Has Anyone Here Stopped Drinking Alcohol Becuase It Became A Problem?

[Guest]

Just wondered if alcohol has or had become a problem for anyone that they decided to stop drinking ? I have tried to stop a few times and have never been able to, although im not to sure how hard I tried. Im starting to wonder how much of a problem it is in my life and what problems it could lead to in the future.

I got a dui two years ago and although there are many times I can drink and be fine, there are also many times the way I act is horrible and unacceptable. I drink mabey one to two times a week but to often I find myself getting drunk and doing stupid things. I would really like to stop because i'm becomeing more and more convinced I cannot drink responsibly.

I had a really bad night last night and its nights like these where the next day I have no desire to ever drink again. Yet it seems by the time friday or saturday rolls around this feeling has worn off and im back to wanting to drink. I think its a blessing to be able to drink repsonsibly and relieve stress that comes from everyday problems. But again, I keep getting myself into serious sin and although its my fault, I think alcohol brings out some of this destrutive behavior.

So in closing, I just wondered if anyone had any good advice about how one could possibly try to cut something out of their life that is not doing much good for them. It almost seems impossible that i could actually stop drinking forever. But at the same time im afraid it might cost me my relationship with God and cause me alot of pain in this life and the next if I dont stop.

This is not a feel sorry for me thread. Im blessed and God has been really good to me. There are people with bigger problems then mine, but I know alot of you on here are really strong catholics (unlike me) and you could probally really offer some good advice. Thanks and Godbless.

[CatherineM]

In college, I drank way too much. There is alcoholism/over-use in my family, so it was a concern for me. I drank while singing in a band. The beer was free to the band, and I had a lot of stage fright issues. I did some stupid things, like taking my shirt off in the middle of traffic, and I did drive intoxicated more than once without getting caught. I got a separated shoulder from a drunken game of jungle rules volley ball, and once got so drunk the night before a competition, that I was still drunk the next morning, and it took several shots to even get close to the target. Got a lot of cheers when I first hit the paper.

I stopped several years ago because I was started on a medication that I can't mix with alcohol, so that made the decision easier. There are times that I miss just sitting in a bar with friends having a quiet drink. I probably drink once or twice a year now. I just don't go to the places I used to, and once I got out of college, I went different directions than my college drinking buddies. That helped too.

It's one of those decisions that you have to make for yourself, for your own reasons.

[Lounge Daddy]

You made a huge huge huge first step in posting this, D Boy.
The second step is to go to an AA meeting right away. And I mean right now (if your town in anything like Grand Rapids, there are meetings all the time--even at midnight).


[b]I am an alcoholic.[/b] My last drink was April 19, 2007. I can tell you that if you think you have a problem--you have a problem. If you tried to quit, and didn't--you absolutely have a problem.

If you are like me, you have placed qualifiers on quitting. For me it was "when I get this promotion, I'll quit drinking" and then "when I switch to a night shift at work, I'll quit drinking" and then "when the baby is born, I'll quit drinking" and "this is my last drink" ...etc
I did that repeatedly for over 5 years.

It's a sickness and it becomes a head-game very quickly.

I finally went to AA. I just sat in on a meeting. I was struck primarily how 99% of the people were just ordinary people, and a variety of people. All ages, all classes--successful business people, truck drivers, a few college kids, jobless people, factory workers, etc. I could have been anywhere. The one commonality between everyone there was that we are all alcoholics.

I went to a meeting. And then I went some more ...just to listen.
For me, I got the most out the meetings that I didn't talk at. For a long time, I didn't speak up except for the first time that I gave my name and admitted that I am an alcoholic.

Listen, D Boy: Alcoholism kills--but not before taking away everything first. Friends family job and all the gifts and talents that God gave you. Then you die alone.

If you want to live, I strongly recommend that you get on-line and look up the next time and location of an AA meeting near you and just go. Just show up, that's all you have to do next.

Again, you made a huge first step. You need to know that you have a problem--and it seems that, indeed, you do believe that you have a problem. That alone isn't easy. I know.

But the next step is to just get to a meeting.

I'll pray for you. Tonight and tomorrow morning, and tomorrow night... I'll keep you in my prayers. I'll send you an PM, and you can get in touch if you need anything else.

You have a choice. Choose to live.

[melporcristo]

JMJ

you have my prayers bro!

In Christ
Melissa

[jckinsman]

I am sorry that you feel as if you are not worthy of the Lord. You are. I do not drink ...at all. I have never had a problem with it and yet it has destroyed my life,my family and all that I am. I knew that when I married him that,I married his family also. I was just so stupid to think I was stronger then this problem. It's a sickness and God is calling you out of it and towards him. Please grab his hand. You will never have the regrets and the pain and the destruction that drinking causes. "Katrina" doesn't even describe it. Before you know it,YOU are going to choose a road. How far do you want to be on that road before you realize you need to get back to the "fork" at which you had made that choice? Who are you going to abuse or use as you go? Better yet, before you sit in YOUR chair before our Lord and watch YOUR life play out before you,What might you be thinking about all of the moments that YOU caused damage to another or yourself. Do you see the Lord giving you the Grace at this moment to see??? Satan does not give you the thoughts of recovery! There is no such thing as responsible drinking if you end up drunk. Is this your means to the end? Christ was crusified for you and I. These sins we place before him today he sweat BLOOD for them.That is how much he loves you and I. He is calling you to something better then where you are at right now,I know it. Your own gut tells you so. You are more powerful then any of your weaknesses. You do not have to get drunk to be that wonderful person that you are,you just have to truly know that you are made in his image and you should do your best to be a reflection of Him. Stress will come and go.How you handle it at any givin time, speaks directly to our Lords heart.He knows your inner most being and he knows all of your secrets and forgives them all. Just go to him. Temptation is a feeling,not a rational decision made by a person that is grounded. Ground yourself. You will like the veiwing better. You will touch others with your strength. You will change lives for the Lord.

