I want to stop, but can't.

Brad Pitt 9 · Newbie

I want to stop, but can't.

Brad Pitt 9 · Newbie

I'm 33 and have been drinking since 27, at least 18 drinks a night, if not more, usually more.

Brad Pitt 9 · Newbie

Runs in my family. Please talk.

Brad Pitt 9 · Newbie

Five Mississippi, guess not.

davep12and12 · MIP Old Timer

Sounds familiar. I drank from my mid-teens until my late 20s. It was great at first, lots of fun. Then it was fun, but with some problems. Then it was just problems that kept getting worse, and no more fun. Eventually I didn't even enjoy it anymore, but when I tried to stop, I couldn't stay stopped. I always started right back up within a day or two. I felt completely trapped by my drinking. My life was misery.

After wasting some more time going back & forth in my mind with a bunch of crazy alcoholic rationalizing and denying ('I don't have a drinking problem', 'I might have a problem, but I don't need to really get totally sober, or 'I just need to figure out how to drink like a normal person', or 'okay, maybe I can't ever successfully drink like a normal person, but I can still keep drinking for a while before I have to stop for good', etc. etc. etc.) I finally ended up going to some AA meetings. At first I really wasn't sure if AA could help me get sober and stay sober, or what that would really be like. I knew how horrible it felt every time I just tried to 'white knuckle' it without alcohol for a day or two, and if that's what staying sober would feel like on a regular basis I couldn't imagine being able to do that, or even if I would want to.

But all of my preconceptions about AA and sobriety were completely wrong. I met a lot of people there, some like me, some very different from me, but they had all overcome their drinking problems and had been staying sober, and they were HAPPY about it. They weren't 'white knuckling it' at all. They were living comfortable lives without alcohol. They had something that I really wanted. And - they were more than happy to help other people get sober, just because that's what people in AA do. Once I got willing to tell them what was going on with me and my drinking, and got willing to ask them for help, and asked them to show me how they did it, everything started to change. I followed their suggestions and I was able to stay sober and eventually found that I was getting the same results they had gotten. I've been sober for many years now. I have a whole new life, and I'm extremely grateful for AA and for my sobriety.

Have you ever been to AA? Do you know anything about it?

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

My suggestion: Find a meeting and start there. The first link has a pretty good list of meetings throughout the state. I also found hotline numbers based on county - Depending where you live, people might come out to accompany you to a meeting or meet you there. I called the AA hotline 3 times before I finally surrendered and went to a meeting. There is hope! Take action.

www.usrecovery.info/AA/Mississippi.htm

D'IBEVILLE MISSISSIPPI A.A.
South Mississippi A.A. Intergroup
10536 Auto Mall Parkway Suite D1
D'Ibeville MS Telephone: 228 392-6662 or 392-6663
24 Hour Help Line 888-864-8116

GREENVILLE MISSISSIPPI A.A.
Greenville A.A. Answering Service
Greenville MS Telephone: 601 332-5645

HATTIESBURG MISSISSIPPI A.A.
Hub City Area A.A. Intergroup
715 Arledge St.
Hattiesburg, MS
Help Line 601 544-5666

JACKSON MISSISSIPPI A.A.
Mid Mississippi Intergroup A.A. Central Office
4526 Office Park Dr Suite #3
Jackson, MS Telephone: 601 982-0081

LAUREL MISSISSIPPI A.A.
Laurel A.A. Intergroup
532 North 6th Avenue
Laurel, MS Telephone: 601 426-0108

OXFORD MISSISSIPPI A.A.
North Central Mississippi A.A.
24 HR Hotline (662) 234-8585
Oxford, MS

SOUTH HAVEN MISSISSIPPI A.A.
A.A. District 54 Hotline
South Haven, MS
24 HR. Hotline (662) 280-3435

TUPELO MISSISSIPPI A.A.
Tupelo Central Office
1123 West Main Street
Tupelo MS Telephone: 662 844-0374

VICKSBURG MISSISSIPPI A.A.
Vicksburg Answering Service
Vicksburg MS Telephone: 601 636-1134

AdamMoz · Senior Member

Hi Brad,

Welcome to the board. My first post was a lot like yours in tone, although I wasn't as honest as you are being - which is a good sign for you. It means that you have a greater sense of what is going on for you inside than I did when I first realized that I had a drinking problem and needed help. I echo the idea that you should attend a meeting, but before doing so, you may want to Google "What to expect from an AA meeting". I suggest that only because a lot of people are really scared the first time they go to a meeting (I was terrified) - so much so that it can stop them from ever going. In reality, going to a meeting isn't that big of a deal. You can listen the entire time and just soak up the words that people are saying. And then maybe go to a second or third one. Soon, you may find yourself enjoying them. It's also helpful to read AA literature to get a sense of what the program is about. There is the Big Book, of course, but another book I found really helpful was "Undrunk: A Skeptics Guide to AA" by A.J. Adams. It's funny and made me fear AA much less than I did initially. Anyway, good luck and please feel welcome to continue posting on this forum.

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Hi BP, ... Welcome to MIP ...

Dave's post says everything that I would have posted ... I pray you come back and discuss your feelings with us ...

I had to laugh at PC ... I think he thought you were in Mississippi rather than 'counting down' to see if anyone would reply, LOL ... Please let us know how you're do'n ... we do really care about you, cause we definitely know how it feels to be totally lost and 'out of control' ... (we check the board as we find time to do so, please don't think we were ignoring you ... we DO care ...)

Love ya man and God Bless,
Pappy

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Oh, sorry, ... Adam's post was also 'on the mark' ...

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

Hi :)

Welcome!

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

Thanks Pappy - indeed I did make that mistake lol. I am not tu smurt sumtime.

Try this link instead :) www.simeetings.com/LA/WA/PuyallupMtgs.html

or this one www.piercecountyaa.org/aa-meeting-directory/everyday-4/

or call Alcoholics Anonymous Information Center: (253) 474-8897

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Alas, .... we are all 'still' human, LOL .... great to have something TO laugh about these days ... thanks ...

Mr_David · MIP Old Timer

I hope you found a good meeting place. Mark gave you a starting off point. Now, it's up to you. Welcome to M.I.P.