When did you quit Alcohol

Hey Solid!!

You drink alone? So did I!! Not a good sign.

Horsehung

gprent101,

I don’t know how many “major problems” it will take. Hopefully none. Since my mother and one of my younger brothers have had some problems with alcohol and because of my habits, I worry about myself. I have considered going to meetings or whatever they have but, since nothing major has happened, I’m not sure if I’d be welcome. What can I relate it too…. Like going to a support group for people who have lost a limb when I’m only missing the tip of my pinky finger. That’s how I’d feel. I’m worried that some people would be insulted by my presence, thinking I was there for “kicks”. Are there any communities or forums for this type of thing online that you know of? I’d probably be more comfortable in that kind of setting. Bottom line is that I’m not sure if I’m an alcoholic or not. It does run in my family and I do exhibit some behaviors of the disease, but I have not be overwhelmed as of yet. It is possible that I’m not. Either way, to reduce/remove alcohol from my life has zero negative effects and many, many positive effects. Maybe it’s time to make a change.

That’s one way to find out Solid. Stop and see if you recognize the positive effects of not drinking and see the problems that drinking had caused in the past.

Solid,

Believe me, anyone and everyone who is seeking help is welcomed at those meetings. You don’t need a horror story to attend and actually might even be more respected for nipping it in the bud before your horror stories begin. What kind of turned me off from those meetings was is seemed everyone had turned their alcohol addiction into a smoking addition. But if you don’t smoke, you can find smoke free meetings. Usually an easy way to start is just show up with a friend and sit in the back and see what goes on. You will only find friendly people willing to share their experiences in order to gain strength and help others.

secjay, you’ll know if you have a problem. Don’t ask me how. You just do. And there’s no hard-and-fast rules of being a drunk. Personally, I NEVER drank first thing in the morning. Yet, I knew guys that finished off a fifth just to start off their day. I just didn’t stop once I started. Different strokes for different folks.

Solid, like gprent said, you don’t need a horror story. You’ll find people at all stages of recovery there. The guy/gal with 20 years of soberity is on the same level as the one just walking in the door. They both have that one day. That’s all. It’s one day at a time.

Hey Solid!!

Take the risk and go to a meeting! What have you got to lose? I don’t think you’ll find anything comparable on-line.

Horsehung

There’s evidence that brain damage may begin after just two consecutive days of binge drinking.

Waaa waaa waaa! Drinking causes brain damage.

Next you guys are going to tell me that crystell meth is bad for me to.

Soild: Yeah I think that if you go to a meeting I think you will be more respected for realizing that you might have a problem, instead of waiting till you do mess up, or are required to go because of Jonny Law.

GPrent 101: I know what you mean about the meeting, if your not a smoker and coffee drinker.you have to question if your a true alcoholic :P

The main reason I started this thread is that I’m 25 and I picked up some of the horror stories last summer. I know that nothing good happens from drinking and I should quit.I’m just not ready yet to quit forever.

That’s why I wanted to know at what ages most people hit their turning points into quiting and why. The biggest thing that will let you be ready is a change of your priorities and a good woman to keep you grounded. That will take away the main reasons I drink I guess. Bored tired and lonely

Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. Once you are hooked, the alcohol takes over and priorities in your life go down the drain. Like I said, I lost 2 wives, my job and my families respect and I am not unusual. The ultimate of course is drinking till you kill yourself one way or another. If you have a problem, a good woman can’t help you. She will get so disgusted, she will just leave.

Deep down inside you have to quit for yourself and for nothing else but yourself.

I knew I was hooked at 25. Wish I had quit then.

Lantern,

I pray your “turning point” is as simple as you pretend. Unfortunately most heavy drinkers’ “bottoms” involve jail, hospitals, loss of job, friends, family, even an early death. And it’s not how much you drink. It’s what the drink does to you.

Horsehung

My father-in-law, who has been sober for 30+ years, once told me something that he learned from AA, and it has stuck with me:

Alcohol dissolves things: marriages, friendships, business relationships, families….

If you think you have a problem, go to a meeting. Even if you don’t think you have a problem, but you realize that you’re consuming a lot of alcohol, go to a meeting. As has been suggested by other posters here, it doesn’t hurt to go, you can do it anonymously (the second “A” in “AA”) and you don’t have to go back if you don’t want to. You might discover that you have more in common with the other people there than you expected, though, and it could be a postive turning point.

And your PE buds will always be here.

G._Lantern, you don’t quit ‘forever.’ I thought the same thing 12 years ago. Forever is too long a time. 12 years ago I couldn’t imagine being sober for a week. It’s been over 11 1/2 years now. You know what that gets me? Nothing really. It’s in the past. I didn’t drink today. I get to go to sleep sober tonight. Tomorrow? I’ll worry about that when it gets here.

There’s no magic turning point or age as to when people quit. I’ve seen people from 16 to 80 show up at meetings for the first time. Changing your priorities or a good woman won’t keep you from drinking. You’ll just find another reason, or no reason at all. I never really needed a reason to drink.

Find a meeting in your area and go there. You can just sit there and listen. You’ll know if you belong there.