Quitting Alcohol

[*zap*]

It is sad that some people have no clue about the realities of life.....

 

[RS3579]

I quit drinking December 2016. I never drank much to begin with. More a social drinker. It was my choice. Most everyone I hang with drink like a fish. It has no effect on me. It’s like anything else. You won’t make a decision/change until you reach that tipping point. It just takes some longer than others. My next drinks will be 2037 & 2039, when my sons turn 21. I wish anyone luck and strength it their decision.

 

[bbassi]

BTDT. It's been almost 17 years for me. If you know you have a problem and REALLY want to fix it, do what ZAP says and seek out AA. Get a sponsor and do the 12 steps. If you do it right, your pride will take a beating and you will be humbled, but in the end life is so much better for you and the people you love without booze/drugs. The benefits are uncountable.

 

[Vandal 44]

I did my fair share of drinking back when I was younger in college and my early to late twenties. As I got older I slowed way down maybe a couple drinks a week. Then eight years ago my dad past away do to being an alcoholic just after turning 64 years old. I will never forget that phone call, an old fiend that called me was a police officer and happened to be the one who found my dad in his apartment. The next day I drove the three hours to meet up with Bo my old friend the police officer. When I got to the apartment, I asked what’s with the yellow cation tape on the door. Bo said that when they walked in their first thought it was a murder scene. My dad had ulcers in his stomach that ruptured and there was blood everywhere.

When you see something like that it hits you hard. Now I may have one or two drink a month and there is no booze in my house ever.

You my find that some of your so called friends will no longer invite you over to watch the game or come to their little party, because you no longer drink. Your true friends will most likely say that’s great

Best of luck to you


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[Will_m]

Sad, some of you folks have no control. Life is better with a drink here and there. Enjoy a crispy beer or a glass of wine or two. It’s good for you.

While I don’t think that alcohol is inherently bad, I also do not think your statement is true. Alcohol is most certainly not good for you. To be sure, it can have a relaxing effect, but that pendulum just swings back farther when the booze wears off.
Only thing booze is recreationally good for is wasting time.

 

[ThisIsMyHandle]

Sad, some of you folks have no control. Life is better with a drink here and there. Enjoy a crispy beer or a glass of wine or two. It’s good for you.

Super ******* ignorant


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[ThisIsMyHandle]

I was a alcoholic for the better part of 10 years, drug abuser for 15 years and pill addict for 3 years. I have 3 duis and a drug charge. Spent 4 months in jail. Drove drunk more times that I can fathom or remember. I blew through enough money over the course of 18 years that I could’ve bought and completely paid for a house. I’ve been sober for almost 6 years, I have a fiancée, a house, a budding career at a company I always wanted to work for and I’m chasing all my dreams. The physical and mental aspects of being clean and sober are definitely unimaginable. Alcohol and drugs will borrow your happiness from the future until there’s no happiness left.


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[ozyclint]

Never was a big drinker. Haven't had a drink now for 2 years. I got tired of conforming to societal norms where a gathering of more than one person mandates the consumption of alcohol, or at least it seems. Plus I have an abhorrence for spending money on it.

 

[260madman]

I’m a social/recreational type drinker. I’ll have a couple with friends and then stop for the night. Camping I have a few throughout the day and just watch the world go by.
Right now, I’d like to have a beer but grabbed a can of flavored seltzer water instead. Probably have a couple more throughout the evening.

My grandfather worked sales for Anheuser Busch so beer and booze was always in the house. No alcoholism on that side of the family. My other side of the family? Alcoholism was common. My wife has it on both sides of her family and a sibling that uses that excuse for being an alcoholic. We talk freely with our daughter about alcohol and what it does and use the sibling as an example as to what not to do or be.

Alcoholism is a rough road. Every family has alcoholics whether they admit it or not. Get on the wagon and ride it as long as you can. Along the way figure out what makes you want to drink and possibly find something else to replace the urge. Good luck.

 

[chlanoue]

Super ******* ignorant


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Feel free to do a little research on the subject.

 

[ThisIsMyHandle]

Feel free to do a little research on the subject.

Maybe you should do some research on not telling someone that thinks they have a drinking problem, that they have no control and drinking is good for them.


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[chlanoue]

While I don’t think that alcohol is inherently bad, I also do not think your statement is true. Alcohol is most certainly not good for you. To be sure, it can have a relaxing effect, but that pendulum just swings back farther when the booze wears off.
Only thing booze is recreationally good for is wasting time.

I think they gave proven a beer can have a hydrating effect, It’s been proven a glass of red wine can help with heart disease. There are a few other benefits but it’s not worth arguing.

