How to quit on your own

[surfville]

Originally Posted by PneumaticMuffin

How would you go about quitting without any outside help? Is there any book, ressource, or method available that would enable someone to quit drinking without seeking professional help ? Some people have a high profile and do not want to risk public defeat for seeking help (even if that would help them). What methods available to quit by yourself ?

You have to decide that you should already have the need to stop that addiction. And then tips and help of family is will greatly help. Minimize the usage and then eventually stop it. Do other productive things other than just spending time in addiction.

[SandraK]

Although, quitting on your own can be done, it is not likely that you can quit on your own. A lot depends on how severe your addiction has become. Your best course of action to start with is to education yourself. I have tried to quit on my own, only to begin again as soon as I felt better. I am currently seriously contemplating finally getting medical treatment after all these years. Although, I do have medical insurance through my employment, (and my boss assures me that my job will be here for me if I seek treatment), there will still be a sizeable balance due that I will be responsible for. In the meantime, while I save up in anticipation of truly being ready to quit, I believe that if I begin by reading up on exactly what I am doing physically to my body with the alcohol, it will help to propel me to take that next step. I have never doubted or denied that I have a problem with alcohol. I can understand your desire to remain anonymous, though. Keep in mind, people are and can be a great source of support.

[ThanHiba]

Originally Posted by aima123

Your self-courage and determination to quit using drugs is the best tool for you.

This is called the white knuckle approach. I'd hit a hall and talk to some AA cats if I were you.

[Nicky100]

Hi--

I was a total alcoholic at 23, and that was 10 years ago. I've gotten 3 DUI's and my life has been an unbelievable mess due to alcohol. I see so many posts where the person says "I don't want to quit". I didn't either for a long time, even with the constant batterings using was giving me. Also I compromised almost every standard I ever had.

Anyway, nothing worked for me - meetings, whatever, and I was really trying too. Quitting was too hard - no sleep, high anxiety, and all the fun that goes with it.

The only thing that finally worked for me was an ebook of all things called - "How I Stopped Drinking" by Max Fisher. I looked up the website and here's the address --

http://geocities.com/howistoppeddrinking/index.html

This book actually got me sober (I had to put in some effort of course), but I never thought it was possible, and its fairly painless too.

I hope this helps you as much as it helped me.

Nicky

[grace]

Speaking from experience -- 6 years trying to quit on my own, 3 rehabs, and finally, almost 3 years sober (Feb. 13). The key (for me, anyway) was AA (I know -- I thought it was for losers, too). It's not about willpower or strength of character -- on the contrary, it's about surrender. It's a disease, folks!

Yes, educate yourself. Read everything. A good book is "Living Sober" published by Hazelden, and with real practical advice for daily situations (loneliness, attending social functions, etc.). Attend an AA meeting -- you don't have to identify yourself as an alcoholic, and if your friends are there -- they're on your side. Ask around (discreetly) -- I guarantee someone you know is in recovery. They will be thrilled to help you. But yes, medical detox is recommended. Call AA, a recovery center, crisis line, or your physician. If that doesn't work, write back and I will personally connect you with the resources in your area. Good luck and God bless.

[Maria]

Hello there, after reading your article i felt so proud for you! My mother in law has been an alcoholic for longer that we though, she has been in rehab 2 or 3 times this year but is still going back to it. I am screaming for help at this stage as she is after writing goodbye letters to everyone in the family because she is going to kill herself. Apart from the alcohol abuse she has had a very hard life and is all going back to her now whisch is making her so depressed. I know she is serious about taking her life and we are all lost and don't know who to get advise from or waht to do next. We're seriously running out of time.
We are in Ireland in Co.Louth
Thanks alot
Maria

[eselt]

Having been through 7 different types of detox in 20 years I can honestly say that quitting on your own is the most difficult and dangerous. This is what happened to me:
Day before- had a complete vodka binge to say 'goodbye', drank myself unconscious. Awake at 4am- legs twiching, not knowing where to put myself, pacing the house, being sick, crying, full of shame, stomach cramps, hardly able to walk due to long term lack of eating, found some drink 'to take the edge off'. (A pretty normal alcoholics day really)
Day 1 As above, but shaking, even more sickness, can't eat, can't sleep, exhausted but agitated, palpitations so bad I think my heart is packing up. No energy to move properly but can't stay still. When I close my eyes room spins. I wish I could die rather than go through this hell.
Day 2 After another sleepless night I'm in the twilight zone- don't know what time it is. Start having terrifying auditory hallucinations- whooshing noises and shouting in my ears- terrified when I start hearing my mother (long dead) shouting at me every time I close my eyes and drift off. Wake up covered in sweat. Still can't think straight or organise/motivate myself to do anything. Legs still jumpy. Still being sick. Manage to hold down a glass of milk which gives me agonising stomach cramps. Depressed and tearful-guilt and shame- the 'have a drink, it will make you feel better' bells are ringing louder.
Day 3 Sick, sick sick, in between sleep. Can't stay awake but can't sleep for more than about an hour at a time. Itching all over- skin has gone all flaky and face and body covered in sores. Feel very weak and disorientated- don't think I could make it to the store to buy vodka, frightened about collapsing. Overwhelming feeling that I would give anything to make these feelings stop- nagging voice inside my head keeps telling me that a drink would stop them.
Day 4 Hot sweats, terrifying panic attacks- think my heart is going to burst. Shakes are wearing off. Take a shower sitting down. Sleep and sleep. Wake up and venture out to the shop- collapse on the way- no warning just dropped like a stone- wake up in hospital due to suffering a seizure. Pensioner father who was with me heartbroken- he can't get the sight of me twitching and convulsing on the floor out of his head.
Day 5 Hospital gives me tranquilisers and meds to reduce tremors and shakes, lots of B Vitamins (Thiamine particularly) and an anti convulsant drug. CT scan to check for brain damage. Feel like shit and ashamed. Really grateful when they say I can't leave the ward- don't have to make the decision about whether to try to get to the shop and buy alcohol, I can't go out so its made for me. Paranoid that everyone is looking at me with disgust.
Day 6 Manage a bowl of soup- get a big lecture from doctors about going cold turkey and how its not a good idea to quit drinking so suddenly. Flaberghasted to think someone is actually telling me I should have carried on drinking but reduced over time- withdrawal is not so harsh if you cut back to just enough to keep the symptoms at bay before proper detox starts.

Day 7 Last day of the tranqullisers, physical symptoms have virtually disappeared. Feel so much more alive after eating some proper food. Sleep.

Day 8 Released from hospital, physical symptoms gone, although still quite weak. Skin still itching and covered in sores. Mental symtoms are all still there..........but thats another story.

So thats my experience of what it feels like to try and quit without any help. It was a very dangerous and stubborn thing to do- after all, if anyone thinks they have kept their problem out of the public eye and under wraps they are deluded- by the time you hit rock bottom everyone knows what you are so you might as well put your hands in the air and admit you need some help with this and go and get it. Remember its when all the physical withdrawal symptoms have been dealt with that the real work starts...................

[Kilderoy]

Detoxification. In this method, alcohol supply is suddenly stopped and is substituted with doses of drugs that have the same effects. This is to neutralize the effect of the abrupt stop of using alcohol. The drugs used are typically bencodiazepines and barbiturates... so its really difficult to do this on your own.





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