it's an amazing gift that you have this clarity at your age...before you can literally go out and destroy your whole life buying alcohol legally. Going to AA will certainly help you and this was a very brave step coming here as well. Try not to worry about being younger than others in the program. We all have the same problem and staying in the solution is so much better than the alternative.

Mark

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jasperkent


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Count me as a member of the Mouthwash Club, too.

The insanity of this disease is astonishing.

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Serenity,

jasperkent
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