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[amberwentz85]

I have been sober for almost a month now and i must say today is the first day in a long time I have wanted to bust in th eliquor store and drown my sorrows. I WONT relapse I have everything to lose. How about some support!!

[allmymarbles]

Some alcoholics suffer from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). For these people, when their blood sugar drops they try to stabilize it by drinking. With this condition drinking depresses the sugar level further, and they continue drinking in a self-defeating effort to raise it. The way to handle low blood sugar is (1) stay away from sugar and alcohol, (2) eat several small meals a day instead of three large ones, and (3) when you have the craving, eat some protein. (An ex-alcoholic I know keeps cooked shrimp in the refrigerator, so a quick fix is always available.)  I don't know if you suffer from hypoglycemia, but if you do, then there is a dietary program to help you stay off alcohol. Examine yourself for this problem. When you are off alcohol do you crave sugar? Do you eat a lot of bread and starches. If so, get a 5-hour fasting blood sugar test.

[boogieman]

Hello. I apologize for the sarcasm, the idea that I could still occasionally drink successfully has just gotten me in a lot of trouble. You are correct that progress is more important, and more realistic than perfection. But for me, the idea that I can drink and then just stop is dangerous. My relapses last months if not years, and I always end up much worse than before. This last one lasted about 5 months, and resulted in 4 hospitalizations, the loss of friends and business relations, loss of material things that took years to attain and a diagnosis of pancreatitis. All because of an initial thought that I could just have a few drinks, which I did, and after suffering no apparent negative effects, the illusion that I could handle more became easier to convince myself of. For me, a relapse begins with a thought and ends with the first drink. Once that line is crossed, I'm back to full blown active alcoholic thinking and acting. And each time it has occured' I have gotten closer and closer to the ultimate result which is death. Once again I apologize, and wish the best for all, GM

[ibizan]

i am a recovering eclectic!i went to AA NA RR yes i like Jack Trimpey  and Jim Christophers Sobriety Without Religion .the Buddhists have the most awesome principles for living and stress management i've ever seen.I take what I can use from whatever i think will help me and leave the rest!I've encountered many thru the years who walk what they talk in the rooms of 12 Step..and leave the ones who just talk!just like in my life that has been outside those 12 step rooms!there are so many resources out there to help us..and we should avail ourselves of them!

[enocenip]

Since I wrote in a hurry, I will apologize if my post was unclear.

I simply meant to say that effort is the most important thing. "Relapses will occur." I think I've read this in nearly every book I've ever read about alcoholism, and I've read a small library of them. So if I say "try," obviously I mean "try not to have a relapse." In fact, try as hard as you can! I only mean to add this: if you despise yourself because you've had one, you're in real danger of saying "what's the use," in short, giving up trying.

One caveat:

If you haven't seen the excellent documentary "Rain in My Heart," I recommend it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP0InrPZpjg

I am not like these unfortunate people. So, a relapse for me is perhaps much less a danger than it would be for them. For these people, a relapse does mean death, so in that sense, ibizan, you're point is well taken.

I admit I'd gone most of the past five to ten years off and on without really trying much. Here in Japan, there is a kind of light vodka called "shochu" (焼酎), which is distilled from rice. It's famous for not producing hangovers, and it's true. But that's a problem. So when I woke up one morning last year with a bad case of hives accompanied by a first-ever bout of bizarre heart palpitations, I decided enough was enough and, to start with, read about something called alcoholic cardiomyopathy. I also realized that, even if I never ended up in the gutter, alcohol would prevent me from reaching any of the already greatly downgraded goals I'd set for myself.

So, I followed the strategy I tried to outline above. I knew I couldn't keep any so-called resolutions - I'd broken them too many times. The strategy that I found most effective was to try to put more distance between the relapses with the important proviso that eventually that distance would be open-ended. And that's where I am now.

So it's one strategy. It's not for everybody. I recommend, especially for young people, read everything you can read on alcoholism. Every alcoholic should have a little library on alcoholism and self-help. I noted, ibizan, that you used the expression "the beast," which makes me suspect you're a fan of Rational Recovery. Great. In addition to stuff by Alfred Ellis, one author in the field of rational behavior therapy I like is Windy Dryden. Her book "10 Steps to Positive Living" is a jewel.

