Neighborhood Chat Thread

[Bruunhilde]

Thought I'd create a new platform for saying 'hi' because the Topa thread was full of non-topa users and we needed a new community forum.

Here it is.... post when and if you want, no pressure.

To start it on topic (alcohol coping) at least for the very first post, I shall say that I am down to four drinks a night right now which is a righteous turn of events. Vacation is over, and I'm sorting it out. Pasta helps tremendously. I better break out the L-glut before I bust the seams of every piece of clothing I own.

To fulfill the non-AL quota for content, I will also add that my cat is sick - I've never had a pet so susceptible to cold/flu - and it's raining outside and I don't feel like working. I feel like crawling back into bed and escping the world.

[Hippyman]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

Hello...Hippy not longer says Hi...lol Great idea for a new thread! For the first time I really believe that I just will not ever drink alcohol again. I am loving a sober life. My last binder nearly killed me. I got alcohol poisoning and was still pouring the crap down my throat. I asked another alcoholic to move in and save my life. He stayed by my side and nursed me back to life. I didn't even know what day it was or if it was daytime or night. The only thing I did know was I would die if I didn't stop.

[Bruunhilde]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

Congrats, that's awesome Hippy! You can be a role model for some of us struggling ones.:goodjob:

[Bill.Z]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj8C43r4zm0[/video]]Gloria Gaynor - I am What I am - YouTube

[Hippyman]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

:b&d::teeter::dang::b&d: It doesn't feel like a struggle anymore but I will never forget what it took to BEAT the b#stard!

[NoraC]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

Thanks Bruun for starting this!! Great idea.

Hippy - I love your enthusiasm. When I'm feeling a little down, I look for your posts. :h

[playland]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

Hi Hippy,
I don't know you or your history but I'm interested in how you really beat this AL thing, did it just come down to the last time when you almost died from the bender? I'm interested to know what kinds of other things you have tried in the past? How long have you struggled with this?

Don't mean to put you to writing a long thing, just the highlights or even do you have a post that explains it all that I can read. Just wanting to get to know you a little more, Congrats on your 100 days.

love,
play

[Bruunhilde]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

I too would like to know what journey you've had - no melodrama needed- just curious how you arrived here with a sober story so quickly. I know we all envy your:thanks: success and would like to emulate.

[Lo0p]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

Hippyman took the words right out of my mouth. Almost, how do I always put it?

It was so long ago I can't really remember, I'd have to search my own threads.

The switch was undeniable. Night and day...more like hell and a sunny day in Hawaii. And it just happened sooo fast.

Something inside my head:"Click. Congratulations, you are a normal person now."

Me: [Stares at wine] "Why did I ever...what was so appealing about that?" [Goes to sleep sober for the first time in years]

me wrote: I don't really remember. But I will never, ever forget.

^^ It is something like that.

:new:

:welcome: Everyone!

[Otter]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

Good idea for a thread. I always wondered what was going on in the Topa thread.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ5ddJNsXNc[/video]]Tracy Chapman - Give Me One Reason - YouTube I like this song. I don't know what it has to do with baclofen though!

[Hippyman]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

NoraC;1442007 wrote: Thanks Bruun for starting this!! Great idea.

Hippy - I love your enthusiasm. When I'm feeling a little down, I look for your posts. :h

It comes from deep inside. I find myself smiling where ever I go. People at the grocery store look me in the eyes and smile. I take time to say a greeting to everyone who walks by and guess what...They smile back!

[Bruunhilde]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

Sounds wonderful...

[NoraC]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

I agree - it does sound wonderful!! And you know what? I've noticed the same thing. If I smile at the person in the store, they smile back. Thanks for reminding me.

[Hippyman]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

Lo0p;1442520 wrote: Hippyman took the words right out of my mouth. Almost, how do I always put it?

It was so long ago I can't really remember, I'd have to search my own threads.

The switch was undeniable. Night and day...more like hell and a sunny day in Hawaii. And it just happened sooo fast.

Something inside my head:"Click. Congratulations, you are a normal person now."

Me: [Stares at wine] "Why did I ever...what was so appealing about that?" [Goes to sleep sober for the first time in years]



^^ It is something like that.

:new:

:welcome: Everyone!

It was like a overwhelming feeling of relief. I now can control my impulse to drink. Baclofen gave me the strenght I needed to say no. I got my power back!

[Hippyman]

Neighborhood Chat Thread

playland;1442498 wrote: Hi Hippy,
I don't know you or your history but I'm interested in how you really beat this AL thing, did it just come down to the last time when you almost died from the bender? I'm interested to know what kinds of other things you have tried in the past? How long have you struggled with this?

Don't mean to put you to writing a long thing, just the highlights or even do you have a post that explains it all that I can read. Just wanting to get to know you a little more, Congrats on your 100 days.

love,
play

I have had a drinking problem off and on all my life. I'm 60 years old. I managed a 10 year sober time thru AA. I'm not really an AA person but I needed none drinking friends and found them there. After such a long time sober I thought I was cured. I started out social drinking but it soon got out of hand again. I then spent the next 10 years doing any kind of combinations to stop. Topamax, Naltrexone MWO supps Etc. They helped but when I read Dr. Amieisen's first book I started on Baclofen. It help stop the cravings almost right away. I then started playing around with drinking. Wanting it less but just not committed to it anymore. I was just plan tired of trying so I stopped all meds and started to drink myself to death. I finally almost succeeded. I was just a pile on the coach waiting to die. Then I had a out of body experience that made me want to live. I asked a fellow alcoholic to stay with me while I detoxed. I was so sick I didn't know what day or even what time it was. 6 or 7 or so days went by before I felt well enough to start taking baclofen. I went up slowly with the tablets and have now switched to liquid bac at 50 mgs. I feel great! No thoughts of drinking. Just hope for a happy life ahead.