Sobriety, V2.

[~mikey b]

yeah and you don’t have to drink yourself to that “quiet” state - that just gets worse and worse for both your physical and mental health

[Buzzworthy]

Bob,

Alcohol withdrawal is genuinely dangerous, up to the point that it can literally kill you. A week in you're probably past the point where that is still a real risk, but in general heavy drinkers should not quit cold turkey. Benzos (e.g., Valium, Ativan) can be very helpful for relieving the withdrawal symptoms, especially if you don't think moderate drinking/tapering off is an option for you. Benzos come with their own set of risks and pitfalls (they are also addictive and difficult/dangerous to get off of), but are still way better for your health than drinking. Good luck.

Dan, this is the worst advice ever in regard to benzos. Never ever tell an alcoholic to try them. Ask me how I know.

Withdrawals are very serious. But adding something like this has so many other bad side effects.

Benzos are the quintessential “I don’t give a fuck” drugs. When you’re trying to change your behavior, especially over 35 years, or in my case 28 years, the last thing you want to take is a drug that will make you say oh fuck it, one drink won’t hurt. Because that’s exactly what benzodiazepines do. You just don’t care. Not a good thing when you’re actually trying to care.

[Harry]

Happy to celebrate 12 years today!

Good for you ! I did not know you before, I only know you sober. You are a great person who used your RE skillz to turn me into a bazillionaire. Not sure if that would have happened before you got clean. Congratulations, and I always enjoy your posts in the Montana thread.


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[bogusbill]

Congrats!

[Dantheman]

Dan, this is the worst advice ever in regard to benzos. Never ever tell an alcoholic to try them. Ask me how I know.

Withdrawals are very serious. But adding something like this has so many other bad side effects.

Benzos are the quintessential “I don’t give a fuck” drugs. When you’re trying to change your behavior, especially over 35 years, or in my case 28 years, the last thing you want to take is a drug that will make you say oh fuck it, one drink won’t hurt. Because that’s exactly what benzodiazepines do. You just don’t care. Not a good thing when you’re actually trying to care.

The benzos are to relieve medically dangerous withdrawal symptoms, if needed. That's it.

[Buzzworthy]

The benzos are to relieve medically dangerous withdrawal symptoms, if needed. That's it.

Very well aware of this and while some doctors feel a need to add these medications to someone in withdrawal, there are other routes to take if one chooses.

I didn’t mean to attack you like that, it’s a sore spot from experience here. I’m a prime candidate for this lifestyle presented in this thread and while I’m not there yet, I’ve also been on hit the brakes hard train. No benzos for 3.5 years straight now and taking my daily alcohol intake down at least 60%, I’m still edgy. Im working on it. My apologies Dan.

[riser4]

Benzos for withdrawal only in a highly supervised inpatient setting is my take. I knew too many people who have died from combining alcohol and Valium.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Dan, this is the worst advice ever in regard to benzos. Never ever tell an alcoholic to try them. Ask me how I know.

Withdrawals are very serious. But adding something like this has so many other bad side effects.

Benzos are the quintessential “I don’t give a fuck” drugs. When you’re trying to change your behavior, especially over 35 years, or in my case 28 years, the last thing you want to take is a drug that will make you say oh fuck it, one drink won’t hurt. Because that’s exactly what benzodiazepines do. You just don’t care. Not a good thing when you’re actually trying to care.

Benzodiazepines are the treatment for alcohol withdrawal, full stop. Always under medical supervision of course. The dosage isn’t enough to reach the “high” threshold.

If Bob is a week out with a couple sleepless nights he’s likely not going to suffer severe withdrawal though. A liter of wine a day is significant but the last guy I know who died from alcohol complications was drinking a 1.5 liter bottle of Black Velvet a day. Another good friend wound up in the hospital with hemorrhagic pancreatitis by drinking an 18 pack of Coors every, some days more. It’s terrible


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[TWINS]

Congrats!

I'm one of those examples of someone holding down a job, good life, who is an alcoholic. I've been an every day drinker for 35 years. When I used to drink beer I was drinking a 12 pack a night, got gout issues and had to switch to wine. The last year or so I've been drinking even more, I go through 2 boxes of Franzia every 6 days. On the weekends I've been starting at 11am.

