Hello, I guess I am more of a binge drinker, and so would like support , and would also like to offer my support, and health tips, etc. to others.
I'll look around here, and get acquainted with the board and hope to post more soon.
Kit
Hi Kit welcome to the Board. Hope to get to know you. Maybe you can enlighten us all with a short story about yourself.Hope you will find what you are looking for here. The people on this Board are great ,non-judgemental and they really do care. You will find support and understanding and honest advice. If you are looking for these things then you have found the place you need to be. God bless and take care
Welcome, Kit. The emphasis of this board is on alcoholism and recovery from that. Sometimes folks get a bit sideways and off topic, but generally speaking we're all trying to help one another toward recovery. Welcome.
Welcome Kit...my name is Lisa but I also go by Zipper. I, too, was a binge drinker though it eventually escalated to full-blown alcoholism where I drank every night.
Take care of yourself and feel free to email me privately if the board-thing is too overwhelming. ;) lisan1373@yahoo.com.
Take care of yourself and feel free to email me privately if the board-thing is too overwhelming. ;) lisan1373@yahoo.com.
Thank you for the Welcomes! I was just kind of testing the waters here first.... Will post some more soon.
Kit
Kit
Hi Kit, whether your an alcoholic or a binge drinker or engage in hazardous drinking or risky drinking or any other type of drinking and just want to reflect on how alcohol is affecting your life, there are people here who will help you decide which particular floor you want to get off that down escalator. Waiting until you hit rock bottom before wising up is not a prerequisite for good living and nor is it generally a great life choice.
I suggest you read as many posts as you can to get a flavour of the issues and problems people face and how they deal with them. Look for the similarities, not the differences. That'll help you gain an insight into the issues that might be around for you and options for tackling them.
You know alcohol is a powerful and dangerous drug and it sounds like you want to think about your relationship with it. This is a good place to start and my advice would be to check out every source of advice and wisdom on the web and elsewhere that you can.
Welcome.
Martin
I suggest you read as many posts as you can to get a flavour of the issues and problems people face and how they deal with them. Look for the similarities, not the differences. That'll help you gain an insight into the issues that might be around for you and options for tackling them.
You know alcohol is a powerful and dangerous drug and it sounds like you want to think about your relationship with it. This is a good place to start and my advice would be to check out every source of advice and wisdom on the web and elsewhere that you can.
Welcome.
Martin
O.K... I have been drinking alcohol since I was in my teens. not heavily... off and on. I've had long stretches of "sobriety" over the years, then I would have periods where I would drink again, maybe just on weekends, and mostly when I would go out .
I am now in my early 60's. I still just every now and then go on binges. I am very much into natural healing and know a lot and know what to do.. but this one thing... drinking too much at times... has been holding me back from reaching my full potential and optimal health. I really don't have any medical problems to speak of.. well, fibromyalgia, and anxiety problems. .. always did.
A little more about me... I am married, no children, am "just" a housewife.
I love reading, learning, writing, bicycling, cats, spiritual activities such as meditation, and breathwork. I mean, I seem to have all the tools for health, and have been around the block a few times, but for some reason, I still just love to drink.. the alcohol gives me a cozy warm content feeling.. at first anyway. Then I get carried away and drink more than I really want to.... I don't know why.... Something inside me desperately wants to feel good. I have always suffered depression, and so the nice little buzz I get is such a wonderful relief sometimes.. I am almost certain that my biochemistry is not right..
Thanks for listening.
Kit
I am now in my early 60's. I still just every now and then go on binges. I am very much into natural healing and know a lot and know what to do.. but this one thing... drinking too much at times... has been holding me back from reaching my full potential and optimal health. I really don't have any medical problems to speak of.. well, fibromyalgia, and anxiety problems. .. always did.
A little more about me... I am married, no children, am "just" a housewife.
I love reading, learning, writing, bicycling, cats, spiritual activities such as meditation, and breathwork. I mean, I seem to have all the tools for health, and have been around the block a few times, but for some reason, I still just love to drink.. the alcohol gives me a cozy warm content feeling.. at first anyway. Then I get carried away and drink more than I really want to.... I don't know why.... Something inside me desperately wants to feel good. I have always suffered depression, and so the nice little buzz I get is such a wonderful relief sometimes.. I am almost certain that my biochemistry is not right..
Thanks for listening.
Kit
Hi Kit. I am 50 years old and have been drinking since my teens. I am married with 3 grown children. I also love cats too and have one for a pet. I have him spoiled rotten lol. Drinking was a weekend thing for me until a few years ago and then it was 3 or 4 times a week. The last 2 years it was 4 or 5 times a week then the last few months it was every day especially the last 2 months it was practically day and night. I can relate to the feeling that you speak of about wanting to feel good. I have been clean now for almost 12 weeks. Some days it is still a struggle for me.I can't say I am sober because from what I have learned I am still a dry drunk. There is a difference in being sober and dry .Drinking can really take a hold of you and if you are posting on this site then your drinking must be affecting you. . I think that it's wonderful that you are reaching out. It shows courage and strength. It's better to do it before you reach the bottom because believe me it's a long climb to get back up. I wish you all the best in your recovery Kit and I look forward to seeing you post on here again. God bless and take care.........hugs
Hi Kit, you sound like a very wise person. Have you done much research on the effects of alcohol yet? That might seem like a daft question but one of the things that seems to happen is that we don't do the obvious if the obvious might force us to face up to a reality we want to avoid.
