Alcohol Problem

[Robert1988]

This past week has been real bad. I got into trouble at work for drinking during work. I got a ticket for speeding and it is going to cost me $175.00 and I was drunk at the time. I thought that I was going to go to jail for drinking but thank God that I only got a speeding ticket. I feel so low and I am so angry at myself. I have tried to quit drinking numerous times but I always end up drinking again. I don't know what to do.

[Annie]

sorry bro

have you told anyone in your life about this problem who can hold you accountable? perhaps your family or your pastor?
If you haven't already you need to go and throw away, pour out all your alcohol in the house so you don't have it readily available to you when you feel the urge to drink. Also handing someone your wallet to look after for awhile so you'll be unable to go out and buy it may be another necessary step you need to take. If you have any buddies that you like to go out drinking with tell them in no uncertain terms you're trying to quit drinking and cannot go drinking with them. Hopefully if they're true friends they will help hold you accountable to that and if not then those may be friends you'd be better off without at least until you're able to get control back over that area of your life.

Also remember to take this to the Lord in prayer. I'm sure you're already doing that but remember to leave this at the cross rather than holding it as a burden and something to make you hate yourself for. God doesn't hate you and He's always there with open arms to forgive you. Yes drunkenness is a sin that you need to repent of if you haven't already but it is no worse than any other sin and it isn't unforgiveable. Christ's blood covers that too and Like John says when you confess that sin to Him you are cleansed of all unrighteousness. God doesn't see that sin anymore because when He looks at you He sees the righteousness of Christ.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9

Remember to go to Him in times of temptation as well. I know it seems like the obvious choice but the Bible tells us that Christ is a sympathetic mediator who has been tempted on all points as we were, He knows what you're going through ans He's there to be your strength when you're weak. Thats one of the great things about being a Christian is we don't have to rely on our own strength to over come our temptations or weaknesses.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. - 1 Cor 10:13

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4

praying for you bro

[eastcoast_bsc]

Have you ever heard of AA Acoholics Annonymous ? When you are ready and sick and tired of being sick and tired.

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/?Media=PlayFlash

[RevD]

Originally Posted by eastcoast_bsc

Have you ever heard of AA Acoholics Annonymous ? When you are ready and sick and tired of being sick and tired.

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/?Media=PlayFlash

Although some people trying to quit drinking do so successfully in the church, I got sober in A.A. thirty years ago. Now I am a staunch Christian and don't attend as I used to. But I owe Alcoholics Anonymous and most of all God, my sobriety. I also got sober before I became Christian and the higher power concept, or my introduction and use of God as a power greater than myself, was one step on the staircase that eventually led to my being saved. God bless you.

[Conqueror Worm]

lo...

My names Conqueror Worm...

And I'm an alcoholic...

Amongst other things...

I've never attended an AA meeting...

Though I know it has helped loads of people...

When I was at my worst...

The only time I wasn't drinking is when I was at work and/or school...

And I'm talking about good old fashioned hard drinking...

I didn't go to sleep at night...

I passed out...

The one and most important thing (even before turning to Christ... )

That I learned to exercise...

Was control...

When I came off...

I locked myself in my house for a week...

Avoided phone calls...

i.e. detoxed...

I'm not sure if you are at that point of addiction yet...

But I'll offer you some advice...

Exercise control...

If I have a drink now...

And I still do...

I place myself in an environment where I cannot overindulge...

Occasionally I will have someone invite me to a party or something...

And I go over the limit...

I drink more in social settings than I do when I am by myself...

Or with someone else...

I know this about myself...

When I initially quit...

And went cold turkey...

I stayed away from alcohol period...

Stayed away from peeps that I drank with on a regular basis because they were not inclined to quit...

Stopped partying... etc...

It took me some time to get to where I am now...

I usually have a beer when I get home from work in the evening...

I do not keep it in my house...

I pick it up at the shop on the way home...

I have that one...

I relax...

Shower...

Wind down...

And I'm good...

I know that it is not realistic for me to abstain from alcohol the rest of my life...

But I also know what happens to me when I cross a certain threshold...

From what you have said...

I would recommend you stay away from it period...

That means not going to places where you know it will be available...

Not hanging out with certain peeps (and believe me... you will have "friends" that just do not understand your decision to quit...")

But the fact that drinking is having negative repercussions on your life...

And the fact that you are stressing yourself out and worrying about what drinking is doing to you...

Is a big red flag that you need to lay off the drink...

The more you keep indulging in this behaviour and drinking...

It turns into a cycle of sorts...

And it is a very hard cycle to break...

Stop now...

Get your head together...

Learn from your mistakes...

And move on...

Your whole life will be filled with lessons learned from past experiences...

What you do with what you learn is up to you...

[Robert1988]

Thank you all for helping me. I am stressing out about this so much and my anxiety level is through the roof...

[eastcoast_bsc]

You need someone to talk to Robert. Look into help and consider AA. You cannot walk alone. Talk to a friend, relative , pastor, someone.

3 years ago in November right after Thanksgiving, but before Christmas, me and my brother were sharing a Condo. He was an Alcoholic and he used drugs. I had been upset at him, because I suspected he was using again and I was not down with living in a Condo with him in that condition, because I was back in school and trying to move ahead in life, well I moved out. It was on a saturday Morning, On Sunday I recieved a strange phonecall on my cell, it was the state police. The message sounded ominous, the message said to call State police officer So and So. I called and the news I recieved left me numb, they found my brother alone in his bed, he was dead. All the years of booze and drugs had caught up with him. He died all alone in his sleep from an overdose. His alledged friend that was witrth him at the time, he was recovering from a major car crash where he was left crippled for life. He was drunk behind the wheel.
Robert, if your boozing at work and driving drunk, those are alarm bells. Get help whilst you can still hear the bells. I grew up with a lot of drunks, I knew friends who are now homless, others dead. Go talk to someone.

[snappingturtle]

Robert,

You have a lot of us praying for you from here. Lay off the booze...please...

[mbgb]

Robert,
I highly recommend finding some form of counseling immediately. I notice you are young, you have too much life ahead of you to let this bog you down. You need to nip this in the bud right now. If you are drinking at work, this is a problem. Life is tough, but you can get through it, but you need to admit to yourself that you cannot do it on your own. Don't kid yourself. You need to find a buddy or support group that can help you. You are not alone either. I suggest Alcoholics Anonymous. I'd be willing to call for you if you do not feel you have the strength to do it. I can ask what they recommend for you. PM me if you want.

I'm definitely praying!!!!!!!!

[Robert1988]

Things have gotten worse, but thanks for the prayers.