I wanted to narrow this down by age category as not everyone can relate to the same decade since things change, as do characteristics of drinkers.
I never 'officially' drank until about the age of 17 in high school. It was my first real party, and a friend and myself went shot for shot until I ended about 15 deep and him 24 deep, the party had ended within the next hour as we were both throwing up, unable to move, and he was rushed to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. After this moment, we stopped drinking for a few years (he lived) until the partying started again, I believe this is when I started my drinking career.
Every chance we had to drink, we would, including using hook ups to buy half gallons of Monarch Vodka (cheap stuff). If one of us decided not to drink, the other would apply peer pressure to continue drinking (I was guilty of doing this to other people as well). Any reason, celebration, birthday party, holiday, finishing a class etc. was used an an excuse to drink. Mind you, we did not just drink to get buzzed, we drank to get drunk as that's when we got into the most trouble and had the most fun.
I didn't realize this to be an actual problem because everyone around me did the same thing, so it seemed to be normal. However, upon moving up to college, things only got worse.
I finally had met the girl of my dreams, but was still stuck in the drinking stage. I probably finished a 30 bomb of Keystone within a week at a time.
Advance two years, I'm still living within the same town now in an apt with my fiance. Anytime we had alcohol, I would drink, alone at night. She would go to bed and I would stay up and drink until I was drunk. Over and over, I would repeat and then wake up hungover the next day just to continue the cycle. It got to the point where I couldn't have fun without drinking, even at gatherings of friends. I was always the one to put the drinks in people's hands so it didn't look like I was just drinking alone. When someone would talk to me about it, I would just get mad, brush it off, and drink anyway.
What's even worse, is that I would feel sorry for myself while I was drunk and make empty promises to quit drinking altogether, which I could never do. Finally, word of my drinking leaked to my parents via my fiance, which brings me to now. I haven't drank for two weeks and am still noticing withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, headache, and shakiness. Now that my parents are involved, they want me to get checked in to a 30 day program, but I don't think I need it. This is where I need opinion, once I set my mind to something I can absolutely stop, but the people in my life just don't believe in me. What should I do?
Advance two years, I'm still living within the same town now in an apt with my fiance. Anytime we had alcohol, I would drink, alone at night. She would go to bed and I would stay up and drink until I was drunk. Over and over, I would repeat and then wake up hungover the next day just to continue the cycle.
That sounds exactly like me, although I'm not in your age bracket But it describes perfectly what I was doing from age 18-31.
Yeah. You just described what all alcoholics go through in the progress of their disease. What to do? Walk the walk. Start going to meetings and don't look at this as "quitting something" but rather gaining sobriety. That is the shift of thinking that is needed to keep you sober. Surrender to alcoholism and a new way of life which is living sober. You don't necessarily need a 30 day program if you have been able to stay sober 2 weeks but I would highly recommend going to meetings because you clearly have had a pattern of alcoholism that lasted a long time and now you need coping skills to avoid relapse. No matter how determined you are, you will likely drink if you don't arm yourself with some skills and tools that are taught in AA. That is my take on things. AA and being part of recovery is a gift...it is a way out of the darkness. It is not a burden or something to fear. My suggestion is get involved in the program and get serious about your sobriety. It's more than just "quitting" the process of imbibing liqour...way more. When you show you are taking it seriously, everyone else will ideally be on board....but even if not, I think this is what you need for you. Just my opinion though and I am not always right.
-- Edited by pinkchip on Saturday 26th of June 2010 06:18:52 AM
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I'm 36. Unlike many people who I hear tell stories in AA, I didn't drink as a teenager, or even in my early 20s. I started drinking to fall asleep when I was in my mid 20s and going through a serious depression that made it very hard for me to sleep. About 12 years later, that one glass of wine at bedtime had turned into two bottles, and I found myself unable to quit for even a week or a month on my own before I joined AA.
Does that help?
By the way I definitely encourage you to attend an AA meeting and, at least, just see what it's like.
Sober Steve!!!! you look great to me!!! it takes what it takes! i know and have lived that "AA saying" .... stick with the steps and your HP, because it is worth it, it will save your life. hugs jj
Hey I'm 21. I started drinking young as it was and is common in our family to give the younger adults a beer or whatever at barbecues or parties etc. I was probably around 12 or 13. I have always drank heavily, most notably since around the age of 16 however my drinking got more serious when I began to use drugs as well as drink which helped me to drink larger quantities of alcohol. I kicked the drug habit but now had no idea where my drinking limit was or my natural tolerance to alcohol so inevitably drank the same amount, now just ending up very drunk. I've had alcohol withdrawal symptoms for around 2 years now and have decided enough is enough. I went out drinking 3 nights in a row over the weekend and obviously today am I somewhat of a state, all the usual, anxious paranoid etc. Over the weekend was also my late father's birthday, who died around a year ago from alcoholism, as did my aunt. So alcohol has played a very big part in my life since I was a child and I'm lost when it comes to thinking of ways to give up when everyone at home and everyone I know drinks. a lot. Which is why I've decided to attend my first meeting this week!
Hey I'm 21. I started drinking young as it was and is common in our family to give the younger adults a beer or whatever at barbecues or parties etc. I was probably around 12 or 13. I have always drank heavily, most notably since around the age of 16 however my drinking got more serious when I began to use drugs as well as drink which helped me to drink larger quantities of alcohol. I kicked the drug habit but now had no idea where my drinking limit was or my natural tolerance to alcohol so inevitably drank the same amount, now just ending up very drunk. I've had alcohol withdrawal symptoms for around 2 years now and have decided enough is enough. I went out drinking 3 nights in a row over the weekend and obviously today am I somewhat of a state, all the usual, anxious paranoid etc. Over the weekend was also my late father's birthday, who died around a year ago from alcoholism, as did my aunt. So alcohol has played a very big part in my life since I was a child and I'm lost when it comes to thinking of ways to give up when everyone at home and everyone I know drinks. a lot. Which is why I've decided to attend my first meeting this week!
Welcome, get to a meeting NOW!!!!
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God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
But it describes perfectly what I was doing from age 18-31.