How to stop drinking alcohol
Are you trying to decide if you should stop drinking alcohol? Maybe you’ve already tried a few times to just cut down, and drink more sensibly like other people seem to.
Perhaps you’ve had limited success, you manage it for a week or so, but then you start drinking more again, then the blackouts and awful hangovers start, the guilt and the arguments with your partner. Do you finally decide its time to quit? It might be worth a try.
So how do you stop drinking? The first thing to look at is:
Consider your motivation for stopping
Why do you actually want to stop? What are the consequences of your alcohol consumption? Weigh up the pros and cons of your drinking, the costs versus the benefits (write them down here if you like).
- What are the good things about your drinking right now, what does it do for you? This is important to consider, because you need to find other ways to achieve this.
- Then what are the bad things about your drinking? Really dig deep with this – look at your relationships, your health, job, self-esteem, depression etc.
- Next what are the good things you expect to happen when you stop drinking, how will your life be better?
- Finally what are the negative aspects of quitting? What is putting you off the idea? Again, this is important because you will have to find some way to solve these concerns.
You need to be reminding yourself about this list of your motivations every time you think about having a drink. The next stage is to find out:
Are you physically dependent on alcohol?
For the sake of safety, if you are drinking all day from the moment you wake up in order to avoid your hangovers, then you will need some sort of medical supervision to help you through the detox. You might have experienced D.T.s before (the shakes, or Delirium Tremens to be precise), but full scale alcohol withdrawal can be an unpleasant business. Hallucinations, seizures, it can even be fatal. So you should see your doctor before you plan to stop drinking alcohol. They can help you with medication, or even a short stay in hospital to get you over the first week. If the thought of that scares you to death, then you MUST try and cut down a bit before you stop completely.
So you’ve worked out why you want to stop, and if you can stop safely. Now what? You need to:
Develop a plan for how you can avoid those urges to drink.
Read our earlier article on coping with alcohol cravings first. It will give you a few techniques to help you. One thing’s for sure, will-power alone is not enough to stop you from drinking.
You need to work out what are your ‘high-risk’ situations, what are your ‘triggers’ that make you want to drink? Some of these can be avoided, so make plans as to how you can avoid them. For those that clearly can’t be avoided, you have to start thinking about how you can deal with them differently. Make your own relapse prevention strategy.
Now sit back and wait for sobriety.
Ok, so it might not be as easy as all that (of course not), you may well slip and have a drink, you might even relapse in dramatic fashion and wake up in a ditch somewhere. Don’t laugh, it might be you. You haven’t failed, you just let that old habit sneak up and catch you unawares.
This obviously isn’t going to change over night. And realistically, this is where you might need the help of a professional. You will need to replace all that drinking with other activities, which means you need to set yourself some achievable goals.
The same goes for your feelings, learning how you can cope with difficult feelings without alcohol will take some time. Alcohol has been your way of dealing with everything difficult in your life, so you are going to have to find some other ways to cope, basically.
You should regularly review what is working and what’s not, what things are still tripping you up and most importantly, what benefits you are seeing. Remind yourself of your original reasons for wanting to stop drinking alcohol. And of course, if you find that you need some help, try a counselling session.
I have always known I have had a weakness for alcohol, but over the last couple of years it is the main focus of my life. I drink every night and spend my life either drunk or hungover. The problem is I am so used to drinking, the thought of going without absolutely scares me. I’ve tried before and said I will stop drinking (and at the time meant it) but when I get home from work I get really anxious and irritated and end up drinking. I have noticed that I have become really forgetful and struggle to do some things day to day. If I don’t stop I know I could put my job and risk. My partner drinks but can ‘take or leave’ it, but recently it has caused so many arguments between us. We really love eachother but I find myself so bored if I don’t drink. Does anybody have any tips to fill their time without drinking? The thought of sat in the house without drinking scares me.