 

[Tradchef]

I used to like having a beer every now and then years ago. My parents were drunks and knocked me around when i was a kid and it just made me realize i didnt want to ever be like that to anyone or depend on anything to feel good. So even though i never got into drinking or substance i don't miss having it at all. I havent had anything in probably 20 years. My last beer was at my culinary school graduation in 97' and that was that. I think it keeps you focused and as long as you keep a healthy lifestyle youll notice good positive change. Nothing wrong with enjoying a drink but overdoing it isnt good for anyone. Im pretty boring these days......just water, tea, lots of exercise, work and killing shit when time allows. Good on you for wanting the change man!!!!

 

[ThisIsMyHandle]

I think they gave proven a beer can have a hydrating effect, It’s been proven a glass of red wine can help with heart disease. There are a few other benefits but it’s not worth arguing.

The only hydrating effect beer has is mentally. It physically dehydrates you. Also the cons of drinking alcohol far outweigh the pros.


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[280Ackley]

Sad, some of you folks have no control. Life is better with a drink here and there. Enjoy a crispy beer or a glass of wine or two. It’s good for you.

Sad, some folks have no idea about life or addiction.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

Recently came to the conclusion I want/need to stop drinking. I've seen a few guys on here say they've been sober for years.

I've been pretty strong willed when it comes to kicking habits, but this one has been a one step forward three steps back one. Haha

Those of you who have stopped did you notice many benefits on your hunts, mindset, or physical shape?
Any tips on the process?

I quit drinking for six months. Nothing really changed except I was more bored more often in the evenings and at social events. I might have slept a little better, but the fact I'm not sure means it must not have been drastic.

 

[Marbles]

Some people need to quit all together. For others cutting back heavily is enough and works better. So, it really depends on you and you have to find your own solutions.

For me, trying not to do something just results in constant fixation. Cutting back, intentionally removing the pleasurable aspects of things, and i tentionally reminding myself of the harm has worked better (again, that is for me, I cannot speak for others).

For alcohol this might look like only stocking stuff you don't like, intentionally not drinking water to exacerbate the hangover, making a point to read about all the bad things it does to your body at least weekly and reminding yourself of that stuff while you drink, Etc. Basically, if you cannot win the big fight immediately, you start picking little ones that you can consistently implement and start there with the idea of weakening the drive to consume until you can beat it.

Unlike 12 step programs and the disease model, I believe the addicted is the only person who can help themselves. But, unlike the self control/moral weakness outlook I have come to recognize that cold turkey is not always possible. Again, for some people 12 step works and for others cold turkey works, all I can do is share what has worked for me.

An interesting read (though not perfect) is The Biology of Desire by Marc Lewis.

 

[Warmsy]

I really enjoy drinking beer. Perhaps too much sometimes. I'll stop for a few days/weeks/months from time to time, especially if I have something coming up like a hunt or a fun project.

Definitely feel better emotionally and physically and mentally when I haven't been drinking for 2+weeks. I don't find it difficult to tell folks I'm not drinking right now.

AA can be kind of polarizing and dogmatic, but it seems to work for a lot of people. There's a book out there that details the mindfulness of drinking- it doesn't actually taste that good, even after one beer your sleep is affected, and other things that really make you think about what you're doing. That book in particular (I forgot what it was called) helped me realize that I, personally, didn't need to be dogmatic about it, but realize why I like to drink and when it's time to stop.

You can do whatever you sent your mind to. Like mentioned above, tell your wife and friends you don't want to drink they won't buy it or offer it to you. If you ask, they'll give you a look or a talking-to that will hold you accountable for what you said.

A vacation might be in order to clear your head. Noon-drinking, of course.

 

[BeastOfTheTrees]

I quit over 4 years ago. Was one of those stereotypical Army hard drinking dudes.
Quitting legit saves my marriage.
You’ll notice the sharpness of your brain come back. You’ll be able to fully analyze things better and learning new skills becomes easier. Only thing I noticed physically with working out, was that the baseline fitness that you have if you quit working out for a bit, is significantly improved than if drinking as well. That or I’m at my peak idk.

Hats off to you. It gets boring going out with people since your the only sober one. You end up being the responsible children wrangler. I supplement with only a little bit of THC every now and then.

If anything quitting drinking makes you feel more enjoyment in day to day life and let’s you focus on your goals more. It honestly helped my hunting game to another level.

 

[RyanT26]

I quit drinking six years ago. I was drinking way too much. On my days off it would be 30 pack or a fifth of Jim Bean or Jamison whatever I had that day. My workdays consisted of drinking half of the above amounts in an evening. Nobody really knew I was drinking that much until I told them . You would’ve never known from looking from the outside. I was in shape, active in the community, and highly functioning. I tried cutting back and just using moderation a couple times but always went back.
I have no regrets about stopping drinking. Quiting drinking has freed up a lot of time, money, and energy to focus on my hunting goals.
I did not go the AA route but did go see a counselor a couple months which was helpful.