How can I sober up and stay off the booze?

Question

I want to clean my act up starting from Sunday, after one last session over Friday and Saturday. I need advice on how to stay off the pop - for good.

Answer 1

Different things work for different people. I guess now is the time to ask yourself if you might have a problem? For me, I stay sober by using a technique called 'Addictive voice recognition therapy' - I recognise my alcoholic voice and am learning to ignore it. I know now that it isn't me who wants a drink, its my alcoholic voice. Works for me, but isn't for everyone. If you want any advice or support, feel free to email me.

Also, the one last blow out is a dangerous thing - I still get cravings now - my voice tells me that I didn't go out on enough of a high and that I should have one last bender before I give up for good. I've not had a drink for 116 days.

There is a 'test' at the Alcoholics Anonymous website that can help people see if alcoholic is affecting thier life:
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/newcomer/isaa4u.shtml

If you are concerned about your drinking, there is lots of information about support at:
http://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/alcohol.php

Support is available from Alcohlics Anonymous
Tel: National Helpline: 0845 769 7555
Email:[e-mail]
Web: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/

Drinkline offer advice and information for people with alcohol problems or anyone concerned about alcohol misuse. They also offer advice on sensible drinking and information on services to help people cut down on their drinking.
Tel: [phone]

Answer 2

First of all, I have to say that all these so called 'Stars' who go into rehab can easily afford it. What about all the rest of us who have tried doctors, Campral, AA and counsellors? but cannot afford rehab? Yes, I am an alcoholic, I'm not proud of it and I wish I could do without but, there is an underlying reason why we drink. We need to find out what this is to help us combat the problem. My Father, his Mother and Father were all alcoholics, is it inherited or is it what you were brought up with? I went to AA twice, but each time I thought I wasn't BAD enough to be there. WHY? because I had never been hospitalised, never been arrested,never missed a days work and never passed out. BUT I know I have a problem.
If you are a regular drinker, i.e. every night, I hope you realise that it could be dangerous to just stop! You must try to cut down. I bought a spirit measure from Tesco which measures 50ml ( a double) if you slightly less fill it, it would measure 40ml. Gradually cut down until you use the other end which measures 25ml.
I am seriously trying and have managed to cut from 24 units a day (Yes bad I know) to 16.

The best of luck my friend, I know how hard it is.

Answer 3

Instead of quitting, don't start. I'm guessing you are sober as you read this - if you take another drink, consider yourself as starting to drink. But before you take another sip, ask yourself, "Do I want to start drinking? After all the stuff I already know about it, is it worth becoming a drinker? Does it sound like a good idea to start again after the trouble I went through when I was a drinker?"

Can you really answer 'yes' to these questions? Be honest with yourself.

Answer 4

I am an alcoholic, and don't mind admitting I was powerless over alcohol and it was taking that first step of the AA program that put me on the road to recovery. I've did rehabs, counselling etc. but truly AA is the best because you are with men and women who have the same story as you. If you have been drinking very heavily and want to stop I really advise you do it under medical supervision, just to be safe.

Answer 5

Join A.A It worked for me but you might have to have more than one go at it. They say you have to reach your rock bottom. That means different things for different people. Most people at a.a can remember there last "drunk" If you can remember yours there is no need to have a last binge. Remember it could literally be your last. If you are an alcoholic anything could happen . Have you suffered blackouts ? In blackout you could do anything, you could end up in the cells and not no why you are there. The police see drunks everyday and have no sympathy with you . If you tell them you are suicidal they take all your clothes of you so you can not swallow your underpants and give you a suicide suit to ware so you can not hang yourself or chock on them. If you are serious about quiting alcohol stop now before it is to late . It gets worse i promise you.

Answer 6

I always say i will start my diet on Monday.. Monday never comes if you want to really do it get all the prop help and support you can then do it, "one last session over Friday and Saturday?", it doesn't work like that.

Answer 7

What sucks is no matter what you hear, there is no trick to make you stop drinking. There's no pills you can take and no magic word that you can say that can make the craving go away. You just have to quit. Not as easy as it sounds I know, but if you want to stop drinking, then don't drink anymore. It's all about the power that you have over yourself, I believe that you can do it, now you just have to.

Answer 8

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these

Answer 9

That can be a hard one.

Might want to try rehab or something similar. There are both inpatient and outpatient places. If you don't want to do a stint in a rehab, you can always join a support group.

You can find a local place for yourself here:
http://www.drugrehabreferral.com/content/alcohol_rehab/

Answer 10

In addition, to supportive groups like AA, there are several pharmaceutical agents out there to help with the withdrawal of alchohol. One of the newest agent for alcohol withdrawal is Campral. There are several other ones but you should talk to your doctor about it to see what is best for you.