I've always kept my shit together, work on time, spend time with the family, etc. Monday I decided I'd had enough, I want to retire at some point and am afraid if I kept up with my habits I'd drink myself to death in short order.

I haven't had a drink since Sunday night, the longest time in 35 years I've gone without alcohol. The first couple days were tough, I couldn't sleep at all. Every time I'd fall asleep I'd go into nightmares, wake up 10 minutes later terrified. Last night was the first night I slept really good.

I'm not sure if I'm done drinking forever. I'm just gonna take it one day at a time and see how it goes. I know tonight will be tough, the first weekend night in 35 years without alcohol.

Congratulations 👏
Doing it with willpower alone is pretty tough.
Read some quit lit asap please.
Allen Carr's Easy Way to stop drinking.
Annie Grace This naked Mind
William Porter Alcohol Explained.
Download some sober apps.
Join This Naked Mind 30 day challenge, its free and really good 👍
I'm on day 161 AF and have never felt better mentally in my adult life.
I'm here and reachable if you need any help.

[TWINS]

Happy to celebrate 12 years today!

I just wanted to tell you that your post about quitting alcohol 12 years ago I always remembered.
It gave me that little thought in my head that its time to stop the madness.
I tried and have posted over the years in different threads here about quitting but never truly committed to it.
Thankyou for shining that light back then ✨
Below is not for you as you already know it 👍


Just throwing out some information for those still struggling 😕

One drink of poison is one too many.
You cannot live your best life while poisoning yourself possibly to death.

The anxiety you think you are calming down by drinking is momentary.

The brain starts producing adrenaline to combat the sedative effects of the alcohol you are injesting so you are constantly chasing the effect as the brain tries to counteract the alcohol.
Its a crazy addiction that needs to be understood completely before you can truly quit.
Once you understand the process there is no desire for it.
Please read up on the subject.
Science based facts on how our brain works.
Subconscious brain works behind the scenes.
Its making decisions without our consent.
Thats why willpower usually doesn't work.
Willpower is the conscious side we have control over.
Subconscious side is much stronger.
Please just read up on the subject with a open mind to learning about how your mind and body work.
Then you can make a possibly life changing decision for yourself.
I feel like I won the lottery.
I got a second chance on this earth 🌎
Reborn living in the present moment and being present in every possible way.
Especially when talking to people now.
Its mind blowing in a awesome way.
So happy 😊

[SumJongGuy]

+1 to amataur pharmacology being a BAD IDEA for anyone trying to get off of drugs/alcohol. If you're a VERY heavy daily user GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND TELL THEM THE TRUTH. They'll detox you professionally regardless of your ability to pay right then or not.

I almost died, actually believe I did have a mild heart attack detoxing myself at home by myself 24 years ago. DIY attempts at sobriety are all but doomed to failure.sooner or later. There are lots mags here with solid sobriety all willing to help either local in person or via PMs here. Reach out folks..

[~mikey b]

yeah they take that shit pretty seriously - I didn’t, but I didn’t have any problems - I “quit” a couple times on my own when I was really bad off and once when I was worse and I ended up being ok but


at this point, if you’ve detoxed and you’re ok, it seems like it’s getting help for the next stage of all this that you should be focusing on

I’m here if you want a cranky non-AA guy to talk to, but you should hit up one of these other beaters too - the more people you share with the better

[whyturn]

Quitting is easy. I’ve done it hundreds of times.

Always like to dip into this thread to keep it in perspective. Happy to see folks fighting and figuring it out. A little over 21 ago getting sober was the best decision I ever made.


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[Dantheman]

Very well aware of this and while some doctors feel a need to add these medications to someone in withdrawal, there are other routes to take if one chooses.

I didn’t mean to attack you like that, it’s a sore spot from experience here. I’m a prime candidate for this lifestyle presented in this thread and while I’m not there yet, I’ve also been on hit the brakes hard train. No benzos for 3.5 years straight now and taking my daily alcohol intake down at least 60%, I’m still edgy. Im working on it. My apologies Dan.

