Hello Rob and welcome!!

Good to hear you want to stop drinking. Admitting you want to and/or have a problem is step 1. That's the hardest one! And don't feel ashemed to ofload your thoughts around here, just writing it down will help, getting peoples reactions on it can help you even more!

If going to an AA meeting is not your thing, follow some of the links on the top of this forum, it will get you some background information, the way the program works. Remember that a whole bunch of people have been where you are now - most of us here have been at least. sharing, caring and listening is what helped me through the hard times!

If you are determined to stop drinking, you wil know when you are, I'll share with you the two things that has helped me out alot:

* It isn't easy - but it is simple
* Take it one day at a time , and if a day is too long, just one hour at a time

Good luck, and let us know how you are doing!

take care,

Franklink

http://www.recovery.org/aa/bigbook/ww/chapter_2.html

Hi Rob.  I'm Dan, and I'm an alcoholic.  The link above is to a site called "The Big Book". It will link you to chapter 2 in the book titled "There is a Solution".  After you have read it, you can use the links on that page to go to the beginning of the book, or to other chapters.  Many of them tell other alcoholics' stories--of how they began, what alcohol did to their lives, and how they overcame their problem.

There is no shame in admiting you have this affliction.  If you take this chance to get to know us alcoholics better, you will find that we come from all walks of life.  Doctors, lawyers, ministers, priests, a former astronaut, a US President's wife, successful businessmen, and celebrities all have come into AA, all right along with the rest of us average folks.  

This is an illness which can be treated, and, as many in Alcoholics Anonymous can vouch, can be put into remission, by accepting the treatment offered.  As Amanda has said, we succeed by following the program just one step at a time, one day at a time.  And you have already taken the first step!

I drank pretty much steady for the past 33 years with only a day off here, and a week off there.  I went 6 weeks without a drink when I was in army basic training, but that wasn't voluntarily.  About 9 years ago I made it for almost a year because of AA.  I am now back, and am again sober. 

Trust me when I tell you from my own experience, that you will be much happier than you ever thought you could be, if you manage to get through those doors, and stick around.  And you will be much healthier than I am right now after drinking another 20 years past your 12. 

Stick with us Rob, keep coming back!  It's worth it--and you are worth it!

Hi.. thanx everybody.. well i had one less drink than normal yesterday, im drinking strong larger at mo 9% (500ml) so one can less was enuf for me to wake up not feeling like complete death and to not be too concerned with driving i usualy drink 4. sometimes more, lately a couple of times.. It hasnt always been this type of larger it has varied.. I was on this larger for years, drinking bourt 4 a night back then.. then moved onto normal strength at 4% and id drink a usual 8 cans (500ml) but it got to up to 12 at times but it made me piss too much so i moved onto Port bout 20% i think..started on about a bottle a night.. (75cl).. but then it became the usual to have between 1 1/4 and 1 1/2... a couple of times it was 2 bottles on a weekend evening, but id wake up so pissed and not be able to drive till late afternoon that day so id wake up wanting to go fishing and not be able to.. last 6 months i guess or more.. yeah probably more, iv gone back to the strong larger, cheaper and definately an improvment on the the port..

Unfortunately Michelle my mum and dad have both become alcoholics too..  I only realised/noticed this about 3 years ago i guess, i dont know how long it had been going for but not as long as me..  Mum knows she is.. im not sure bout dad.. he kinda does.. but is in more denial than i am.  My mum is like 60 and my dad is 66.  I hate how they make me feel cos it hurts me seeing them like that.. but i have withought doubt put them through far more than they have me..  Me and mum have spoken a few times in the past and tried to cut down, stay off it 'together',.. but one of us would crack and both then be back on it....  A little while ago i left them a note saying that we all had to stop drinking cos things couldnt go on.. they aggreed to cut back etc.. But i cracked first.. after about a week or so.. cant rem exactly..  And they promptly followed..  Not that we drink together.. I drink on my own in my room infront of pc, ps2, dvd etc, they drink together downstairs infront of tv.  Now i dont realy feel i can talk to them about it.. and everytime i do talk to them i end up feeling worse bout it in the long run, specialy as i dont seem to stick to it..  So the way i figure it now is that i need to sort myself out before encouraging them to..  And its also a case of .. well i cant deal with their shit its up to them.. its their problem..  Atleast for the time being im in no real  place to speak to them bout their problem..  End up being a hypocrit.

Thanx alot for everyones warm welcome..  its very much appreciated.. and (((hugs))) back....

I will look at the links, in due time.

When i woke up this morning, i thought i might just delete my post last night, even though at the time i wasnt really drunk.. obv i wasnt 100% sober but i wasnt off my head at all when i wrote it.. which is something of a start too cos in the past when, on the 2-3 occasions, iv phoned or emailed AA etc iv been really pissed, so this time iv posted it without being off my head..

Your responses have already given me some encouragement and confidence..  I often like to deal with shit alone, sometimes its the only way that works for me..  But just gettin all your responses has made a big difference..  Not feelin quite so alone...

Thanx again.. ill try to keep postin and reading info on here..