Absolutely Cannot Stop Drinking

[Sk2005]

I'm sorry if this post is repetitive. Swim has struggled from alcoholism for nearly a year now. First, does he have to worry about liver cirrhosis? Second, after numerous AA meetings he feels there is no end to his drinking. Does ANYONE have advice for him? What does Swim do? Too many people think that its easy to quit becuase its so depressing to be drunk. THEY ARE WRONG. I'm sorry, but it feels wonderful. How does he stop? Any suggestions. First cocaine, now this. WTF?

[the_last_straw]

1. Of course SWIM has to worry about his liver As for advice, keep going to AA. I find with most addictions there's a 3 day hump. Once you go three days without it, you can make it the rest of the way. You should have a goal. For instance, your goal could be to stop hurting your family, or to save money from drinking to buy a new TV. Every time you want to take a drink, talk to yourself and be honest. Ask yourself these questions: 1. Is it worth it? 2. What happens if I continue to do this? 3. How will it affect the people around me? 4. What do I want my future to be like? 5. How will this help me accomplish my goal. It's ok to have a drink every once and a while (going cold turkey is way too hard). Just think before you drink. It might also help to (every time you get an urge) tell yourself you can have it in 10 minutes and then either your urge will be over or you can ask yourself if you can go another 10 minutes without it. Good luck, overcoming an addiction is really hard.

[Alfa]

Read this: An Introduction to Ibogaine (http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=748&highlight=iboga)

[Nagognog2]

Another good device to use is to calculate how much you are spending on the alcohol, on average, per day. Then get a large jar. Each day that you do not drink, deposit that amount in your jar. By the end of a year, you can have a nice holiday.

What I've seen with most people and alcohol and the FEAR that comes when one thinks of stopping, is the fear of withdrawl. Withdrawl can be rather nasty. If you have problems such as convulsions - by all means get to a doctor. This can be easily treated with drugs such as valium. Most physicians are quite sympathetic to what one is going through and will gladly help you. But, as stated, it's just that 3 day "hump" you have to get through. And you will. When you look back at it in a year, or less, you'll likely laugh at yourself for all the anxiety you put yourself through! It's not that difficult. Many of my friends went through this. And they are all quite content and happy with their lives now.

You'll be fine.

[fatmanstan]

Regarding Ibogaine, Swim would also agree that most any of the pyschedelics can and usually do lead to honest self exploration, where you can look at yourself without a cloud of judgement or critism, and really get to where you need to go. From SWIM's personal experience, a good dose of self-awareness, the desire to drink goes WAY down. Look at some of the numbers regarding alcoholism of the NAC (native american church) that uses peyote. There were many studies conducted back in the 60's with LSD in treatment of alcoholism. Ibogaine specifically does seem to have a very positive effect in cases of addiction as well.

SWIM's two cents, and he has, in the past, gone through spells of drinking a forty of rye a day, and barely drinks at all anymore, only occasionally, only socially.