****, you are a lightweight.

We're all going to die anyway. Why not enjoy the ride?

BellCountyBear said:

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****, you are a lightweight.

We're all going to die anyway. Why not enjoy the ride?

---

Are you saying you drink more than me?

fadskier said:

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I am ashamed to say that at 57, I've failed to maintain control. While I have drank for years, the last two years have seen me increase and fail to control it. I drink three to four days per week and about 12-15Ozs of vodka each of those evenings.

It is time for me to stop. I can go a few days but then I give in. I genuinely enjoy drinking and my last check up (June 2021) was good so the heavy drinking has not affected me yet.

If any of you have defeated alcohol, I'd like to know what you did. I have read that there are prescriptions that can help so I guess I need to see my Dr.

Thanks.

---

I drink more often, but definitely much less than what you are drinking.

fadskier said:

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BellCountyBear said:

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****, you are a lightweight.

We're all going to die anyway. Why not enjoy the ride?

---

Are you saying you drink more than me?

---

Hell yes.

Fad, I wish you well. You have done a difficult thing in realizing your situation is beyond recreational use. An excess in any area of life, including a hobby, must be addressed. My advice would be to seek christian counseling, and perhaps AA. Maybe there is an area of your life that you are attempting to minimize by the overuse of alcohol. Good luck to you.

AA is a very good resource. The main thing is to recognize any damage it is doing in your life, and the lives of those you care about. Aside from medications, if you can truly buy into drinking less, or one day quitting, so that you can live the life you want, you stand a good chance. Most people never make it to that point. A part of them believes that their life won't be as good without the booze.

And btw I have read the new medications help immensely.

I'm praying for you. I've had a long time porn addiction that I've made halfway measures to address. Find all the help you can.

fadskier said:

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I am ashamed to say that at 57, I've failed to maintain control. While I have drank for years, the last two years have seen me increase and fail to control it. I drink three to four days per week and about 12-15Ozs of vodka each of those evenings.

It is time for me to stop. I can go a few days but then I give in. I genuinely enjoy drinking and my last check up (June 2021) was good so the heavy drinking has not affected me yet.

If any of you have defeated alcohol, I'd like to know what you did. I have read that there are prescriptions that can help so I guess I need to see my Dr.

Thanks.

---

I tip my hat to you, fadskier, for coming out and acknowledging you need to cut back. Sounds like you and i are in similar shoes. I drink on most days that end in y. I do give my liver 2-3 days off per week. I am 58. Like you, the results of my most recent annual physical were very good. I hope it doesn't take a nasty wake up call to motivate me to get back to moderation. I also need to get off my ass and start exercising again.

I look forward to following your thread.

Two friends quit while reading Allen Carr's "Quit Drinking (Without Willpower)." They both swear by it. I have the book -- got it off Amazon -- though I haven't read it.

Don't be ashamed. My best to you.

saabing bear said:

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I'm praying for you. I've had a long time porn addiction that I've made halfway measures to address. Find all the help you can.

---

I long for the days when you had to pay for porn and water was free!

Best wishes to you. Seek AA or some other form of counseling. A lot of people experience addictions.

You got this fad. What do you like about drinking? Is it social? The drunk feeling? Just curious.

Ghostrider said:

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You got this fad. What do you like about drinking? Is it social? The drunk feeling? Just curious.

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Not really surejust love the feeling of sitting back and relaxing with a drink. My problem is stopping once I get started.

I do like my hard liquor. I never thought I had a problem, so I've stopped a couple of times for a week just to demonstrate that I'm still in control.

Really, the toughest part is the habit. I never got the sense that I was dependent on the feeling of drinking, but that it was just something that wound down the day and set me up for sleep (although I found myself sleeping better when I had NOT had a drink before bedtime). When I stop, I find I do mentally miss it for the first couple of days. It doesn't change my mood or cause other changes, but I have to remind myself to fill the time before bed with something besides a drink.

Everyone's different, and only a professional counselor would be qualified to offer advice. However, my initial thoughts are whether or not you've taken the step of ensuring you don't have any more booze in the house. I've had to shed several bad habits (namely eating junk food) before, and I find the first most easily taken step is just to make sure it isn't around. It's easier to stay disciplined if it requires more steps than going to the cupboard.

If you find you won't voluntarily get rid of it to help your discipline, that might be something you'd want to question.

There's no reason for me to assume you're of the same mindset as me. If your personality is changing when you don't drink, or you're drinking when you have other obligations (your initial post seems to indicate this is NOT the case), then other steps might be necessary. In the meantime, I'm glad you shared. Start today. Get rid of the stuff, and see if you can not drink tonight. Then, don't buy a bottle tomorrow, and see how tomorrow goes. After that, you've got a pattern. Give it a week, then 30 days.

People are different. You might want to just be a "never again" person, and there's no shame or pressure with that. Several friends were in that situation, and that's just how they live because it's simple and straightforward. Conversely, you might be a "it was a bad habit, but now it's a sometimes thing". If you're trying, you're improving.

https://www.celebraterecovery.com/

You can do this. You can quit. Know that the blessing after you quit is greater than the reward your body gives you when you drink.