Thanks
Take a walk, read, puzzles, clean house…..anything…go to an AA meeting. It is hard because your life will seem so dull and boring without the drink. But you will get used to it and it will get better and then the sober life will seem normal. It is not easy but you need to really try for the sake of your health. Alcohol kills many many brain cells that you can’t get back.
You’ve got to be patient with yourself, too. I tell myself I didn;t get like this overnight so I won’t learn how to live without drinking overnight. I know exactly how you feel after work, tired, glass of wine… but then it becomes every night and for me became a shot in the morning…. taking time off work to drink… I also have anxiety issues and have been taking Xanax to help. I told my Dr about how I self medicate with alcohol and he gave me these to try to alleviate some of those feelings. I certainly don;t want to be on meds forever but it is far better for my body than what I was doing before. AND i can look myself in the eye and not feel ashamed that I drank too much last night. I feel so much better health-wise. So, take your time, rent some DVDs, cook dinner, eat ice cream… just TRY it. I bet you’ll be glad you did.
Good luck and keep in touch.
I have been drunk for a week – the need fior drink is horrible. I hqave not wasjed my feet for 6 days and I go the liquoir store with brsare feet
I really feel for you Jen. I’ve got dependant on alcohol and find my self going straight to the alcohol isles and avoiding the food ones I dnt no how to stop
Thank you all for your advice. I think I just need to take it one day at a time instead of viewing stopping as an impossible mountain to climb. Once again, thanks for your help xxx
Paul,
Congratulations.. You’re already on your way to recovery. This is where it begins, it’s up to you to keep it going.
I made it clear to my family that I stopped drinking because my cholesterol returned to normal and I slept better at night .. which is part of the truth.
There are million reasons to quit drinking without being labeled as having a drinking problem. Do what you need to do to improve you physical and mental health and better your life overall. Best of luck!
Thanks Torrey.
I have struggled with drink for about 5 years now. I am 27 and I feel like its taken over my life. As I type I am drinking.
I almost lost the love of my life over it. She doesn’t know how much I drink!
I don’t drink during the day or even feel like drinking then, but roll on 7 pm and I feel like I need it! I have a really good, well paid job so I have no worries or real reason to “drown my sorrows”.
My biggest problem is I don’t suffer from hangovers or any real side effects so to me when I wake up the next morning its no big deal.
Also nobody can really tell when I am drunk. I can drink a bottle of vodka and seem normal. I dont get violent or aggressive it just chills me out.
I feel my problem is that I really love the feeling of being drunk! Its the best. I feel like when I’ve been drinking its a better version of me.
Im pretty much fucked! I feel theres no end!
If theres anyone out there who feels the same and is trying to quit please help
Thanks
James
Hi James,
I think you need to ask yourself one very vital question – do you really WANT to quit drinking? You say you do, but you also say you love the feeling of being drunk. Methinks you want the best of both worlds and that, I’m afraid, is impossible.
You might think you appear normal when you drink, but I bet you don’t to other people. I most certainly didn’t. We delude ourselves on a daily basis James. I FELT I was behaving normally, but I now see things from the other side of the coin and drinkers DO NOT BEHAVE NORMALLY at all: far from it.
If you really do want to quit then you need to break the habit of “Drink O’clock” at 7 pm. Do something else, go for a walk (not passed the shops), read a book, anything that breaks that habit. Once you do it, it gets easier and easier. You really do need to question whether sobriety is your ultimate goal though or it will never, ever, be achieved. Good luck, Sal
James,
I know exactly how you feel and am living the exact same life. I work hard, even work out, but still come home and need to have a bottle of wine to relax. Like you, I love the way it feels and I also function just fine the next day. I think I can hide it pretty well, but I’m sure my wife also must notice it. We’ve had a few fights over it and while I’d love to pull back a bit, I really enjoy the feeling too. Not sure what to do or how to manage it, but at the very least, I wanted to reply to let you know you’re not alone.
