My Story

[daxmg837]

Where do I begin....I started binge drinking when I was in college. I am now 50 and still, no used to, binge drink almost every weekend. Last Saturday night, Dec 13, was my last drink. The evening at our friends Christmas party started out alright. I switched from beer to scotch and remember arguing with my husband on the way home. We almost got divorced. He has put up with this for 21 years and says he can no longer live like this. He says he never knows how the evening will go. I understand that. Sometimes I can drink and be ok. Other times I loose it and drink until I am drunk.

My father was an alcoholic and died young from a heart attack. I have a younger sister who was also an alcoholic and died young. I have a younger brother who is an addict. I do not want to go down the same path. I know I am geneitcally predisposed for that.

I have purchased the book and the starter pak of vitamins/suppliements. I really want to quit drinking. I have caused a lot of grief.

Any advice would be appreciated. Especially on handling social situations. I am a little depressed knowing I can not drink like a normal person. My husband is very supportive by the way.

Thanks everyone for listening to my story.

[Skinned Knees]

My Story

:welcome: dax

I, too, felt the same way that you do -- feeling depressed that I can't drink. But, you know what? I watch others getting up with a hangover and feeling like crap the next day. Now how much fun is THAT?

There's a great thread going in the Just Starting Out. A bunch of members are going for 7 days AF. I'm on day 10, but I've designated myself as their cheerleader. :H

SK

[summer_holiday]

My Story

Hi and good luck on your journey. My husband sounds the same as yours....i am now in counselling to save both me and my marriage. He loves me to bits, and I him...the one most excellent thing i have ever bought him is a breath test machine. He works very long hours and is sometimes not home till 10-11pm, and he was constantly worried about me drinking. It was stressing HIM out as well. So, after a particularly spectacular embarrassing night out went to my doc, got some counselling, saw the light (ha ha) and got the tester. You know what? best thing i've ever bought. He knows that he can test me, I know that he can test me. It works out fine for us. I want my family to know that i MEAN it this time.....and have given him the tools to prove it. Take care, Summer xx

[summer_holiday]

My Story

sorry forgot, I have been af since 19th October now, lost count how many days though!! Social situations can be difficult indeed. But, one thing i've come to realise is that you know what, some people are just not that interesting!!!!! Sad but true. lol. x

[daxmg837]

My Story

Thank you for your comments! I feel better already. I do look forward to no hangovers. And you are right some people are not that interesting! lol back at you

[Ripple]

My Story

DAX .. one can really 'learn' how to abstain if they want to. its when we crave and cannot say NO .. then there is a problem. everything is right here on this board to inform what others have been through.. look around. :welcome:

[BecomingMeAtLast]

My Story

dax,

Sounds like you've got a great handle on things, buying the book and the starter pack. Although you're "geneitcally predisposed", as I am, we haven't been given a death sentence, have we?

Hangovers suck as we get older. Lets grow older gracefully. I will if you will.

Take care, :l
Be

[desertchick]

My Story

Hi Dax, I'm a binge drinker also. I lost both of my parents to alcoholism. I am on day1 of AF. I plan on staying close to these boards and getting as much wisdom and support as possible. Hang in there!

[veritas]

My Story

Hi Dax, very good luck to you.

I am now day 6AF. I have however had a few stops and starts in the past. I'm afraid Summer holidays is right, some people are not interesting and very negative and drag you down. I realised that I had often used alcohol to space out at times like this. I now excuse myself early and just leave. Fortunately I can usually find a valid reason to go home.

I have decided that from now onwards I am going to focus on people who are positive and interesting.

[kaponium]

My Story

Welcome dax - and ripple, wise words re the abstinence. Surely many people told me I HAD to or NEEDED to stop, but until I genuinely WANTED to, it was talking to brick wall stuff.
Recovery for me is a total new lease of life - living, not just a breathing, barely functioning shell.
Hangovers never really happened to me, I just STAYED drunk, drank first thing etc - but ended up with the MOST DREADFUL withdrawls and dts. NOT TODAY!

I am clear of head, heart, and conscience and my life DOES have colour and pizzaz without alcohol!

Great to see everyone's posts in this thread - the support, friendship, laughter and love of MWOers is a true and rare gift X)

[maddiva]

My Story

You know this predisposition that you talk of has had me trapped long time now. Like so many on here we seem to all have relatives who have succumbed and died due to addictions. I think - it is true - it is maybe a gene. i do think though that the cycle must be broken otherwise we take it forward to the next generation. However, hard it seems and it does seem hard - if not impossible at times. It is not impossible. That is what I am learning. Bloody hard at times though!!!! See the goal in your mind and stick with it. Goood Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Accountable for Me]

My Story

I think Maddiva is right on the money! I, too, have a long line of relatives that are alcoholics and substance abusers. The predisposition to this sucks - many of us can relate.

You can break the cycle. Try to think of everything positive that comes with AF. Personally, I love the freedom it brings. I am not tied to the house too intoxicated to go out whenever I feel like it. My relationships with friends and family are great. Not waking up weak and hungover is definitely a huge benefit. Sleeping well (most nights) makes for days of energy and happiness.

I have been to a few gatherings over the past couple of years sober. I have watched many people drinking and was horrified. I have behaved like that many times in the past.

Keep posting here and hopefully you will find the strength and support you need to overcome this.

All the best.

[retteacher]

My Story

Pisces: I too am a Pisces by the way. Perhaps we sensitive fishy types are prone to trying to swim away from our problems. I've been a member here since Apr. 2007 & have had some real success in staying sober...not perfect...but nonetheless successful. Keep coming & sharing. Alcohol is not worth losing your marriage over. Check out the daily thread on the 30 day abs forum. It's very helpful.

Mary

[Evie.Lou]

My Story

You are off to a GREAT START !!!!

:colorwelcome::hello::nicemeeting:
Glad to have you with us. Stick around. I look forward to getting to know you.

[Princess Fiona]

My Story

Welcome Dax,
I am 6 days short of being AF for 7 months, prior to that I was AF for 75 days then my husband did leave me, and binged for a month, realized that by drinking I felt worse so stopped, don"t get me wrong, its been one tough ride, my divorce will be final in Jan, so it has been an emotional rollercoaster for 8 months, but being AF has made me a stronger person and if I have got through this sober, I really feel that I can deal with the curve balls that life throws at me. This site and the fact that I am in AA, has truly helped, we are here for the same reasons, how we drank, what we did, everything, its all here, we share a common illness, I just knew that when drunk, I became like my father, who also is an alcoholic...I haven't seen him in 15 yrs, due to him drinking, so, scary shit to realize.
Good luck and LOL