How

[HappyDrunk]

Does one just quit drinking?

I have been going to stop "tomorrow" for years, and even a few more years - but tomorrow always becomes tomorrow. And, so on and so forth. And, on and on.

I am not drinking any more or less than I ever have but as I age my body is not handling the AL near as well as it used to.

I saw a recent post from "Loop" and look at his before and after pictures daily for inspiration (not that I really want to look at him, per se) - just the differnece that a few months of abstinance made in his life.

I am totally amazed and even though I am roughly twice his age and have twice his drinking "experience" I still see some hope out there, somewhere.

But, how does one actually go about doing the deed?

Any suggestions and thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

And, anyone in Germany (specifically Berlin) on the forum - I am an American but have been living in Berlin for 15+ years.

Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED -

Dave -

the not so happy, HappyDrunk - anymore!

[sunshinedaisies]

How

Hi Dave and welcome - first of all - LOL re you and looking at Loop's pictures daily for inspiration though you don't want to look at him per se!! That made me laugh!!

Okay - have you downloaded the MWO book? You need to read that. You don't have to follow what they do/say in it but it gives you an idea. I totally agree with you on HOW does one stop drinking though - it seemed an insurmountable task to me although I wasn't a heavy drinker, I was a daily drinker and couldn't imagine how I was ever going to stop. There is a Tools link you can go to - I am not good at putting links in - someone else will surely do that here after me if I say I can't (thanks someone) - but basically, you need a PLAN!

I take Topamax and have been AF (Alcohol free) since the beginning of Jan this year. Others here take Baclofen, or Naltrexone - but whatever you do, you need to have a plan.

I lived in Germany for 5 years and it will not be easy to stop - the whole culture revolves around drinking!! Loop is an inspiration to all on here - he has done amazingly well. As have many others - this is a wonderful web site. You will get plenty of support from all. Wander the site - ask questions, download the book. Welcome, you have landed in the right place!

Sunshinedaisies x

[Rusty]

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Dear HD,

I know exactly what you mean....I've been saying I'll quit tomorrow for the last 3.5 years...well, I finally did it. But rather than say I'll quit tomorrow and knowing that tomorrow would come and I would still be drinking, I just said to myself, "I won't drink today and I'll worry about tomorrow when it gets here." That eliminated the possibility of feeling like I failed again with a broken promise to myself.

I quit with the help of Naltrexone, which I bought through River Pharmacy (there are cheaper online pharmacies, though). I needed to change the way my brain perceived alcohol, and I found NAL to be extremely effective. Maybe this would work for you, too.

And how well I know about how AL changes the way a person looks. All it does is age a person....right? I'm vain and I don't want to look older than I am at age 49.

Good luck to you and someone is always here to help,

Rusty

[Road to Recovery]

How

Dave

[johnnyh]

How

Hallo Dave du alter Berliner.
Ich bin ein Deutscher der seid 11 Jahren in Kapstadt lebt.

translation: I'm a German living in Cape town for 11 years. However am considering moving to Berlin ath the moment actually. I'm a christian and feel that there is a great need in Berlin and my church is planning to get off the ground there. But enough about me.

The greatest step is the one of admitting you have a problem and taking the first step in doing somethign about it.

I belive you have just succeeded in that. You're here, and looking for help, right?!!

The method of how to achieve that is like asking how long is a piece of string. We're all different and different things work for diferent people and many have taken a long time in finding their right approach. Trials and challenges.

The most important things is the decision to do something and to keep at it. Whether you fall of the wagon isn't as much of an issue as getting back onto it.

I suggest reading through the meds section if you're interested in using supplements as there are several different ones with different methodology as well.

I wish you all the best in your journey and please do stick around. I've foudn this forum of great help and it's helped me in coming up with my very onw sobriety plan. Mine included using supplements such as Antabuse, which just doesn't allow me to drink anymore due to teh reaction to AL when on the drug.

I hope you find the thing that helps for you!!

Be blessed.

[Guest]

How

Like the Nike ad - You just do it

No really one morning you just get on with it and change your life. I tried many times and I didn't drink everyday(at my level of binging it simply wasn't possible, although there were periods when I certainly did try).

Just one day I decided enough was enough and I was ready to make that step. It was/is hard work but you do get a lot from it - like a life!

[gyco]

How

what if

HappyDrunk;867033 wrote: Does one just quit drinking?

I have been going to stop "tomorrow" for years, and even a few more years - but tomorrow always becomes tomorrow. And, so on and so forth. And, on and on.

I am not drinking any more or less than I ever have but as I age my body is not handling the AL near as well as it used to.

I saw a recent post from "Loop" and look at his before and after pictures daily for inspiration (not that I really want to look at him, per se) - just the differnece that a few months of abstinance made in his life.

I am totally amazed and even though I am roughly twice his age and have twice his drinking "experience" I still see some hope out there, somewhere.

