Tough time quitting the bottle

steve-in-kville

steve-in-kville

Joined
Dec 25, 2001
Messages
1,139
My doc advised me it was time to quit drinking. I was contemplating this for some time, but its going hard. I might have a dozen beers a week plus I have a special place in my heart for bourbons.

Need to loose a few pounds, have high BP plus acid reflux to the point I'm on meds it. I started walking and doing some serious hiking back in July. Changed my diet for the best. Slacked a few times, but always managed to get back on track.

I've tried quitting a few times. Went an entire week without booze in the house and stayed away from the local watering hole. Then our crew at work went out for beers on Christmas Eve and I was back at it again.

Never drove while lit up, always stayed home or stopped at a few beers while drinking away.

Can anyone offer some advice on quitting? I always thought this was gonna be easy when the time came, but I'm finding it harder than I imagined.
 
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Well every time you want to drink a beer put $2.00 in a jar or something. Once you realize the things you can buy with that money you used to spend on drinks you may never miss the stuff.

Carry a bottle of water around with you at all times possible, keeping hydrated will give you and your body and mind less reason to drink anything else, a guy that's gotta piss isn't going to have drinking beer high on his list of things to do. (The water will help keep you healthy in general.)

Find friends that can sympathize and are willing to not drink around you, spend time sober and doing getting exercise. Starting a daily or every other day jog will help a lot.

It's kind of like dieting you don't need it hell it's bad for you, but you have enjoyed it. I think if you start exercising and even working out, you're body will crave it and you'll enjoy being fit and healthier. I don't know a single person who hasn't been happier when they were in shape.

Good luck, in no way does it sound like you are alcoholic and I seriously doubt you are, maybe see if AA can help a bit since they use a group method. I may be totally off base there but support is very helpful.
 
Hey Steve - Don't drink. It really is just that simple. Mind over matter. There will be times, like if your friends are going for beers, where you will experience cravings, but it is relatively easy to fight these off. Like Nike says, just do it. Then you will be alcohol free. ;) :cool:
 
When I quit drinking I just quit. So beyond just sucking it up and taking the plunge I don't really have anything to offer.

If you can't do that, try this:

Take out your favorite drink. For every sip you take: You get kicked in the junk by your significant other...or a good friend. After a few of those, you'll be associating your formerly favorite beverage with something very unpleasant. That should make it easier to kick the habit.

Or you could just tell yourself hey "It's not easy, but at least I'm still alive and healthy."

Both count for a lot ;)
 
From a recovering alcholic - 13 years - and having been successful at it, as well as drugs and tobacco, and also having seen MANY people stumble and struggle, and DIE! I can offer some advice that may or may not fit your situation.
You have to know in your heart that this is what you WANT to do, it's what you HAVE to do, and it's what you NEED to do.
There ARE NO other options.
Then, decide to do it.
But you've got to KNOW it in your heart, or the addiction will win.
You've got to change your playmates and your playthings.
You've got change the rules.
Some serious changes need to take place.
But, you've got KNOW in your heart it's the right thing to do, and you've got to WANT to do it.
What's that "it" I'm refering to?
Quitting.
Not "stopping", or "slowing down" or "see if you can do it", or "trying it for a while", etc.
None of those work.
If you "stop", you can just "start" again!
No, friend, you need to quit.
And NEVER drink again.
When you know that in your heart, it's all just going through the motions after that.
It's easy, because the decision has already been made - in your heart.
that's how the fellow above me was so successful - he "QUIT"!
He didn't do something else.
It truly is no more complex than that.
But, if you try to "slow down", that's all you'll be successful at!
If your decision is to quit, and that's what you decide to do, you will succede.
Good luck, friend.
 
Read Karl B. Andersens advice...read it over and over. All that stuff got me out of the hole you're in now. A lot of painful changes, but they pay off big time down the road, believe me. Best of luck to you!;)
 
I agree fully with what Karl said. The only thing I would suggest that may make it a bit easier is to get away for a few days to a week. That change in surroundings forces you to change habits plus if you get grouchy there's nobody to take it out on.
 
