nphjrs- i will let you now on my story..maybe it helps you on taking the right decision
It's been two years since I haven't drink.
My "drinking habit" began while I was a teenager- maybe because I was frustrated, maybe the enviroment (and the "cool" guys around me)...And don't actually know what made me become an alcoholic.
The truth is that I loved it fort he power it gave me.
I was wrong though. I didn't need that "drug" to become stronger. I had it in me, but I didn't know it.
I've been an alcoholic for several, but not one day I’ve manage to admit that I have a problem.
I thought I could stop anytime, if needed.( but didn't want to)
I was wrong- I couldn't stop drinking over the night- it required strong will and lot of determination to get well.
That period of my life- was one of the darkest and shameful of my entire existence. Not only because I was going to disaster, but because I almost lost every person I've cared for - my family and my future wife.
Those were, though, the only persons that sustained my effort of getting rid of that habit.
And I've finally managed to, and swore that never, no matter how desperate I'd be, will I be drinking again.
My story is long, sad and complicated.
But manage to extract one single conclusion:
Don't do it folks, no matter how good you might think you’re feeling.
You're ruining yourself and the ones you care for.

Dear John35235
Thank you for your reply...It's kind of weird..I always knew that I drank too much,,even told my husband, "you know I'm an alcoholic, 'ya know"..But, since I always seemed to function fine, and having a drink together was a part of our life style, it all seemed fine...Until, as I said, I had to quit for a few days..Surprise..surprise..when I started withdrawal-like symptoms...Made me realize that this really is a problem for me and I need to just keep off the beer...forever...My husband is very supportive...Although he likes his beer, he can go days without it...(I couldn't..atleast had to have a few..probably to keep the "edge" off..)..So, my husband is now sitting on the deck with me "beer-free" too...I told him he doesn't have to, but he has..Having his support means a lot..Hearing from you, means a lot...I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to my posting...After I stop taking the antibiotics I may be tempted, so I need all the support I can get!! Thanks! nphjrs

You're an alcoholic. I know. I am one, too. Though you tolerate it well enough to function (I did, too), YOU HAVE AN UNHEALTHY ADDICTIVE DEPENDENCE ON IT. I know it hurts, I'm sorry. Please don't start again. Yes, you're in withdrawl, depressed from alcohol abuse, and you're damaging your body greatly. The amount you speak of drinking is literally at a poisionous level, and you're doing it consistently; so your body can't clean out all of these toxins. People like this are the ones who develop liver or kidney cancer and other debiliating diseases. Get help from a doctor, therapist, and a support group. Bless you.

Alcohol can't do anything TO me unless it does something FOR me first.
In each generation something like 5% to 7% of the population have an unnatural reaction to alcohol. And that reaction is that alcohol turns an otherwise bland existence into a Technicolor world.

It lets me feel like other people look to me. Complete.

The vast majority of people who drink aren't alcoholics, and they aren't going to become alcoholics in the future. Why? Because alcohol doesn't do that something special for them. When they have a few drinks, they start feeling like they are losing control and they stop.

Me on the other hand, after a few drinks, I feel like I'm just starting to gain control. A completely different reaction. And after enough time, I come to rely on alcohol to fix the way I feel. To fix the way I see the world.
And in time, that reliance became a dependence, and in turn that dependence became full blown alcoholism in my life.
You may or may not be an alcoholic, you may or may not be relying on alcohol to improve your view of the world, and no one can tell you if alcohol is interfering in your life.

But time can tell.

Given enough time and it will make itself abundantly self clear if you are one of us or not.

Over any appeasable length of time alcoholism only gets worse, it never gets better. In fact, in most cases, it gets real bad before something changes.
You'll know what you are in time.

I hope you find yourself among the normal people,
But if not, remember that AA is that last house on the block for drunks like us.

On the road to the good stuff,
Richard S.

how long does it take for you body to recover from years of over drinking? I heard organs can become better.. Like the liver.. I heard in 30 days. does anyone know?

Things start getting better almost immediately. Good things happen to people like us when we quit drinking. I don’t know how long each organ needs, ask a doctor.

But you don’t need a doctor to tell you it will get worse if you go back to drinking.

The real question you ought to be asking is how do I stay quit! That little trick can be more difficult than you may imagine.

Richard

thank you Richard.. I sent you a IM

Someone I love is addicted. It is a difficult life for me. I am going to end the relationship today. I cannot deal with it anymore. He will not get help. He has started to verbally and mentally abuse me. I am 41. My first husband died 17 years ago because he combined beer and prescription meds. This feels like a re-run of that life. If you are a drinker, please know that someone has a broken heart because of the addiction. My heart is broken and I am going to let go of a good man with a serious problem. His health is bad. His Dr. told him to stop. He needs to be in a recovery center. He will not get help. He talks about ending his life. I am finally going to consider myself and get back to laughing and smiling. His depression and addiction have made me so sad that my friends are worried about me. I can not "fix" him but I can get myself out of this agony. If he would have gone into re-hab I would have taken every single step with him. I called his parents last night to let them know I loved him but would be making some changes. He is 44 years old. I can't enable him any longer.

Today is a new day for me. If anyone reads this, pray for me to have the strength I need. And pray for him to get well.