alcohol addction?

Question

can someone really give up alcohol on their own or do they have to go to a GP and get help and take medicine, surely an alcoholic can give up if they choose? any suggestions would be really grateful! thanks

Answer 1

Most GP's don't really understand the nature of the beast of Alcoholism.
I don't believe anyone can give up alcohol on their own if infact they are a true Alcoholic. . . they need support and knowledge of their disease and they have to learn how to change those "defects of character" that lend themselves to the problem of Alcoholism.
People in AA will know how to help if the true Alcoholic should be going through severe withdrawals.
People in AA will know how to help if the true Alcoholic is struggling with staying sober.
Giving up Alcohol is a COLD TURKEY situation. There is NO tapering off,there is NO substituting beer/wine for hard liquour. . . alcohol is alcohol,there is not substituting things like weed for alcohol. . a drug is a drug is a drug.
Anything that one uses or does to change the way they feel is a drug whether it is alcohol,weed,meth,prescribed drugs etc.
It takes committment to stay off of Alcohol and it takes work to stay off of Alcohol AND one HAS to have the help,skill and knowledge of those that have been through the process of giving up Alcohol.
The 12 step of Alcoholics Anynomous is EXCELLENT and I recommend it to EVERYONE and even some who do not even drink or do drugs.
Find an AA Club and don't be shy. . . we ALL started out the way you will start out. . . with our first meeting and we all remember that feeling and are compassionate to those making their first meeting.
We ALL got where we got just as you will,listening to things that at first won't make sense to you but stick with it as recommended. . . 90 meetings in 90 days.
We ALL stay sober ONE DAY AT A TIME and in some instances 10 minutes at a time.
Each and every Alcoholic in recovery has to remember each and every day that they can't drink and every day we have to do what it takes to stay sober. . . ONE DAY AT A TIME.
Remember,just as your disease is ever present so must be your efforts to stay sober.
There are plenty of people in this world who stop drinking but who never get the "recovery" that they need to help insure staying sober and we call them DRY DRUNKS. They only quit drinking and never address the issues that made them drink in the first place. These people aren't likely to stay stopped with their drinking. . .they are just ticking timebombs waiting to blow(start drinking again).
If any of the advise you get sounds too good to be true,I can promise you it IS too good to be true.
Just as you get drunk ONE DAY AT A TIME so must you get sober and stay sober ONE DAY AT A TIME,each and every day.
Give AA that 90 meetings in 90 days trial and if at the end of those 90days you aren't seeing a difference,the AA Club you attend will gladly refund you your misery. . . I promise.

Answer 2

I know 2 people that had a really bad drinking problem. One stopped cold turkey and did great and has not had a drink for 13 years. The other one took Antabuse (perscription) and quit. Antabuse works by simply knowing that if you take it and drink you will get quite sick and throw up. Just knowing this will mentally keep you from drinking. You have to be very careful with things you use that contain alcohol like deodrants, after shave, cologne, etc. The alcohol in them will have the same effect. I do feel that AA is a very good support system. It will help you realize that no matter how bad you life has gotten, there are others out there just like you. I attended a few AA meeting with one of my above friends and was really impressed at the level of concern shown by the folks there that included people from all walks of life. Alcholisim is a disease and you will always be an alcoholic, even when you stop drinking. You must not think that you can just drink one drink and stop. You can't. You must be strong and take it one day at a time. Don't worry about not drinking next week or next month. Just worry about today and know in the morning that you are not going to drink today and pray a lot. Hopefully you will have a strong support group in your family. The two people I have talked about are my husband and my son. I was the co-dependent in each case and always believed in my mind that they would one day stop drinking. I also knew there was nothing I could do but pray and wait. They had to have the desire to stop and accept that they had a problem. Good luck to you and God Bless.

Answer 3

Alcoholism is an illness, and one that some people need help with. In my experience, an alcoholic cannot give up alcohol with out support from either a health care provider or fellow alcoholics. I've not known many alcoholics who use medication such as antabuse - if you require something to stop you drinking like that, you are not ready to tackle your addiction.

I don't think its a case of just 'giving up' - it is much more than that. Alcoholism is an illness of the body and the mind, and no one other than an alcoholic can understand this illness. The power it has over us is incredible, and not something to be underestimated. We are not weak if we pick up a drink, we are ill.

In my experience, Alcoholics Anonymous is the greatest support tool and alcoholic can have - I continue to be amazed at the kindness and goodness that my brothers and sisters show to me - and I am not even a regular AA attender.

I have known many, many alcoholics, and none of us get through a day alone - just knowing that we have support out there if we need it helps is get through each day.

I've also known alcoholics who feel that they owe their sobriety to rehabilitation institutions, but these are in the minority.

Not many alcoholics that I know have had support from their GP, it would seem that often this illness isn't taken seriously - I was told by my GP that I should try and only drink once a week when I told her that I thought I might have a problem.

People don't understand that we can't just 'set a limit' and only drink a certain amount. We cannot control our drinking, we cannot do sensible drinking - we have to choose to give up drink completely.

If you want any specific advice or support, feel free to get in touch and I'll do my best to help.

Answer 4

Harvard estimates that 80% of those who quit for one year or more do so on their own and that only 10% of alcoholics receive treatment.

from:
http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-effectiveness.html
"The Harvard Mental Health Letter, from The Harvard Medical School, stated quite plainly:

On their own
There is a high rate of recovery among alcoholics and addicts, treated and untreated. According to one estimate, heroin addicts break the habit in an average of 11 years. Another estimate is that at least 50% of alcoholics eventually free themselves although only 10% are ever treated. One recent study found that 80% of all alcoholics who recover for a year or more do so on their own, some after being unsuccessfully treated. When a group of these self-treated alcoholics was interviewed, 57% said they simply decided that alcohol was bad for them. Twenty-nine percent said health problems, frightening experiences, accidents, or blackouts persuaded them to quit. Others used such phrases as "Things were building up" or "I was sick and tired of it." Support from a husband or wife was important in sustaining the resolution.
Treatment of Drug Abuse and Addiction -- Part III, The Harvard Mental Health Letter, Volume 12, Number 4, October 1995, page 3. "

It's not easy, only 5% manage to quit on their own (same success rate as AA), but that's each time try.

I could quit, but I had trouble staying stopped until I got help for depression.


Also see:
http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-effectiveness.html#notreatment

Answer 5

yes. of course a person can do that all that have to do is this. After they drink achlohol eat or drink something healthy like salad. But, twice as more. So you might eventually get addicted to the salad & drop the achlohal. Then drink water, milk, juice, tea. Just eat & drink healthy after the achlohol.

Also you can try setting a limit 2 bottles a week for 2 months then 1 bottle a week for 2 months. Then 1 every 2 weeks for 1 month. SO on & so fourth.

Answer 6

If you have been a heavy drinker for a sustained period there is a big risk of the DTs when you stop. (Delirium tremens). this is a pretty dreadful and unpleasant period of withdrawal. It can be reduced or avoided with prescribed medication, so best to see your GP.

Answer 7

alcoholism is a disease and you need help from a professional

There are some good clinics about but usually have long waiting lists. but first see your doctor for help ........good luck

Answer 8

sometimes yes and sometimes no....it depends on how strong the addiction is...many alcoholics die because they cannot stop....it is like any other addiction...tough to stop for most people without strong conviction and lots of help