Good beer, if that is what you drank, is liquid bread.

Try a multi-vitamin, add some complex B to your diet as well.

Even some brewers yeast and wheat germ (found at at health food stores) added to a smoothie in the morning will give you a boost and ease some of the cravings while you are trying to quit...

Good luck!

:)
 
I'm not too good at giving advice,but here goes anyway...
Sept13th'08 was 3yrs sober for me.
What did it for me is Doc scared the hell at of me after checking my liver enzymes.He said at this rate,you won't live to 40.Haven't touched a drop since that day.I'm tempted ALL THE TIME though,don't think that will ever go away.

AA works for a lot of people.It's just not for me.


Good luck & get healthy:)
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
From a recovering alcholic - 13 years - and having been successful at it, as well as drugs and tobacco, and also having seen MANY people stumble and struggle, and DIE! I can offer some advice that may or may not fit your situation.
You have to know in your heart that this is what you WANT to do, it's what you HAVE to do, and it's what you NEED to do.
There ARE NO other options.
Then, decide to do it.
But you've got to KNOW it in your heart, or the addiction will win.
You've got to change your playmates and your playthings.
You've got change the rules.
Some serious changes need to take place.
But, you've got KNOW in your heart it's the right thing to do, and you've got to WANT to do it.
What's that "it" I'm refering to?
Quitting.
Not "stopping", or "slowing down" or "see if you can do it", or "trying it for a while", etc.
None of those work.
If you "stop", you can just "start" again!
No, friend, you need to quit.
And NEVER drink again.
When you know that in your heart, it's all just going through the motions after that.
It's easy, because the decision has already been made - in your heart.
that's how the fellow above me was so successful - he "QUIT"!
He didn't do something else.
It truly is no more complex than that.
But, if you try to "slow down", that's all you'll be successful at!
If your decision is to quit, and that's what you decide to do, you will succede.
Good luck, friend.
Click to expand...

+1:thumbup: Excellent advice all around!
 
I haven't had a drink in almost 14 months. I was a bouncer and then bartender in college and picked up the bad habit. The bad habit stayed with me for about 8 years until I ended up in the emergency room. I can honestly say the only person I put in harms way was myself. Like any good alcoholic, I chose my apartment based on its location to my work/drinking establishment and never drove. I was always in walking/stumbling distance or I drank at home with friends.

Go to AA and work the 12 steps. Go to a few meetings and get a sponsor. I did. It works.
 
Karl B is right on. Good advice.
I've been booze free for 10 years + a little.
People ask me if I had a drinking problem.
I'd answer with I have no problem drinking at all.

I used pbubsy's method...
Well sort of :)
I realized that I need to quit when I blew up my ankle running around the woods with Jim Beam, in the dark, with no flashlight.
When I started hurting for a drink (& it did hurt) I'd put a little weight on that ankle.
That put me in my place.

Addiction, according to Ebb, has a couple of facets.
First is the physical need. The ones that give you the shaky hands, queasy stomach etc.
Eating well, vitamins, excercise all help with that. I still keep a jug of seltzer at hand all the time. It is my crutch.
When I get stressed I'll go thru liters of seltzer. It's a reflex that is around a decade later. Except that I'm no longer killing myself slowly.
The other is routine.
Get in the car, light a cigarette.
Leave work hit the bar.
Or, as I did, the deli so I'd have a beer to walk to the train with.
Routine is tough.
Change your routine.
It took me months to stop crossing the street to the deli after work.
At first I'd buy a pepsi. But that made me miss the beer that much more.
Same can, same feel, no joy.
The only way past that was to change the routine and not cross the street.

Don't go to the bars and drink cokes. It just doesn't work.
I had to step away from the drinking culture all together.
The hardest thing to say is "I can't go there. I won't go there."
Any of your coworkers or friends that give you chit about your decision aren't really your friends.
I had three close friends when I quit.
One said: "You'll drink again"
Two said: "You can't do this to me"
Three said: "You gotta do what you gotta do"
Guess which one I still get along with?

