Posted by verne on October 22, 2004, at 21:02:25
In reply to Being a drunk is a pain in the ass, posted by struggle on October 21, 2004, at 22:37:17
What's helped me stay sober is a combination of nutritional and spiritual approaches with some AA thrown in.
After reading "Seven Weeks to Sobriety" and "Under the Influence" I realized that much of my problem was chemical. Some of this can be corrected with nutrition. But diet alone wasn't enough to keep me sober.
About 9 years ago when I was strung out on librium (100mgs per day) and alcohol (about 12 beers per day), I hit bottom hard enough to check out a nearby church service. I was a devout atheist with a background in philosophy but I wandered in because my doctor wanted me to do that or go to AA.
This was no ordinary church but the hands-on "full gospel" (pedal to the metal) sort with laying-on of hands for healing. I went through the motions for a couple months, not believing, hating the music, and one day a Peace came over me and filled me.
Since then it has been easier to stay sober although I've still had slips and even binges. The difference now is that between drinking bouts I don't sit on the edge of my seat thinking about "not" drinking, but, instead, enjoy peace.
I still struggle and I'm not sure I even enjoy life, but my spiritual experience has helped me endure.
I know that the first few days, weeks, and even months can be difficult. I've gone 35 days or so without drinking but the craving was very strong the last nite of the Boston-NY baseball series. I was thinking, "just one last time" but somehow made it through the evening drinking lots of atkins shakes and taking various supplements - especially amnio acids - that help with alcohol craving. (see the alternative board for discussions about glutamine and others)
Hang in there. I know it's hard to see any hope when you're in the middle of it. Even now I can't believe how radically my perspective changes from day to day. How one day I'm devoid of hope and the glass is half empty and the next, it's half full.
So on my bad days I don't make any decisions or take myself too seriously. Another thing that's helped is something someone told me years ago: "never make a decision at night". Waiting for daylight has saved my life.
I hope you are doing better.
verne
poster:verne
thread:405694
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20041013/msgs/406174.html