RustyHalo

Do you ever have anything to say, or is name-calling it for you?

good morning..and for once it feels like one. no shakes, n/v/d, ha..and i remember everything i said and did yesterday. that's right--24 whole hours and holding! i know this is one day at a time, but this is the first time that giving up alcohol feels like a good, positive "treat" god and i are giving me, rather than the gloomy start of endless years of missing out on all the "fun". thanks for sharing my happiness...and for being here when the tough days hit, as i know they will. this feels like maybe, just maybe...this wonderful thing called sobriety can become my life.

:typing No offense taken--what I am hoping to find is some wisdom that goes beyond the cookie-cutter AA group program, and to get some input from others who have walked this road. If I sound defensive, I humbly apologize, its just that every time I've reached out in the past, I have had AA shoved at me as if it is the only recovery program on the planet. Trust me, cognitively I know as much as possible about alcohol abuse, but applying that knowledge is w-a-a- y different, as everyone here knows. What I don't understand is why I can drink in public without cravings or getting drunk, stop after one or two, and be fine. When I'm not on a binge I can take it or leave it. When I'm not bingeing, I have trouble remembering why I do such a stupid thing in the first place. Then, when my anxiety gets pegged into the red zone, a little "what the hell" switch goes off, I buy a bottle...you know the rest. Once the hangover clears (and I do stay home until I'm just dehyrated w/a HA) I go back to eating well, exercising, and not drinking, except the affore mentioned social occasions. No one knows about my binges except my husband. I call off so infrequently that it doen't set off any alarms at work. So..do I have an alcohol problem or an anxiety problem?? Does it matter? To me, only insofar as it affects my non-binge, "normal" use of alcohol. OK, enough fill in that maybe my story resonates with some one out there. I'm listening, will not be offended by honesty.:redpinkhe

Hi to all-- I've been visiting for a long while, but just got up the nerve to join and post. I'm a binge drinker, and am not happy about it. I've tried most of the major programs and read all the books, and am fine, for a week, a month, a year. Then, I get anxious and "check out" for a day or two.... I don't drive or work drunk[hungover, yes, but not drunk], I get drunk at home and stay there until I sleep it off. Every time my LFT's come back normal I feel like I have dodged a bullet. My family of origin were normal social drinkers, as is my hubby. I was never abused, had a happy childhood, and am a Christian. I can have a glass of wine socially without a problem. I can also drink 3/4's of a 750 ml bottle and keep breathing. I also don't care for group settings, which was really a problem (plus smoke) with AA. In addition, I live in a tiny southern town now, and don't trust remaining anonymous at all. In addition, I don't want to become soley focused in life on being an alcoholic, recovering or otherwise.I'm pretty happy and funtioning, except when anethestisized. I welcome thoughts and input..but please don't read me the Blue Book. I've read it, too, and it doesn't speak to me (no offense to those to whom it does.) Words of wisdom and prayers both accepted! Thanks.