Bruce
HI THERE EVERYONE….well imma get to the point or il be here all day…Im going on 2 weeks of not drinking alcohol since 17yrs of age and im 34 now…everyday…It became a part of me…I live my life with it…as a kid my whole family and friends drink as i grew up..so i been around it as well all my life…What mad me want to stop is…I did coke for 5 yrs straight…and to this day i still will never love a high like that..but i stop doing coke its been 4yrs now..I always knew that alcohol wasn’t good for me..my father was an true alcoholic and died for it…I have lost everything including my trust in GOD…I been married 2 times and have 15 kids…and they all from different women…party everyday had a good job cars money women was my thing..but i was always drinking never really sober…Now i have nothing…and cant afford my drinking habit and im still living…..I wanted to kill myself because it came to the end…and thats the worst hunger pain that a human body can stand….I going thru HELL!!!!….BUT i dont want to die now cause the pain is getting better everyday and im starting to learn how to love myself…and thats the best high you can get…..I have yrs of work still but i think i will live it to tell it…Keep yall head up..Its hard and this world is crazy….Its like they want to trap us…I live in Las Vegas but im from New York…I seen it all and learned from it…It will kill soon or later…and destroy your life bottom line….AND ITS LEGAL…
Hi James I’m 31 and understand you completely. I also have a good job but have been wondering lately why exactly it is that I am completely out at the end of the month, am constantly overdrawn, and hardly ever have anything to show for it. It’s DRINK!
Because of drink I am becoming overweight, am in constant financial turmoil and my self confidence is starting to struggle.
The trouble is, is that going out and getting drunk is just such (or seems like such) good fun!!! I feel like I can chat girls up all night, be funny and witty – even a friend told me I make more sense when I am drunk than when I am sober.
But when I sit back and objectively examine my life it looks like drink is completely ruining it and robbing me of my future. What is amazing is the denial I have been in for so long – whatever problems I might have been having I have never traced them back to alcohol but the more I reflect on it the more obvious it is that alcohol has been the cause, whether its relationships, money, career, or education. If I hadn’t have been going out getting wasted there is no doubt I would now be a LOT more successful than I am now.
The only solution is to STOP drinking COMPLETELY for the foreseeable future.
I really need help now
Hi Sian,
I’m sorry, but you have provided no information whatsoever. In what way do you need help Sian? Nobody can assist you unless you provide some background details. Please get in touch again. Sal xx
Yeah me too I have been drunk all week and. Can’t stop my life revolves around booze. Nmy life is passing out and then goiing to the liquor storwe in my dirty bare feet
Hi Jen,
The 1st thing you need to do (and you know it) is clean yourself up. Nothing is stopping you getting in the shower or bath is it? You’ll feel better immediately. Then you can set about getting sobered up. Take it one step at a time and you’ll get there. Keep putting off going to the store. Say you’ll leave it for an hour and keep doing that until, before you know it, the store will be closed.
However, it is not wise to quit suddenly if you having been drinking a lot for a long time. It is better, and safer, then to cut down for a few days beforehand.
Good luck, Sal xx
Im a 23 year old female who has drank heavily for 6 years. I got married a year ago and drinking has caused so many problems with my marriage. My Mom passed away over a year agi and u am still not over that. I drank heavily before she passed and now im drinking even worse. I dont drink hard liquir i just drink beer, but anytime i do anything i have to jave beer. I can usually drink a whole 12 pack by myself. My husband rarely drinks and does his best to be a good christian which i try too i just love drinking. It is ruining my life and marriage. I often say things i wouldnt normally say and embarrass myself. I like to drink i just wish i didnt do it every day and could drink without binging but i can’t ..please give me any suggestions u have that will help save my lufe and marriage
Been sober a few days over two months.. The hardest time for me was the first month and getting into a completely new routine to shake the times I have cravings and urges… Now I’m not bothered by my husband having a beer or glass of wine in front of me.
I’d be interested to hear where people are in their sobriety.. How do people react to you turning down alcohol .. What good has come
from your positive changes.. What remains a struggle?
