Seamaster said:
What's an alcoholic?
Where is the threshold where one goes from "a guy who enjoys a drink" to an "alcoholic?"
After 10-12 years of drinking pretty darn regularly, but never to excess, I recently decided that I was probably an alcoholic.
Almost every evening I'd drink either 3/4s a bottle of wine or 2-3 pours of bourbon on ice. I wouldn't get "drunk." I hate being drunk. But I developed a habit and dependency and thought I was just "taking the edge off."
Recently, I woke at 3am, with a bourbon headache, and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit telling me that if I didn't stop, something terrible would happen. I am not sure what - DUI? Cirrhosis?
So I've stopped completely. I don't want to drink ever again.
I think God has been sending me signs about it for a while. A lot of people I admire once drank and quit when they were about my age (45).
I never developed a sincere physical addiction- no shakes or anything, but the habit was there and I was on the path.
It's only been a short while but I am already appreciating what it feels like to be sober at night and clear headed in the morning.
Hill08 said:Seamaster said:
What's an alcoholic?
Where is the threshold where one goes from "a guy who enjoys a drink" to an "alcoholic?"
After 10-12 years of drinking pretty darn regularly, but never to excess, I recently decided that I was probably an alcoholic.
Almost every evening I'd drink either 3/4s a bottle of wine or 2-3 pours of bourbon on ice. I wouldn't get "drunk." I hate being drunk. But I developed a habit and dependency and thought I was just "taking the edge off."
Recently, I woke at 3am, with a bourbon headache, and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit telling me that if I didn't stop, something terrible would happen. I am not sure what - DUI? Cirrhosis?
So I've stopped completely. I don't want to drink ever again.
I think God has been sending me signs about it for a while. A lot of people I admire once drank and quit when they were about my age (45).
I never developed a sincere physical addiction- no shakes or anything, but the habit was there and I was on the path.
It's only been a short while but I am already appreciating what it feels like to be sober at night and clear headed in the morning.
It wasn't god. It was your friends, family but most importantly yourself. You made the change. Nothing else. Congrats
Seamaster said:
What's an alcoholic?
Where is the threshold where one goes from "a guy who enjoys a drink" to an "alcoholic?"
After 10-12 years of drinking pretty darn regularly, but never to excess, I recently decided that I was probably an alcoholic.
Almost every evening I'd drink either 3/4s a bottle of wine or 2-3 pours of bourbon on ice. I wouldn't get "drunk." I hate being drunk. But I developed a habit and dependency and thought I was just "taking the edge off."
Recently, I woke at 3am, with a bourbon headache, and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit telling me that if I didn't stop, something terrible would happen. I am not sure what - DUI? Cirrhosis?
So I've stopped completely. I don't want to drink ever again.
I think God has been sending me signs about it for a while. A lot of people I admire once drank and quit when they were about my age (45).
I never developed a sincere physical addiction- no shakes or anything, but the habit was there and I was on the path.
It's only been a short while but I am already appreciating what it feels like to be sober at night and clear headed in the morning.
Scotts Tot said:Hill08 said:Seamaster said:
What's an alcoholic?
Where is the threshold where one goes from "a guy who enjoys a drink" to an "alcoholic?"
After 10-12 years of drinking pretty darn regularly, but never to excess, I recently decided that I was probably an alcoholic.
Almost every evening I'd drink either 3/4s a bottle of wine or 2-3 pours of bourbon on ice. I wouldn't get "drunk." I hate being drunk. But I developed a habit and dependency and thought I was just "taking the edge off."
Recently, I woke at 3am, with a bourbon headache, and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit telling me that if I didn't stop, something terrible would happen. I am not sure what - DUI? Cirrhosis?
So I've stopped completely. I don't want to drink ever again.
I think God has been sending me signs about it for a while. A lot of people I admire once drank and quit when they were about my age (45).
I never developed a sincere physical addiction- no shakes or anything, but the habit was there and I was on the path.
It's only been a short while but I am already appreciating what it feels like to be sober at night and clear headed in the morning.
It wasn't god. It was your friends, family but most importantly yourself. You made the change. Nothing else. Congrats
I'm sure that telling a person of faith that their breakthrough was based entirely on delusion will be a great encouragement. Thanks for this wonderful contribution.
Martin Q. Blank said:
How about YOU make a decision to stop posting.
Seamaster said:Martin Q. Blank said:
How about YOU make a decision to stop posting.
My faith is, mature, I'd say. I am not offended by his comments but rather hope that one day he'll eventually recognize the hand of God in his life. Sincerely, no ill will.
While it's true that I made the choice, I cannot deny the ways God has led me to this choice (as well as many others) throughout my life.
Last night was the first real "test" as it relates to sober-living. Am traveling in NY for work and after work went to a pub and then dinner with colleagues. I enjoyed myself just as much as I ever did even though I sipped sparkling water. I thought I'd maybe be more tempted but I simply wasn't.
Brian Earl Spilner said:
Weird, I read his post as trying to give him more credit than he was giving himself. Not sure how people took it in such negative light.
Hoosegow said:
Half a handle of vodka or whiskey a day habit for me. Shakes, anxiety, high blood pressure. On the weekends I'd wake up with so much anxiety (think 3am) that I would sit on the couch and have a few just to relax so I could go back to sleep. I went a year without drinking in 2024. Started back up in February this year. Fell right back into the habit - adding a second bottle for the weekend. Not good.
Currently I'm at 22 days. I might finally be at the point that I hate the withdrawel symptoms more than the drunk.
You can tell a lot of stories to yourself as an alcohollic. I have terrible coping skills. I used to work out like a fiend. That kept me somewhat grounded. I'm old and injured so I lost that one coping mechanism I had that wasn't alcohol. Slipped a little farther every day. I also have no hobbies anymore. Alcohol was my hobby. Sounds weak, but I enjoyed it. For me, there is a profound lost of joy. There is nothing like the euphoria of the first drink. I don't think anything can replace it - my mind is probably permanently re-wired wrong. Hopefully all that wlll change.
Addiction is a bee itch. It is a insidious process. By the time you know you have a problem, it is too late to ever go back to normal.
Hoosegow said:
Half a handle of vodka or whiskey a day habit for me. Shakes, anxiety, high blood pressure. On the weekends I'd wake up with so much anxiety (think 3am) that I would sit on the couch and have a few just to relax so I could go back to sleep. I went a year without drinking in 2024. Started back up in February this year. Fell right back into the habit - adding a second bottle for the weekend. Not good.
Currently I'm at 22 days. I might finally be at the point that I hate the withdrawel symptoms more than the drunk.
You can tell a lot of stories to yourself as an alcohollic. I have terrible coping skills. I used to work out like a fiend. That kept me somewhat grounded. I'm old and injured so I lost that one coping mechanism I had that wasn't alcohol. Slipped a little farther every day. I also have no hobbies anymore. Alcohol was my hobby. Sounds weak, but I enjoyed it. For me, there is a profound lost of joy. There is nothing like the euphoria of the first drink. I don't think anything can replace it - my mind is probably permanently re-wired wrong. Hopefully all that wlll change.
Addiction is a bee itch. It is a insidious process. By the time you know you have a problem, it is too late to ever go back to normal.
