Figured I'd check in. I have eight years sober and zero years in AA I've been working an Al-anon program for the last two years and in the process of doing inventories and such, realized that I am an alcoholic. Crazy, I thought I could just stop drinking and life would be great. Fortunately I was able to stop before the disease progressed further, but I have to say I've had day's where I would just love to escape my head. I didn't realize that I could actually be allergic to alcohol, but looking back on my drinking days, alcohol affected me so much different than my friends. My Dad was an alcoholic (died in the disease), my Grandfather was an alcoholic, and beyond that I'm not sure. Anyway, I've been thinking about attending some AA meetings, but because I am already working this Al-anon program, going to about 4 meetings a week I'm not sure if I can take on more recovery! Thanks for listening and I hope to drop in occasionally for some insight.
The more I have read what others have to say on this site, the more I am convinced that alchoholics and co-dependants are cut from the same cloth. We all seem to want someone or some thing else to be responsible for our feelings. Gotta work the program!!!
(Just my take... )
Dakota Dan, an alcoholic living sober in (where else?....) the Dakota's.
It does start very early on,, we start learning from our role models early. I also have 4 generations of alcohol and dysfunction, that i know of. It seems to me that the main problem is.... not having good coping skills for problem solving and conflict resolution, especially when it means we have to deal with others in any relationship. And that 's where the recovery work is.
I like ACoA , which is a subcategory of alanon,, but I agree that both of those focus on letting go of controlling others an focussin on them in a codependent way. AA focusses on me, and my recovery, and that does have to be the priority.
love in recovry,
amanda
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do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
Thanks for the welcoming. I have no desire to drink anymore (most of the time)
When I did drink I would drink to get drunk, what other reason would there be? I never drank very often due to the affects that it had on me, because it scared me a little. My husband now (then boyfriend) thought it would be fun to drink together one night.....needless to say he never asked me again.
I never crave the taste of it, but sometimes my frustrations get so overwhelming that I just want to be able to cope with it all, and that is when the thought comes. I mean I have access to all sorts of alcohol if I choose to drink, it's there. I don't think my disease progressed that much while I was drinking, but I believe it is progressing now and that is what concerns me. The reason I'm hear is to remember that I am an alcoholic and that I can never drink again....not socially or any other time. In spite of what my mind might try to tell me. Getting out of the denile has been difficult. I thought as soon as I quite I was cured!
Hi, this is my first post ever. I quit drinking 3 weeks ago, after 10years moderate to 5 hard years of every single day. I stopped suddenly after confessing my problem to my husband, who was oblivious to the disease, he was shocked, i hid it so well. I knew once i told him i couldnt turn back. I havent joined any groups, i wanted to try on my own, did research. My detox has not been physical but painfully mental. I think about alcohol almost 24/7, it has consumed my thoughts and its so painful. I feel better physically, but the mental part has been very difficult. I still can't believe I can't ever drink again for the rest of my life, not even champagne on new years....whats scary is ive had thoughts of rationalizing how i could try to incorporate drinking into my life again....only this time ill be in control, its an awful disease, its all in my head. Thanks for letting me share, i hope to contribute my 2 cents to this forum in the future, its nice to hear from others (anonymously) as i still feel ashamed of my problem.
Hi Moon, Glad to see your post and hear of your experiences with Alanon. You have the right idea of attending meetings. I would like to see you also attend some AA meetings. You will get some great interaction with some folks who have been there. This format is sure a great place to start with AA. Keep coming back!! Regards, Roderick <HR> Hi Milo, Very Important!! Go to meetings. You may notice some old timers post about going to meetings every day for 90 days or in my case, a whole year when first joining AA. That's because they felt what you are feeling. You mentioned thinking about alcohol 24/7. Going to meetings will fill your time and give you something else to think about. You will know you are not alone. You will meet people who care if you stay sober. Thanks for posting Regards, Roderick
Welcome, Moon. I hope you stay here and learn a bit from the years of sobriety represented on this board. Take what you need, and leave the rest. There's a whole new world, a new journey, for the newcomer as they work the steps. I hope you keep posting, Chris
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"Never argue with an idiot... They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience..."
I've been working an Al-anon program for the last two years and in the process of doing inventories and such, realized that I am an alcoholic. Crazy, I thought I could just stop drinking and life would be great. Fortunately I was able to stop before the disease progressed further, but I have to say I've had day's where I would just love to escape my head. I didn't realize that I could actually be allergic to alcohol, but looking back on my drinking days, alcohol affected me so much different than my friends. My Dad was an alcoholic (died in the disease), my Grandfather was an alcoholic, and beyond that I'm not sure. Anyway, I've been thinking about attending some AA meetings, but because I am already working this Al-anon program, going to about 4 meetings a week I'm not sure if I can take on more recovery! Thanks for listening and I hope to drop in occasionally for some insight.
!!
) the Dakota's.
