Mention work, and he'd get drunk.
Quitter!!!
/Sarcasm
Congrats to you. 12 plus years here with a bottom and a conversion to Christ.
ping
Great post!
Thanks for the post Rob. I'm at that crossroad right now and your letter is an inspiration.
I am unquestionably a binge alcoholic. I drink 8 to 12 beers in a night 2 to 3 times a week. I too, like you used to, find myself scheduling things around my "hangover days" and have no doubt my productivity would multiply, allowing me to do what I always wanted to do - work for myself.
I'll take your words of wisdom and hope that I can "jump on the wagon" and stay there.
If I do finally make the leap, I'll ping you.
Seven years for me come Spring.
I had reached a state were I felt things were out of my control and I had no one to talk to. A chance(?) meeting with an old acquaintance I had not seen for quite awhile, resulted in him asking me if I was willing to go to any lengths to resolve my problems. When he said that, I knew immediately that, yes I was. Accepting that my way wasn't working, I finally reached out to others and to my Creator. The ensuing years while not free from the everyday problems of life have been a continual unfolding of blessings. Each year brings new joy and spiritual inspiration. It just keeps getting better and better. I never would have dreamed of the wonders that were in store for me.
Alcoholism is truly a disease that must be self-diagnosed. Until you realize the nature of the problem advice from doctors, spiritual councilors or friends will have no effect.
For me AA was a boon. To talk with people who knew what I was going through and that could offer sound advice was something I desperately needed.
The portion of the Big Book known informally as 'the promises' holds out hope for all sufferers of this affliction.
"If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
.......
We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil as if from a hot flame.
We will see that our new attitude has been given to us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it.
We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality - safe and protected.
We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us.
We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience.That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition."
Good for you.
Here at home Mrs. TC entered a intensive out-patient program last week to quit drinking. After nearly totallying the car three times, I asked if she was waiting to kill someone before getting help.
I may post more later.
Good for you, Rob. I hope things work out for you.
My DH DID have to hit rock bottom (I had him removed from our home and we were living separately for 6 months) before he shaped up. He's been clean and sober for 16 months now and doing well. 9 weeks left to go in court-ordered classes (he went to an out-patient rehab to get sober first, then this) and he's back to being the man I fell in love with 14 years ago.
I was so uninformed! It really is a prgressive "disease" when it gets to a certain point. Personally, I think self-control has a lot to do with it, but once you're that far into it, you do need help to get out of it and your poor brain and body do need to be detoxed, big time.
So, all is well here. I have great faith that he's totally on the mend and this will not be a problem for us in the future. And yes, he wants to live a clean and sober life now. This isn't something I'm imposing on him. He knows what he has to lose for himself; it's not just losing me and his son.
Wonderful account.
Where do "non-alcohol" beer and wine come into the picture? I imagine one has to keep away from them as well?
Great story Rob.
It's been 16 years for me. I was hallucinating from DT's while I watched the Bush-Dukakis election returns.
I knew from that time that I was a former alcoholic. I never considered myself to be recovering. I was recovered from the beginning.
I realized the source of my confidence when I was preaching a church service last summer and we sang the hymn that quotes from II Timothy 1:12: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Congrats and stay strong !
22 years with the help of God and AA. Life keeps happening so stay close to those that know. Put me on your Ping list.
There is a commonality felt by those who have had a good look at our their destruction and chose another way. This commonality cuts through all income levels, race, creed or religion. I can sit with individuals who are gay, poor, rich, any religion you can imagine, political bent, sex, thieves, judges whatever; and they are my brothers and sisters. It is one of the greatest gifts to know that we are all children of God and to be humbled to know that they, any and all, are my salvation.
BTTT...
congrats
Congratulations and good luck!. I just completed 4 years, 7 months and 7 days (but then, who's counting). I confess, GWB was my inspiration.
Good for you. God Bless.
Much of what you said...I can relate to. Alcohol abuse has been a part of my family for many years....Mom, Dad, uncle's, aunts, sisters, cousin's, me.....
I could tell you a lot of stories....some no doubt, would be familiar to you. I won't trouble you with all the details....but I've not drank since 1988. My story isn't like yours, but it's not far off. Ha!!
Anytime you want to talk...just holler..!!
Best FRegards,
you might be interested in helping me spread the word
Thank you for sharing.
John
There is another inner voice, the voice of the Spirit of God who can and will help you...in fact, IMHO, He has been helping you and you are tuning yourself more and more to Him now.
It is because of the desire of your heart, as you said, that you have been able to do this and I commend and congratulate you on making that decision and then having the integrity and honor to stick with it. It is at that point, when such decisions are made and committed to as a result of the sincere desire of our heart that God can help us. I believe He has helped you.
I will copy your story and spread it around if you do not mind. I know several friends and relatives who could benefit from your experience. Yopu really should consider making it into a book and publishing it.