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@Dcypher78 -- I've been sober since April 2018. I drank for 35 years. Never arrested, never missed a day of work. Ran and sold a succesful business. I semi-retired at 48 and took up drinking full time. It started to wreck my health and relationships. Fortunately, my family stood by me and supported me while I got sober.

The first thing is to consider what happens to your body when you stop drinking. Depending on how much and how long you have been drinking, it might be dangerous to stop without support. A medical detox is the best option if you have access to it. Usually, within 7 days the worst part is over. My grandfather died in the 1950s because he was not detoxed properly. It's a real concern.

AA has been a huge help to me. I would bet you could be on the phone or face-to-face (maybe by video) with someone from AA within an hour of right now. They can give you advice on how to detox in your local area.

I'm no medical professional, but my understanding is the key thing to watch during a detox is your blood pressure. It can get dangerously high. You can get a blood pressure cuff at any pharmacy. I'm not sure what scale might be used where you live. In the states, healthy blood pressure is said to be 120/80. The top number is the one to watch. Anything over 160, you are flirting with disaster. Over 180? You need to go to an emergency room. Even a detox will put you in a hospital with a high BP.

A medical detox program will have meds to keep your BP safe, ease any other symptoms you have and help you plan the next step. For me this was residential treatment and AA. This is not the only route, but it worked for me.

I found that my drinking was to deal with sensory issues and social anxiety. (I have Aspergers Syndrome.) And I drank to cover up trauma from abuse in my school age years.

Best of luck.

@Dcypher78

My brother was a high functioning alcoholic until he crossed over the center median on the freeway and caused a head-on collision with a semi-truck. He was air-rescued to a regional trama center where he miraculously survived. This was the first evidence we had of our brother's addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Fortunately, our family came together and intervened on his behalf and encouraged him to seek treatment. He is now fully recoverd, both physically, mentally, and spiritually. If it were not for a loving family, our brother might have avoided treatment altogether. Never give up on your family members.

You'll be in our prayers that you will have the strength and courage to make the right decisions.

@Dcypher78

Its great that you are aware you may have a problem, good for you for taking some accountability. It can be so easy to go about ignoring our problems until they spin way out of hand and someone ends up seriously hurt. Reading others replies, it looks like you have been given some great support from other 7 Cups members. I think in addition, remembering to be patient with yourself and to reach out to a trusted family member or friend. Any habit we form takes time to create just as it will take time and learning to uncreate. Feel free to message me if you would like to chat