hi everyone

[LeWabbit]

I have really cut down on drinking in the last year after a withdrawal scare and panic about liver damage. I managed several months sober but kept relapsing with binges. Each time I went back to the doctor to get fresh blood tests as I was convinced that was the moment I had destroyed my liver. I now have an official diagnosis of alcoholic on my medical record. I should never have been so honest but was scared and wanted help. AA sounds a much better way to go as you can stop and then just carry on with life not have to fight a diagnosis of something which some say can’t be cured. I’m now motivated to keep drink free to try and persuade the doctor it’s no longer an issue but fear that could take years and during that time I can’t do things like get travel insurance

[SoberDrunk1]

Welcome to the forums. Glad you have realized on your own that being sober is the right way to go. Unfortunately if you are an alcoholic, the mind plays trick on you. Understanding how un-manageability of life leads us back to that first drink is the first step of AA. I too sobered up after I started visiting meetings, however the real freedom came by working the 12 steps of AA. I have captured the salient points on un-manageability and how it leads us back to that incidious first drink in this document. Its on google drive, please take a look at it. Any help finding a meeting where you live or doubts about the 12 steps please feel free to ping me. Here is the link: tinyurl.com/firststepAA

[LeWabbit in reply to SoberDrunk1]

Thanks - I will definitely look into this and at the document

[Jampacked]

The further I get into the sober journey the more I feel like I don't care what others think. As an ex drinker you should not be discriminated against.The sobriety movement is getting stronger all the time. People give up for all kinds of reasons. You are an ex drinker because of health reasons. Find your community I listen to Sober Stories on Spotify. Some people are secretive some loud and proud it's worth a listen. Read books and join AA or an alternative. By supporting and understanding others, helps us to support and understand ourselves. Sobriety is another world but not a bad one. I have visited and want to stay.

[LeWabbit in reply to Jampacked]

I agree about the sober world being one I’d like to stay in

[Hidden]

Hello this is arful,I'm sorry you've experienced this, I remember been afraid to tell my doctor when I was feeling depressed and stressed incase it went on record and effected my job applications, please could you tell me how much you consider a binge I am prone to it when stressed upset but if say a bottle of wine and in the extreme 2 cans cider plus the wine luckily it doesn't happen often these days, my health anxiety sorts this out, I had one high liver count few years back ok after 3 months adstenance i have regular blood tests for everything last one few weeks ago ok, i went to AA it was a great group ill go again if I decide I need to stop totally,best of luck to you 🤗

[LeWabbit in reply to Hidden]

Sadly my binges would be a couple of bottles of wine a day for more than one day. I never had health anxiety until I had the liver scare and then I panicked about everything. I’m enjoying being sober at the moment (but it’s hard). Glad your bloods were ok this time 😀

[Hidden in reply to LeWabbit]

Hi the liver does need time to heel as you prob know if too damaged it can't, I know someone who drank about 2 regular and his lovers improved a lot so cought in time, I joined British liver trust back then and the storys on there helped me stop, too, I took up swimming and was health foccused this helped relieve my stress and help me sleep also releasing seretonin, I fancied sugar a lot at first, unfortunately I ended up drinking again just couple glasses for pain relief, but I remember after I'd stopped after 2 weeks I regretted ever drinking so much and wondered why I did, unfortunately old habits die hard, I think we prob need on going support to stop totally forever, especially if you drank to self medicate from stress or upsetment 🤗there's always going to be problems for us to cope with in life

[LeWabbit in reply to Hidden]

I also read the stories on the British Liver Trust and it’s a great group that partly scared me into keeping stopping but also scared me silly I had cirrhosis and life was going to end in death or on the transplant list. I had to learn I was fortunately not in the position of some of those people and to focus on other ways to stop drinking rather than only what it might do to my liver. Agree there’s always problems in life!

[Hidden in reply to LeWabbit]

Yes me too and I joined the British heart Foundation site too, drinking damages the heart badly and of course the brain everything, we only have one body, I had a in law die age 42 he drank.a lot had diabetes from it that killed him. It's full moon well last night I hope you see it tonight I find it v uplifting I like to say a little inward prayer for guidance and to be a better person and to be strong and calm I deep breath as I say this please try it, 🌝🌈

[SoberDrunk1 in reply to LeWabbit]

Bills story in the book AA illustrates the nature of our condition. He talks about how fear sobered up him a bit but then, he succumbs to the urge within few months. He eventually had to have a spiritual awakening, a deep realization that alcohol is his master and that, he needs to have a new attitude toward life in order for him to live a decent life. He then talks about how his friend helped him overcome the shortcomings and exiting the hospital, he started working with other alcoholics who were still suffering. And how the fellowship was born.

[LilyAnnepuppy Ambassador]

Welcome to the community. It sounds like you’re in the right place. I doubt many social drinkers come on this forum, or have the unmanageable issues you’ve shared.

I tried everything to stop drinking and realized I’m powerless over alcohol. You put me in a room with a bottle, and no treatment, and I’m eventually going to have to drink it.

I need Alcoholics Anonymous. Think about it. Or a similar program.

And remember, choices have prices. And if I drink, I don’t like the consequences.