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    WHY ME ?

    I've been sitting here for 3 hours wondering why I am in the situation I am today and how in the world to explain it let alone get out of it.

    My life has been pretty "normal" but somehow I lost my way. Growing up, I got into my share of trouble in my teen years but I settled down at 15 and went on to college. I have/had 3 sisters (I'm the oldest). When I was 20 one of my sisters died in a car accident at 17. It was the first tragedy our family had ever experienced.

    At the time, I was living with my fianc? and going to college. It was hard, but our family got through it - if I can call it that (My mother had a nervous breakdown, my father left, and my 2 other sisters were left to fend for themselves at 14).

    I got through college but I left for Europe right after at 23 and have been here ever since. That is where I started drinking socially. At first, it was fun to binge drink going out to night clubs. Then I got the point I drank every night. Feelings of abandonment haunting my dreams and the AL was there to dull the pain. The funny thing is that I left my home, my home and family didn't leave me so I don't understand these feeling so well.

    To make a long story short, I am now 40(ish) and still getting drunk every other day - At least I give my body a break once in a while - I'm a "compulsive" drinker. There is always a way to convince myself that it's OK to drink that one drink. The problem is I don't know how to stop after that 1st glass. It's funny because I have a good job, friends, boyfriend, confortable life and I STILL drink. Why ? And why me?

    I again woke up this morning after 3 litres of wine yesterday and feeling guilty, beating myself up mentally, and feeling generally like "SHIT" (excuse my french). Then I stumbled onto this website this morning and thought why not give it a try. Nothing else seems to do the "trick". I really want to take control of my life because I know that everything and everyone around me is suffering from my "habit".

    Anyway, if you're still here then you may have some advice for me. Looking forward to getting to know you all.
    MLC:new:

    #2
    WHY ME ?

    Welcome MLC!
    My advice is to read the book "My Way Out" -- for me it was the beginning. It inspired me to get my sh*t together, make a plan and be committed to new habits.
    There is a lot of valuable advice here -- keep reading and posting and don't be shy to ask questions.
    Sending you strength today to begin your journey to sobriety.
    "The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it"

    Comment


      #3
      WHY ME ?

      thanks for the words of encouragement DEEBEE. I'm going to stick it out for the long haul. Complete abstinence starting today.

      MLC

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        #4
        WHY ME ?

        I can relate

        MLC,

        My family fell apart when my 13 year old brother was killed in a car accident... I am the sixth of seven kids ... my parents checked out emotionally and financially they could not keep up ... there was not a law suit after the accident because my parents knew money would not bring him back... sadly, I wish they had sued because he was killed by a reckless driver.

        So, here I am ... years later. Have a Masters Degree, a wonderful husband but still a desire to drink. Thankfully my husband does not and supports me... but how do we move on? I find it to be a daily struggle... I hope we can connect... good luck!

        Tiny
        Tiny

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          #5
          WHY ME ?

          Hi MLC,
          Intesting how you and Tiny share losing a sibling to a car accident. I also think that it is interesting that your parents checked out aferwards - like they were so lost in their grief (which I cannot criticize, being a mom) that they lost sight of their other kids. Your father left? What a wrench to the family that was already trying to heal. Do you think they had problems before that? Did they blame each other for the accident?

          Why we can't stop at 1? They say, once a pickle never again a cucumber. I too have abandonment fears almost daily, although I try to tell myself not to. Not sure how much this is an excuse or a real fear in my case.
          Good wishes for you, Grim.
          Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.
          AF since May 6, 2010

          Comment


            #6
            WHY ME ?

            Hi Tulipe - interestingly enough alot of the stories I've read here deal with tragic losses of loved ones. That is really something to ponder. Yes my parents fought constantly before my sister's accident. And yes they did/still do blame each other. My sister's best friend was with her and ended up a paraplegic (sp.?) and my mother even blamed that poor girl. I was just trying to get through college at the time so it was really hard but that's not when I started drinking. That came about 4 years later.

            I know - what is with that "have 1 have 20" drinks !! It doesn't matter if I'm happy, sad, stressed, calm, etc. when that craving starts it won't go away until I feed it.

            Anyway thanks for your comments - it is conforting to know that there is a place to go where no one expects anything from you and no jugements are made.
            MLC

            Comment


              #7
              WHY ME ?

              Tulipe;666288 wrote: They say, once a pickle never again a cucumber.
              What a funny saying, Tulipe! I have never heard that one before. So true, though.

              I wonder if one reason that the bottle is so attractive to those of us with abandonment issues is that it's always there, and we have control over "having our needs met" through it. The bottle never says, "no."

