BD1, I detoxed myself a number a times but if you can get some help, for 2 or 3 days, it's always good to have medical supervision. Go see your Dr. and ask him what you should do. Insurance does pay for it usually. Your thinking, about "obligations" getting in the way of your sobriety is flawed and typical. When your disease progresses all of that stuff will go away. Sure, if you have children to support, that's a debt that will accumulate but at some point you won't be able to do anything about it. That obligation weighed heavily on my final commitment to staying sober. My fear centered around getting a DUI, not being able to get to work, being unemployed and not being able to pay child support, which can also suspend your license to drive. I was also very depressed and felt like I was losing my mind (scary). I was finally willing to do all of the things that were suggested in AA to get sober, starting with attending 90 meetings in 90 days. If I had time to drink and obsess about drinking daily, I had time to get to meetings daily. If you're not willing to do this and work a 12 step program, you're probably not done drinking yet. I hope that you are.
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Saturday 9th of June 2012 06:41:05 AM
Now, I'm torn, I really WANT to quit, but have so many obligations here, I'm not sure how to quit. No one at these obligations know either, just one or two people I'm close to. I don't want to have a "freak out" during a class, or at work, or in public setting. Yet, I want to quit.
So how do you guys quit? Taper? Detox? How much would a detox center cost if I needed to go to one? Does insurance cover it? Etc.
Thanks!
Welcome back BD1, ...
Your post could have been mine sometime back aways ... ... just change the name and it would have fit ... Please re-read Frodo and Dean's post, several times if you must, but listen to what they had to say ... it is wise advice for you ...
Alcohol is a 'fatal progression' ... it never ever 'lightens up' ... with all the 'will power' I could come up with, after not drinking a month or two, I swore I could taper off, or at the very least taper down my drinking ... I ALWAYS returned to drinking as much, if not more than before, every time I tried that ... So the BB is absolutely correct when they say it's fatal and it gets progressively worse ...
Call your insurance and ask hypothetically, what a person's treatment options are ... Medical attention for you is 'Highly Recommended' since you're describing some significant signs of 'detox' and 'withdrawal' ...
My heart raced so fast, I thought it was going to pop out of my chest ... my 'blood pressure' went sky high too, making the staff think I would definitely 'stroke' out ... Detox is not recommended by yourself, people often die from it or are left paralized by a stroke for the rest of their lives ...
Your 'other obligations' can be put on hold ... Sobriety should be your 1st obligation from now til the day you die ... without sobriety, your other obligations WILL disappear anyway ...
Love Ya man, and God Bless, Pappy
-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Saturday 9th of June 2012 10:00:42 AM
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Well, I've considered myself a border line alcoholic the last time I quit, and think I evolved into a full blown alcholic. Last time I quit, it was for a couple of months or so. Here's what happend though:
I went to a bar, to watch a fight. Didn't plan on drinking, but the thing is they charged you for a bracelet, and free drinks were offered afterwards. I figured one to get my moneys worth. I ended up with a lot more than that.
Then, I didn't drink for the next week or so, until the weekend again. Then it sort of transistioned into, "eh, I'm stressed, I can control this" to "eh, whatever, I'm bored, I'll have one". To "okay I'm drinking again everyday but at least I'm not addicted like I was last time". To "Oh crap, I'm back to where I was, if not worse".
And the thing is, this time, I've been experiencing withdrawl symptoms that are scaring the f*** out of me. Like, I went to the liquor store to get a "just in case" bottle, it was a little over 24 hours since my last drink. I'm not sure if it was anxiety, or withdrawl, but when I had that bottle, right before, I started panicking and I got really shaking and my heart started beating fast. It was odd that it happend at that moment. It reminded me similar to when you have diarrhea, (not to be gross here), but you can't find a toilet. Once you see that toilet you don't know how you held it in that long and can barely hold it another a second. Then relief. That's how it was for me.
Now, I'm torn, I really WANT to quit, but have so many obligations here, I'm not sure how to quit. No one at these obligations know either, just one or two people I'm close to. I don't want to have a "freak out" during a class, or at work, or in public setting. Yet, I want to quit.
So how do you guys quit? Taper? Detox? How much would a detox center cost if I needed to go to one? Does insurance cover it? Etc.
I did a 22 day rehab but that was really just sobering me up rather than helping me stay sober. The rehab did the detox part of it and the AA meetings and program is the reason I'm not out drinking right now. Can't help you with the costs and what not as I'm in Australia and I'm guessing you're not.
Alcoholism is progressive (ie it won't get better or stay the same - it will get worse) so the good news is that if you are alcoholic you won't have to worry about those obligations if you keep drinking. Sooner or later those things disappear and leave us alone with the bottle. If putting your treatment first means putting those obligations on the back burner then so be it because you won't be doing them any good if you are alcoholic and you keep drinking.
Best advice I can give is to find an AA meeting and get along to it, get a sponsor and read the AA Big Book (http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/). Also see a Dr before attempting any self detox as some of the withdrawls can be nasty if not managed.
Welcome back. I echo the sentiments about seeing a doctor, like Dean said. Detoxing isn't easy -not by any stretch, but it must start somewhere. Do yourself a favor though, take some precautionary measures before you proceed further. Overcoming an addiction is one thing, but doing it your own is never an option.
Addiction counselors are a good addition to traditional recovery outlets as well, and so are therapists. They can provide you with enough information to get the ball rolling, so you might want to start there.
A.A. has been my lifeline for 10+ years now and it is my primary choice for recovery, but that's me. At least give the doctor a try and keep us apprised of your situation, okay. Welcome to "MIP though.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Saturday 9th of June 2012 03:06:17 PM
Sending all best wishes that you get it together. For me I was locked up for my own safety in some awful, filthy, crazy place called a nut house,where we come from :{ And you know what like most people I had to take things a moment at a time..And every moment changes, and I knew that from each moment I did not want to drink..I had to CHANGE TOO. ! And look at ME ! Its is Hard...
I have heard it be said that AAs can get off at their chosen stop from the elevator and do not always need to go all the way to the very bottom..The ones before me who did not go as far down as my road say..They are all '' Yet's '' for them, and work their programs to help them never hit there YET. A day at a time ! And it works :} I have also heard it be said that if you want it enough you will make it happen. by working your butt off HARD to get it and HARD to keep it :}
'''' A MOMENT AT A TIME '' Turns into and hour,a day..
Today someone said yes life is hard ! she had read this somewhere. But it did not say life was hard with her NAME ON IT...Life is hard for all. I have never met anyone who has said to me life is a doddel /easy :} AA has been my primary purpose. I never had a purpose in life till I had the AA one. My primary purpose is to say sober,you could make it yours. And give yourself the promises on page 83,yours for working for. :}
All best wishes. That you continue to do AA every moment of every day :}
