The Stop Drinking (or using other substances) thread - Hello, my name is "kiwi farmer", and I am an alcoholic.

[mindlessobserver]

Started taking Acamprosate again. Beginning of the second day.

 

[StopSneeding]

Started taking Acamprosate again. Beginning of the second day.

Have you considered trying naltrexone? An oral formulation can be taken 3x a day and is very cheap as a generic. The vivitrol shot is an extended release IM shot of naltrexone that lasts a month. The only issue with vivitrol is that it is very expensive if insurance won't cover it. Naltrexone removes the rewarding effects of opioids and alcohol by blocking the opioid receptors. It is indicated for use in both, but has also been used for addictions to other substances and gambling. It essentially eliminates the desire to drink, and if one does there will be very diminished euphoric and positive effects. Docs are willing to prescribe it in most cases as long as liver function is checked prior and rechecked every few months. Shouldn't be an issue taking it alongside acamprosate as long as your physician is ok with it. It has few side effects for most and is another tool that can be leveraged to help you.

 

[Tom Myers]

I second the Naltrexone recommendation. It's dirt cheap, like 10 dollars a month without insurance.

But, if you have a serious drinking problem, Naltrexone isn't enough by itself to stop. It stops like 95% of the enjoyment of booze, but if you're a real drunk you just end up drinking 3x as much. Source: that's what I did.

 

[mindlessobserver]

Naltrexone did not work for me. It honestly made me overly emotional and angry. Acamprosate works a little different in that instead of trying to make booze "do nothing" for you, it goes after that part of your brain that triggers cravings. I've found it works better for me since that "craving" was what got me in the habit in the first place. The only downside to it is you need to take it 3 times a day, and it takes a week to build up, so you need some real mental discipline to get on it.

Drinking some huge mugs earl grey tea right now.

 

[Tom Myers]

Acamprosate didn't do shit for me. I also tried Gabapentin.

Well, anyways, weaning myself from alcohol. A fifth of vodka the day before yesterday, 3 beers yesterday to stop withdrawal symptoms, and I'm drinking the remaining 3 beers today. Back to eating again.

 

[Nate Higgers]

Anyone have any experience with kratom? Specifically weaning off of a dependency or something

 

[Equivocal_Iki]

Anyone have any experience with kratom? Specifically weaning off of a dependency or something

Very light opioid but apparently does help with withdrawal symptoms without getting you outright high. I wouldn't recommend it unless you get serious withdrawal symptoms quitting opiates cold turkey, Otherwise you're likely to just trade addictions. Basic advice is to find a dosage that gives you withdrawal relief (can vary widely depending on your usage, though 3g Red is a good starting point, but can go up to 10g+ if you're deep in opiates) then taper the kratom at your own pace. It's also an opioid antagonist so it can discourage using other opiates.

 

[Nate Higgers]

Very light opioid but apparently does help with withdrawal symptoms without getting you outright high. I wouldn't recommend it unless you get serious withdrawal symptoms quitting opiates cold turkey, Otherwise you're likely to just trade addictions. Basic advice is to find a dosage that gives you withdrawal relief (can vary widely depending on your usage, though 3g Red is a good starting point, but can go up to 10g+ if you're deep in opiates) then taper the kratom at your own pace. It's also an opioid antagonist so it can discourage using other opiates.

I basically ended up trading addictions. I’m more or less dependent on kratom now and have been for a couple years.

 

[Gravityqueen4life]

i dont drink much since it makes me piss alot.

 

[L50LasPak]

I've been sober for just over a year at this point. I'm pretty much dead personality-wise, and I just have zero patience for other people when I deal with them in-person. Its kind of liberating but I don't think its going to win me any favors in the long run.

I did have to go to an event where everyone was drinking a bit ago and that was overwhelmingly one of the worst days I've had all year. I can talk about drinking, watch people drink in movies, joke about drinking and shit all without getting strong cravings, but being in a room full of people drinking way too much was far different and far worse than I expected. I somehow didn't cave but I walked out early without saying goodbye to the majority of people there and basically just went home and went to bed. Felt like a waste of time honestly.

 

[XYZpdq]

I've run alongside 12 Steppers enough to know a funny joke -

Son
Of a
Bitch
Everything's
Real

 

[Deranged Jew]

2 years sober from booze just a week ago...best choice of my life honestly. Went from drinking a 1.75L of Jack Daniel's at minimum every single day to nothing of the sort. Had a crazy bout of depression/stress and rather than addressing, I ran to the bottle. One day turned to a month, which turned into 3 years of doing that same routine every day, waking up, 5 or 6 shots before work, shots throughout the shift, going to the liquor store during break, who was on a first name basis with me, and continuing all day and night, until I forced myself to get a few hours sleep and would repeat again.

Took a hell of a mental downswing to realize I was killing myself by drinking. Put on over 100 lbs in that 3 years, lost it in the first year I quit drinking. Worst part was the DTs. Not everyone can handle them and most recommend inpatient for dealing with them. I stuck with outpatient for 6 months before I broke away and did my own thing, 6 months of avoiding temptation and social events altogether, the next year was easier, no thoughts of drinking that can't be pushed out by simply telling myself no.

Give yourself something to work toward, but nothing too crazy. Small goals, that get replaced as they're completed, are better than large goals. Find an activity to take time during cravings, some people use gum and replace, I went with playing music/drawing/writing in order to help. And don't be afraid to talk to someone. I had basically 0 support network short of 1 family member and so I used online boards and outpatient groups to talk and get cravings and thoughts out, as well as writing when I wasn't able to converse with a person directly.

