Inspiration: Quitting The Drink. (Pearl Jam Related)

NoCode78 · December 2007

Thanks guys its a pleasure checking out this thread. Tom thanks for your message was really moving and I hope things start to look up for you in the very near future, you deserve a break thats for sure!!

Well as for me I have a long line of drinking in the family. Mum, Uncle, Aunty and Grandmother are all alcoholics and except for my Aunty who is clean they all drink to excess each day which my Grandmother has been doing for the past 60 odd years and somehow is still alive.

Well a little about me. I started drinking at parties and clubs because I was really self conscious and fairly quiet when not drinking and felt that I never contributed enough being sober so I started to get dutch courage from the drink and havent looked back since. In the last 11 years I would be blind from wednesday to saturday or when i went to clubs basically but it got to the point I couldn't go anywhere where there was a social situation and not be extremely intoxicated to feel safe. I never drank much or even at all when at home because I guess I felt comfortable and safe there.

I am not proud of myself and have among a few things been arrested for urinating in public, probably drink drove over 400 times, lost my licence for 6 months as I got caught drink driving, I have written off my sisters car because I was drunk behind the wheel, I have been in fights, damaged property and recently have just been a really nasty drunk and been abusive mentally towards my beautiful girlfriend who seems to cop the brunt of my drunken insecurities and gibberish I go on with. I have been drunk at work on numerous occasions because we went out to the pub for lunch and have drunk enough to kill a horse, i have missed countless days off work because I didnt get home until 6am and was in no way capable of doing anything other than sleeping it off.

I black out for hours and cant remember a thing and have to be told what kind of crazy stuff I have been doing and now to add to the mix I have been on anti depressants for the past year which has affected me even more once I am drunk.

This past year I have been on benders where I have drunk for 2-3 days straight and to say the comedown was a killer was an understatement. I have tried to only drink one or two which I can do at home but when around people I just have no control.

I have a beauitiful daughter to a previous relationship and a wonderful girlfriend who puts up with my crap and I know if I dont stop she will walk and I will lose something special. Its time I grow up and be a responsible adult and stop being a scared little kid.

Fingers crossed.

NoCode78 · December 2007

Thanks locked for your list as well. I have just read the Eric Clapton biography which was a pretty good read. He used to polish off two bottles a day and kicked the habit. The only reason he didn't commit suicide was because he was scared that once he was dead he could no longer drink.

locked · December 2007

LukinFan wrote:

Didn't Scott Weinland just get stopped for a DUI a week or so ago?

note I titled the list "in recovery"..

its progress not perfection...

slightofjeff · December 2007

Good luck to all of those who want to quit. And I mean that seriously. Anyone who feels alcohol isn't for them shouldn't feel socially obligated to keep drinking.

I probably won't be joining you in your abstinence. I don't consider myself an alcoholic, although I suppose it depends on your definition.

I can -- and often do -- go days and even weeks without a single drink. I don't typically keep booze in the house at all, either. I'm one of those "once it hits your lips, it's so good drinkers." Once I start for the night, I usually keep drinking until they turn the lights out. It takes a lot of cajoling to get me to leave a bar before closing. I've done the whole, "let's just get a beer after work thing" and it usually turns into an all-nite thing. Granted, these nights usually start after 10, so it's not like I'm there an insane number of hours.

It's probably one of those social things. You're out with friends, the booze is flowing, the conversation is going, the jokes are flying -- and you don't want it to end.

I don't see myself quitting anytime soon. I work a job that keeps me up late anything. I like a couple drinks once the workday ends.

Kirkwood · December 2007

I asked one of my friends ,who is a doctor, why you always drink so much when you have had your first. And apperantly when you drink your drink, beer,wine the brain get like a reward(same as cigarettes) but after a few seconds it´s gone. and it doesn´t depend of how much you have drink, you get the same reward everytime. And then of course when you a really drunk you just overconsume everything(food, cigarettes, spirit).
It´s all make sence to me. I can go without drinking in weeks, but when I´m starting to drink I drink alot.