As for the postive rewards, I treat myself to a custom bowie every August 13th.
I have 10 now. And financially, I'm way ahead of where I'd be if I was drinking all that $$.
I feel better, think better and everyone tells me they like the new Wally much better.

There is a wonderful thread on Stripers on line, in the tavern sub-forum (ironic eh?) titled "Who doesn't drink anymore?"
http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?t=499950
Alot of those guys go to meetings, and if that works, G-d bless.


You can do this.
It isn't a cake walk but it is possible.
It takes commitment and change.
Don't cheat. No more means no more at all.
:D
You can do this.
I'm here if you want to email me.

Geeze Louise, I wrote a book!
Sorry :o
 
I'll be praying for you Steve. What I've heard a lot of other people say, and some have said it here already, is that you have to stop doing the things that lead you to drink.

A co-worker said he only wanted to smoke when he went to the bar. He had to stop going to the bar. You'll have to find other activities to replace those that lead you to drink.

As a start, if you don't go cold turkey. Can you start watering down the burbon? Or allow yourself only a certain amount on a certain day - so your brain doesn't tell you you've lost or being deprived of the burbon - just controlled. I don't drink so the numbers may not make any sense, but instead of a shot every day. Maybe 3/4 of a shot every other day, then every third day etc until maybe you have 1/2 a shot or something every Sunday evening at 7 pm and that's the only time you have your burbon...

Best wishes and prayers to you, Steve. I know you can get through this.
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
From a recovering alcholic - 13 years - and having been successful at it, as well as drugs and tobacco, and also having seen MANY people stumble and struggle, and DIE! I can offer some advice that may or may not fit your situation.
You have to know in your heart that this is what you WANT to do, it's what you HAVE to do, and it's what you NEED to do.
There ARE NO other options.
Then, decide to do it.
But you've got to KNOW it in your heart, or the addiction will win.
You've got to change your playmates and your playthings.
You've got change the rules.
Some serious changes need to take place.
But, you've got KNOW in your heart it's the right thing to do, and you've got to WANT to do it.
What's that "it" I'm refering to?
Quitting.
Not "stopping", or "slowing down" or "see if you can do it", or "trying it for a while", etc.
None of those work.
If you "stop", you can just "start" again!
No, friend, you need to quit.
And NEVER drink again.
When you know that in your heart, it's all just going through the motions after that.
It's easy, because the decision has already been made - in your heart.
that's how the fellow above me was so successful - he "QUIT"!
He didn't do something else.
It truly is no more complex than that.
But, if you try to "slow down", that's all you'll be successful at!
If your decision is to quit, and that's what you decide to do, you will succede.
Good luck, friend.
Click to expand...
I have been sober for 21 years as of Jan 1st. I agree with what Karl said. If it wasn't for AA, I wouldn't be here at all.
 
You can try rewarding yourself by buying something with the money you save each month by not drinking.
Works well when quiting smoking(I still have the smoking dreams though), so it might help with drinking.
I had to quit drinking too as it was beginning to cripple me, due to my Malignant Hyperthermia. I WAS pretty pissed being around people who drank for a while.
I had to get over it though, as my wife drinks(in moderation).
 
Here's my advice. It's what my doctor told me to do.

Give up the bourbon and limit yourself to 1 bottle of a good German beer with dinner each night. Avoid going to bars.

Lose a few pounds. Get out and walk a couple of miles per day. Avoid spicy foods. Cut back on red meats.

Enjoy 1 good cigar a week. Only 1, though.

Don't have sex with any woman other than your wife. The stress is too great banging a leggy, 20 year old blonde with big knockers.
 
I am clean and sober for going on 4 yrs. I still cannot believe it. I have lived more without alcohol than I did with it. When I used to drink, I would wonder if a sober life was boring, I really struggled with that deception. For those who drink, but wish they didn't; a sober life is wonderful! I focus more on my family, and I am rewarded 10 fold. If anyone needs support, or just to talk, I am willing to help. Send a PM if you need to.
God Bless,
CJ
 
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