The reality we face about this drug is that we have to drink more and more of it to get that same cozy effect we like so much....and just at the same time as our "tolerance" for it goes up the physiological impact it has on our body increases....so we "NEED" to drink more just at the time it is starting to get a real grip on our bodies. And once it gets a real grip on your body....let's just say it ain't easy to shake off.
You mention anxiety and depression....so it's possibly important to think about what you will use to deal with those when you step off that down escalator. Bear in mind that alcohol itself might be causing some of that, but it might not be causing all of it. Many of us start drinking - and quite young - to deal with problems and because we're masking them with alcohol never learn healthier coping mechanisms....so maybe think about what might help with those issues....everything from exercise (well, you know about healthy living!) through to counselling if there are underlying issues you might want support with.
I admire your foresight.....it takes a very wise and self-aware person to avoid the trap that denial weaves for us....
I'm happy for you that your looking at this. I really do admire you for it.
Martin
The reality we face about this drug is that we have to drink more and more of it to get that same cozy effect we like so much....and just at the same time as our "tolerance" for it goes up the physiological impact it has on our body increases....so we "NEED" to drink more just at the time it is starting to get a real grip on our bodies. And once it gets a real grip on your body....let's just say it ain't easy to shake off.
You mention anxiety and depression....so it's possibly important to think about what you will use to deal with those when you step off that down escalator. Bear in mind that alcohol itself might be causing some of that, but it might not be causing all of it. Many of us start drinking - and quite young - to deal with problems and because we're masking them with alcohol never learn healthier coping mechanisms....so maybe think about what might help with those issues....everything from exercise (well, you know about healthy living!) through to counselling if there are underlying issues you might want support with.
I admire your foresight.....it takes a very wise and self-aware person to avoid the trap that denial weaves for us....
I'm happy for you that your looking at this. I really do admire you for it.
Martin
Hey Kit, Izzy here. Just post anything you feel relates to your drinking. I have a lot of family problems and I can come here and talk them out and get different view points from people and a lot of good advice!
I've drunk for the past 6 years at least, am in my early twenties and have a Borderline Personality Disorder, which is a big factor in my drinking.
I'm not good for advice about drinking, I'm all over the place with it, my views on it change daily but for now I am trying hard to stay sober...
Wishing you well!
Izzy
I've drunk for the past 6 years at least, am in my early twenties and have a Borderline Personality Disorder, which is a big factor in my drinking.
I'm not good for advice about drinking, I'm all over the place with it, my views on it change daily but for now I am trying hard to stay sober...
Wishing you well!
Izzy
Thank you, Pirate, Martin and Izzy, and all. Seems like a nice group here, and I look forward to sharing more with you.
Have to get off here for tongiht. :-)
Kit
Have to get off here for tongiht. :-)
Kit
Kit,
Again, welcome. Nobody can tell you whether you've got a problem with alcohol but you. There are a dozen different tests, a hundred different remedies, and a million different opinions--and that's just on this board! Only YOU can determine if you have a problem with alcohol:
1) When you drink, do you find it difficult to stop?
2) When you stop, do you find yourself obsessing about when you can have it?
The "Big Book," Alcoholics Anonymous is a good place to start. The Big Book is THE AUTHORITY on alcoholism--written BY alcoholics FOR alcoholics. In fact, the stated approach is to sit down with another alcoholic and talk (usually the fellow alcoholic will tell you how it was, what happened, and what it is like now), read the Big Book, and get back together to discuss from there. If you DO have a problem with alcohol, this is the path MOST SUCCESSFUL to gain a spiritual health and sobriety.
A recovering alcoholic will not "should" you or try to speak for AA or speak for you or attempt to speak for everyone on the forum in order to gain concensus. The actual Alcoholics Anonymous fellowship is different from The Program of Alcoholics Anonymous in that The Program is a proven Twelve Step program, based on defining the problem (step 1), determining the solution (steps 2 & 3), taking the steps to bring about the solution (step 4-10), and living a continuously enriching solution (step 11 & 12).
There are other methods of stopping drinking. There are sanitariums, respites, rehab centers (see sanitariums), court-ordered attendance to meetings, hospitalization, chemical remedies (see Antabuse {disulfiram}, Campral, Librium, etc.) usually prescribed by a pshrink, jail (abstinence), shock therapy, and death. I've tried many of them and, in my experience, they all connected to AA. Except the last one. That's kinda considered the final bottom... There are walking-around-alcoholics who never have had a drink and still other co-dependent personalities who probably should be alcoholics.
Only YOU can determine if YOU have a problem with alcohol. If you do not believe you do, wonderful! If you believe you do, there is a solution.
Welcome.
Again, welcome. Nobody can tell you whether you've got a problem with alcohol but you. There are a dozen different tests, a hundred different remedies, and a million different opinions--and that's just on this board! Only YOU can determine if you have a problem with alcohol:
1) When you drink, do you find it difficult to stop?
