[paul51]

Quit drinking the day my first child was born because I thought I could be a better parent and set a better example without it. None of my kids drink despite having been through HS and college where they were under intense peer pressure to do so. Without question all of our lives are much better as a result.

[sweetiepiezer]

Way to go!!!!!!

[MeekOneGOP]

bump!

[zerosix]

Having been to many AlAnon and Open AA meetings, I can attest the the "bottoms" hit by many are too devasting for most of us to even imagine.

I would further state to any of you out there reading Rob's Open Letter, instead of asking yourselves whether you have a problem, ask those closest to you, if you have a problem.

As the former wife of an alcoholic, when he did quit he asked me if I thought any of our friends, neighbors or family might think it odd that he not drink around them, and I told him that they would probably all be grateful. He responded by asking if I thought any of them might have thought that he had a "drinking problem" and I told him that if they were truly honest with themselves, they all knew he did.

Although we are no longer married, I am grateful to God that he quit drinking because I know his life has been immeasurely enriched every day by his sobriety. I am also grateful to God that I got to spend 16 years with a sober husband rather than divorcing a drunk.

[codyjacksmom]

Way to go Rob! We are at about the same clean time. I'm at 13 1/2 months after 25 years of heavy drinking. Nothing like drinking every second you're awake. I sure don't miss those morning shakes. Took me 4 detoxes and 3 treatment centers. The last one, which was 32 days of intense in patient, was the one that finally did it. Actually, I knew I would die soon if I didn't stop, and finally wanted it bad enough. Thanks for sharing your story and please add me to the ping list.

[wagglebee]

Great post!
I celebrated 14 years last week.

[arasina]

Bravo, Rob!

[TheLion]

Congrats on quitting. It sounds like you needed to take a step back. I also drank heavily for many years and just up and quit. I wasn't a acoholic type , so it was easy, once I made up my mind. I went stone sober for four years.

I vowed that if I couldn't have one or two ocassional glasses of wine without it being a problem then I would quit for life.

I do drink about once or twice per week now and enjoy it instead of plowing them down. I have no reason to get drunk anymore. I think that is the problem for many....there is some inner reason for seeking oblivion. That needs to be resolved.

Enjoy.

[mamelukesabre]

Very interesting.

I personally have a history of overindulging during the holiday seasons. I don't know why this is I just know it is. THat is why this year I vowed to not drink untill after new years. I made this decision about a week ago. It seems quite a coincidence that I would see your post just now.

I couldn't help but notice that your ideas seem to be at odds with those of AA. I never did understand the philosophy of AA. It doesn't make any sense to me at all.

[The Mayor]

Haven't touched a drink in over 12 years.
Every time my 3rd son has a birthday means another year sober for me.

If someone offers me a drink I simply say
No thanks, I've had enough for a life time..

Congrats my friend!

[willieroe]

Ping!!!!

[Walkin Man]

Of all of the drugs that cripple, main and kill people, alcohol is one of the worse. I knew many alcoholics in the military, it seems to be an occupational hazard.

One of my parents was an alcoholic and finally beat it with the help of God and AA.

May God continue to bless you and keep you strong.

I myself can drink if I choose to with no problem. But I only choose to once or twice a year. I have a healthy respect for the power of the bottle and have seen many lives and families ruined by it so I stay away from it most of the time.

[fso301]

Physiology is also at play. I have a brother with a drinking problem. He can down a 12 pack, go to bed, get 7 hours sleep, get up the next mornign and go to work without hangover.

He just doesn't seem to get hangovers. If I did that, I'd be in a coffin pretty fast.

[MHT]

My late mother-in-law was an alcoholic and it nearly destroyed her life and those of her family. Her dad had been the town drunk and her sister was a boozing hellcat so she came by it naturally. She tried AA, psychiatrists, medications--nothing worked. She just didn't have the self-discipline. She ended up near suicide on a couple of occasions.

One night she prayed for the power to quit drinking and she felt a wash a peace flood over her. From that moment on, she never had the desire to drink again. It wasn't a matter of self-control, mind games, or anything else. She was healed to go and "sin" no more as the basic desire was gone.

I pray that your reprieve from this power over you is a total healing and that all desire to drink leaves you. That way, it is a joy to live rather than a calendar game that you are enduring.

[Hot Tabasco]

I drink at home due to boredom and loneliness, I also smoke like a chimney for the same reasons. Fortunately my drinking isn't yet excessive but it has still convinced me to give up several of my favorite activities in order to accomodate the drinking and stay at the house where life is comfortable...........

Alcohol has not really adversely impacted my life but after reading what I just typed.............. I guess it has.

I don't have an answer yet.............

[tiki]

My husband stopped drinking 20 yrs ago in November. I know you did it for yourself but after 13 yrs of living with him I told him enough was enough, I had already gone to Al-Anon for 3 yrs and I realized I was going to go crazy if he kept drinking and the only way I could see of getting rid of the problem was to run away.

He swore he'd go to AA but the night of the meeting he literally begged me not to make him go. I just told him that it was his choice but if he ever drank again just don't come home, don't call me, don't write me and never talk to me again. Well, somehow he managed to stay sober even with all his alcoholic friends and it has been a wonderful 20 yrs.

Then my son became a teenager and lo and behold he was an alcoholic. Having lived through it with my husband didn't make it any easier, in fact I think it was harder because he was my child. I just didn't know how to handle it. I talked to him, prayed for him, was happy that he had found a good woman and eventually had 2 children and between us we kept him on a short leash but alcoholics will drink any chance they get and I don't know how many times his wife called me crying.

I tried to get her to go to Al-Anon but she wouldn't and she used me to lean on but she wasn't ready to do the hard work. One day she called me crying and I lost it. I told her to take the kids and leave. Sometime, a few months later she took my advice and took off and stayed away for a week then she came home madder than a wet hen. She dropped her kids at my house and went home and gave him the ultimatum and after living w/o his family for a week he was ready to listen. Except for one incident 4 yrs into sobriety, he's been sober for 8 yrs.

I know it was hard for both of them but they did it and I'm so proud of both of them. They aren't carrying on the family legacy and they know they don't have to.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Jorge]

I've been drinking since I was 15 years old and am now 50 and have no intentions of stopping unless I have to.

I've had to quit all kinds of drugs like herion, cocaine, speed, PCP and I've even quit cigarettes, but I still enjoy drinking beer. Every night.

[Captain Peter Blood]

I found your story a familiar one. I to was in a rut with alcohol and realized I was drinking way too much but that I was really getting tired of it. I went in for a checkup and talked to my doctor and decided right then I should quit, I did. I did not have a drink for over 2 1/2 years until about three months ago when my Father had to have emergency open heart surgery. After that stressful day I had a few drinks and I discovered that I no longer really cared about booze and have now even developed a distaste for it. I don't think I will ever go back to drinking again and I tell you it feels good to be in charge totally all the time. I had friends wanting to know if I had ever considered AA but no that wasn't something I thought I needed. If you want to quit you can all it takes is the will and self discipline to do so.

[Lando Lincoln]

Rob....your FRiends are behind you 100%. It takes courage, honesty and a ton of prayers to overcome an addiction. My wife has worked as a counselor and some in our families have had the problem. Stay strong - one day, one moment at a time.

Lando