Wow. I almost made it a month.

[Stump]

On August 21st, I got so fucking drunk I drove my car at some point during the night and woke up in the middle of nowhere not even knowing how the fuck I got there. At 10:00a.m. I woke up and my wife had a search party out for me and was calling hospitals, etc. Kinda made me think I might have a problem. So right then and there, that day, I said no more...never again.

So I made it until this past Saturday night when I said, just a couple won't hurt anything I mean after-all, I'm with my wife and friends. So I proceeded to get wasted and make an ass out of myself in front of my boss and everyone else, worried sick about going back to work now. I really don't think I'm an alcoholic, but I should could use some feedback and suggestions and I figured if nothing else, I can have some accountability here at DU.

[NMDemDist2]

1. the defination of 'alcoholic' that made sense to me was....

If I really *wanted* to stop and I couldn't....... maybe I was an alcoholic

YMMV

there are a lot of ways to get treatment, but everyone (mostly) agrees that it's damned difficult to do on your own and that support helps a lot.

find some support and keep us posted

:pals:

[Kajsa]

2. That's the definition that worked for me,Stump.

When I really WANTED to stop drinking but COULDN'T,
I knew I needed help.

Alcoholism is too much to handle alone, for anyone
affected by it.

Please find help that works for you and let us know how
you're doing, OK?

:pals:

[Journeyman]

3. I knew I couldn't drink anymore when I realized I couldn't drink any less. . .

Normal people -- normal drinkers -- rarely wake up with no concept where they are or how they got there. Rarely do family send a search party for someone over the age of 12. And rarer still are evenings when normal drinkers make an ass of themselves before their boss and later dread the return to work.

All these rarities piling together in your life in such a short span should give pause, if not alarm, that your drinking is out of control.

Bill Wilson, one of the founders of AA, described his problem with drink in a most telling phrase. As he came to one morning, hung over once again despite his best intentions, he realized with a start that his remorse and hopelessness were total. In a panic, he felt his "brain race uncontrollably and there was a terrible sense of impending calamity."

If this describes "the morning after" for you, or you are at last simply fed up with feeling shame for uncontrolled behavior, then I'd suggest you may wish to quit drinking. You may not be an alcoholic. That's a determination you need to make for yourself. But by your admission, drinking causes you troubles. So the way to relieve yourself from such troubles is to relief yourself from their cause. Stop drinking.

Perhaps AA will work for you. There are other avenues, if AA doesn't fit your person. It's not for everyone nor is everyone for it. It worked for me but in a means unforeseen and by methods not advanced by its program. You'll only know by personal trial. You may find it sufficient or you may need to seek other, more tailored approaches.

No matter which course you choose, I wish you well, Stump. Twenty-one years I've been sober. And to my amazement, life gets better every day.

[Stump]

4. Maybe I'm getting there...

I drank last night, realized for once I really wasn't enjoying it and wished I would have stayed inside and watched the debates. Now I've got a killer fucking hangover and for what? I think I'm making the first steps to quiting, I really feel it.

[NMDemDist2]

5. as the old timers say...

it takes what it takes.

:hug:

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. Hey, good luck...you don't have to continue drinking and feeling that way

if you don't want to. There is a solution.

[Stump]

7. Working on it...

Went to a get together and watched many jaws drop as I turned down drink after drink...it was hard, but I felt soooo good when I woke up the next day with no hangover.

[Stuart G]

8. Please don't give up...nt

[Joe Chi Minh]

10. Hee hee. It must have been a brilliant feeling! A journey of a thousand

miles, my friend....

[Old Codger]

9. the definition

Is basically that if drinking causes a problem for you, you are a problem drinker! Pretty much there are no half ways, no half measures. But it is up to you to decide if the definitions fit....We (I mean alcoholics like me, and I am one) always look for the definition that comes closest to us but defines us as somewhat less than a full blown alcoholic.. we are just "problem" drinkers, if we ever ever get as bad as (put in the name of someone "you" think is an alcoholic here) the we will quit...AND if you had my problems you would drink too, it is almost universal. I was a drunk, I was definitely an alcoholic, I am willing to admit it for sure, I quit almost 25 years ago and have thanked my lucky stars every day since then that I did so, AA is one of the best self/group help programs out there but YOU have to take the first step of admitting and accepting that you need help and cannot do it alone...few can. Put the BS aside and be honest with yourself.

[Stump]

11. Haven't drank since Halloween...

And really didn't drink much then...I feel pretty good. No biggie so far. Friends are not supportive at all and hate the fact I don't drink. Maybe I need better friends?

[NMDemDist2]

12. they told me when I quit that I needed to change my play mates and play places

one day at a time Stump.

:hug:

[TygrBright]

14. Relapse is part of recovery.

Don't give up just because you don't get it on the first try.

See if your library has a copy of a book called "Relapse Traps." If they don't have it, maybe they can order it for you.

encouragingly,
Bright

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

13. So............

let me ask you this friend :), after drinking you drive your car, in a blackout, and have no idea hwo you got to where you were when you woke up and then made and ass out of yourself, after drinking, and are worried about going back to work, do you think you have a problem with alcohol?