Sobriety

Japher · October 28, 2003, 16:22

It's been a while, a long while (about 8 years), since I have gone this long without getting drunk, or at least without having a drink of alcohol... It has been 6 days, and it feels, uh, weird. I think that I was always drunk, or never sober, maybe that is why I never "had" a hangover? I just got use to being hungover all the time!

Anyway, it will probably end on Friday, if not before. Halloween and all, I can't resist!

Though I must say sobriety is a nice feeling, a feeling of physical clarity... Yet, the urges are strong. The shaking has passed, and the headaches are gone, but still the cravings, the unresistible cravings. How I have lasted this long is beyond me. Perhaps I should of given up smoking first?

Anyway, I don't want to stop drinking all together I just don't want to feel these desires to get drunk, all the time.

The smoking would of gone first, but when you get drunk as often as I do it is not even worth giving up the cancer stick. Thus, the drinking first, then smoking...

Should I drink come Friday? Can an alcoholic be only a social drinker? Should I limit myself or just go balls to the wall or not all?

SlowwHand · October 28, 2003, 16:25

"Should I drink come Friday? Can an alcoholic be only a social drinker? "
Some can, some can't. I can, my mother couldn't.

Should I limit myself or just go balls to the wall or not all?
Sloppy drunks are pathetic.Moderation in all things, grasshopper.

Jac de Molay · October 28, 2003, 16:30

I'm in the same boat. I used to go out every night.

Now, it's like once a week, when I watch football on Sundays. I feel a lot better for it, and my wallet does too.

I've seen a few casualties from drinking: one of my friends hit by a car; the other in jail.... That was the biggest incentive for me to cut down. But, the local sports bars always sucks me in on Sunday afternoon.

Just whatever you do, dont drive

Guynemer · October 28, 2003, 16:50

I can not stress this enough--go to an AA meeting before you have another drink.

Pekka · October 28, 2003, 16:58

That's it Japher, you're not allowed to enter DRUNKATHON 2003. Sorry

Japher · October 28, 2003, 17:05

Pekka: Afraid?

Jac: Exactly the same boat. On top of it I find that when I don't drink my life improves. In college I switched to a once a week scheme (though it was more like 3 times a week, I'm a cheater) and things turned around. When I quit smoking (the other stuff) about 4 years ago things got a lot better. So, bye-bye booze, for a time, maybe the once a week thing, and I will se what happens... The wallet is good to protect. I drink at home, even if I am alone, and spend about $10/day a beer!

Guynemer: I have been to AA, and I don't like it. I have been to 3 different places and they are all the same. My problem; to serious, no real motivation given, and too religious.

Guynemer · October 28, 2003, 17:06

Japher, I'm an atheist; "too religious" is just an excuse.

Pekka · October 28, 2003, 17:11

Japher, No, but I don't want you to get yourself to drinking bindge that started from the game..

Japher · October 28, 2003, 17:14

I'm out of town this weekend anyway... Going to go show them Yalie students what for...

That's why I will probably be drinking this weekend, or at least Friday. I will wait 'till Friday, avoid the hair of the dog, and try a once a week thing... The first time I F' up I will either go to AA or to a hypnotist

Rufus T. Firefly · October 28, 2003, 17:44

Quote:

Originally posted by Japher
The first time I F' up I will either go to AA or to a hypnotist

No you won't. the first time you f' up, you'll find some excuse that has nothing to do with your use of alcohol. Ditto the second, third, and fourth times. And so on, ad nauseum (so to speak), until you really **** up: flunk out of school, ruin somebody's wedding/funeral, kill somebody with your car, etc. Only then it will be too late.

That's how it is with drunks.

Japher · October 28, 2003, 17:50

I'm not a drunk. I'm a functioning alcoholic. I have a life, and I live it well. Just that every night, I go home and around 6pm start drinking. 120oz later I go to bed. I have gone to weddings and not drank (including my own), I never drink when I will be driving, I got through school, etc...

Sobriety is a choice... That is something I recently realized.

Guynemer · October 28, 2003, 17:52

Keep doing that Japher, and you'll end up like my father.

Two weeks in an ICU following a pair of massive strokes, now requiring a walker to get around at all--and damned lucky to be alive.

Rufus T. Firefly · October 28, 2003, 17:58

Quote:

Originally posted by Japher
I'm not a drunk. I'm a functioning alcoholic. I have a life, and I live it well. Just that every night, I go home and around 6pm start drinking. 120oz later I go to bed. I have gone to weddings and not drank (including my own), I never drink when I will be driving, I got through school, etc...