Good luck and I'm glad to help if you need someone to talk to.

 

[XYZpdq]

Anyone have any experience with kratom? Specifically weaning off of a dependency or something

I know a guy at work who chugs that shit down like granola.
Like, one time he's like "yeah brah just scoot my shit out of the way, you can use the workstation"
And I noticed it was kratom and not granola.

 

[beanbag in a hurry]

I've been sober for just over a year at this point. I'm pretty much dead personality-wise, and I just have zero patience for other people when I deal with them in-person. Its kind of liberating but I don't think its going to win me any favors in the long run.

I did have to go to an event where everyone was drinking a bit ago and that was overwhelmingly one of the worst days I've had all year. I can talk about drinking, watch people drink in movies, joke about drinking and shit all without getting strong cravings, but being in a room full of people drinking way too much was far different and far worse than I expected. I somehow didn't cave but I walked out early without saying goodbye to the majority of people there and basically just went home and went to bed. Felt like a waste of time honestly.

Hope you're feeling better now, buddy.

 

[Mullti Port RDRAM]

Hi I'm Mullti Port RDRAM and I was an alcoholic. It has been 368 days since my last drink. This was not the challenge I had thought it would be since I had all the booze taken out of my house. However, my father has relapsed after a stay to sober up in the hospital and it worries me. I wish there was more I could do to make him stop.

 

[⋖ cørdion ⋗]

I did have to go to an event where everyone was drinking a bit ago and that was overwhelmingly one of the worst days I've had all year. I can talk about drinking, watch people drink in movies, joke about drinking and shit all without getting strong cravings, but being in a room full of people drinking way too much was far different and far worse than I expected. I somehow didn't cave but I walked out early without saying goodbye to the majority of people there and basically just went home and went to bed. Felt like a waste of time honestly.

Sounds like me drinking on a friday night. Do fuck all, in/uninstall a few games, go to bed early, wake up next day unable to do shit for 6-8 hours, and then convince myself it was worth the while, last memory being flushing half a bottle of vodka cause I can't even pretend to enjoy drinking.

Hi I'm Mullti Port RDRAM and I was an alcoholic. It has been 368 days since my last drink. This was not the challenge I had thought it would be since I had all the booze taken out of my house. However, my father has relapsed after a stay to sober up in the hospital and it worries me. I wish there was more I could do to make him stop.

Mine lowkey quit out of nowhere, didn't even think he had an issue, and suddenly he could afford a motorbike which is a leftover hobby from young adulthood. Really makes me wonder why the fuck I keep drinking when I gain nothing from it. Even just now, knowing it's friday tomorrow and I've got nothing planned, I have the urge. I used to drink on fridays and play, and it kinda just stuck.

I'd start sipping, get in a Skype call, get blasted, have fun, see people leave and join the call and go into other group calls. It was like going in and out of rooms for different parties, and I think that's the imagery that sticks. "I'm gonna get drunk, forget everything, and then fun happens". But it doesn't anymore. There's some kind of expectancy for friday to be amazing and fun even though it hasn't been the last 3 years of doing this almost every week.

On the other hand it didn't cure any of my larger issues with life, so I guess those weren't substance abuse related after all. I still had bouts of depression and weeks when I couldn't get shit done, but now I didn't even have alcohol to drown it with and at least get some use out of those days. I just laid there passively.

Kinda my issue. I can't relate to many alcoholics cause yall drink 3 handles a week, where I go 3/4 through a cheap vodka once a week. It's abuse regardless of amount, but I'm also finally out of unemployment and this is the last weekend prior. Should I drink one last time or make a point out of stopping ahead of time to prove resolve? Reading about people losing partners, jobs, and consuming medicine just to get a grip is all manners of scary, but I also clearly only have that Friday NightTM tie to drinking and zero issues otherwise.

 

[There Is Light At The End]

I haven't drank alcohol for 10 years with couple of times sprinkled in-between. Literally 2 times for 10 years. Stopped drinking because alcohol tastes awful to me

 

[Freya]

I got minor withdrawals for like 2 days quitting as a light smoker. I ate a shitton of chocolate tho

 

[PotatoSalad4711]

I realize I’m late to this party, but...

For the record, I don't need to drunkpost to post literal shit in the site. I don't need alcohol to be an awful, obnoxious user. Just for the record.

Hot take incoming. There's nothing wrong with being an alcoholic. Living longer and healthily is also overrated. OP sounds like he just wants to get drunk all the time, which is fine. People tell him his life should not be so bad he needs to drink, but they are just saying empty platitudes because speaking doesn't cost money and don't know OP's history.

OP, if you want to get drunk I'm fully supporting you unironically but for fuck's sake don't celebrate after ONLY 1 week sober, my god. People'd just rather you get drunk than become an overly self-conscious, self-involved obsessive sober. That's why this kind of threads suck. It's full of people who want to get drunk but don't have the balls to admit it.

I agree with you. I like getting drunk. I don’t have kids, I don’t bother anybody, I drink at home and never drive while under the influence. I’m not hurting anyone, so fuck it.

I did cut back the amount I was drinking last year because I want to stay in fairly decent health or at least capable of working and doing things I enjoy.

As far as how to cut back or stop, I enjoy video games because I get focused and “forget” to drink, if that makes sense. I also enjoy doing cross stitch for the same reason. It’s easy to learn, and if it sounds like some grandma stuff, let me present you with these kits:

 

[Freya]

I was never addicted physically. What helped me to finally break it was realizing I'm in control of my life and control what I consume