Hello, I am Seth and I am an alcoholic. I found this website through google because I need someone to talk to and all meetings in my area are over for the night. I am currently living in a city right outside Tel Aviv, Israel. I am here as a volunteer paramedic for a year. I am from Washington D.C. and have been in and out of sobriety for three years. I am 19 years old, turn 20 in June. I recovered from my most recent relapse on September 7th of 2006 and have been sober since. 6 months as of yesterday. My problem now is the people that I live with. There are 6 of us in a tiny apartment. Even though I have been here (in Israel) Since September 1st, I just moved into a new apartment because the volunteer program I am in moves us around a lot. Out of the 6 of us, 4 of the roomates are big partyers. I have no problem turning down invites to go out but my big problem now is that they keep copious amounts of alchohol around the apartment. Right now three of them are pregaming with a 750 ml bottle of Jager, which happens to be my drink of choice. I am shaking at the moment. I would leave, but I have no where to go at the moment. It also doesnt help that my bed is in the common room, right next to the table where they are drinking at.
Alcoholics soon loose the choice as to wether or not they drink. There comes a time in every alcoholics life when the only thing that can keepthem from drinking is a higher power. a power greater than themselves. I read your post about your difficulty with the idea of god. forget about god for now. just know that there is a power greater than you that can help you get through the night without a drink. Then ask for help. You do not have to be online, you do not have to be on the phone, you do not have to be at a meeting. Whenever you need help, ask. over and over again if you need to. Some people call it prayer. Who cares. Just ask. It Works. I dont know why when I ask for help I stay sober but I lost the ability to choose a long time ago and I am still sober. I do a lot as do yu, I also ask some power whereever whenever for help and I make it.
When people drink around me I keep a six pack of root beer or a bottle of Perrier with me. It seems to help to have that bottle in my hand, oddly enough. Or not so odd, actually. I also am designated driver, camera guy, etc... anything to stay busily distracted.
But I understand. That's a trying situation. I dont think I could live with people who party.
If you ever run into a punk rocker by the name of Barak Meirie (sic probably) tell him Toby says halloo. And yeah- I know it's a big country full of millions of people, but I'd imagine you only run into so many Isreali punk rockers.
you would be suprised at how many punk rockers there are in this country nowadays. and its really not that big of a country... 7 hours end to end going 55 mph. The designated driver thing worked like a charm during high school as I am sure it will during college. I cant go to clubs and shit anymore though. Not for a while at least. Every time I have relapsed the first drink was in a club.
Yeah- when you're 41 it's easier to accept being boring. ;) I spend a lot of time in coffee houses and book stores. In retrospect- clubs and bars weren't really all that interesting unless I was drunk.
Hi Seth, I like Toby's idea to keep root beer and/or perrier near by (I think I'll try that as well--I got home tonight and one of my house mates was drinking a cold beer and after a long day goodness that looked good! I locked myself in my room and haven't been out). Is there any way you could speak with your friends about switching your bed to a room so it's not in a common area? Even if you have to room with someone, at least during parties/drinking you could slip away. I'm sure you've already thought of this--just one of those suggestions that are obvious but I can't help making them nonetheless. Well, welcome to the forum! Take care, Laura
