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    #1

    looking for advice.

    Hi,
    Starting out here. I'm a 34 yr old single Irish male. I am a typical weekend binger - head to the pub Sat night, go again Sunday afternoon/evening then maybe Monday - then stop till Sat and start again. I have known for years that booze doesn't suit me = I am a loud obnoxious drunk and am capable of most things when drunk.

    I make great promises to myself that I won't venture out at the weekend but then Sat comes along and I weaken and repeat as above.

    I could really do with some advice on how to break this cycle. What would I get out of AA or seeing an alcohol counsellor?

    Thanks in advance.
    Tags: None
    #2
    looking for advice.

    :welcomeavid, Welcome! It is a very difficult thing to break the cycle. You have found an excellent site for support and information. You have actually taken the first step to break the cycle by posting here! Keep posting, keep coming back and reading. Decide what your goals are, then make a plan to achieve them. A lot of folks on here feel keeping a journal is helpful, too.

    Glad to have you join us!
    Dill

    Dont forget, you can: start late, start over, be unsure, try and fail AND STILL SUCCEED!

    If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you will find an excuse.

    Comment

      #3
      looking for advice.

      You will feel an almost instant sense of relief and comraderie in the AA rooms. It is not a God-pushing programme and generally members can have a laugh at past drinking experienced that would seem horrendous if dealing with them on your own. Everyone understands exactly as non-problem drinkers don't. I come and go from the programme but whenever I return I am welcomed back with wry grins, slaps on the back, strong coffe, and acceptance. It is the safest and most comfortable place to be for me. Just for today! Anyone can do in 12 hours what would seem impossible to do in a lifetime! Also you will meet the most amazing cross section of society, from bankers, doctors to hard-core ex-crims and everyone laughs together at their drinking and recovery experiences.
      PS Unless an alcoholic counsellor is actually alcohol dependent they will not be nearly as helpful as AA in my vast experience of treatment attempts. AA can only be understood by trying a meeting - can't help, will help.

      Comment

        #4
        looking for advice.

        Welcome. The fact that you don't really drink through the week is really great and says you can have success. It's just the routine you've got yourself into. Try and break that. Maybe go out in the day time to somewhere other then a pub or say you're feeling ill for the next few weeks when Saturday rolls around. I think it's harder for a man to say no to drink at a pub then it is for a woman... Maybe take your car or something so you CAN'T drink!

        Comment

          #5
          looking for advice.

          Hello Davie, how are you? Bit if an irish tradition that, pub one night then back the next day for the hair of the dog. Hang around here and read what others are doing and how they are coping. There's great information and support here. Plenty of irish around too, especially on the "Army" thread, call in and say hello.

          Comment

            #6
            looking for advice.

            Patterns

            Hi,
            I've managed to keep a diary this year re my drinking days.
            To date (in total) I have drank on 83 days. Of those the main drinking days are Saturday - 20 of them and Sunday - 24 of them.
            To give an idea of my patterns I have done the following analysis: for example
            Friday - Sunday i.e. started drinking Fri night and drank Sat night & Sunday = 3 times i.e. 9 nights.
            Friday - Monday: 3 times.
            Sat - Sun: 8 times.
            Sat - Monday: 4 times
            Sunday - Monday: 3 times.

            Of the 83 times in total only on 7 of those times did I go out one night without going out the next i.e. did not do consecutive nights.

            When I look at the patterns above it sends a shiver down my spine. I estimate that I on average I spent at least ?100 on each of those 83 times - believe me that is a conservative estimate.
            Maybe writing this down will help to refer back to when the weekend comes around.

            How do I start a journal?

            Comment

              #7
              looking for advice.

              Hi Davie, and :welcome:

              You might be interested in drink tracker. If you click on Our Community at the top of the page, you will get a page with areas of the forum. Drink tracker is near the bottom I think. It will give you a visual of your monthly alcohol consumption.
              sigpic
              Thoughts become things..... choose the good ones. ~TUT

              Comment

                #8
                looking for advice.

                greeneyes;751354 wrote: Hi Davie, and :welcome:

                You might be interested in drink tracker. If you click on Our Community at the top of the page, you will get a page with areas of the forum. Drink tracker is near the bottom I think. It will give you a visual of your monthly alcohol consumption.
                Thanks I'll check it out.

                Comment

                  #9
                  looking for advice.

                  Hi Davie. :welcome: and good for you recognizing a problem, and reaching out to others for help and support. I tried to deal with my own alcoholism for many years in isolation. That was an abysmal failure for me! For me, I could not do it alone.

                  I think it's positive that you are honestly evaluating your patterns. I think one of the most important considerations is not necessarily how often we drink (i.e. daily drinkers like me v. binge drinkers as you describe). I think the REAL key is the inability to stop once we get started. "Just One???" For me that has NEVER happened and I have finally accepted that it never will. So abstinence is the only way for me to "control" things when it comes to alcohol.

                  The only way you will know what works for you is by trying it! MWO was my first resource on my path to abstinence and is a critical support system for me. I have also been going to AA regularly for the last 9 months and really like the face to face support and the understanding just as Chopper describes. We laugh more than I ever would have imagined at AA meetings! It's not for everyone but why not give it a whirl. It's free. I also suggest trying out different meetings to see if you find a group of people you feel most comfortable with. Each group tends to have a different "group personality."

                  I don't have any personal experience with alcohol counseling so cannot comment on that.

                  Strength and hope to you.

                  DG
                  Sobriety Date = 5/22/08
                  Nicotine Free Date = 2/27/07

                  One day at a time.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    looking for advice.

                    thanks for your words.

                    Not too many AA meetings in my immediate locality but i live approx 30 min drive from Dublin City Centre where there appears to be plenty of options.
                    There are 2 meetings on a Saturday in my town which would be great but I think i'd be too embarassed to be recognised

                    Comment

                      #11
                      looking for advice.

                      yo

                      Davie Souter;750784 wrote: Hi,
                      Starting out here. I'm a 34 yr old single Irish male. I am a typical weekend binger - head to the pub Sat night, go again Sunday afternoon/evening then maybe Monday - then stop till Sat and start again. I have known for years that booze doesn't suit me = I am a loud obnoxious drunk and am capable of most things when drunk.

                      I make great promises to myself that I won't venture out at the weekend but then Sat comes along and I weaken and repeat as above.

                      I could really do with some advice on how to break this cycle. What would I get out of AA or seeing an alcohol counsellor?

                      Thanks in advance.
                      hi dave,to me it seems by your other comments you have some control,weekend drinker,AA ive been in and mostly out for 10 years,it is a great program but not for all,just like here,ill suggest read the 1st 164 pages then read Dr bobs story,you can find it on line , under AA book,plus other reading material,one such is adult children of alcoholics,i beleive the lady tht helped create this program also has a great book,havent read it yet,as far as councillors, , ,the gentleman tht worked with me,worked in an institution and went into privare practice,councilling has its benefits,the biggest thing you have to lern is,you have a CHOICE,as i said earlier,you seem to have a grasp of what you want to do,stay on it b4 it bites you in the ASS,i do wish you well gyco

                      Comment

                        #12
                        looking for advice.

                        you mt be surprised who you see at those meeting s if they help why would it matter there there to rt

                        Comment

                          #13
                          looking for advice.

                          have a good nt

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