              Misery, I'm so sorry for all you've been through. As one of three sisters, I can't imagine the pain of losing one of them. So many of us have our lives together as adults, but those old wounds run deep. And sometimes, even when we've dealt with them, the "tools" we pick up along the way stay with us. And their nature changes. I hope that you are able to sort this out and find a path that works for you. You really deserve to be happy.
              "If you fell down yesterday, get up today." -- H.G. Wells

              Comment


                #8
                WHY ME ?

                miserylovescompany;666368 wrote: I know - what is with that "have 1 have 20" drinks !! It doesn't matter if I'm happy, sad, stressed, calm, etc. when that craving starts it won't go away until I feed it.
                Hello and welcome. Sounds like you have read around enough here to realize you are not alone! This is just my take, but I have come to the conclusion that in the end, the reason I drank was purely that I had become an alcoholic. Whatever the reasons I may have drank when I was 17 just didn't seem to apply any more at 50.

                It's been quite a journey of acceptance and recovery, but well worth the struggles along the way. Life will be life with all of it's good and bad. I'm grateful I no longer have to drink over every little thing - just like you mentioned!

                Strength and hope to you.

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


                One day at a time.

                Comment


                  #9
                  WHY ME ?

                  hi,
                  i'm a newbie too. 11 days sober. this site has been a godsend. just working my way round it. i've found that if i don't know something ask someone in the chat room.
                  Stay strong.
                  JackieClaire
                  It could be worse, I could be filing.
                  AF since 7/7/2009

                  Comment


                    #10
                    WHY ME ?

                    Hi Doggygirl - thanks for the encouragement and also I like the idea that at this point the reason I drink is because I'm an alcoholic. I can now accept that whereas I really never know what to say when a counselor askes me the question " Why do you drink". Like you say - we drink for different reasons at different times - I have to just control the triggers now.

                    Hi JackieClaire - GOOD GREAT on your 11 days. I went 2 then fell off so back to 1. I just have to keep trying. Thanks for the info about chatroom

                    You take care

                    Comment


                      #11
                      WHY ME ?

                      MLC, admitting I am an alcoholic was a huge step for me as it was the first step to freedom from it. THAT fight in my head was over (am I? am I not? etc.) It's a lot of work to re-learn how to deal with life's problems rather than stick my head in a bottle at every turn, but it became much easier for me once The Big Debate was over.

                      Strength and hope! If I can, you can.

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


                      One day at a time.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        WHY ME ?

                        I'm with Doggy on this one.
                        If I can, you can.
                        sigpicEyes on the PRIZE, a SOBER Future !!!

                        Comment


                          #13
                          WHY ME ?

                          Hey DG - How are you today/night? I made it through another day one and almost through day 2 again. What i realised this morning waking up was that the thing I dislike most about this situation is that I've always detested liars - be it outrignt lies, lying by omission, lying out of politeness, etc.. But the worst liar and lie are the lies I tell everyday. If I can not be honest with myself how can I make moral jugements to others that do lie (in general or to me).

                          So I've decided to be honest (and stop lying to myself) with myself from now on - I'm an alcoholic - I have a problem (it's not just a PHASE), I need help, It will be a long journey with pitfalls. Hope that MWO will be there along the way.

                          Have a great day :-)

                          Comment


                            #14
                            WHY ME ?

                            miserylovescompany;667390 wrote: Hey DG - How are you today/night? I made it through another day one and almost through day 2 again. What i realised this morning waking up was that the thing I dislike most about this situation is that I've always detested liars - be it outrignt lies, lying by omission, lying out of politeness, etc.. But the worst liar and lie are the lies I tell everyday. If I can not be honest with myself how can I make moral jugements to others that do lie (in general or to me).

                            So I've decided to be honest (and stop lying to myself) with myself from now on - I'm an alcoholic - I have a problem (it's not just a PHASE), I need help, It will be a long journey with pitfalls. Hope that MWO will be there along the way.

                            Have a great day :-)
                            MWO saved my life.....stick around and I look forward to getting to know you.
                            sigpicEyes on the PRIZE, a SOBER Future !!!

                            Comment


                              #15
                              WHY ME ?

                              miserylovescompany;667390 wrote: Hey DG - How are you today/night? I made it through another day one and almost through day 2 again. What i realised this morning waking up was that the thing I dislike most about this situation is that I've always detested liars - be it outrignt lies, lying by omission, lying out of politeness, etc.. But the worst liar and lie are the lies I tell everyday. If I can not be honest with myself how can I make moral jugements to others that do lie (in general or to me).

                              So I've decided to be honest (and stop lying to myself) with myself from now on - I'm an alcoholic - I have a problem (it's not just a PHASE), I need help, It will be a long journey with pitfalls. Hope that MWO will be there along the way.

                              Have a great day :-)
                              I'm having a great day. Yepper - the truth will set you free. I too lied and lied and lied to myself and others (in one way or another) for a very long time about my drinking. No more. It's so freeing. LOL on "just a phase." It wasn't "just a phase" for me either but I'm sure there was a time when I told myself (or someone else) that one!!!!

                              I hope you are having a good day too.

                              Strength and hope,
                              DG
                              Sobriety Date = 5/22/08
                              Nicotine Free Date = 2/27/07


                              One day at a time.

                              Comment

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