Hi Torrey,
It’s great to hear you’re doing so well. I have been following your posts. I am doing well in my road to recovery, about 4 months- with a few lapses. I find I spend time with people where drinking isn’t our thing, so my friendship groups are changing, and I drive to places where I would have calculated how to get there, cost of cab and yes I have driven drunk more times than I care to mention, so I do find I am going out less, but I see this as a time in my life where I am taking a step back, reflecting and moving forward in a healthier way. I am being patient as I didn’t get like this overnight so I won’t get well overnight. I do secretly want to be able to enjoy a glass of wine and be glamorous sipping it in a wine bar, but deep down I know that’s not gonna happen!! I open a bottle of wine and it pours itself. And so does the second one – ‘just one more glass’
I think as we get used to feeling good and as our brain chemistry gets back to normal, we won’t be able to go back to the horrendous life we had.
I was waking up in the middle of the night (having passed out drunk) going to the fridge and finishing off the bottle, calling in sick to drink, having sex with my husband and not remembering, hiding bottles, got convictions for DUI. And much more besides.
I am almost at the point where I look back and think – was that me??
Hang in there, my friend. I wish your husband didn’t drink. But I am so proud of how strong you are that it doesn’t bother you. You’re an inspiration.
Keep in touch…
And don;t let us both get fooled that we feel good so ‘we can have one..’
xx
Thank you, Alice.. It’s very nice to see how folks are doing along the way. It’s encouraging that there are success stories. I’m sure it offers hope to those too scared to give it a try.
I wish I too could have a glass of wine without going crazy with the whole bottle and with total memory loss the next day. Made me feel like I was losing my mind when my husband would bring something up that I wouldn’t remember. It got as bad as not remember what movie I’d seen that we had rented. I would want to rent it and was told I’d already seen it. I feel 1000 times better mentally and physically and not afraid to go to the doctor anymore. I would dread the question “Do you drink?” then followed by “How much?”. I was very honest so it was quite embarrassing. Of course my measurements were in glasses and not bottles. For some reason that sounded better. The doctors are non-judgmental, but I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Either way, I’m healthier now than I was two months ago, less anxious, not depressed. I look forward to the future instead of my life being a blurr.
Dear sir/madam,
I am kumaran, from India. I have a problem with my father old 78, he is takes Alcholo everyday, he is alone & we are worried about him too much. If you can help me by suggesting the good way to turn up his mind from Alochol, it will be really great. I heard there some pills to avoid Alochol? Is it good to give him now????
B/r
D.Kumaran.
Kumaran,
Your father will need to want to give up alcohol. If and when that happens you should then take him to his doctor and discuss his options. It’s very difficult being in your position wanting to help a loved one. You can only help those who help themselves. Best of Luck
Hello,
What to say? I need help, I am ashamed of my drinking, my life is good, but come 6pm I have to have alcohol. I need it. I want it. I am happy! Come 8am, I am hungover, tired, late for work. Same old same old.
I want to stop, I want to drink only at weekends, I want, I want….to not need a drink.
Like many people, life has been difficult. Husband no 1, sexually abused my daughter, I will never forgive myself. Husband no 2 was abusive towards me. I got hit. But bruses go, mental abuse stays for a long time. Anyway, here I am, 38, on my own with vodka, each and every night.
Thanks for reading xx
Hi Trish,
You’re on a vicious circle to nowhere. We’ve all been there. It can be overcome, but it is not easy. You sound like you want to stop and that is half the battle won.
I’m sorry for your problems in the past. Have you had any counselling? It might help you come to terms with events and accept that none of it was your fault whatsoever.
