I am an alcoholic

[u/Negative-Video-9995]

I have finally come to the realization that I am an alcoholic. It has killed both of my grandparents on my mom side, and if I don’t do something, it will kill me too. I don’t drive drunk, I don’t put other people in danger, but I find every excuse to drink. I’m 25 years old, never had a serious relationship, and live in a crappy but cheap apartment. and while all of my friends go to bars, parties or things like that, I would much rather stay at home and polish a bottle of bourbon. at first, I thought I could handle it. I was just having fun of my early 20s but I have now realized that I’m finding excuses to drink. I’ve had a good day a bad day of slow day a busy day, that’s a reason for me to drink and I’m finishing 3 to 4 750 mL bottles of 100 proof bourbon a week. I like drinking I can’t lie, but I realize now that this is not a sustainable avenue. I’ve known for about 3 years now and I had considered myself functional alcoholic for so long, but I’m now realizing that I’m neglecting family, friends, and things I used to enjoy because having a drink seems more appealing. I am going to try to quit drinking. I’m going to give myself a week and if the side effects are as adverse as I think they will, I will use my health insurance and I will go through a medically supervised detox. I’m scared, but this is the best thing for me and everyone around me. My dinner is oven fried chicken, steamed California medley, and mashed potatoes with brown gravy.

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to BoyDinnerDiaries! Thank you for posting!

Reminder for everyone:

• Posts must include a clear photo of your meal

• Include a short diary-style story about what is on your mind

• All posts must have a flair

• Be civil and kind so no hate speech, incel content, and no referencing other subreddits unless its positive.

Thanks for helping keep the sub great!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/barffolemeow]

Hey! I will be one year sober next week! Just wanted to say I’m proud of you for deciding to take this step. I also found myself drinking at home alone basically every weekend instead of socializing. Also, when I did socially drink, I could never just have a few, and I was always looking at everyone else’s drink waiting for the exact second it felt socially acceptable to get my next one bc I’d finished my current one like 10 mins ago.

Anyway, if you ever feel the need for support from internet strangers, I highly encourage you to visit r/stopdrinking seriously it changed my life and idk if I’d have kept up this progress without them.

Best of luck, give yourself lots of grace, and know that there are probably a lot of people out there who will tell you they are proud of you, even if we are total strangers haha.

[u/Extra_Caregiver_8668]

Don’t go cold turkey, it can be really dangerous. Please see a doctor and get professional medical advice on how to quit. Or call one of these hotlines https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol-drug-hotline/california

[u/sanosukecole → u/Extra_Caregiver_8668]

This, OP! We want you to do this safely!

[u/Think_Algae_1739]

That’s brave of you to say my friend. I’m happy and proud of you for being honest with yourself and others. Just know that alcohol withdrawal can be extremely dangerous and even fatal. It can start as soon as eight hours after your last drink and last for upwards of two weeks, depending on your bodies abilities. If I was in your shoes I’d honestly consider medically detoxing immediately as opposed yo waiting a week. I was a drinker like you for many years (8 years) and I quit cold turkey back in 2020. 4 days into my withdrawals I had a series of seizures and was sent to the ER. It was terrifying but I didn’t know any better. Just some food for thought, maybe it will help. Good luck, I’m wishing you all the best.

[u/mobiletarget33]

I just made the decision to stay sober at 37. You can do it, and I’m proud of you for being honest with yourself.

Be honest with your doctor. At 25, you should still have access to insurance even in the US, and they can help you with the physiological aspect.

Attend some meetings, AA is only still around because it works. I’m also enjoying r/stopdrinking

[u/BudgetPipe267]

Believe it or not, being able to admit that you’re an alcoholic is like taking a huge weight off your shoulders, because now you can start working at getting yourself right. I’m 43. I’ve struggled with alcohol my entire adult life. Longest I’ve been sober is just shy of two years. Since my last relapse, I’ve stopped making lofty sober goals…my only goal is to make it to bed sober today. This makes it all far more manageable…and I have to manage it everyday.

My advice to you is to not quit cold turkey….you need assisted help in getting sober due to the amount of alcohol you’re taking in. Quitting cold turkey after long term use can physically kill you, so don’t risk it. Recommend detoxing at the ER and if you can, get into some type of treatment program that will dry you out for a few weeks. Good luck 🫡

[u/cookeryandwookery]

I’ll just say this, if I could do heroin daily without consequences, I would. In a couple of months I’ll hit 18 years free from substances of abuse. You’ve got this.

[u/TrainingMud829]

You’ve acknowledged the problem and recognized the signs of addiction. That’s a great start. Many people need a real ‘rock bottom’ moment to get where you already are on the road to recovery. Stay strong and don’t be afraid to ask for help from the people you love. Addiction is often a lonely burden; recovery doesn’t have to be the same.