Um...Hi, deal with me.

[Noelle]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

Do I sound like I'm just being negative or does that make sense to anyone?

You make perfect sense to me! Plus you're very funny! Thanks!

[4theboyz]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

Reicherrty,

I see you point but there a problem with oversimplifying something so inherently complicated as recovery from alcohol addiction. Smoking does not lead one to ruin ones life, lose a job, spouse or custody of their children. Smoking does not cause one to abandon previously productive behaviors and replace them with ones that are deceitful, desperate and destructive.

Alcohol addiction is an insidious, complicated disease that consumes the mind, the body and the spirit of all who succumb to the disease. Recovery in many cases requires extensive treatments, interventions and behavior modification therapies often involving meds and dietary supplements.

Very few people have the resolve and fortitude to stop drinking long term let alone for one day and the vast majority need some sort of outside help and support. That is what is so special about this forum is the wide support network of specialized information and personal experiences available to all comers who seek help here.

[Sunbeam]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

Hi all,
I don't want to speak for Reicherrty or anyone else, but whe he arrived and started posting his consumption level, I joined with some others who told him he probably needed more help than this site could provide. But he is being successful - I'm really impressed. Especially impressed at how little I know. We all just need to keep finding our own path. There are plenty of ideas here for supports in quitting. I found hope on the My Way Out web site - the book actually wasn't that helpful for me, I understood the program from the web site info. Before this I only knew about AA, which dominates our culture, and I don't feel I fit their mold.

[reichertty]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

Oversimplifying?

Maybe, but, what I was trying to drive home is that, it doesn't matter what sort of treatment, therapies, drugs, or aids one uses, it's the mental fortitude, determination, and sheer will power, ultimately, that will win it over, not the drugs, not the kudzu (they will not accomplish anything for you, it is entirely up to the individual, not the dried, ground up roots molded into pill form that is kudzu).

I wasn't trying to compare quitting smoking with quitting drinking, only the general experience. I realize the argument isn't exactly apples vs. oranges, but, to be honest with you, I've been more successful quitting drinking than I ever have been quitting smoking. From a difficulty standpoint, I have found quitting smoking more of a hardship. As far as the destructive nature of each drug respectively, sure, alcohol wins hands down, no question about it, I won't ever dispute that. And even alcoholics have it easy compared to an alcoholic with a cocaine habit, or a meth habit, or a heroin habit. But easy is a subjective word and obviously based on circumstances and individuals.

I am not attempting to discount the benefits kudzu (or any other drug/supplement designed to curb cravings) may offer as to reducing cravings, but, most everyone knows, and has commented, that this addiciton is not ONLY physical, it also is deeply psychological. This means the disease MUST be treated on both fronts. If one treats only the physical yearnings, then, one is only treating a symptom and not addressing the underlying issues at the core of the problem. Once the physical cravings cease, what does one have to lean on? Kudzu ain't gonna do shit at that point and I'm only suggesting that one needs to build a stronger base. Even band-aids lose their adhesive properties after a time and once it falls off, one has to count on the regenerative qualitites within them to actually heal their wound. If one's immune system is supressed, then, that might not and/or will not happen, but, the fact of the matter is that applying another band-aid isn't going to do a thing either.

So, am I oversimplifying? I don't think I am. Take your kudzu, take your supplements, I don't think anyone is wrong for doing so, in fact, I applaud making the effort to do anything and everything to get through this. Just don't forget that you weren't taking kudzu when you started drinking and your drinking habit was most definitely NOT due to the fact that you had a kudzu defficiency in the first place. No, there was an underlying issue before you even knew kudzu exists.

4theboyz, I am not directing this at you in particular, and I hope I am not offending you with my words, just a friendly debate I guess.

[Jimmycrackcorn]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

dowjbw;284698 wrote: Hi all,
I don't want to speak for Reicherrty or anyone else, but whe he arrived and started posting his consumption level, I joined with some others who told him he probably needed more help than this site could provide. But he is being successful - I'm really impressed.

Well its only 2 days and I do that weekly. Its the 3rd or 4th day that gets me. Normally the 4 day binge from Thursday through Sunday night. Sometimes I dont drink on Saturday night because Iam so hungover from the Thrusday Friday beating. My liver actually jumps out of my body and and kicks my ass.:H

So fingers crossed (hard to hold beer with fingers crossed) and away we go...ODAT

[tlrgs]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

good luck jimmy

[reichertty]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

By the way...

...the active ingredient in kudzu which reduces alcohol cravings is daidzin. This flavonoid is found mainly in legumes (beans). Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids, plant/biological based flavonoids) are anti-oxidants. If any of you know anything about anti-oxidants, you should know these cancer fighting soldiers are found in many many many plant based foods. Many berries contain the highest levels of anti-oxidants, but, they are found in all types of other foods. This type of flavonoid in particular is legume based, so, if you happened to be a vegetarian and ate tons of soy/edamame/tofu or chickpeas/hummus/garbanzo beans while engaging in your alcoholic tendencies, then, you should expect about the same amount of craving reduction with kudzu.