Throw out any drink in the house and then take it one moment at a time. Tell yourself you can have a drink, but you won’t just at this very minute. Keep doing that and keep yourself occupied; the craving will pass quicker than you think. The longer you abstain, the easier it gets until you hardly ever think of drinking. Good luck, Sal xx
hi everyone its been a long time since i wrote still drinking still ashamed of myself almost every morning but have had a reality check got to have a liver scan in the morning and to be honest i am shiting me self i have never been so scared in all my life thanks for all the help you give on this site it helps xxx
Hi Pebbles,
I remember you and welcome back to the fold. Please stop beating yourself up. What’s done is done and cannot be rectified. You can move forward though. Perhaps this scare will be the motivation you need to keep going. I hope so. Good luck Pebbles. Let us know how you get on please. Sal xx
thanks will do xxx
I have been drinking hard for a few years now and have decided that it needs to stop before something goes wrong,,, I get tottaly plastered by myself at home, the scarey thing is that it has become a way if life for me, and i still function well, although feeling hungover on a daily basis really sucks. I’m at the stage where i think there is more to life than being pissed all the time, so i’m going cold turky and hope that the change i recognise is insentive enough to go without for good.
Hi Ashley,
I thought I functioned well on alcohol too, until a “friend” showed me a video of myself behaving like a drunken fool. There is a lot more to life other than drinking and it’s called “living”.
Well done for making the decision to stop. You will feel worse before you start to feel better, but don’t lose heart. You didn’t develop this problem overnight and you certainly won’t recover that quickly either. You will, however, start to feel the benefits of being alcohol free soon. Food will taste better for one thing.
i have been a heavy drinker for the past 14 yaers i am 28, i have stopped a few times but the most was 8 weeks, few years back, i cant stop drinking i used to drink strong cider, and ended up in hospital a few times from cold turkeying, i get no sleep for like 5 days n nights then start having really scarey hallucinations (auditory) doctor wont give me anything to help with withdrawels so it sthe only way, currently i am an average of 6-8 pintsof lager aday, i am really underweight, prob is when i dont drink, i am anxious, nervy, scared, av terrible insomnia, allkinds doctor dont do anything, only a week in hospital usually sorts me out, i am cutting down, for example uaually i would of had around 5-6 cans by now toady, an ive only had 2 and only planning on aving 2 more
Hi Ray,
Cutting down is a good idea; it’s safer and makes withdrawal less traumatic. Cut down over two or three days before stopping completely. I’m surprised to hear that your Doctor wouldn’t give you any medication.The drink is probably the cause of your anxiety and sleep problems; not the cure.
I wish you the very best of luck. It really does get easier and easier the longer you stay alcohol free. My only regret about stopping is that I didn’t manage it sooner. Sal
I reilly need to stop drinking .
i start at about 6 pm i have around 3 litres of cider plus 3 to 4 cans of lager.
been doing this probley last 8 years.
i quit smoking what i found easy compared to stop drinking.
my kids ask me to stop drinking but im finding it hard.
any advice please.
Listen to your kids and maybe you’ll live long enough to want to do it for your grandkids..
Well I have decided that I am going to stop drinking. I have been a drinker for about 5 years. I drink everyday and Im ashamed of it tbh. I drink anything from 1 bottle of wine up to two. I feel like I get anxious without it, but i have become very ashamed that my children have/will pick up on it. Im even finding myself making up excuses to why Im drinking, its pathetic. I was supposed to have got married in Febuary, but my fiance cancelled the wedding due to my drinking issues. I want to stop, and I mean stop altogether, as I cant trust myself to have “just the one”. I hate myself drunk and a few people have started making comments towards my drinking. Im worried about my health so now its a complete turn around to stop all this. The worst was I was arressted over Christmas as for the first time ever I actually got in my car and drove. Thankfully I was stopped, arressted,put into the cells for the night, lost my licence for 20 months and had to do a drink drive course. I have been a complete fool, I could of killed someone, so enough is enough. I have never felt so ashamed in all my life. I know its going to be hard but I have decided to go and walk the dog or clean the house when my cravings kick in. I hope everyone on here understans where we all come from, and just help each other along in the future. Best wishes to everyone, and goodluck.
