Sobriety

[Japher]

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]

"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]

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]

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

[Pekka]

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

[Japher]

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]

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

[Pekka]

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

[Japher]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Drunk in American standards. Normal in our standards.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

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.