2) When you stop, do you find yourself obsessing about when you can have it?
The "Big Book," Alcoholics Anonymous is a good place to start. The Big Book is THE AUTHORITY on alcoholism--written BY alcoholics FOR alcoholics. In fact, the stated approach is to sit down with another alcoholic and talk (usually the fellow alcoholic will tell you how it was, what happened, and what it is like now), read the Big Book, and get back together to discuss from there. If you DO have a problem with alcohol, this is the path MOST SUCCESSFUL to gain a spiritual health and sobriety.
A recovering alcoholic will not "should" you or try to speak for AA or speak for you or attempt to speak for everyone on the forum in order to gain concensus. The actual Alcoholics Anonymous fellowship is different from The Program of Alcoholics Anonymous in that The Program is a proven Twelve Step program, based on defining the problem (step 1), determining the solution (steps 2 & 3), taking the steps to bring about the solution (step 4-10), and living a continuously enriching solution (step 11 & 12).
There are other methods of stopping drinking. There are sanitariums, respites, rehab centers (see sanitariums), court-ordered attendance to meetings, hospitalization, chemical remedies (see Antabuse {disulfiram}, Campral, Librium, etc.) usually prescribed by a pshrink, jail (abstinence), shock therapy, and death. I've tried many of them and, in my experience, they all connected to AA. Except the last one. That's kinda considered the final bottom... There are walking-around-alcoholics who never have had a drink and still other co-dependent personalities who probably should be alcoholics.
Only YOU can determine if YOU have a problem with alcohol. If you do not believe you do, wonderful! If you believe you do, there is a solution.
Welcome.
Kat,
I do clinical research for fibroymyalgia! Cool coincidence.
Glad you to "meet" you.
I do clinical research for fibroymyalgia! Cool coincidence.
Glad you to "meet" you.
Hi Kit
I was a binge drinker too. I would very rarely drink every day but when I did drink I couldn't stop. I drank more and more and did some of the stupidest things. I did things I never would have done sober. In 96 I started going to AA out of spite. My b//f had just dumped me and he was a full time alkie. So I was going to show him. I was going to quit drinking and live happily ever after without him. Instead of getting sober I picked up pills. In 2000 I went back to AA and paid attention this time. I was so miserable from the pills and had started drinking again. I got a sponsor, worked the steps, and haven't used a mind altering drug since. My life has changed in so many ways. Have you been to any AA meetings? Given it any thought?
Welcome to our little group.
I was a binge drinker too. I would very rarely drink every day but when I did drink I couldn't stop. I drank more and more and did some of the stupidest things. I did things I never would have done sober. In 96 I started going to AA out of spite. My b//f had just dumped me and he was a full time alkie. So I was going to show him. I was going to quit drinking and live happily ever after without him. Instead of getting sober I picked up pills. In 2000 I went back to AA and paid attention this time. I was so miserable from the pills and had started drinking again. I got a sponsor, worked the steps, and haven't used a mind altering drug since. My life has changed in so many ways. Have you been to any AA meetings? Given it any thought?
Welcome to our little group.
I drank beer, wine, gin, bourbon, coolers, binge, bilge water, whatever...
~smirk~
~smirk~
Mmmmmm...bilge water.
Thanks everyone for your welcomes and comments..
My drink of choice is vodka when I want to be "healthy" Put a little o.j. in it or even essential oil of lemon or orange.. adds a little life to it.
My H is home today, and I'm behind with my housework, etc., but I'll be back again soon.
Kit
My drink of choice is vodka when I want to be "healthy" Put a little o.j. in it or even essential oil of lemon or orange.. adds a little life to it.
My H is home today, and I'm behind with my housework, etc., but I'll be back again soon.
Kit
Hi Kit,
Welcome to the alcohol board. From what you've written it's to hard to tell if you just abuse alcohol, or are truly an alcoholic. There is a difference. You will have to educate yourself and decide. Like someone else said it's entirely your decision.
I just hope you don't let alcohol carry you away to the depths of hopelessness and despair many of us reached. Of course on the other hand it's what helped me want sobriety more then the booze.
For me alcohol was a temporary fix for happiness and one day it stopped working. I discovered in my journey the real problem was me. I have to work on myself on a daily basis to achieve reasonable happiness in life. Life isn't always a bed full of roses as you know. One drink is to many and 100 aren't enough.
I hope you find what your looking for; may it be peace and serenity.
Welcome to the alcohol board. From what you've written it's to hard to tell if you just abuse alcohol, or are truly an alcoholic. There is a difference. You will have to educate yourself and decide. Like someone else said it's entirely your decision.
I just hope you don't let alcohol carry you away to the depths of hopelessness and despair many of us reached. Of course on the other hand it's what helped me want sobriety more then the booze.
For me alcohol was a temporary fix for happiness and one day it stopped working. I discovered in my journey the real problem was me. I have to work on myself on a daily basis to achieve reasonable happiness in life. Life isn't always a bed full of roses as you know. One drink is to many and 100 aren't enough.
I hope you find what your looking for; may it be peace and serenity.
