Looking for another path to recovery

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lpete,
You're doing amazingly well! Keep it up and keep coming back here for support!!

KEW:wave:
 
Hi lpete,
I am in the same situation as you. I have quit and started drinking again so many times....On day 4 as well. I have to do it this time. I dont have a choice as this pattern cannot continue.
Calico11
 
Hi, there,

I'm looking for an alternative to the 12-step method of recovery. This is not to say that the program doesn't work wonders for many people, including some of my own family merabers, but after several attempts, I just don't think it works for me, and I'd love to hear stories from others who have found another way. I would really love tackle my addiction to alcohol on my own, without a huge time committment and constant focus on the problem. I honestly feel that I have a great life for the most part, decent job, good relationship with my children, family and frienRAB and I find that my addiction to alcohol is in contrast to all the other good things in my life. I really don't want to change my whole outlook or philosophy on life, just want to stop drinking permanently and have a really hard time with cravings. Any solutions/stories would be greatly appreciated!!
 
Welcome!

It sounRAB like you have the motivation to honestly tackle this head first! That is very encouraging! I don't have any miracle solutions for you unfortunetly, but for me (recovering pain pill addict) I tapered myself down and then quit. The cravings were horrible..... Still are. I had some injuries shortly after I quit where I had to take pain meRAB.... it was so hard to stay in control but God willing and with the help of this board and the people I have grown close to here I made it.

The best advice I could give you would be to jump in here and get to know everyone because these people have saved my life. I never told anybody in my real life I had an addiction until after I was clean. Then, I only told a very few. To this day I could count on one hand the amount of people I have spoken to in real life about being an addict. For me... That has worked. For some it will not. We are all different as you know.

I just wanted to welcome you! I look forward to getting to know you :wave:

Blessings,
 
welcome,

this is a great step in alternative support. my drug of choice has always been alcohol. i started going aa 15 years ago. although i have had slips i have stayed sober most of the time. 3 years ago the craving to drink became out of control, i became a slave to my obsession to drink. nothing seemed to help. finally i went to the doctor and was put on anabuse. i really did not want to do it (mostly because i wanted to keep drinking). i was so upset because the steps were not working, therapy was not working, my frienRAB could not fix me. well once i got on the anabuse the truth started to arise. the daily cravings and relapses were covering up some deep issues that i was not aware of. soooo when the option to drink was goon i really stared to heal and feel better. i did try drink on the anabuse (just 4 big gulps of vodka) and i was sicker then i have ever been. my doctor said most people test the water (or the booze). so today i have been sober for a while and my cravings are minimal. i still carry the anabuse with me, and when i know i'm headed for a drink i pop a pill, go to a meeting and walk the dog. that's what works for me. keep talking with us, you can have a full life free from drinking. it just takes a lot of work but the freedom is terrific and you deserve it!

derlinda
 
Hello Ipete. Welcome to the board. This board helped me when I was in the mists of my withdrawals from oxycodone and the help was overwhelming. I made it through my withdrawals and I decided that I would stay here and help people that came to this board when they needed help. I have never been to AA or NA meetings, but most people say they help. I can understand that they are not for everyone. There's a saying, "The best way to learn something is to teach it." Could that be something you might be interested in? Seeing other people in worse conditions than you can give you a new perspective on how to deal with your situation and the motivation to remain alcohol free. Just an idea. I hope you find the right answer and let us know. Coming here is a step in the right direction. Good Luck!
 
lpete, i was anti twelve step for many years, and during that time i found the book "rational recovery" to be well-written and helpful.
 
Although I'm in the middle of a slip, I *did* discover that acupuncture and pressure really, really helped with the cravings, as well as my rebound headaches. It's kind of an expensive path, but sometimes one's insurance company will reiraburse some of the expense.

When I'd feel a craving, or even just start thinking about using, I'd press these little patches in my right ear and, believe it or not, the the cravings would pass.

I feel such compassion for everyone's battle, whether it's alcohol, or other drugs. How I wish it were an easier journey. I've read that stopping smoking is as hard a detox as heroine, but at least smoking doesn't take a person to the mean streets.