Gunnermanz

Another great film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxHSG5-uJcM&

[Tab57]

How are you doing? Congratulations on your efforts to stay sober. I hope that you are still sober. This is a great site for help and support. I encourage you to seek out a local support group as well. This will help you in the tough times. Let me know if I can help you in any way. Feeel free to contact e fro suppoprt anytime.

[boogieman]

Howdy. Ya, if you have found a way for alcoholics to selectively relapse, I have a business opportunity! There are millions of researchers, doctors, therapists, judges, clergy, abused families, inmates, and oh yeah, alcoholics that would be instant clients! Just a thought, :) GM

[ibizan]

well i can't say i agree with gunnermanz...go ahead and have a little relapse cause u can't guarantee it will be a little one or lead into bigger ones!If i would've allowed myself to think that way in my recovery i might not be typping this now!But each to their own way of thinking!I had a very healthy fear of relapsing in the past...i KNEW the time i would spend drinking/using would be a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of time i would regret having done so.The consequences of my drinking/using were tattoed on my brain...they still are.....and i REFUSED to allow myself to cave in to the BEAST!Its a thought....only a thought...we do not have to act on every thought and like other thoughts it will pass.......so get busy with something else and DRIVE that thought out of your head!

[enocenip]

This is just my frame of mind, and it might not work for you. Take it for what it's worth.

I don't worry about relapses anymore. Remember what W.C. Fields said: "Don't say you can't swear off drinking. I've done it a thousand times."

The problem about getting too uptight about relapses and building them into such a terrible thing is that when - -not if, but when, because they will for most of us -- they do happen, you get totally dejected, feel worthless and start attacking yourself. Worst of all, you feel "what's the use of trying." It is this feeling that you must avoid at all costs. Recovery is a _relative_ thing, not an _absolute_ thing. If -- and only if -- you try, try, try and never give up, you gradually get stronger and stronger and _relatively_ better and better. So, you go from drinking every day, to every other day. Then you're able to quite for longer periods, with relapses of varying degrees, first frequently, then (if you keep trying), less and less frequently - provide you are working to eliminate all the problems from your life that tend to make you drink and give you an excuse to drink.

So give yourself a break. It's better to go ahead and have the blasted relapse than drive the people around you batty and make yourself so unhappy you jump out the window. Obviously, I'm not encouraging you to relapse. But you can't stay sober as a "white-knuckle" dry drunk. It's _progress_ you should aim for, not leaping tall buildings at a single bound or flying faster than a speeding bullet.

It's like the baloney you hear about only 10% or alcoholics ever recovering, or however it goes. The person who drinks every day is not recovered. So is the person who has a few mild slips a few times a year a drunk too? Well, yeah, but he sure as heck in a lot better shape than the first guy. And hey, maybe in his time one of those relapses will be the last one. You never know -- until you're dead!

So don't beat yourself up if you slip - and don't let anybody else beat you up either unless they're perfect and qualified to throw the first stone. Just try to make it a little milder than the last one. Just get right back on the wagon, and try to lengthen the time before the next one until they get milder and milder and less and less frequent.

Of course if you want to go cold turkey -- and can do so without eating your kids alive -- by all means, do so. But if you're like most of the rest of us sinners, I expect you'll be happier if you don't try to be a saint. And take good care of your health. That's the most important thing.

Good luck.

[boogieman]

Hello. Ya, there will be times like that. I'm at 6 weeks myself and I think about getting wasted at least once every day. But I know if I don't act on it, it will pass. Not to mention all the hospitals, pain, and guilt among other things that come with it. If I dwell on it long enough, I can come up with lots of reasons to drink, but I have no more excuses. Taking a drink is a temporary solution to problems that will not only remain, but become even worse. Anyhoo, welcome to the forum, and keep us posted on how you're doing. Take care, GM

[narla]

Remember drowning your sorrows in the end will just create more sorrows.You can get through this feeling,One day at a time,or one minute at a time if that's what it will take.Don't cave and keep posting we can help get you through these feelings.Go for a jog,do some housework,keep busy and it will pass more quickly.Good Luck,you can get through this.

Denise