Any advice for stopping drinking?

[One two three]

I've come to the conclusion that I need to stop drinking alcohol. Has anyone here stopped drinking before? I'm wondering if there are tips on what I should or shouldn't do. Is there an OTC pill that's helpful? Is there a good, inexpensive, none AA programs? Any tips or advice is helpful. Thank you.

[Looking from outside]

I heard of a treatment that involded a complete replacement of your blood. Supposed to work for drug addiction and maybe(?) alcohol but I suspect that the best treatment would be to find out why you drink so much.

[Diogenes The Cynic]

What kind of drinking are we talking about? What are your motivations for doing this?

[One two three]

What kind of drinking are we talking about? What are your motivations for doing this?

Lots. Health, weight, stop hurting myself, stop hurting others, lack of work, lots of negative thoughts which sometimes happen after drinking.

[Diogenes The Cynic]

Lemme rephrase. What triggers you to drink?

[One two three]

Lemme rephrase. What triggers you to drink?

Not sure. Boredom? The positive feeling it creates?

[snowdog2012]

Do it for help others, happy family, smart

Stop Drinking!! thai ads

[Turd Ferguson]

Lemme rephrase. What triggers you to drink?

Not sure. Boredom? The positive feeling it creates?

I thought you said up there that it gives you negative thoughts. Maybe the drinking isn't the problem and maybe its just some shit you have to work out in your head.

[mikehz]

People who regularly overuse alcohol and other sedative-hypnotics become physically dependent on the substance. Quitting results in side effects, sometimes severe ones. About half of heavy regular users will experience severe withdrawal, including insomnia, digestive difficulties, nightmares, and nervousness. These symptoms peak at about five days, and then begin to taper off, though they may last for months.

People with very heavy dependence can also have hallucinations on quitting, as well as life-threatening heart problems. In these cases, withdrawal is best done under medical supervision. Mortality runs about 15% for patients under medical treatment, as compared to 35% without such treatment. Because alcohol is legal, many people don't consider it dangerous. The realty is that it is the most dangerous of all drugs to withdrawal from heavy use.

If you are regularly ingesting more than a six-pack per day of beer, or a pint of distilled spirits, then you probably should talk to a doctor about quitting. 

[Looking from outside]

Do it for help others, happy family, smart

Stop Drinking!! thai ads

That ad would definitely make me want to start drinking.

[Diogenes The Cynic]

I think mike isn't trying to discourage you from quitting. Just for you to cut down on it first, before you make the decision to quit.

[Defendant]

I believe that higher power is actually us, and therefore, we are our own gods.  To which we pray, save us from alcohol.





 

[Cognitive Dissident]

That reminded me of of an old saying, "The defendant who represents himself in court has a fool for a client."

[Defendant]

That reminded me of of an old saying, "The defendant who represents himself in court has a fool for a client."

Ha.  Ya.  The best defense attorneys are former prosecutors.


The thing about "we are our own gods" is derived from the AA twelve step program, which mandates you recognize a higher power.  As an agnostic, this proves difficult.  I am more a psychonaut along the Terence McKenna school of thought, than a believer in a benevolent sky wizard.

Mckenna's rap was somewhat like the wacky stoned professor in Animal House, who expounded on the atom in Gods thumbnail.  Thats a pretty cold approach to a higher power, but it leads to all things being interconnected inter-dimensionally.  Which means our consciousness (or soul, if there is indeed one) leapfrogs from lily pad to lily pad, perpetually.  Or, it simply flicks out like a blown fuse.  Neither one really lends itself to a warm embrace.  

Therefore, you have to accept yourself as part of Mankind, which is capable of creation.  Creation of art and language and music and science, which improves upon the biological Darwinian model of Man.  

Personally, I think the seven deadly sins are basically just rules developed from common sense, handed down from older generations who understood the animalistic urges could prevail, and if you wanted to participate in the higher orders of society, it's best to attempt to follow the higher path.  Otherwise, you could allow gluttony and sloth to overtake you, and it all goes to shit from there.  

In other words, while it is recognized we are all created, we are all creators.  Thus, we have to recognize our place in the chain, and our individual power.  Just as we have looked to our creators as godlike beings, our children and people who find themselves in desperate situations view us as godlike.  And when the need arises, we must view ourselves as gods.  

[Cognitive Dissident]

Coincidentally, Phish's "Bug" happened to come on while I was reading that.

There've been times when I wander
And times when I don't
Concepts I'll ponder
And concepts I won't ever see
God isn't one of these
Former or latter
Which did you think I meant
It doesn't matter to me

Bug, It doesn't matter

(Don't need it)

Bug, It doesn't matter

(Don't feed it)

Bug, it doesn't matter

(Thoughts faded)

Bug, it doesn't matter

(Overrated)

Gold in my hand
In a country pool
Standing and waving
The rain, wind on the runway
Spending or saving
Credit or debt
Which did you think I meant
Nothing I see can be taken from me

Bug
It doesn't matter
(Don't need it)

Bug
It doesn't matter
(Don't need it)

Bug
It doesn't matter
(Thoughts faded)

It doesn't matter
(Overrated)

It doesn't matter