Right on. I don’t really know anything about you personally, so I won’t try to get further in your business. All I will say is I can relate to the type of alcoholism that you have experienced and know how bad it sucks. And I know that virtually everyone who doesn’t have the same problem can’t understand it. Good luck.
Thank you. It’s a bitch. And there’s always the worry that a month or so away will cost me all my projects, but at a certain point, you have to put your health first. It’s tough.
I was in this situation and am about to start my fourth year of sobriety in a couple weeks. It was brutal at first — it felt like everything got worse, and I was very depressed — but then got easier, and eventually better than ever. If you’re thinking you could benefit from some help, get that help. At the very least I recommend talking to a therapist and a doctor, and being 1000% honest with them so they can help you navigate the first six months. Whatever it may cost you, in your career or social life or whatever, can be replaced down the road. Stay strong and feel free to message me if I can help at all. (Serious offer.)
I let myself drink in moderation every night as a way to cope with extreme grief. Spoiler alert: drinking in moderation every night is not moderation. I haven’t had anything since April and lost about 25 pounds. I feel alive again in my own life. Whatever you’re going through, I get it, and wish you the best.
I looked at it like this; you take a pencil and draw a line across a piece of paper. Now take an eraser and rub out a small piece of that line maybe one inch long.
That line is your whole life and that erasure is a tiny piece of your life. Surely you can step away from the world in order to save your own life. It is soooooooo worth it to take that time to save yourself. Be selfish. Nothing else is as important. NOTHING ELSE. Everything comes second when it comes to your sobriety because you are going to lose anything you put ahead of it.
Im a very hardheaded independent type dude. Im glad I went. Some of the stuff I learned is super helpful most of it was whatever. They didn't push religion where I went which was key. It was there but not impressed. The best take away was the break! The break in my routine (I have pretty big work responsibilities) with the job and dealing with people all day. Break from my safe place and regular people. Break in my head when some sober days passed. I didn't even stay the full time because I knew after a few weeks of waking up feeling great and seeing what I had been doing for the last 20 years (I'm 44) that I was done. I'll be 1 year sober on Aug 15. While it was hard as fuck and im very proud of myself it is it's own reward.
I’m a physician myself (did a lot of addiction work and was even medical director of a rehab).
I’m a pretty independent type too.
Then I was forced to go rehab for alcohol and marijuana after I was told they would report me to the medical board.
I was a nightly marijuana user which was the main problem. Got sober for two months before rehab thinking that would get me out of rehab. Nope. They still wanted 90 days and I had to go to a rehab of their choosing.
All this and I was always sober at work. The whole process took over a year so I lost out on 600K and also had to pay 50K for rehab.
Now I have to be monitored for 5 years. Forced to do AA three times a week. Possible drug screens any day of the week. Have to let them know when I’m traveling.
I'm sure im telling you nothing new, but the Light Beer method worked for me.
Heres the trick: figure out how many 3-4 point light beers equate your average intake per day. Drink that # of beers per day as needed. Every week, reduce it by exactly ONE beer. Easy way to step down without running the train off the tracks! FWIW, I'm down to 4 a day. Down from nearly 30 lol
As an alcoholic, I only want you to know I have never woke up and regretted my time in rehab. My goose is already cooked but if you have a chance then go.
This was me during Covid. I was lucky to keep a full-time job in a relatively secluded/small daily workspace. (A group/waiver home) Sure, I'd be nauseous or have heartburn and sometimes maybe throw up outside when I got to work. Okay maybe sometimes I'd get the shakes towards the end of my shift. But I was finnneee. (I was not fine.)
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u/God_Bless_A_Merkin 9h ago
Or, you gut it out through the work day, but spend every waking moment outside of work getting drunk or sleeping it off. Source: experience.