Abuser, not dependent

[AbuserMom]

:new: So what do you do if you abuse alcohol, but don't have withdrawl symptoms and need the help of Campral and the sort? It's a habit and it's relaxing and life is so stressful. What are some suggestions to replace this habit?

[hart]

Abuser, not dependent

I am on Campral and it helped a lot in abstaining. But what I'm reading from your post is you are still coming up with reasons to drink. Do you want to stop?

[paraniod]

Abuser, not dependent

I don't know how old you are, but I do know that when I was younger I didn't suffer from the anxiousness and anxiety and worry and the blackouts that get worse. Now I do. I over drink maybe 4 times a year. But when you get the right set up of being somewhere I don't really want to be, usually social, boredom and a sense of wanting to get away, bam, I will tie one on like I am a professional. The next week I am inconsolable and stressed to where I can't move or breathe. I finally after the last black out decided that was enough. I have drank since but it has been in moderation. I now know that if I am in an uncomfortable situation and really don't want to be there, then put my foot down and get the hell out regardless of who is pressuring me to stay.

[goingsobermum]

Abuser, not dependent

You don't have to be physically dependant to be dependant. What happens when you try to cut down or quit? Meditation, yoga, sport, having fun are ways of relaxing so are baths, massages etc.
I guess deep down you feel a need to moderate or quit thats why you're here. Keep reading you are not alone, have you read the MWO book. A book by Alan Carr called easy way to control drinking is another good one.
Welcome to MWO

[AbuserMom]

Abuser, not dependent

To Hart ....

I think you misread my post. No, of course, I NEED to stop. What I was trying to convey is that since I don't have the withdrawl symptoms, Campral and the like do not work for me (tried and Dr. said it really only works with dependency withdrawl), so was hoping for alt. suggestions.

My drinking is a habit and it's not a healthy habit. I'm looking for excuses not to drink. Also looking for direction. Maybe some others have found healthy substitutes and/or distractions?

Thanks!

[rottrod]

Abuser, not dependent

Life is stressful. It always will be and that will never change. It will ebb and flow but will always be there. So using alcohol to relieve it will make alcohol a constant in your life therefore a habit. As long as we tell ourselves it is a habit, we think we can control it. Then at some point we realize we are in trouble.
I used to use exercise to relieve stress. It was great for me because I was painfully shy and unsocial, so running was a solitary sport and I was happy just me and running. I exercised, my body was rock hard my blood pressure was low my resting heart rate was 55. I was also very lonely. So, I began abusing alcohol to help me in social situations, it worked and guess what...now here I am 30 years later trying to break the "habit" and starting over to get my body back into some kind of health.

A bit dramatic, but true, but I don't buy the "just a habit argument" that I have used myself.

There are other stress relievers. Walk, play with the kids, play games, work puzzles, cook, garden, anything but drinking. In the long run the drinking will cause you more stress than anything you are experiencing in your life at the moment. Read the book on this site and read the posts here. You'll get lots of support here.

Rotttod:welcome:

[AbuserMom]

Abuser, not dependent

Dear Rottrod ....

Well, now that makes sense to me ...ok ,so it's now in better perspective. I'll stop thinking of it as a habit. Thanks!

[rottrod]

Abuser, not dependent

There are quite a few folks here who take camparal to help with cravings. You sometimes have to wait awhile for them to post because of work schedules and some folks live in europe and austraila, soforth, so don't get discouraged right away if you don't hear form some of them right away.

I'm taking Topamax but I order it online, my doc wouldn't prescribe it. It is helping.

[louise]

Abuser, not dependent

Welcome. Have you bought the book and Cds? They will be helpful. Many of us hang out here during our normal drinking time, at least at first. Think back to what you used to do before you drank to relax. Maybe some of those activities will help.

[trixietrack]

Abuser, not dependent

AbuserMom;148097 wrote: :new: So what do you do if you abuse alcohol, but don't have withdrawl symptoms and need the help of Campral and the sort? It's a habit and it's relaxing and life is so stressful. What are some suggestions to replace this habit?

start off by writing down things you enjoy, that you find relaxing and don't involve drinking.

[paula]

Abuser, not dependent

I have abused alcohol for years, but what do you mean by withdrawal symptoms?
Iv'e never suffered shakes, hallucinations. I have been able to go for days/weeks
sometimes without a drink, I have also suffered horrendous blackouts, guilt.
When does a habit become an addiction? For me it was when it started to worry
me,and I started to depend on it for the slightest reason, when I started doing questionaires asking do you have a drink problem? the answer was always yes.
I think if you are worried about your drinking then usually you have one.
You have come to the right place welcome, hope you find what you are looking for.
Love Paula.

[rottrod]

Abuser, not dependent

Paula here is a link to mild/medium/severe withdrawal symptoms, I found last week I went through all of the first group after two days AF.

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

Melissa

[DidItForMe]

Abuser, not dependent

hi AbuserMom:
I used the Kudzu and L-Glut to help me at first. It helped to get rid of the really bad cravings I had around 5pm. I realized I needed a bit more help though and got my doc to get me some Topamax. That really did the trick. Now I can relax and decide when I will have drink. I think it's probably the way normal people feel. I can also have a drink and decide when I'll stop. Which these days is way before I'm drunk. It's an amazing feeling to have control over. I hope you find everything you are looking for here. welcome to MWO!!

[Arial]

Abuser, not dependent

Hi Abusermom,

I too abused alcohol, and managed to stop primarlily because of reading Roberta Jewel's book - it made so much sense and suddenly the problem became clearer and a solution possible. Also the inspiration from this site - I read and read and read for a month or so before joining and there's a wealth of information available here - but the main reason I managed to stop was because deep down inside something snapped and I wanted to get my life back - wasted too much time. SOme things that I found worked for me:
-think of new things to do now that you can - now that you're not drinking
-set some achievable goals - immediate, short, medium and even long-term goals
-keep a journal - it can document your journey, or I use it to write feelings both good and
bad as a reminder - and as something to fill the time, keep track - different people use
journals in different ways.
-take time out just for you - I like the spa
-excercise - it's a brilliant way to occupy yourself and the endorphins that you generate
naturally make you feel high! - can be social activity or individual - social also adds
another dimension to it
-take up old hobbies/start new ones
-oh yes, and keep busy over 'drinking hour' or the times when you know you usually drink.

The list goes on, but I won't bore you! One of the wisest pieces of information I read was to look beyond the alcohol - don't focus on not wanting to drink, not being able to drink - focus on what you do want to do - what is it you want to do instead? - Be there for my children, stop the nagging voices in my head, get a freedom from alcohol, etc. etc. I also have to say that I've been able to deal much better with the stresses of life without alcohol, though a bad day at work is still one of my biggest triggers.

Sorry to be long-winded! - just a few suggestions that I found helped break the 'habit' - different people obviously have different needs and find different things work for them. If you keep an open mind and try everything and see what may or may not work for you... I hope you find your way forward - there's a whole new future ready and waiting and if we can help you a few steps of the way then we're here! A warm :welcome: and good luck!

[paula]

Abuser, not dependent

Thanks Rotrod, I did look at the link you suggested and found it interesting.
The worst affects for me were always the blackouts and the depression,
which I have not suffered from since I stopped drinking.
I also agree with a lot of what Arial says, especially keeping a journal, also
I tell myself on a daily basis that I am not going to drink today, don't think
about tomorrow.