This is a lot less science than it is common sense. Know what you're taking, know if you're being taken. Sure, anti-oxidants may help reduce cravings, but, it's not necessary to take a $25 supplement, just eat smarter. Go buy a package of blueberries (blueberries are known to have one of the highest concentrations of anti-oxidants than any other berry), blackberries, raspberries, et al and chow down. As for berries, the darker the berry, the higher concentration of anti-oxidants; similarly, the darker the vegetable, the higher concentration of cancer fighting agents and anti-oxidants (read spinach/broccoli/kale).

Again, I have to say, I'm not trying to discourage anyone from doing everything in their power to abstain from alcohol. I'm just saying, if you believe that kudzu or other supplements are going to, all of a sudden, cure your disease, think again. Odds are you've been eating some of the same active ingredients all along and never knew it.

Check out this link for the top 10 antioxidant foods:
The Top 10 Antioxidant Foods

[Not Happy Hour-Happy Life]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

Reicherrty, your blueberry picture is beautiful.

I haven't taken the Kudzu, but I'm a big advocate of a Vitamin B complex, which you can get at your local pharmacy/big box store for under $5. If you read my history, you'll understand that my mom suffered from Wernicke's syndrome, which was a direct result from the alcohol she drank daily. Even though my mom follows a healthy diet (meat, starch, and vegies at every dinner!), the doctor said that she was nutritionally malnourished due to her liver's inability to break food down into vitamins. So Jimmie, even if you can't afford the stuff on this web site, do your body a favor and get a Vitamin B Super complex... please?

Jimmie, "they" say that day 4 or 5 is the hardest physically to get through- being forewarned is the best way to prepare- have alternative mocktails ready, change your routine, do whatever it takes to get through those days. I think that Chief (Don) is the one who commented that if you realize those days are the hardest, why would you want to repeat them again later?

I'm a cold turkey type of person, too, which is how I quit smoking 8 years ago and drinking in November. Personally, I have to kick back and realize that everyone can not join the Cold Turkey Club. When I met my husband, we both smoked, and over the last 8 years, I've tried to FORCE him to quit smoking. He has tried; he doesn't smoke around the house, and will not smoke in front of our kids. But on Monday morning, when he's back at work, the pull of nicotine is stronger than his love for me. Of all the things in our marriage, his smoking has been the worst conflict. Personally, I believe that if HE loved ME more than cigarettes, he would quit. I know that he loves me "the most", and he still won't quit. Lord knows that he HAS truly tried, numerous times. My sister (who is a breast cancer survivor and the sole reason that I quit cold turkey) told me to STOP harassing him and to simply love him-

So, that's what I try to do. I love him with my whole heart, but when that man is hacking up lung biscuits in the middle of the night, I get SO pissed at cigarettes and that addiction. Hearing him cough like that scares me- I don't want him to suffer from a heart attack, stroke or lung cancer. I want to grow old with him, sitting on the front porch in our rocking chairs when we are great grandparents, and that would be hard to do if you are confined to an iron lung machine!

Rant over.

[Victory]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

Lung Biscuits???

Happy you made some good points about the liver not being able to utilise or metabolise properly. I am in total support of sups they have helped me enormously through the heavy drinking episodes, especially the B group and vitamin C. As for your husbands ?lung biscuits?!!! Never heard that term before. You made me laugh. Sorry tho? that he is scaring you with his smoking.

[Jimmycrackcorn]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

I actually pop the B complex, C and a Multivitimin daily. Once I get the book I will get to New Seasons and purchase the milk thistle etc.

Welcome to day 3.

[Shaila]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

This site really helps you to change your view of the patterns we so easily get stuck in....since i been here ive noticed im not being so emotionally attached any more to wine.......

it takes a lot of guts to deal with the constant denial..but again what are labels nothing really...past does not equal future and we can all make this journey an easy one....one step at a time
shaila
see you on chat jimmy
xx

[Not Happy Hour-Happy Life]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

Jimmy~
Wondered where you are hanging out.... hope things are okay. Any good AF beer recipes yet?
Miss your zany humor :eeks:

[dexterhead]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

Jimmy, Jimmy CC .. talk to us!! let us know how you are doing.

[Jimmycrackcorn]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

Iam here. Still tring. Go 5 days, relapse, go 2 days, relapse. etc. This quitting drinking crap is as tough as the last time I quit drinking.

My post count stinks.

Iam tring to be more focused. We'll see. Hope everyone has been good. I need to catch up on the forums. It took me an hour or so to find my user name, guess that' happens when I drunk post.

[A Work in Progress]

Um...Hi, deal with me.

Welcome back! Get a plan, follow the plan, change your life!

best wishes,

wip