It's all good. I know you have a history with benzos.

[SkiBall]

They give you Librium at the nicer detox’s for the first 48 or so if you need it. At least they used to. Not so nice ones, they don’t. Ask me how I know.

[DBdude]

Very well aware of this and while some doctors feel a need to add these medications to someone in withdrawal, there are other routes to take if one chooses.

I didn’t mean to attack you like that, it’s a sore spot from experience here. I’m a prime candidate for this lifestyle presented in this thread and while I’m not there yet, I’ve also been on hit the brakes hard train. No benzos for 3.5 years straight now and taking my daily alcohol intake down at least 60%, I’m still edgy. Im working on it. My apologies Dan.

My best friend de toxed in a hospital. He hallucinated on and off for about a half day

He was drinking when he got up till he went to bed

He was clean for three or four months before his body failed and he died

He was a very bad patient who didn’t get great care after he was released

If you have bloating and water retention and swollen ankles get to an emergency room

Your liver isn’t working


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[~mikey b]

my buddy died like that but it was his pancreas


miss you Happy Brad

[SumJongGuy]

Another earlier warning sign is that usually you can handle the full load just fine with only a mild hangover.. But, sometimes you're sure you're taking it easy but wake up feeling like someone slipped you Russian Nuclear Tea, like you're sweating out chemo or something.

As for the complications, pretty sure Jerry Garcia died in detox. Even with the best professionals, sometimes your body is too far gone.

[Todd Zander]

Not in the “requires detox care” category but definitely looking to take a break again. I went 2 months in the fall and it felt great but in the midst of it the marriage all but ended. Kids are keeping us together for now.

Saturday night was my last drink indefinitely.

Gonna pour the last handful of beers out in the pigs feed.

[~mikey b]

when you get sober things look different - they don’t always look better at first - they get better, but some things might get very different unexpectedly

good luck

[SkiBall]

It seems a friend of mine may have wet brain, and will never be the same again. I don’t think he can even comprehend that he is an alcoholic at this point. And the denial. Oh, the denial. I don’t see this ending well, but I hope it ends merciful. If you can’t hold on to a new thought, and you are apparently trying to forget the past has got to be a difficult place to be to say the least. I am going to do what I can and try to be ok with that.

[lowsparkco]

It seems a friend of mine may have wet brain, and will never be the same again. I don’t think he can even comprehend that he is an alcoholic at this point. And the denial. Oh, the denial. I don’t see this ending well, but I hope it ends merciful. If you can’t hold on to a new thought, and you are apparently trying to forget the past has got to be a difficult place to be to say the least. I am going to do what I can and try to be ok with that.

Losing friends to alcoholism is hard. I eventually came to believe that this life is simply too difficult for some. My friend felt the pain of others as if it was his own, in fact it was his own. I hope he is in a better place.

[ZomblibulaX]

Losing friends to alcoholism is hard. I eventually came to believe that this life is simply too difficult for some. My friend felt the pain of others as if it was his own, in fact it was his own. I hope he is in a better place.

And then others feel too much joy. I was a decade clean before it happened, but seeing my buddy dead of hard living while we were still in our thirties really drove it home for me. Risk taking is a healthy thing, but it can be nearly impossible for some people to moderate, and it spills in to every aspect of your life. Skinny lived life at 11, and it caught up quick. Perspective is what's left if you're still around to pick up the pieces.

I check in here often as another way to keep things in perspective. Every one remember, there's always someone to call. Even if it's some random internet kook who you share a tangential interest in outdoor recreation with. There's plenty of us that still don't sleep much; you might be surprised who will reply in the middle of the night.

Keep it between the mustard and the mayonnaise.

[SkiBall]

It is going to be tough to watch. Like the proverbial slow motion wreck. Hopefully some survival mode will kick in his subconscious, but it appears he crossed the rubicon with this last run. Never once called for help. I guess sometimes it’s not that their life got so busy they floated away, so much as they wanted to do their thing without anybody’s expectations getting in the way. Grateful I didn’t go along for the ride.

[byates1]

Sorry things are rugged w your friend. I'm greatly enjoyed the simple boredom of sobriety. Beats my alternative.