LeatherMosquitoMan · December 2007

DriftingByTheStorm wrote:

Don't do it!
You'll miss it!
:(

Seriously,
do you REALLY have a problem,
or do you just think you should quit?

I mean, have you ever broken someones nose, wrecked a car, or otherwise ended up in jail?

Unless you are the type of person who picks up a jug of whiskey\vodka and wakes up with their underwear on their head THREE DAYS later, you're probably okay.

I mean, do you REGULARLY black out?

Man.

I guess if you're trying to quit, you must know you have a problem.

I just never understood why people didn't try to just MODERATE their consumption.

Beer is such a fun thing.
I can't imagine going without PERMANENTLY.

:(

Have you ever dealt with alcoholics or alcoholism? It's not a choice, it's a disease. I'm not saying the original poster is an alcoholic, but i am. I've been off it for a year and nearly 4 months.

It's not about blacking out, or being violent. It has nothing to do with it. It's about drinking at 7.15am when your wife goes to work, and staying plastered all day, only stopping just before she gets home late that afternoon so she doesn't see how bad it is.

It's about filling your bourbon bottle back up to a certain spot with coffee and water (the right amount makes the perfect bourbon colour) so she thinks you haven't had much to drink that day, when there's a liquor store right across the road.

It's hiding it in the back of the highest cupboards in your house, so no-one would ever need to look there.

My marriage would have fallen apart if i'd kept going, so would my career. They're both way too important to me than any drink.

"Unless you are the type of person who picks up a jug of whiskey\vodka and wakes up with their underwear on their head THREE DAYS later, you're probably okay.

I mean, do you REGULARLY black out?

This doesn't mean a thing. Everyone who's ever drank hard will do stupid shit like this, and it doesn't mean that you do or don't have a problem with it.

It's a problem when it influences and affects every single day of your life.

JordyWordy · December 2007

i was a VERY bad drinker when i was younger (in the amount i had, how often i had it and the way it made me behave)......i like to think i have the worst of it behind me but every now and then ill still go out and have a few(too many) drinks the nite before im working (work in a health centre / rehab centre - really should not show up smelling of booze to that place)....and regardless of that factor i hate going out to have a good time and feeling like a walking piece of shit the next day......background = there is a family history, friends who booze alot, im in college etc...maybe once i start working ill finally kick regulate it...

i get a good kick up the arse everytime i realise that im not in control totally, but i want to be..

so kudos to those who grab the bull by the horns & sort themselves out.
a genuine congratulations to you for having the discipline

Kingmidget · December 2007

NoCode78 wrote:

Thanks guys its a pleasure checking out this thread. Tom thanks for your message was really moving and I hope things start to look up for you in the very near future, you deserve a break thats for sure!!

Well as for me I have a long line of drinking in the family. Mum, Uncle, Aunty and Grandmother are all alcoholics and except for my Aunty who is clean they all drink to excess each day which my Grandmother has been doing for the past 60 odd years and somehow is still alive.

Well a little about me. I started drinking at parties and clubs because I was really self conscious and fairly quiet when not drinking and felt that I never contributed enough being sober so I started to get dutch courage from the drink and havent looked back since. In the last 11 years I would be blind from wednesday to saturday or when i went to clubs basically but it got to the point I couldn't go anywhere where there was a social situation and not be extremely intoxicated to feel safe. I never drank much or even at all when at home because I guess I felt comfortable and safe there.

I am not proud of myself and have among a few things been arrested for urinating in public, probably drink drove over 400 times, lost my licence for 6 months as I got caught drink driving, I have written off my sisters car because I was drunk behind the wheel, I have been in fights, damaged property and recently have just been a really nasty drunk and been abusive mentally towards my beautiful girlfriend who seems to cop the brunt of my drunken insecurities and gibberish I go on with. I have been drunk at work on numerous occasions because we went out to the pub for lunch and have drunk enough to kill a horse, i have missed countless days off work because I didnt get home until 6am and was in no way capable of doing anything other than sleeping it off.

I black out for hours and cant remember a thing and have to be told what kind of crazy stuff I have been doing and now to add to the mix I have been on anti depressants for the past year which has affected me even more once I am drunk.