JC

Edited September 2, 2008 by jckinsman

[abercius24]

With any sin, one must cut themself off completely to stop. That doesn't just mean no alcohol for an alcoholic. It means one must completely remove themself from those elements of their culture that involve alcohol. Friends, family, places, atmosphere, periphanalia, t-shirts, music, etc. If any of these lead one to even think of alcohol, they must be avoided. Now I'm not saying one must necessarily abandon family and friends, but they must recognize the situations in which these people tempt them without knowing. Even a friendly drink with a loved-one can be extremely dangerous to an alcoholic. Alcohol simply cannot be in one's life anymore. And that's ok. It's only a funny tasting liquid, isn't it? There is much more flavor in life than what we drink!

But to do what I just said is actually much more complicated than it seems. And the complication itself can lead to a general frustration, which can easily lead back to the alcohol. That's why Alcoholics Anonymous is so valuable. To help me deal with an alcoholic family member and help him with his recovery, I attended a number of AA-sponsored meetings. I was amazed at the skill these people possess in controling addiction in their lives. Frankly, it is a skill everyone should be taught -- at least to avoid being swallowed by addictions. Just to help motivate my family member in his pursuit toward sobriety, I gave up alcohol for a good 10 years, too. It was truly a spiritual journey we shared together that I would never trade. In fact, life has much greater value in both our eyes as a result of that struggle. I trust that God will bless you similarly in your mission toward sobriety, as well.

Edited September 2, 2008 by abercius24

[Balthazor]

I did not read anyones post bu your own.... so forgive me if this has been said before.

But if Alcohol has been having a consistently negative effect on your life then I would seriously consider giving it up.

It is a personal choice really, to give something up forever.

I just cut bakc. I find that when I go out I set a limit ahead of time I am successful... I only bring enough money for two drinks, I concentrate on protecting my firends, I volunteer to be the designated driver..... you need to find what works for you. There are many things.

Alcohol is a great social activity, but if after three drinks you turn into a monster...well then set you limit and enforce it. Tell your friends to help you, they will understand... maybe they will even appreciate it! I had a friend who was a great guy until the fourth drink then he turned into an %$^&*. I told him. I wish he would have practiced a littl erestraint and I would have helped him if he wanted it.

[Ash Wednesday]

I agree with Lounge Daddy. If you find yourself unable to just quit, then that is a serious problem. When someone is an alcoholic, they can't just cut back or drink less on cue. They have a switch built in them that won't turn off.

It sounds like God is calling you to greater things...

Prayers for you, DB!

[Didacus]

I have several times stopped drinking for extended periods because I progessively get worse and worse in my habit.

Now what I do is for starters, every lent, I stop drinking and smoking cold turkey for 45 days. Some years I've extended this to 60days, and even 90 days.

Once I have it at 90 days, I decided to split it in two and go 60 days - twice a year. I think I'll remain at that. The 'break in my habit' keeps me in check and in control.

I am an alcoholic, the worse things I've done in my life were things I've done while intoxiacted and I crry deep regrets towards this. I don't think I'll ever be able to stop entirely, but stopping each 5 months for a period of 45-60 days has been extremely helpful - it 'resets' the progression of alcoholism to zero sort to speak.

[Didacus]

L'alcohol rend l'homme semblable a la bete, lui fait perdre sa vie et parfois lui fait meme perdre son ame.


Alcohol renders man similar to the beast, makes him lose his life and sometimes makes him lose even his soul.

[puellapaschalis]

A dear friend of mine has recently identified his having a drinking problem, has stopped, gone dry and signed up at AA (and has also discovered a type of alcohol-free beer that he actually finds potable!). He and I pray for each other every day. Be brave and choose the route which you know is best for both your body and your soul.

[jckinsman]

[quote name='Didacus' post='1645246' date='Sep 2 2008, 09:58 AM']L'alcohol rend l'homme semblable a la bete, lui fait perdre sa vie et parfois lui fait meme perdre son ame.


Alcohol renders man similar to the beast, makes him lose his life and sometimes makes him lose even his soul.[/quote]

This is very profound. Its makes me contemplate in the Bible where it talks about "no drunkards will enter the kingdom" I have witnessed why this addictive behavior may steal souls from our Lord. Like all addictions that place other "gods" before the one true God. It robs the soul of purity and fills it with things of this world. This is why I love confession.
JC

[prose]

If you can not stop, then you have a problem. Period.

Get help.

If you want to go to AA, go. There is also another group called RR (Rational Recovery) if you are interested. Their website is here: [url="http://www.rational.org/"]http://www.rational.org/[/url]

[HisChildForever]

I wish you lots of luck and offer tons of prayers on your journey towards sobriety. I myself have never had alcohol before - I [i]am[/i] underage but of course this doesn't stop most people. It's a personal choice to abstain, and when I [i]do[/i] turn 21 next year, I have no intentions of even taking a sip. My maternal grandfather was an alcoholic (he was out of the pictures years before I was born and also died before I was born, I believe) and my grandmother ended up raising 6 children by herself while maintaing a steady job. Alcohol can destroy families and ruin lives. God bless for realizing your addiction and taking the steps to overcome it.

[picchick]

Prayers for your Delivery Boy. I cannot offer advice but it looks like you have a lot of good stuff to read through. Meanwhile, I will pray for you while you go through your journey

Meg