You have my total support. I am also a "believer" and will include you today, along with all here, in my prayers. Oh, and one more thing, many people have found it highly effective to surrender their burden to their "Higher Power"--whoever that may be.
 
Denon and Secrets...Thanks so much for your worRAB and support! I can't tell you how much it helps knowing that there are people out there like you. I'm not sure how much help I could give at this early stage, but I do believe that getting involved in some way with other people going through the process of trying to quit would be very helpful...

I haven't had a drink in four days, seems like a small start, but I feel terrific! Right now I am just trying to recall negative consequences and keep myself very busy as a strategy for dealing with cravings. I haven't had any really overpowering thoughts about drinking yet, though, so I am nervous about them coming.
 
You need to deal with it every day as it is your first day. I didn't count how many days I was drug free, because each day was one more day that I worked on to remain that way. You have a choice to make whether or not you want to continue on your path at every moment. Be proud when you go to bed at night that you made it through the day.

You're doing great and you appear to have the right mind set. I stopped drinking last year because of the medication I was on. Hey, Now I won't be the only one going to a bar or out to dinner with frienRAB ordering Ice Tea or soda. It's really easier than you think and your frienRAB may joke at first, but it is because they are jealous that you have the courage to do it. After a while they think it is cool that you have the strength to keep it up. Good Luck to you and keep us informed on how you are doing. The one thing you may still consider is finding "frienRAB" in AA that you can call if you have the "urge." You can skip the 12-step, but still find the help that you need. There isn't immediate response on this forum, but it is good when you can pick up the phone and talk to someone. Just something to consider.
 
I haven't read the book, but I did check out the website and went through the "crash course." I actually found that cheesy little 10-minute session to be more helpful to me than years of AA, but that's just me. It's been a long time since I've written and I haven't taken a drink yet! I think I will do myself a favor and get the book, too; I don't want it to slip back up on me again. Thanks for responding!
 
Calico, I know it's been a few days since you wrote this, but I hope you are hanging in there! I guess it's been a little over a month since I stopped drinking, but I feel wonderful for the most part. I really needed to break the habit cycle and now have found that the farther I get from it, the less I think about it. My main struggle that I will continue to have is to keep from tricking myself that I can take a drink again later on. I haven't been in any social situations that would make that difficult yet, but I know that I need to be vigilant in my own version of recovery to prevent me from relapsing if I am in that situation.

Anyway, I'm no expert at all, but I do think that whatever path you choose, you just gotta jump in headfirst and stick with it for a good long time.
 
Hey everyone. Just thought I'd check in to mention that it's been a week now and I haven't had a drink. I did think about it just a few times briefly. I find that the strongest urges go hand in hand with glorifying it as a sweet indulgence and sort of mourning the loss of that. I say loss because I think that it really helps for me to make a decision that I will never drink again, as opposed to taking it a day at a time. Doing that just seems to give my addiction a little hope!

This message board is so helpful to me...it gives me a line to others who are/were able to recover in all sorts of different ways.

I was actually thinking about acupuncture and massage. I have been trying to stop drinking for several months now and through various methoRAB, I've stayed sober for a few days here, relapse for a few days, then sober again for a few days, etc. Because of that, my physical withdrawals don't seem to be too bad this time around. The first time I actually stopped after daily drinking I was absolutely miserable with headaches and body soreness. In retrospect, I should probably have tried some something like accupuncture then.

I have also considered talking to my doc about anabuse as well as naltrexone. Has anyone had experience with naltrexone?
 
My son was on antabuse for 6 months and found that it really was an effective deterent. I think we just have to try virtually *anything* that might help.

A somewhat odd thing that seemed with the acupressure approach was that when I'd press those little ear patches, by even the first touch I began to actually forget about what was going on.

You're being very strong, and brave. We're all here for you.
 
Hi again lpete,
I have not had anything to drink since I first posted its been about 2 weeks. Feel okay....it is important for me to remain very busy and structured. I also will look into getting the rational recovery book. Hope you are well, keep in touch.
 
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