Hey everyone! My name is Jamie and this is my first post. I've been reading over posts for a couple weeks now and I see how supportive everyone is. I quit drinking for eleven sleepless days/nights and decided this past sunday that I would be able to have a few beers. I am sure you see where this is going... So I had 3 beers on Sunday then I stopped which is ALOT less than I use to drink everynight. I was proud of myself and was convinced for that moment that I would be able to drink occassionally like a "normal" person. Monday I was fine and still convinced and I did not have anything to drink. Tuesday I was done at work at 12:30am (I work at a bar/restaurant) and decided that I wanted to sleep that night (since I hadn't been sleeping before 6am since I quit drinking)... so I went and had some drinks. I was only planning on having one or two drinks but of course that turned into me hanging out until 5am drinking and them going home to pass out and wake up at 9am for work. I worked until 2:30 today and of course had a beer after work. I came home and then decided that I need to stop toying with the idea of AA and actually go. I looked up local listings online and went only to find out that there was no meeting. I am going to try again probably on Monday to go (somewhere different) and until then NO drinking! I am only 24 and am not quite ready to say that I will be dry for the rest of my life but as you all say baby steps... and one day at a time... so here goes another try and somemore sleepless nights! This is just an intro to me and it feels pretty good to write all this out :)
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"Advice is what you ask for when you already know the answer but wish you didn't"
Just want to say welcome to the board and that I hope you do stick a round. Yes we all have toyed around with the same idea that you have. But it's only upto you on what you decide to do with it from here.
We're here to help one another and support each other, sharing experience, strenght and hope is what counts, you've sound like you would like to make a change. Please keep coming back.
Welcome to MIP Jamie. How wonderful that you're recognizing signs of a possible problem at your age. It was about your age that I began to notice how much alcohol was affecting my life. I wish I had done something about it then but for every season... It sounds like you are bright and aware, and what an optimal time in your life to address this, before the "yets" begin. I hope you come back often and post, and know that we are here for you for support and encouragment. This is just the beginning of the journey, and there is so much more to life than being high. Chris
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"Never argue with an idiot... They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience..."
Welcome to MIP. It's a great place to be and there are a lot of very supportive people here.
Before I started going to AA, I would try to convince myself that I didn't have an alcohol problem and that I could cut down. But, I couldn't. I was forty before I took AA seriously and I will always regret not going years before. I now have a wonderful life that is far beyond any dreams that I had when I was drinking.
Don't worry about not being able to sleep properly. That happened to me, but it does pass.
I do hope that you will be able to get to a meeting. I'm sure that AA will have a contact telephone number in your local 'phone book and you'll be able to find out where meetings are held in your area.
Please keep coming back and letting us know how things are going for you, won't you? Just take it one day at a time.
Take care,
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Hey (((((Jamie))))) and welcome...........Yup! No such thing as 'controlled drinking' for this alcoholic. Sure, I could have just a couple for a short while, but it eventually ended up full blown drunken-ness before I knew it....Best way for me, just don't have that first one. Hang in there, it does get better..........Promise.......Keep coming back, please and let us know how you are.
Jen
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
Hi, Jamie, I'm glad you're here. You may find it very helpful to get some of the AA literature now, and read it while you are in process of making a connection to a local group. The literature can be obtained through the New York City headquarters, and you can find out what else might be available to you, too. The Big Book and the '12 Steps and 12 Traditions' are the two basic books. I used those for a time when I was not able to go to meetings, and they are used at meetings too. This site is good too, for support that supplements, but does not replace, local face2face meetings.
love in recovery,
amanda
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do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
HI Jamie, I'm thirty and had/have been toying with the idea of not drinking for about ten years. The way I figure it if it is bothering me that bad and I'm constantly questioning my habit and behaviors, something is not right. I've had jobs that I was uncomfortable in, questioned my role and my happiness and promptly removed myself from the situation. Why have I not done that with drinking? Well now, in my eyes, I had no choice, I'm pregnant. I can't explain the terror I use to feel when I thought about not drinking. Maybe now is my time because I haven't had a drink in 7 weeks. Sleeping has been rough for me too. I finally had to take ambien, couldn't take it. Everytime I start to think about what about after the baby is born, I panick. So then I reel myself in and think only about today. Good luck. Come back.
Congrats on identifying the problem. Only you can determine if you are an alcoholic or not. I will, however offer some points to you.
The minute you start and stop, start and stop and struggle over the outcome.....you are in what we call alcoholic insanity. The constant struggle for proving to yourself you can lick this, drink less and be happy with that. If your drinking becomes less and less enjoyable you are hitting the wall.
This is a born in desiease. The longer you live the worse it gets. Today I am sober, but more alcoholic than I was yesterday. I need to remind myself each day.....STEP 1.
Get to the book store and buy the AA big book or order from this site. The first 181 pages should enlighten you. If you don't identify with it, then you are not alcoholic. Chances are you'll find parallels in your life.
At 24 it's a BIG mature step to realize there is a problem with drinking. Most fight the insanity well into their 30's and at this point there usually is a lot more in life to lose...wife, kids, house security etc.
One of the most impressive guys in AA I know is 21 years old. At 21 I was king and nobody could tell me I was on a wrong path....especially me. It took 15 years of alcoholic struggle to get me into the AA doors by my own decision.
After this, not drinking is the easy part. Living without was where I began to really grow.
Thanks everyone for your encouragement and advice. I was looking online and saw different editions of the big book... is the 3rd the most recent? Thanks again everyone I appreciate everything!!!
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"Advice is what you ask for when you already know the answer but wish you didn't"
4th. Someone oughtta hand you one at a meeting, if they know you're a newcomer. First 164 pages are important, suggested you go through them. They lay out this program of action and introduce you to some basic concepts. Something that was drilled into me...the squigley writing means its important. heheh.
And the personal stories in the back, broad selection of drunks sharing their story, you're sure to find yourself in there somewhere. Good stuff.