And the very best of luck to you too Julie. Well done on making the decision to quit. Post on here whenever you need to.
Thank you Sal xxx
Im once again driving to work saying the same thing I say every morning, “I’m going to quit today, I have to quit!”. But just like clock work when 5pm hits the cravings and my damn brain telling me to pickup an 18 pack begins. I’m so use to my excuses that I just give in with out even questioning myself. I figure what’s the use, my stupid head always wins. I have been a heavy drinker “beer” for years now; at minimum I drink 18 a day. I have a great family, job, girl friend, so no excuses there. My mother use to be as bad if not a worse drinker then me but has been sober for 4 years now. I have a bit of a problem and really need some advice on this. I have hidden my drinking from my mother for quite some time now due to being ashamed, or seeing her upset. We are going on a Cruse to Alaska in 2 weeks and I don’t want her to see me drunk. I need to quit now to avoid the withdraws but each time that f’ing clock turns 5pm all shit hits the fan. What should I do for the next 2 weeks to prepare my self for not drinking on the ship? I want to stop completely, so this isn’t a patch job I’m asking for. Thanks for listening, Sean.
Hi Sean, try cutting down for a couple of days first. That way the withdrawal is not such a strain on the system and it makes things a bit easier. Then stop altogether. It won’t be easy, but it can be done. Keep yourself busy by occupying your mind and your hands/feet. A walk, a book, puzzles, plenty of water and soft drinks + a good diet (you won’t crave alcohol so much on a full stomach).
You have a great incentive in that you want to do it for your Mother, so go for it Sean and the best of luck.
I HAVE REACHED A POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I THINK THAT IT THE BEST TIME FOR ME TO DO IS TO COMPLETELY QUIT DRINKING ITS BEGINNING TO SERIOUSLY AFFECT MY LIFE & I WANT TO STOP
I see a lot of beer addicts here, I want to share an idea which may sound strange but I’m using it and it’s working, just buy a white bread and before you start drinking eat 10+ slices of it till your stomach is full. Then you will have no place in your stomach for a beer and the bread will keep beer in your stomach like a sponge. Before using this idea I was drinking 8 beers a day, now I’m drinking only 2 – 3 and I feel the same as after 8
And less hangover next day 
Umm…. Thanks….
hi i want to stop drinking ive had enough of getting up every morning to go work and feeling like crap i drink every night have done for years soon as 7pm comes its beer time 6 cans every night i spend half my day feeling ill i tell myself every afternoon im not drinking tonight but always do
Still question whether or not you have a drinking problem?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001940/#adam_000944.disease.causes
This was good information, Torrey, thanks. To those of you out there still struggling, it’s worth a read and just taking 10 days out of your life to see if you feel better without alcohol. I am waking up today on Saturday morning with a clear head and I feel good about that inner voice telling me ‘you didn’t drink last night well done!!’ I can look myself in the eye and feel proud. I don’t have that voice saying ‘you need to quit today’ I can play with my daughter with so much more energy and committment – no more plonking her in front of the TV so I can sit in the kitchen and drink wine. My skin looks good, I’ve lost weight and with the money I am not throwing away every week I have bought myself some new clothes. My anxiety levels have lifted SO MUCH. I don’t feel like I’m living in a dark cloud like I used to.
Just try it. You might surprise yourself. When you start to feel good, you may never want to go back to feeling so lousy.
Take care everyone.
Hi Torrey and Alice,
That’s a good site Torrey and well worth a read. Nice to hear that you’re getting on so brilliantly.
Great post Alice and glad you’re doing well too. Really does get easier as you go along doesn’t it and, before reaching for that drink, you stop and think very long and hard about what you would be throwing away – I know I do. Past the year and a half now and no way am I going to throw that away.
If alcohol is stopping you living a full life, then stop drinking it. If you were allergic to peanuts or such, you wouldn’t risk eating them would you – they could kill you? What’s the difference?
