Quit drinking last weekend...

Social drinkers acting like fools at a party or people destroying their lives with booze or people that have quit for decades.

Seems to be another one if I can think of it… Oh yeah -

people that have a couple over a couple hours, can hold their liquor, just have a conversation with people ,and then go home.


Some folks painting with 6 foot wide brushes up in here. Broad-brushing all over this mofo.

Never guess that this country was “settled” by Puritans.*

I always took great delight in being completely smashed back in the old days and people saying “oh my God you were ? you acted totally normal”

That’s what happens when you have the tolerance of an alcoholic without being one

*I know what you’re going to say, but let’s not get sidetracked…

 

If it was me that sounded puritanical I didn't mean to suggest that drinking in moderation was bad.

In the context of a discussion about drinking too much and all the problems that come with drinking too much, I was merely pointing out that a life without drinking at all isn't as big a loss as a life without romance or a life without sight, hearing, legs etc.

I was also inspired by the posts suggesting that those who think it's time to stop due to problems they have with drinking; should find better ways to drink.
Saying "everyone should find a way to drink" is no better or worse than saying "nobody really needs to drink to have a happy fulfilled life".

Threads like this are not commenting on those who "have a couple over a couple hours, can hold their liquor, just have a conversation with people, and then go home".
I apologize if I sounded like I was commenting on "normal" people!

We kinda hope that
>in a thread about those of us who have a problem<,
we can talk about OUR problem without offending those who don't have a problem.

 

The Irish would have a problem with your second paragraph…

 

I haven't touched a drop in over 15 years. There was no real problem, but I just liked it less and less. Soon I just stopped buying beer at home and started drinking soda when I was at a bar. I wish I had words of wisdom, but I just didn't do it anymore.

As long as you're not hurting anyone, enjoy yourself!

 

I am inspired. I think I will decide to quit drinking last weekend as well

 

(not this weekend)

 

I used to drink too much. I still do, I used to as well.

 

I don't drink any more.


Or any less...

 

There are only two requirements for being an alcoholic:

Drink habitually.

Drink to get drunk.


Denial is an accessory.

"I'm not one of those people."

"I can hold my liquor."


My grandfather didn't need no stinkin' Twelve Step program to quit. He only needed two or three steps. He rigged a noose, climbed a couple steps and stepped off.

My uncle John and my aunt Helen had his 'n' hers houses. John would go over to Helen's because she usually had a bottle. Helen would steal vegetables from John's garden when he wasn't home.

John would drink at Helen's until she threw him out. He was too drunk to walk that particular night so he crawled. Guy who ran him over thought he hit a dog.

Spirits don't weigh anything. Joe is perched on one of my shoulders, John on the other.

The accessories to alcoholism are justification, denial and avoidance.

Justification is why we drink.

Denial is why we're not one of those people.

Avoidance is the missing puzzle piece. It's often not obvious except in context of an otherwise completed puzzle.

By 1776 it was well known that it was safer to drink beer than it was to drink water. It wasn't well known that the privy can trickle into the well.

Anyone who drinks can be an alcoholic with a little bit of practice.

There are various levels to it. A few beers once in a while in school. Later, a six pack every evening after work. Work up to a tall whiskey followed by a twelve pack. Stretch Happy Hour out 'til it's all day and all night.


Parties are generally a mix of amateurs, professionals and folks who are somewhere in between. The harm is we co- mingle people who are or who will become alcoholics. We endorse and we enable their drinking.

A journalist asked Kurt Cobain what he was thinking when he was onstage.

Kurt replied,

"Less than you can possibly imagine."

 

I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.

 

Chances are though, groggy and in need of coffee is as BAD as they/ we are going to feel all day!

 

Been there, done that, got the tee shirt. I just stopped drinking because it got so that I don’t like the way it makes me feel. I’ll have a drink in a social setting. Rarely two. But that’s about it. I might have a drink every couple of months on average. No word of a lie. At the end of a long day when I get home, I fire up a spliff. That’s my martini. I sleep like a baby and in the morning I feel great.

Edit: Right, sorry, I did have a point. At the end of the day, you have to do what works for YOU. Everybody’s different. You’re a man and a half for taking the bull by the horns and recovering. Best of luck to you. You deserve it.

 

I don't exist?

I do it because I enjoy wine with my meal, for example. Friends have invited us to dinner tomorrow. There will be wine. I will probably have two glasses. I am not doing it for anxiety or something to do. I do it because it tastes good and I enjoy it. I could say the same for chocolate.

Imagine it's a hot day and you've just come in from mowing the lawn. You drink a glass of water, then a second. Without thinking, you stop. You could force yourself to have a third glass. Maybe a fourth. But you aren't using discipline or control. You are just unconsciously listening to your body. Same way with me and alcohol.

Not arguing with you Axe! Different strokes for different folks, that's all. Some folks shouldn't drink alcohol, others are fine. It's like milk. Some folks can drink milk, other folks fart and get cramps and diarrhea. The lactose intolerant gang doesn't say no one should drink milk and the lactose tolerant gang doesn't say the others are no fun at a party.

 

Do notice that the people here offering support without passing judgement have actually been where you're at and "get it," the BS comments are coming from those who haven't walked in our/your shoes. A popular expression in the program is "Take what you need and leave the rest."

 

A lot of what "The Program" is about applies equally well to day-to-day stuff as it does for not drinking. I think of it as "perception management." When things are sideways at work and everybody is running around like their heads are on fire, I'm the guy that just calmly shrugs it off and focuses on problem solving instead of joining in the freak fest. I've been through much worse in my life, the little things that people lose their minds over are generally not worth worrying about.

 

I know first hand how much harm alcohol can do to a person, a family, a spouse, a carreer. The list goes on. Should we ban alcohol? No. Should we discourage it openly and fight it's silent institutionalized presence? For sure.

 

... only outlaws will have sherry.

 

It takes courage to admit that you have a "problem", Axe, so kudos to you for taking that courageous first step.

One day at a time. The program works if you work it. And get a good sponsor, who can hold you accountable.