Hello everyone. Alcohol has completely ruined my life. How I'm not in jail or worse is nothing short of a miracle. I got pulled over this weekend and somehow the cop didn't arrest me. He just took my home, I couldn't believe it.
The next morning I woke up with bruises from stumbling into my furniture and my broken glasses. You would think someone had assaulted me. This is not the first time I have done stupid things from drinking. This week I am going to a Rehab facility.
I really need some words of encouragement. I am also diagnosed with depression, which is intensified by the heavy drinking. I seriously can't take this anymore.
Welcome to MIP...I know what you are feeling all too well. Three years ago this July first I was in the same boat. My brother put me into a rehab...I couldn't afford one.....I had nothing. Alcohol completely broke me. I needed the rehab to dry out with medical supervision...That was the only way for me. I'll share with you what I know about rehabs....For myself...I took it seriously and didn't find it hard to not drink there....After a five day detox. I didn't have access to it. It was what I was going to do when I got out that I concentrated on. I was given a copy of the Big Book of AA and I studied it while in there...Went to meetings whenever one was possible....I asked a lot of questions and I learned to listen.....Because I didn't know squat about my problem. I learned what I could....I hung around with other people that took it seriously...A lot don't. Kind of like AA. When I left...(Early...After 18 days of a 28 day program)....I gave everything I had to AA....Two to three meetings a day...Got a sponsor out of the gate and worked the steps. That worked for me.....I haven't had to pick up a drink since. This is what I had heard and found out to be true about this whole recovery deal.
You get out of it...Exactly what you put into it. I wish you the best. This can be done...And there are a lot of good people that are willing to help you do it.
First Step Admission ,acceptance and realizing your life is unmanageable.WE are here for each other,,,WE can share our ESH,,experience ,strength and Hope and you can do whatever it takes to remain free of active addiction...Hope to hear more from you,,,no Big I's or little U's up in here,only one trying to help another in a loving and caring manner..Follow suggestions and get to work,The message is HOPE and the promise of freedom ,a daily journey, not a magic bullet,,WE have found through our solution THE STEPS,worked with a sponsor and applied in all areas of our lives..The healing begins by putting down the substance(alcohol)the work begins by getting to the "exact nature" of whats going on inside...Thanks for the help today reminding me of the devastation of taking that "first one" for this ole hardhead...
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
Aloha and welcome to the board...remember how to get back here because there is alot of support available to you here. We know the drinking routine and had to like yourself learn a routine without drinking. For me it is the AA program of recovery. Like stepchild I didn't know anything about alcoholism and didn't even know that I didn't know. Didn't think I was supposed to however the disease progressed in me until I was drinking right up to overdose or toxic shocks. I've had several and it is only by the grace of a power much greater than booze and myself that I am here doing this. One of the early graces you have received is that compassionate cops who took you home. Wonderful...never met one like that myself course I treated everyone I came across with contempt so I earned the return. Anyhow I suggest that you do what Stepchild did in rehab only do the full trip. Rehab people are often from where we come from...former drunks themselves. I use to be a therapist in one myself. Along the way...if they will let you...check in with us and let us know how you're doing and if you learned something new which is making you hopeful. Google AA World Service (WSO) and locate meetings in your area so you know where to head for after rehab...instead of the bar or liquor store. Keep coming back
Yeah...By no means am I suggesting you leave early....I was a hardship case. My brother put up the money because he told me he couldn't bear to watch me die. I had no insurance....And this was a high end rehab. I intend on paying him back in full...And they refunded him for the time unused....Which was a lot. I knew from studying the book what I needed to do....And that wouldn't cost me anything....So I went for it.
Tell you a little story...They pleaded with me not to go....But they did send me an invitation for a six month reunion at the center. Out of 40 of us I attended it with.....I was one of four that showed up. I gave it everything I had....Because I know one drink....Will kill me. I was desperate....And hopeless when I walked into AA....And I consider that a gift. Keep your eyes...Your ears....And your mind open.
Welcome! You don't sound too different than me at the end of my drinking. Sounds pretty typical - including the depression. Life is much much different and better. Just remember that rehab is just the start. AA is what is going to save your butt in the long run. Rehab will give you enough time away from the drink and some basic coping skills to be able to work a program in AA. People who go back to rehab again and again are the ones that don't give AA or NA their all when they get out.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Oh the memories!!! ... I also hurt myself during my drink'n days ... some were serious injuries ... I kept think'n 'at least I ain't hurt'n anyone else' ... that couldn't have been further from the truth ... I was hurt'n everyone around me ... family, friends, and neighbors ... ... ...
Welcome to MIP whi, ... glad you made a decision to get help ... we're here to support you and each other on a 'one day at a time' basis ... join the group and learn to live life for the first time ...
Love ya and God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Welcome Whi! Glad to have you here with us. Rehab is a good start. Hopefully, they will have a plan put together for you when you get out. Like others have said, AA is the only thing that worked and continues to work for me. Keep in mind, no one gets here on a winning streak. We all come in depressed and broken. The good news is that many of us need that gift of desperation in order to change. The Program is about change. We need to change the person who enters The Halls. The 12 Steps in AA is about change. A design for living!
I can only say "ditto" to what all the others have so wisely said. Rehab is only a small start. The A.A. Fellowship (meetings) will give you encouragement and support. But, the 12 Steps will completely change your life around....inside and out. Don't just go to A.A. meetings and think that will change anything. It won't. Do yourself the biggest favor of your lifetime, and work all 12 Steps.
Thinking won't change your actions. But, your actions will change your thinking.
