Cutting away from alcohol without support/alternatives
I previously struggled with heavy alcohol abuse. Ive drastically been able to decrease how much I drink. However I still feel so much pressure to drink in order to be a part of society. I work in a constant party environment, hanging out with friends always includes going for a drink. My friends are all heavy drinkers. I really want to stop drinking for good because im sick of the vicious cycle that everytime I drink I get so *** up that I make terrible decisions and hate myself afterwards.
I really want to stop drinking completely for good, but how do you do that when you dont have support and you dont have alternatives. How do you make it stick?
@reliableGrapes927
Fair play to you for seeing you needed change and acting on it.
Meet your friends somewhere other than a bar.
They'll understand and accept that if they are your real friends.
You need to prioritise your own needs and health regardless of anyone else.
You've already done the hard work.
You should be so proud 💕💜
@reliableGrapes927
Unfortunately, the decision to quit dangerous drinking usually takes changing your schedules, changing your routes and changing your company. As my AA friends do: instead of keeping up with the people who could question or torpedoed their efforts to stay clean, they start to look for people who support them and are positive about theirs and their own sobriety.
At one time I've had a friend. We always talked to each other over two glasses of beer, or anything else. But when we started to talk without alcohol, our common ground as if suddenly vanished. With no contact with him in 20 years, I still wonder if we had been really good friends, or just "friends from the bar".
Much closer to the present day, I was on a first date with a woman. She suggested she might have had some wine. I said "I'd prefer not. Because anything happens, I would like to know it was you, not the alcohol." Needles to say, we haven't seen each other again...
Just to be clear about it: I am not a teetotaler myself. I can accept civilized drinking, with no mumbling, no shouting, no kerfuffle, not getting wasted or falling down to the floor.
During my last yearly integration meeting at work I've chosen a moderately drinking company, and that was OK 👍
Hi! I quit through AA. I was immediately enveloped in support and eventually met a group of quality women, not like the toxic friends I had when I was drinking. We have fellowship support as well. If you try an AA meeting, you don't have to say anything other than "I'm here to listen".
@reliableGrapes927
I think the best thing you can have for support is someone to talk to. Doesn't have to be AA or a group. Just someone to stop you from chasing your tail in your head. Dealing with addiction for me anyways turned me into my own worst enemy and I know that's something I have to deal with but have some break from that is just a god send. Learn to listen and work with yourself but oh my can that inner voice be annoying.