May God bless you. Thanks for sharing.

fadskier said:

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I am ashamed to say that at 57, I've failed to maintain control. While I have drank for years, the last two years have seen me increase and fail to control it. I drink three to four days per week and about 12-15Ozs of vodka each of those evenings.

It is time for me to stop. I can go a few days but then I give in. I genuinely enjoy drinking and my last check up (June 2021) was good so the heavy drinking has not affected me yet.

If any of you have defeated alcohol, I'd like to know what you did. I have read that there are prescriptions that can help so I guess I need to see my Dr.

Thanks.

---

As long as God is still allowing you to breathe, it's not too late to quit. Our lives are all about choices. I chose to drink..a lot..and I mean a lot. probably cost me a shot at pro sports, or maybe even an entry into Law School. I chose to find the bottom of a bottle..every day for years. Easy way out of responsibility...at first... I probably gave Mayberry's Otis Campbell a run at town drunk. Eventually, I had to make a choice..Life with a loving and forgiving family..or continue boozing..My choice...that only I could make ..I chose my family and a sober life... That was decades and decades ago..Had to separate myself from the "crew" that also lived basically just to drink..Most all of them are now "muerto"...found new events, interests that kept me focused and busy. ( some of these were actually rediscovered interests from my youth) . Spent as much time as possible with my wife and kids..I think that was the biggest factor of all..But again, it was MY choice..with asking God everyday to grant me the strength to keep going..I hope you never get to the point that I did..I truly do..The fact you asked for advice/help tells me you know what you need to do..Best of luck in the days, years ahead..Vaya con Dios , amigo.

Ive crept up to almost a bottle of red wine a night during COVID and am struggling with the "am I an alcoholic" thing. But I enjoy it, and at 58 I really wonder whether quitting would really benefit me.

Whatever else you do, get yourself a support person or system of some kind. Without such, and no matter how strong you are, your chances of beating this are about 5%. Go completely dry for several days to see if you've gotten to the point of needing medical detox.

I have a nephew, an attorney by the way, who spent some time as a highly functioning alcoholic. Without additional intake, he quickly spiraled into a non functioning alcoholic.

And once you go dry to see how bad you really are, stay dry. You are good until you take that first drink.

Good luck

if you are not ready for AA or want to try incremental change, google the "one year no beer" 28 day challenge (it starts incrementally, and you can keep going after 28 days or stop sooner if you want)

it really is an approachable way to try to change, or end your relationship with alcohol. it has support forums and other tricks for not drinking with a group that does, etc.

good luck!

UPDATE

Due to my job and things, I have set a date of February 1, 2022 to get professional help if I cannot lick this thing. In the meantime, I set a goal beginning this week to only drink two nights per week. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were dry with little effort. I did drink last night (more than I should have) and will not drink tonight. That leaves me Friday and Saturday to meet (or beat) my goal and I usually do not drink on Saturdays. In addition, I am out of alcohol so it will take some effort if I am going to drink again this week.

I appreciate all the advice and support and am looking inot the thinks suggested on this thread.

You will likely start feeling negative effects of withdrawal after you have been without a drink for 72 hours. There may come a time when you feel anxious, nervous, or grouchy. You may want to warn those who are close to you. Once you get to a point where you can go without alcohol for about 5 days straight, you will notice your sleep improves and your mood along with it.

Suggestion: Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement and drink a vegetable juice like V-8 during this time when you are decreasing your intake and going without alcohol. This could help reduce feelings of anxiety and nervousness.

Carlos Cruz said:

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You will likely start feeling negative effects of withdrawal after you have been without a drink for 72 hours. There may come a time when you feel anxious, nervous, or grouchy. You may want to warn those who are close to you. Once you get to a point where you can go without alcohol for about 5 days straight, you will notice your sleep improves and your mood along with it.

Suggestion: Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement and drink a vegetable juice like V-8 during this time when you are decreasing your intake and going without alcohol. This could help reduce feelings of anxiety and nervousness.

---

I have multivitamins but what do you mean by mineral supplement?

fadskier said:

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Carlos Cruz said:

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You will likely start feeling negative effects of withdrawal after you have been without a drink for 72 hours. There may come a time when you feel anxious, nervous, or grouchy. You may want to warn those who are close to you. Once you get to a point where you can go without alcohol for about 5 days straight, you will notice your sleep improves and your mood along with it.

Suggestion: Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement and drink a vegetable juice like V-8 during this time when you are decreasing your intake and going without alcohol. This could help reduce feelings of anxiety and nervousness.

---

I have multivitamins but what do you mean by mineral supplement?