This past year I have been on benders where I have drunk for 2-3 days straight and to say the comedown was a killer was an understatement. I have tried to only drink one or two which I can do at home but when around people I just have no control.

I have a beauitiful daughter to a previous relationship and a wonderful girlfriend who puts up with my crap and I know if I dont stop she will walk and I will lose something special. Its time I grow up and be a responsible adult and stop being a scared little kid.

Fingers crossed.

I'm cheering for you friend..based on what you've said above do all you can to get things under control for all those in your life you have who care about you and do it for you!

Alcoholism runs in my family and almost killed my sister. It did kill two Aunts and it ended the lives of two people I went to school with while only 25-30 years old.

I doubt you'll be able to limit yourself to a few here and there...you could try, but from what your describing you'll need to stay away completly as my sister has to do.

Good luck to you! Live a long sober life!

guertin32 · December 2007

NoCode78 wrote:

Hi guys,

First time Poster LONG TIME WATCHER .

Well some will say im crazy some will say well done. Well im quitting Alcohol for good (fingers crossed) at probably the craziest time of year. I was just wondering if any of you guys know besides Mike if there is anyone else who doesn't touch alcohol at all? I am looking for inspiration and would even love a list of musicians anyone might know who have kicked the habit as well.

Anyways Merry Christmas guys and have a safe year.

I've been clean and sober for 2 years now. I haven't touched anything mind or mood altering related what so ever. It was hard at first, but the more you set your mind, keep the focus on yourself, don't care about what others think or do, stay strong and no matter what dont use you will be fine. Makin meetings help too. IMO.

Good luck and happy new year!

whgarrett · December 2007

"You've got time, you've got time to escape
There's still time, it's no crime to escape"

Each year four times as many deaths occur from alcohol related car crashes than the total amount of american soldiers killed in iraq thus far in the "war" and subsequent "police action"

JOEJOEJOE · December 2007

NoCode78 wrote:

Thanks guys its a pleasure checking out this thread. Tom thanks for your message was really moving and I hope things start to look up for you in the very near future, you deserve a break thats for sure!!

Well as for me I have a long line of drinking in the family. Mum, Uncle, Aunty and Grandmother are all alcoholics and except for my Aunty who is clean they all drink to excess each day which my Grandmother has been doing for the past 60 odd years and somehow is still alive.

Well a little about me. I started drinking at parties and clubs because I was really self conscious and fairly quiet when not drinking and felt that I never contributed enough being sober so I started to get dutch courage from the drink and havent looked back since. In the last 11 years I would be blind from wednesday to saturday or when i went to clubs basically but it got to the point I couldn't go anywhere where there was a social situation and not be extremely intoxicated to feel safe. I never drank much or even at all when at home because I guess I felt comfortable and safe there.

I am not proud of myself and have among a few things been arrested for urinating in public, probably drink drove over 400 times, lost my licence for 6 months as I got caught drink driving, I have written off my sisters car because I was drunk behind the wheel, I have been in fights, damaged property and recently have just been a really nasty drunk and been abusive mentally towards my beautiful girlfriend who seems to cop the brunt of my drunken insecurities and gibberish I go on with. I have been drunk at work on numerous occasions because we went out to the pub for lunch and have drunk enough to kill a horse, i have missed countless days off work because I didnt get home until 6am and was in no way capable of doing anything other than sleeping it off.

I black out for hours and cant remember a thing and have to be told what kind of crazy stuff I have been doing and now to add to the mix I have been on anti depressants for the past year which has affected me even more once I am drunk.

This past year I have been on benders where I have drunk for 2-3 days straight and to say the comedown was a killer was an understatement. I have tried to only drink one or two which I can do at home but when around people I just have no control.

I have a beauitiful daughter to a previous relationship and a wonderful girlfriend who puts up with my crap and I know if I dont stop she will walk and I will lose something special. Its time I grow up and be a responsible adult and stop being a scared little kid.

Fingers crossed.

I wish you luck, but even if you are unable to quit, at least you can refrain from drinking and driving, I hope!

Inspiration: Quitting The Drink. (Pearl Jam Related)

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