Sobriety is a choice... That is something I recently realized.

120 oz. later? You're a drunk. You're a drunk who hasn't hit bottom yet, but you're a drunk.

Pekka · October 28, 2003, 17:59

Drunk in American standards. Normal in our standards.

Rufus T. Firefly · October 28, 2003, 18:02

Quote:

Originally posted by Pekka
Drunk in American standards. Normal in our standards.

That's different. You're from Finland. You have nothing to live for.

Pekka · October 28, 2003, 18:03

True.

Japher · October 28, 2003, 18:04

Quote:

That's different. You're from Finland. You have nothing to live for.

Quote:

120 oz. later? You're a drunk. You're a drunk who hasn't hit bottom yet, but you're a drunk.

What does amount matter? I am still functional. If someone can get a buzz off of 1 glass of wine, and has a glass every night before bed does that make them a drunk?

Pekka · October 28, 2003, 18:06

120oz.. that's like what.. 4 cans?

Oerdin · October 28, 2003, 18:07

I find that people's idea of moderation changes depending upon who you talk to. The born again crowd describes moderation as being the complete absence of drink while your average northern European would describe moderation as being 3-4 drinks per day. Heck, there are probably people who think moderation is not barfing on yourself at the end of the night.

Oerdin · October 28, 2003, 18:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Pekka
120oz.. that's like what.. 4 cans?

More like 10 cans.

Pekka · October 28, 2003, 18:10

Really? Ok, that's not normal in our standards anymore

. That's pretty much IMO, I thought it was more like 4 cans, like coke can size.. so I wondered why people were yelling drunk.. I guess 10 is pretty much if you drink it every night, but then again I don't think it's any of my business. Then again how strong beers are we talkign about.. that's another question..

Oerdin · October 28, 2003, 18:12

Most beers are pretty weak. We're talking around 4.5% ABV.

Japher · October 28, 2003, 18:12

Budweiser... I think the alcohol content is around 4.0 to 4.2...

Pekka · October 28, 2003, 18:14

Ok.. well if I was the judge which I'm not, I'd say that's little over the normal if you do this for many years. But nothing dramatic... Anyway, considering this, Japher would be a true bad ass in DRUNKATHON 2003. Maybe even number one contender!

Too bad he is barred from the competition..... right?

Japher · October 28, 2003, 18:16

Not gonna do it...

Wifey has been getting on my case about the drinking too, though she has been drinking more lately. Plus the cholesterol has been getting a little high... Guess I gotta slow down.

Guynemer · October 28, 2003, 18:22

Japher, honestly, just from what you wrote in your first post you qualify for the DSM-IVa diagnosis of alcohol dependence.

You are, by definition, an alcoholic.

Japher · October 28, 2003, 18:25

Quote:

You are, by definition, an alcoholic.

I never denied that.

Does your body try and produce alcohol when you deprive yourself of it... if it is use to getting it? I heard that somewhere.

Dr Strangelove · October 28, 2003, 20:19

Quote:

Originally posted by Japher

I never denied that.

Does your body try and produce alcohol when you deprive yourself of it... if it is use to getting it? I heard that somewhere.

No.

If you have withdrawal symptoms like shaking and headaches when you stop drinking you have a serious problem. You should not plan on drinking this Halloween. Stay on the wagon indefinitely. Who knows what you might discover in the midst of all that clarity?

OzzyKP · October 28, 2003, 20:32

I haven't had a drop of alcohol in over 4 years now. I never had much before that either. I just don't see the point. Waste of money. Plus I like to have control over my mind, my body, and my senses. I don't like to be all swimmy and detached from the world. No attraction for me at all.

Plus of course I've seen several friends have their lives totally ****ed up by drugs and alcohol. Either dead or in jail. Just not worth it.

But labeling Japher a drunk and attacking him isn't gonna help the matter. He has realized sobriety is a choice, and it might be a choice he is willing to make. If y'all want to do him a favor, instead of attacking drunkeness, sell sobriety.

How have your lives been improved by staying sober?

Jon Miller · October 28, 2003, 20:39

hmm

I use to be sober

and now that I drink, my life has nto improved at all and I just spend more money

oh well (I should never drink much (like I am now), I should only have a little whiskey if I am going to drink)

Jon Miller