I Live on my own I also come home from work at night and cant wait to have that first drink. the drink is affecting my work and my life in general, I have just poured a litre bottle of spirits down the sink I WANT TO STOP wish me luck
Wish you the very best of luck Annie, love Sal xx
Hello everyone.
5 years ago I managed to stop using cocaine, about a year and a half ago I won the difficult battle against prescription medicine (Xanax, Valium and other benzodiazepines).
Two months ago I decided to kick my last two addictions namely nicotine (was a smoker for almost 15 years) and alcohol.
I have been smoke free for 2 months now but the alcohol cessation is proving to be more difficult then I expected, nonetheless I had some success these last weeks and I was starting to feel pretty great (and proud) but last weekend I turned 30 and some friend came to visit and before I knew I was drinking wine like Bukowski once again…
I’m living a somewhat reclusive life these last months because I try to avoid being around these friends who still use drugs and alcohol on a semi daily basis and also because I suffer from bouts of anxiety the day(s) after drinking.
The problem is that every time I make progress on the anxiety front drinking alcohol erases all my efforts and makes me feel like an anxious wreck again for a few awful days.
I turned 30 just a few days ago and this seems like the perfect time to kick the bottle goodbye once and for all and finally take control over my life again + be a better brother/ son/ friend.
I no longer want to get lost over and over again in this horrible vicious circle/ downward spiral.
Not sure if all the above is coherent ( I’m not a native English speaker and feel anxious and sick) but I’m glad I found this place.
Hi MP,
Your post was perfectly coherent and informative and your English is excellent MP. You’ve discovered that “friends” are often the very opposite and, sadly, they usually have to be dropped if we are to obtain (and keep) our sobriety. I soon made new friends who were not concerned about consuming vast amounts of alcohol in the shortest possible time. I now have a good time when in their company and we actually converse with each other in proper sentences (as opposed to drunken ramblings).
I also found smoking cessation a lot easier than quitting alcohol, but it is not impossible. The main thing is that you WANT to quit and that is half the battle won. Take it one little step/minute at a time and eat little and often (you’re less likely to drink on a full stomach). Keep hydrated too. The longer you stay alcohol free, the easier it becomes. Alcohol does indeed create a lot of stress/anxiety.
I wish you the best of luck and keep reading/posting on here. It was a lifeline to me in the early stages. Sal
Thank you very much for your reply and advice Sal.
I have been browsing through this massive thread today and have read many inspirational post.
It’s “great” to know I’m not the only one in this situation and it’s equally great to read advice from people who were successful in beating this addiction.
MP
My first wife left me due to my drinking. So I stopped drinking by going to AA. I had 13 years without a drink. Then I stopped doing the things that helped me stop drinking. Shortly there after I started in again. First just 2 beers a day, for two weeks. After 2 weeks I informed my self that I didn’t have a drinking problem. So, my use increased and within 2 years I had drank myself sober(blackout before I get drunk enough). So ,today, I drink myself to sleep every day, drive to work hungover… . I need to stop but I can’t.
Reading your comments is helpful. Thank you all.
Dave,
Thirteen years sober is pretty darn impressive, you obviously have it in you to turn yourself around again.. maybe you just need to find a new reason or remember why you quit in the first place.. You have experience being sober and probably know better than any of us the mental and physical benefits of being ‘drinkfree’ for so long… Don’t let a few bad years stop you from climbing back on the wagon .. we’re all here to help pull you up.
Hi all
I have been drinking every night for about 10 years! I don’t drink until I am totally drunk but will have 5 beers or a bottle of wine, I wake up every morning hating the fact that I drank last night and saying I won’t have anything tonight but then when I get home I drink again!!! I do loads of running and really want to cut out the alcohol but don’t know if I should just stop or try cut down? I have the will power to totally stop (I think) but don’t know if this is the right thing to do?
i stopped for 2 1/2 yrs and it was fantastic. i was healthy and happy and confident. then i picked up again and it has been hell i want to stop i need to stop but im not able to…..