But, how does one actually go about doing the deed?

Any suggestions and thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

And, anyone in Germany (specifically Berlin) on the forum - I am an American but have been living in Berlin for 15+ years.

Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED -

Dave -

the not so happy, HappyDrunk - anymore!

hi happy,interesting thread,ive never lived outside of canada,cant help you there,your doin great,your story aint much different from mine,youve got the 1st tasked worked out,you recognise the problem,just trying to fix it,is an accomplishment,whether you moderate,which trust ,me takes practice,i drank for 41 years off and on,been in and out of hospitals for the last 12 years trying to figure it out,jokingly,im not joking,the best thing that ever happen to me was treatment out of town,i never had a problem like many do,stopping,was not my problem,staying stopped and understanding why i should was,we were lied to as children,cant blame it on are teachers,they didnt no better either,there for fathers did it b4 them and so on down the line,until you figure out it is not normal to drink,lerning how to drink is another step in itself,and even after you stop,the mental problems,from the abuse we did to ourselves takes years to overcome,until i found here,i thot there was one way,AA,i like many were wrong,AA for me was the 1st step,reseach has helped me a great deal,and im blabbin,were unique inmany ways,the old saying my friend,where theres a will,theres a way,no matter what way you choose,good luck gyco:goodjob:

[spedteach]

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Antabuse...once a week. Know a lot of people are kind of afraid/put off by this drug but it's working for me after years of stop starts.

[wannachange]

How

You just do it, remember the world record is only 24 hours and every day is today.

[daybyday]

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Try to get through minute by minute instead of thinking in too long of time frames which can be quite overwhelming. Having a plan in place is a huge help too.

[FallenAngel]

How

I was like you.... wanting to quit & always thinking of the perfect 'tomorrow' of when I would do it. That tomorrow never came. When tomorrow arrived, something else always seemed to be of more importance & the wishful thinking of quitting went on the back burner until "a more suitable" time.

Don't wait for a negative situation to occur for you to make this commitment (like a DUI, loss of family or relationship, etc).... make this first step of your journey happen because of a yearning to change your life for the better. When I quit, there was an overwhelming feeling that I needed to quit on a positive note, and not because of a negative situation.


And so what we must do, is make this very moment.... THE time.

And how do we make this the moment we bookmark as the exact time we changed our life around you ask?? We make it dramatic. We make this moment stand out so that it is forever etched in our mind & heart.
Create your moment of transformation.
It can be something like holding your hand to your heart & extending your other hand up to the heavens & exclaiming outloud to the universe that at this very moment you have made a solemn commitment to no longer drink.... or pouring out all the remaining alcohol down the drain & knowing at this very moment you have claimed your power back. The scenarios are endless.... find one that will empower you with energy of your new commitment.

We have free will. We have the power to change. ...but all we have is 'now'.
Will today be a repeat of all our yesterdays.... or will today be the first day of our life-transforming journey? The choice is ours.
Carpe Diem!

[aspman]

How

hi mate, its all about getting some tools and a plan and going for it.
i was taking campral, and it was a huge sucsess for me. read the box, some great stuff in there.

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f1...box-27556.html

[Guest]

How

I agree with UKB. You just do it. Like Yoda said: 'There is do, or do not, there is not try.'
BTW Angel 'carpe diem'...I always think 'the carp are dying' or 'eat a carp a day' don't know why, insanity I guess.

[franziasgone]

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Hey there!

It's been almost a year since I've even looked at this site! It's been almost a year since I have wanted to "quit".
I look at myself now in disgust. I was doing "pretty well" last summer compared to now.
My hubby and I are totally addicted to pain killers and alcohol.
It's been a harrowing year.......and I use that as my excuse. In October I injured my back AGAIN~ I've had two spine surgeries. In December my husband had elective shoulder surgery~ only to have another in January due to infection. Whamo! double insurance deductible and co-pay!!
Wow! He's laid off in March!! He takes Percocet daily and I take Vicodin daily.......and then we hit the box of Franzia wine every night. How can we afford it??
I have a 2 yo grandson..........I am only 52. How can I keep this up?
I want to change my life and I just don't know how!!
I'm sitting here typing with a glass of wine right here beside me.
:upset:What's wrong with me?

[JACQRABBIT]

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Hello Happy,

Some really great advice there.

I believe that Rusty hit the nail on the head perfect.

Don't drink today and worry about tomorrow when it comes.

Tomorrow was also always my goal.

Every morning I would drive to work (hoping I was under the legal Blood Alcohol Level) and resolve not to drink tonite and every afternoon I would drive home thinking,
I can't wait to get home and have a wine tonite, I'll not drink tomorrow.

And if today is too much to digest then think I will not drink before lunch, then I will not drink before dinner, then maybe I will not drink before the kids go to bed,make them baby steps as small as you need to, but just make them.