---

Your multivitamin probably has minerals in it. For example, Alive Men's multivitamin has magnesium, calcium, zinc, etc... as part of its profile:

https://www.swansonvitamins.com/natures-way-alive-once-daily-mens-ultra-potency-60-tabs?SourceCode=INTL4071&showPopup=f&DFA=1&UTM_Medium=Shopping&UTM_Source=GOOGLE&UTM_Campaign=SWAN_National_Gen_Shopping_Null_Null_All+Products+Multivitamin&UTM_Content=PRODUCT_GROUP&SourceCode=INTL4071&ds_rl=1262629&ds_rl=1263854&ds_rl=1262629&gclid=CjwKCAjwmK6IBhBqEiwAocMc8rC4wR1yC80ulWvMM1NRal4oH-kbC_Ixkskw-RLKHLEeaXVIgUG6axoCHA0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Great to hear it! Keep us posted. And remember, the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

Carlos Cruz said:

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Your multivitamin probably has minerals in it. For example, Alive Men's multivitamin has magnesium, calcium, zinc, etc... as part of its profile:

https://www.swansonvitamins.com/natures-way-alive-once-daily-mens-ultra-potency-60-tabs?SourceCode=INTL4071&showPopup=f&DFA=1&UTM_Medium=Shopping&UTM_Source=GOOGLE&UTM_Campaign=SWAN_National_Gen_Shopping_Null_Null_All+Products+Multivitamin&UTM_Content=PRODUCT_GROUP&SourceCode=INTL4071&ds_rl=1262629&ds_rl=1263854&ds_rl=1262629&gclid=CjwKCAjwmK6IBhBqEiwAocMc8rC4wR1yC80ulWvMM1NRal4oH-kbC_Ixkskw-RLKHLEeaXVIgUG6axoCHA0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

---

I need this one also.
Re-Mapping the Page.

Kombucha helps me. Kind of like a healthy wine cooler, with a tiny trace of alcohol.

RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

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fadskier said:

---

I am ashamed to say that at 57, I've failed to maintain control. While I have drank for years, the last two years have seen me increase and fail to control it. I drink three to four days per week and about 12-15Ozs of vodka each of those evenings.

It is time for me to stop. I can go a few days but then I give in. I genuinely enjoy drinking and my last check up (June 2021) was good so the heavy drinking has not affected me yet.

If any of you have defeated alcohol, I'd like to know what you did. I have read that there are prescriptions that can help so I guess I need to see my Dr.

Thanks.

---

I tip my hat to you, fadskier, for coming out and acknowledging you need to cut back. Sounds like you and i are in similar shoes. I drink on most days that end in y. I do give my liver 2-3 days off per week. I am 58. Like you, the results of my most recent annual physical were very good. I hope it doesn't take a nasty wake up call to motivate me to get back to moderation. I also need to get off my ass and start exercising again.

I look forward to following your thread.

---

So I downloaded an app called Try Dry...started tracking on July 18...since July 18, I drank 7 days and was dry 7 days in July (since the 18th). In August, I was dry 17 days and drank 14 days. In September I was dry 17 days and drank 13. So far in October, I have drank 3 times and 10 days dry including a current 9 day dry streak...

I have no idea what my goal is. But tracking is kind of fun.

Do you drink alone or do you have a partner, an enabler?

ABC BEAR said:

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Do you drink alone or do you have a partner, an enabler?

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Alone…at home relaxing.

The question I'd ask is about the "pull" you feel when you're not drinking. Are you able to conduct your business and enjoy the evening without drinking, or are you having to chase the urge to drink alcohol out of your head all the time?

I'm absolutely not an expert. For my own self, I just try to ensure what I think is just a habit that can be controlled when I want to control it isn't actually a compulsion that makes me upset when I can't satisfy it.

fadskier said:

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ABC BEAR said:

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Do you drink alone or do you have a partner, an enabler?

---

Alone…at home relaxing.

---

It sounds like you are in the maintenance drinker phase, where you are functional and never totally ripped but never 100% clean either. Like others have said, now is the time to end the addiction, because once you get a DUI or public intoxication rap your life becomes an exponential hell.

Even though we're talking about a drinking problem here, a good self-examination and a complete lifestyle overhaul might be in order. Your daily routine, how and where you spend your free time and what are your priorities and goals in life.

If you're really committed to going cold turkey, dump all the booze in the house and don't look upon having a drink as a treat or a reward for good behavior, rather, think of it as anathema to your body and soul.

Your body won't react well to the changes which is why you need to have alternate plans in mind for how and where you spend your time.

So, my brother went through something just like this. He took a really radical step, but he said he was really glad he did it this way. Basically, he started trying to incrementally reduce his drinking, but found that it was "a lot more hell" just dragged out over time, which he thought made it worse.

So he scheduled himself a back-country camping/fishing trip. He drove a good six hours into the mountains in southwestern Colorado and set up a "hot tent" (i.e. a tent with a stove). His theory was that, this was going to suck, and he needed something to keep him very busy. So he spent two weeks chopping wood, cooking, maintaining camp, hunting and fishing. He said nights 1-3 were OK, night 4 was rough, night 5 was horrible, night 6 and day 7 were hell, day 8 was bad, day 9 was not so bad, day 10 was good, and days 11-14 were fantastic. He hasn't had a drink since.

Not saying this is a sound way to do it, or how I would even do it. But it worked for him.