Quitting without AA

Has anyone been successful in quitting drinking without the help of AA or other programs? If not AA, has anyone been involved in Celebrate Recovery?
My efforts are not working on their own as they did the last time i stopped drinking. I had made it to 15 years of sobriety and then took a new job in 2006 and all went down hill after that. I am now fearful for my health, my relationship with my wife and daughters, and my overall mental wellbeing. Any suggestions are welcomed. Thanks

[ibizan]

there r many roads to recovery bigdog and all of us have taken different paths....some similiar.what did u do for 15 years that worked for u staying sober?i've never heard of Celebrate Recovery...u r on west coast and have Rational Recovery out there?i've read much of their material...they have meetings... its good stuff!

[bigdogdog]

I am on the west coast. i am not sure on Rational Recovery. I will look into it. As for what i did 15 years ago, I made the decision that my marriage was more important than alcohol and stopped. I also focused on fitness and running along with cycling. All that worked until my financial picture change in 2006 and the stress levels went through the roof. Found myself working more with little time for outside pursuits.

[allmymarbles]

I have noticed that some alcoholics appear to be hypoglycemic, that is, they have low blood sugar. That is why it has struck me as odd that rehab centers seem to have sugary things for the recovering alcoholics to eat. So here is my question, when you were on the wagon did you have a "sweet tooth"? If you did then your alcoholism may be easier to control than you think.

With hypoglycemia, as the blood sugar drops the person tries to raise it by eating sweets (or alcohol). But this only further depresses the blood sugar, creating a vicious circle. If this sounds like you, then avoid sugars and simple starches. That breaks the circle.

[ibizan]

wow i just googled the 12 steps of Celebrate Recovery!and folks think AA is religious?there steps are all biblical and underlying theory that man is weak willed minus the help of God.....if it works for u good....too religious/biblical 4 me but if its someone elses cup of tea then by all means work what works best for u!

[rpooo]

I was able to quit without the help of AA or rehab. When I was 38 I was diagnosed with end stage cirrhosis. I was an alcoholic for about 20 years but the last couple of years I was up to drinking 23 beers a day and spending $600 a month.

Once your diagnosed with end stage cirrhosis it gets you to thinking right away about wether or not you want to live or die and if that doesn't matter then think about the people that love you. Thats just what I did and it doesn't take long to figure it out. From the time I left the doctors office and got home about 15 minutes had past and I knew exactly what I had to do. I had to stop drinking! To continue drinking I would've been ensuring death in within a year. My two daughters need me here. My wife has given me all the support I could ever need. I've put her through enough just having to deal with the alcohol and now my health. It's my turn to do something for her!

Think about your family, now it's your turn or will you wait for cirrhosis too? It's possible bigdog, everyone needs support and weather you find it from your loved ones or AA just make sure you find it! I wish you the very best.

Randy

[spanky595]

    The only way to stay sober is to be involved in a support group.  AA is not for every one some make it and some don't these are the odds. A support group like AA will teach you how to stay sober one day at a time.  If you let it do its job.  Living a dry drunk will lead you back to the old ways.  AA teaches you how to live with out alcohol.   I suggest that you go to a treatment center for alcohol 28 day program.  Its a good place to go for help they will teach you how to stay sober I no have been a couple of times but the last time I went and finished I got involved with AA and have been sober for a while now.  You can do it if you have had enough of the drinking and want a better way of life.   Let go let AA. help.