We only have one forum here...You're good. Are you going into a facility for detox followed by a rehab program?...Or just to dry out? Welcome by the way...You're in a good place here...And you're making a real good decision.

Welcome! It's far easier and safer to go the route of detox. Just know that you only have to do this once. If you are serious about changing your life, and you take suggestions that are offered to you in treatment, then follow up and take those suggestions in AA - sobriety will be yours.

Jalen wrote:

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I can stop at times, but I always go back.

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 I know the routine well....I'm a slow learner...I didn't get this till I was 51....And it beat me good. I did go to detox and rehab...That was costing me a pretty penny...And I was flat ass broke so a brother paid for it. I plan on paying him back...But I did leave early because I could see AA was the route to long term sobriety...I just had to do what they did. That's the only thing that has worked for me. I'd suggest you google a meeting near you....And go to the first one you can...Show up a little early...Say you're new....And listen. Get a copy of the big book...Read the Doctor's Opinion and the first 3 chapters...Give you a pretty clear idea if you're alcoholic or not....Post here and ask questions....There is a solution Jalen....It's worth putting in the effort to get it.

Big Book online.

http://anonpress.org/bb/

It's a text book...Get one and study it......It has all the answers.

Thanks so much. A bit unsure and scared, but it HAS to be done.

I was drinking a 30 pack a day...Morning till night. I couldn't funtion without it. Detox isn't bad...I wouldn't want to make a career out of doing it. They'll keep an eye on you. Give you medication to prevent siezures...Some type of Benzo...And something to make you sleep....I slept the whole five days I detoxed...Then I started defogging. It took me longer to clear up from the meds than the alcohol I think. It won't be painful though....Doing it alone can be....It can kill you....So you're making the right choice.

-- Edited by Stepchild on Saturday 7th of December 2013 08:45:32 AM

If I can ask, how long did you drink the 30 pack consistently (days, years), and what were your symptoms of withdrawels? Just trying to gauge my own problem here.

I'd say the last six months of my drinking...It is progressive. I couldn't eat and I'd start shaking if I was just running low on it. It overwhelmed me. No reason for you to get to that point.

Has anyone ( at least in this thread) tried to detox on their own? I have done it as recently as 3 weeks ago, painful to say the least. Just curious what your withdrawal symptoms have been. I get a bit shaky (fingers), but the anxiety and depression are the worst. Let alone, it takes me 3 days to "see straight".

Just curious to hear others "symptoms".

I can relate to ALL of that. I had a nightmare (still intoxicated and coming down), that the ceiling fan turned into some kind of Raven and tried to attack me. Good grief. Just awful.

Wow, what a great site. So glad I've found this. I'm going to need it, guys. Even if it just a supplement to detox and/or AA. You all have been so helpful.

Going to a Detox center will provide you a safety net. Some people develop issues that require medical help. Being in a place where you are monitored is good. It is your life. Take care of it.

If you can swing a detox, I would go. Alcoholism is a confusing disease. It tells us we don't have it, then when we see we do... It tells us we can beat it in our own. We can't.

It is great that you are doing this. At 47 you have so much more life to live. AA is a new way of living. It is far more than not drinking.

Relax. Take a deep breath. You are on the right track. Detox and AA meetings, make new friends and go daily if you can. It will work.

Let us know how you are doing!

I did detox on my own. What a fool I was for doing so, though. I had most of the symptoms the others have mentioned. I was drinking on average 16 drinks a day however, depending on how sorry I felt for myself on a particular day, I drank 20 and more drinks.
There is a lot of stuff on the internet about withdrawals, and withdrawing on your own. I was lucky with my detoxing, but some folks aren't and can go into seizures and unless there is a medical facility nearby and/or someone is with you to call the squad to pick you up and take you to one, you can die of seizures.
Again, I was a fool. And a very lucky one. I hope you are smarter and if not, have a lot of "luck" on your side.

Jalen, it is scary walking into that meeting for the first time, but then you'll never have to do it for the first time again! I hope it goes well. I know it will.

I had to get used to two things that I wasn't use to doing at all....Hearing things I didn't want to hear....And doing things I didn't want to do. It came down to this for me....My way didn't work...I see it working for them....I guess I better start listening and following up on what is suggested to me. That's all it took for me.

Apparently we alcoholics, espesially as newcomers, can be very manipulative. It's one of our main survival skills. We become expert at conning all those around us and all those that try to help, even doctors. Our Big Book metions doctors specifically, seldom have we told them the truth. But we only con ourselves in the end.

Early recovery is no walk in the park. As a wise man once said "pain is the touchstone of all spiritual growth". And as spiritual growth is the AA path to recovery, along with the joy it brings, there will be painful moments. My natural reaction to pain is to try and avoid it, rationalise, supress, decieve or medicate. None of these methods were successful in avoiding the pain, though some postponed it.

The only thing that worked for me in the end, was to get honest, and take the steps.

God bless,

MikeH.

Jalen wrote:

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Am I alone in this form of thinking?

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No...Not at all. This chapter here deals with step two....You're not alone. Actually you're very much like a lot of the people that started this program.....Give it a read...Ask any questions you got...And then I'd suggest you read it again. I love this chapter. I've probably read it 50 times.

http://anonpress.org/bb/Page_44.htm

Having an open mind is important...

 

 

Aloha Jalen and welcome to the board from the Pacific.  Reading your questions and statements and the responses from the MIP family here I get to revisit my own entry into recovery.   You have been responded to with honestly and love, compassion, empathy and real experiences of what worked.  This is what I detoxed on.  I sat with an open mind and listened, listened, listened.  I didn't let alcohol interfere for once in my life and sitting and listening with my eyes to the walkers in this program who were getting out of the program what I thought I could get out of the bottle kept me in the rooms.  I relate more to some of those who shared with you here because of the similarities of our journeys.  We are not exactly from the same mold...we have our differences and it is the similarities which got me sober and have kept me that way.  My elder sponsor suggested that "you try and use whatever is available to gain and maintain your sobriety" and he was adamant and I've done that and it works when you work it.  

You sound ready...great...drop what you've been doing and come do what we do.  Detox is a tool...use it as best you can.  Listen to those professionals cause they know things about alcohol you and many of us don't.  Religion?  Mine is the steps and the traditions and the slogans and more.  I work the steps religiously and don't play God any more.  When I made the decision that I wanted what these other seriously sober people had I let go of Power and Control (1st step, 2nd step, 3rd step) and I stopped the manipulation that went with it.  I still manipulate myself for program first and always.  Do your detox and be grateful for it...be scared and afraid and do it anyway...the fear won't kill you, just slow you down a bit which is good because you don't want to miss even one little step of this journey.

Let us know how it comes out for you.  Family helps family.  Family loves family.