What advice would you give to a alcoholic who is desperately trying to become clean?

Question

Jacob, you know nothing about addiction.

Answer 1

Don't drink alcohol.

Answer 2

My advice would be:

Treat alcohol as your best pal. Don’t abuse him and have plenty of liquids around to prevent the hangover. Alcohol is your companion and comforter during a tricky time that can last 4 weeks or 14 years.

If you wake up with Puke up your nose more than 3 times, then try switching your drink ( Beer, Wine , Spirits ) , the really cheap stuff can mess you up.

Once you are comfortable with your drinking habits ... say ½ a bottle to 1 bottle of scotch a day , make sure you know why you need that ½ / 1 bottle a day - what / who caused it – Don’t Live in Denial ! Accept you are a drinker who needs a drink.

Once you have established your drinking habit and know the whys and wherefores ... the storm in your life will appear a lot calmer. There will be periods of several days or even a week or two when you have not thought about your troubles and have not had a drink !

When you are ready to stop drinking the 2 days or 2 weeks without drink will turn into 2 weeks or 2 months without drink.

However , if you still need a little drinky from time 2 time , remember ... Winston Churchill could never give up drink , never stopped him from being a success.

Unlike a woman , a bottle of scotch will never lie or cheat you, Darn ! Now I am being sexist !

Answer 3

Keep trying. It took me seven attempts before I found a secular, outpatient clinic that took hold.

Whatever works-AA, church, I don't care.

For atheists, there is a program called Secular Sobriety that does not use the 'higher power' approach of AA and is successful to the same degree as AA- about 6% stay sober. Yes, 6. Odds are against recovery without professional counseling and a committment to sobriety.

Getting into exercise really helped me. I traded off booze as a fitness addict, but that's what works for ME. I don't care what they try, find something to do that takes up the time that would otherwise be spent drinking.

Church, though I suggested it, is generally a negative.

Nurses4 is correct. Rehab is only a beginning. It took me an entire lifestyle change to remain sober.

The first month is the hardest. After six months, the going gets easier. After five years, it starts to become a distant memory, at least in my case.

Addiction is a cruel disease which hijacks a person's survival system.

Answer 4

There are a lot of good answers here, I agree AA is the best way forward.

I am 65 years old and was a drinker for 50 of those years until I went into re-hab last november, and I have not had a drink since.

Re-hab is the best bet, and they use the twelve step recovery programme. It can be expensive but there are funds available for those who cannot afford it

If re-hab is not for you AA meetings are great, I go to at least three a week where I meet people of all ages and different stages of recovery, surprisingly perhaps, these meetings are very enjoyable, I have made more genuine friend at them in the last year than I made in fifty years of drinking.

A quote from the 'Big book', as they call it. "Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path".

In the past year I havn't seen anyone fail who has completed the twelve step program.

My wife died aged fifty from alcolisism, don't let it happen to you.

Don't let the God thing worry you, there are thousands of atheists in AA, I am one of them, the program is a spiritual one not a religious oneone.

Answer 5

Try talking to people who have a similar problem, such as AA.

As you've posted in Religion and Spirituality I offer the observation that when native cultures were "challenged" by modern religion, many of the people become alcoholic. Same thing happened to the Irish and Irish as a result of things like the potato famines, and the Highland Clearances. While alcoholism is still a huge problem for many such cultures, where those cultures have rediscovered their roots, the problem is receding somewhat.

Maybe I'd give advice to look into where they come from, be it family history, ethnic origin, or faith.

Answer 6

My cousin has been sober for six yrs. and he goes to AA; the 12 step program is spiritually based.
Many suggestions: never go to places that serve alcohol
leave the relationships where alcohol is going to be present
get rid of all household liquor
skip over commercials on tv for a while while you are still struggling the hardest
don't talk about alcohol and definitely don't think about it
avoid situations that will tempt you to drink
and above all else, pray for God's help
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Answer 7

As someone who is in recovery I'm gonna tell you to get to a meeting. They are easy to find. You can look them up online. And after that go to another and another. Make sure to talk to people and always introduce yourself when given the chance. Everyone there has been where you are right now. I have been there. Get a copy of the big book and start reading. Talk to someone about being a sponsor if you get the chance. Search your area and try to find a good program. If you have any questions send me an email. I will be happy to help any way I can.

Answer 8

This will be the hardest thing you have ever tried to do.If you really really want to quit, then make up your mind to do just that and fight the urge as hard as you can. It's gonna be tough, but it is worth it. I speak from experience. Don't drink any alcohol.Stay away from it completely. If you have never been to AA, try going just once.If it works for you,then continue going. You can do this. Just do it.You will be very glad you did.I asked The Lord to guide me and help me through this and He did. Not everyone will agree with me on that point but God was definitely there for me when I needed Him.

Answer 9

Even if you are not particularly religious, or if you belong to an alternative religion, the best place for you is an AA meeting. The program works, especially because you get group support from people who have been where you are. No matter how empathetic your family may be, they still don't know what you're going through.

Answer 10

Go to an AA meeting. It might not be perfect but short of long term rehab it is the only thing that works for many many drunks (I mean alcoholics).

Answer 11

Have you tried getting admitted to a rehab hospital? Most programs are 30 days. Of course rehab is a lifelong process, but it will give you a good start.