Aa
Self Rehab
Apologies if I’m not following posting protocol here. Newbie. I’m an alcoholic and against the proverbial wisdom I readily admit it, which I suppose according to the cliché is the first step.
I became addicted to alcohol after I inadvertently became addicted to Xanax. I know it sounds like a specious scenario, but that’s really what happened. Anyway, that’s how I became an alcoholic. I really don’t buy the line that it’s a disease. A disease to me is malaria. I didn’t “catch” alcoholism. I certainly was predisposed to it, but it seems much more like a learned behavior exacerbated by strife.
I think I have a pretty good understanding of the reasons I drink. I think the whole Xanax affair may have just hastened the inevitable. Why was I taking Xanax in the first place? It all boils down to high levels of anxiety and trying to tamp it down. With the Xanax I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, with the alcohol I did.
Sorry, that was quite the long lead in. My question is: what advice can people offer to quit this? Beyond the conventional. The thought of getting up in a room full of strangers and saying “I’m John and I’m alcoholic” seems ridiculous and more importantly extremely unhelpful. And, as I said I think this is primarily a behavioral problem rooted in trying to tamp down the heightened anxiety I’ve suffered all my life – exhibited primarily by chronic insomia.
I was sober for about 6 months and have lapsed a few times since then. It is completely in step with those periods where I have high levels of anxiety. I am of the opinion that the alcoholism is primarily a symptom of anxiety. So, I readily buy into that part of rehab that addresses the psychiatric and behavioral facets of addiction, but the idea of sitting around in a group sharing is anathema to me. I’d rather have pins shoved in my toes.
I guess that’s it. I realize I have a problem. I realize I need help. I also am of the firm conviction that AA or conventional rehab would not be useful. What other options are there?
I became addicted to alcohol after I inadvertently became addicted to Xanax. I know it sounds like a specious scenario, but that’s really what happened. Anyway, that’s how I became an alcoholic. I really don’t buy the line that it’s a disease. A disease to me is malaria. I didn’t “catch” alcoholism. I certainly was predisposed to it, but it seems much more like a learned behavior exacerbated by strife.
I think I have a pretty good understanding of the reasons I drink. I think the whole Xanax affair may have just hastened the inevitable. Why was I taking Xanax in the first place? It all boils down to high levels of anxiety and trying to tamp it down. With the Xanax I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, with the alcohol I did.
Sorry, that was quite the long lead in. My question is: what advice can people offer to quit this? Beyond the conventional. The thought of getting up in a room full of strangers and saying “I’m John and I’m alcoholic” seems ridiculous and more importantly extremely unhelpful. And, as I said I think this is primarily a behavioral problem rooted in trying to tamp down the heightened anxiety I’ve suffered all my life – exhibited primarily by chronic insomia.
I was sober for about 6 months and have lapsed a few times since then. It is completely in step with those periods where I have high levels of anxiety. I am of the opinion that the alcoholism is primarily a symptom of anxiety. So, I readily buy into that part of rehab that addresses the psychiatric and behavioral facets of addiction, but the idea of sitting around in a group sharing is anathema to me. I’d rather have pins shoved in my toes.
I guess that’s it. I realize I have a problem. I realize I need help. I also am of the firm conviction that AA or conventional rehab would not be useful. What other options are there?
COMMUNITY LEADER
i've never beat anyone here for not towing the AA partyline....never.There are many alternatives out there and i've noted them!
johnself is only listening to what johnself wants to hear. Sorry but true Good Luck, I' m not selling you anything but encouragement.
Thanks Grace that's helpful. I'm already realizing that my inclination about AA is correct. I posted on here to seek help and was pretty honest about my condition and outlook. I'm fascinated to find out that I'm arrogant and do not know myself - how flipping arrogant is that for someone I've never met to assert that after reading a couple of postings from me? I find it bizarre to come on a site seeking help for a problem and to get such condescending ("that must have been very hard for you", "you have it all figured out") personal comments. It seems people take it a bit personally if you don't buy what their selling.
Hi...I'm Grace, wife of an alcoholic. My husband has been sober since February. There's a long story that goes with his sobriety but I don't have the time to get into. I'm not sure if it's possible to search for posts by a certain member but if it is, search for the posts I've made on this forum...the story is there and I haven't posted much so it shouldn't be difficult to find.
You'll find that you'll take quite the verbal beating if you don't tow the AA party line. I will never deny that AA is a great organization that has helped many, many folks stay sober. It has absolutely done that. BUT AA is not for everyone and it is very possible to gain sobriety without AA.
My husband had help getting sober because he was hospitalized for Hepatic Encephalopathy. That problem is connected to his Hepatitis C which has now harmed his liver. 25+ years of drinking darn sure didn't help. While he was hospitalized he was able to go through withdrawal from alcohol and that helped immensely in his ability to stay sober. He was not up to driving or anything else for a few weeks and being unable to go buy alcohol or go to a bar also was helpful.
He tried AA many years ago but as you said, it just wasn't his cup of tea. I won't go into the many reasons he wasn't enamored with AA, but suffice to say he was not going to go back again. However he was smart enough to know he needed something/someone to help him deal with ways to manage his stress and anxiety instead of turning to alcohol. Sound familiar?
He found himself a substance abuse counselor and he has been meeting with her weekly since mid February. He feels she has helped him understand why he drank and has helped him discover the tools he needs to remain sober and learn how to deal with stress/anxiety in a much healthier way.
All I can say is that so far...it's working. There've been no slip ups and he is managing the stress of his job much better. He has also learning to talk it out rather than keep it inside eating him up.
I can't guarantee that he won't relapse, hopefully he does not for in his case his very life depends on it. No one, not even the staunchest AA supporter can guarantee a person will remain sober forever. He does take everything a day at a time, putting one foot in from of the other foot and keeps moving forward. He's now in control of his life and I hope he always remains in the drivers seat.
Good luck to you...
~Grace
You'll find that you'll take quite the verbal beating if you don't tow the AA party line. I will never deny that AA is a great organization that has helped many, many folks stay sober. It has absolutely done that. BUT AA is not for everyone and it is very possible to gain sobriety without AA.
My husband had help getting sober because he was hospitalized for Hepatic Encephalopathy. That problem is connected to his Hepatitis C which has now harmed his liver. 25+ years of drinking darn sure didn't help. While he was hospitalized he was able to go through withdrawal from alcohol and that helped immensely in his ability to stay sober. He was not up to driving or anything else for a few weeks and being unable to go buy alcohol or go to a bar also was helpful.
He tried AA many years ago but as you said, it just wasn't his cup of tea. I won't go into the many reasons he wasn't enamored with AA, but suffice to say he was not going to go back again. However he was smart enough to know he needed something/someone to help him deal with ways to manage his stress and anxiety instead of turning to alcohol. Sound familiar?
He found himself a substance abuse counselor and he has been meeting with her weekly since mid February. He feels she has helped him understand why he drank and has helped him discover the tools he needs to remain sober and learn how to deal with stress/anxiety in a much healthier way.
All I can say is that so far...it's working. There've been no slip ups and he is managing the stress of his job much better. He has also learning to talk it out rather than keep it inside eating him up.
I can't guarantee that he won't relapse, hopefully he does not for in his case his very life depends on it. No one, not even the staunchest AA supporter can guarantee a person will remain sober forever. He does take everything a day at a time, putting one foot in from of the other foot and keeps moving forward. He's now in control of his life and I hope he always remains in the drivers seat.
Good luck to you...
~Grace
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