hello, my name is Richard Johnson and I'm an alcoholic.

Not much personal experience to that degree, but I guess it's about steps- whether 12 steps, big steps or baby steps.
But you took the first step, Richard, in admitting you have a problem.
Get help, kick that sucker's a$$, and look forward to a new life!
Good luck!
 
I'm going to throw out a stupid idea that you may or may not want to give a shot (pun intended).

Try drinking something that's good for you... in the same way that you've been drinking alcohol. If you like scotch in a rocks glass... try having a couple _____ in that same glass. Make sure that when you do... you drink it the same way... if you slammed booze in a shot... slam a shot of _____... if you sipped your booze... sip your _____. Make sure each time you take that drink... that you tell yourself something positive about your life... maybe it's your kids... etc.

What you need (in my opinion) is to flip a switch... and I find that most alcoholics at least STARTED embracing a buzz because they wanted to numb something else.

So why not try drinking something healthy (and possibly unique, so it can seem somehow special for you... for instance I like carrot juice)... and be sure to make a mental reinforcement about WHY you are doing this... and why you are NOT drinking something that's bad for you.

You need to train your mind to consciously live for, and focus on, the good in your life... and let the replacement drink become just that... a replacement.

(Maybe a stupid idea... but it popped into my head spontaneously after reading your first post... I think you could benefit from some personal reprogramming... when you said you don't know why you drink... I bet that's more common then you think, but it usually STARTS as a crutch for something else... Some will walk with that crutch their entire lives, being able to function, but it eventually cripples others. Treat it like any other life situation... what you get out of it vs. what it costs you.)

Just so you know where I'm coming from... I drink... and sometimes I like it... feeling like it's just a good time with everybody else... and other times I feel I'd be a lot better off without it. I'm a friendly guy no matter what... no personality issues with drinking, but I've been around a lot of people who made mistakes while under the influence... and I'd say a few of the unfortunate courses my life has taken, have been due to the alcohol related choices of others. (Then again they may have just been sh*tty people.)
 
Matt has a good idea. Repetition but using another drink is a good idea. There are smoothies you can make with a spicy kick that will make you wish you had never been born. Might want to check into those.
 
@ MattinSTL

S-O True about the glasses idea. I put my non-alcoholic drinks in rocks/wine glasses all the time. It works, it tricks your (in this case my) brain into believing your having a drink.
Especially good if you are out at a bar/party it lets you blend in.
 
Richard J. Johnson said:
[...]My 5 year old daughter drew a picture of the whole family and Daddy was holding a bottle and smoking a cigarette, Broke my damn heart.
Click to expand...

Richard, this broke my heart reading what you wrote. I guess this is one way in which parents learn from their children. Accept it as a gift of advice. Think of how you wish to be depicted in the future and work on becoming it.*

In the future, you will refer to this as something you used to do.


edit: *That is not to say that your children will actually draw a picture of you at your most representative. For example, I'm constantly portrayed in my kids' pictures at the grill, spatula in hand, near huge, out-of-control flames. Although I am rather proud of my outdoor culinary skills, that is not exactly how I'd like to be remembered. Oh, well. It's better than a sketch of me sitting at the computer.
 
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Richard and Chris,

You're both welcome to PM me and I'll share my experiences. I've been sober for just over 2 1/2 years. I've been to hundreds of AA meetings and may have something worthwhile to share.

There are a lot of well-meaning people here who wish to help but some of the advice in this thread is just made up ideas from people who don't have any first hand experience about addiction.

I'm not claiming to have "the answer" but I'm willing to help if I can.

Terry
 
Paging Chris Light - What's up ? And why up @ 4:32 AM ?

Matt - Thought your substitution idea was a potentially excellent step. I've very fortunately not had to battle alcoholism, in spite of a period of quart per night scotch consumption.

Smoking on the other hand was one complete mother *****. The plastic menthol flavored toys, carrot sticks, etc all helped along the way, letting me battle one part at a time.

Salute and best wishes to all those giving the good fight.
 
Yeah, since I almost don´t drink at all (never did), it doesn't take a lot (two glasses of wine do the trick) to make me dance on the table. After a quart of Scotch I would be together with Max in the morgue.

Frank
 
In college, we used to drink quite a lot. I attended what was considered a "party school" and every week, we were usually drinking on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. A fine way to create alcoholics, I'm sure. It was a challenge to change that behavior after graduation and I wouldn't be surprised if some people were left behind.

Now I'm a health nut out of fear that I'll develop dementia before the age of 50.

But a quart of scotch? That be a lot.
 
pixelated said:
Paging Chris Light - What's up ? And why up @ 4:32 AM ?

Matt - Thought your substitution idea was a potentially excellent step. I've very fortunately not had to battle alcoholism, in spite of a period of quart per night scotch consumption.

Smoking on the other hand was one complete mother *****. The plastic menthol flavored toys, carrot sticks, etc all helped along the way, letting me battle one part at a time.

Salute and best wishes to all those giving the good fight.
Click to expand...

i work from 6pm-3am pacific time....4am is my afternoon :-) hope that helps.
 
Hey Chris, glad you're feeling better. Oh wait, this thread was about Richard . . . No - its about all of us human enough to hurt.

6pm - 3am. Yeah, I've done those crazy shifts, warps reality after a while. Find a way to schedule some sunlight. It really does help.

Best wishes to all.
 
I grew up with an alcoholic granfather, hated going to see him really. Man had drunk a six pack before 10am. Eyes bloodshot, swayed and complete brain fog. I swore I would never let myself get out of control like that. I'm 47 and I've never ever been drunk. Don't smoke either. Both parents were a great reason not to. My family did me favors by being the worst examples of a good lifestyle. I'm nothing like them.

Rich - one step at a time.
 
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