Sobriety (off topic or not)?

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S.Leeper

Social climber

somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'

Mar 13, 2013 - 04:39pm PT

I find alot of strength from the posters here.

Climbers are a determined lot and it is no surprise that the folks here are working their programs.

happiegrrrl

Trad climber

www.climbaddictdesigns.com

Mar 13, 2013 - 05:37pm PT

Michelle - You'll find your way, if you keep putting one foot in front of the other with an eye on sobriety!

Though I am surely no expert, I would guess that a clinical detox is good for someone who is experiencing physical signs of withdrawal when they go without alcohol. It can be a dangerous thing to do, and can even be fatal, to go cold turkey - if one's body chemistry needs that booze to run. Clinical detox is a great way to transition through that phase.

For someone who is having issues staying away from booze due to emotional triggers, but has not yet gotten to the stage where the body depends on a stream of alcohol to maintain, a clinical detox might be a thing to do if one's insurance will pay the bill, or the cost is affordable. But.... without doing *more* to maintain sobriety, a detox in itself will serve to get the alcohol out of the system with some chemical assistance, but do nothing once the patient has flown the coop and is back roosting in the sh#t they drank over before the detox.

I wasn't at a physically addicted stage when I got sober, but have helped to see a few women off to be admitted for detox via walk-in. I have sat with a group of women as one pondered her inability to put together days when she so wanted to do just that, and considered a 30-day rehab program.

Whatever it takes, it takes. I remember being so jealous of that girl who went to rehab and came back with wonderful stories of the miracle which became her first month of long-term sobriety. SO wished I had gone to a rehab! I COULD have - even had insurance at the time. Grrrr - hahaha. But I guess I got what I needed.

Vegasclimber

Trad climber

Las Vegas, NV.

Mar 13, 2013 - 11:52pm PT

Hey Michelle, thanks for posting up. I know you've been working on this for a bit, and I'm happy to see that you are looking at your options.

Happie and Jebus' posts have some good stuff in them. Detox programs can be super helpful if you're at the physical dependence level. In my case, I got "enforced detox" - in other words, I got locked up and had to suffer. I would have been a lot better off in a clinical setting, for sure.

Like Happie said though, detox is only part of the issue. Once you get out, you need to really concentrate on a support system to deal with your triggers. I've seen a lot of people detox and then come right out and go back to drinking. So if you're going to build a recovery plan that starts with detox, make sure to have something in place for when you get out.

Keep at it, we are all here for you if you need to talk or need support - my inbox is always open.

Plaidman

Trad climber

South Slope of Mt. Tabor, Portland, Oregon, USA

Mar 14, 2013 - 12:08am PT

Michelle detox could be a good thing. If it is a 30 day thing it will give you a leg up and could add good things to the mix. The safety thing would be great as it will add to your peace of mind.

I once tried to detox a friend of mine that couldn't get into our local dryout center. I just sat on him for a few days. Didn't realize till later he was trying kick crack at the same time. WOW that guy was loopy.

You don't want me to sit on ya. I could hurt ya in my inflated state. What state am I in? oh yeah Oregon!

Go to detox, treatment, whatever it takes. We are here for ya.

Plaid

Stevee B

Mountain climber

Oakland, CA

Mar 14, 2013 - 03:25pm PT

23 years this past month. Grateful, grateful, grateful.
Michelle I may have suggestions for a detox in the Bay Area if you are around these parts.

Michelle

Social climber

Toshi's Station, picking up power converters.

Mar 14, 2013 - 03:40pm PT

hey thanks everyone for the support. the cost of detox is free, treatment is free etc through the VA. I'm lucky. and grateful. I am close to my support system via the VA, but that's mostly for PTSD. I have no problem sharing my situation (hey, could help someone!). I spent 9 months inpatient treatment (1 mo short rehab, 2 mo PTSD inpatient, 6 mo in a homeless rehab program). It's not recommended that I return to a program. It's not even recommended that I go to a short term detox. I have an upcoming surgery in May and I don't have much confidence about not drinking. maybe I'm just looking for an easier answer than doing the work. this is like my 40th rodeo.

I find that I don't really want to let it go. head full of AA and a beer in the hand is no way to go, I understand. I have made some uhm, personnel changes in my personal life to set myself up for better success. I guess I'm going to have to make A Decision. dunno. leaving my buddy beer is easier than breaking up a relationship.

just a rant here, but I get tired of being judged because I'm trying to evolve. I could easily live the bum life like I did for so many years. It's annoying when some bum looks down on me for being in therapy. "I'M NOT the one in therapy!" like, seriously? that's not empathy. /rant

thanks folks, I mean that

Seamstress

Trad climber

Yacolt, WA

Mar 14, 2013 - 05:13pm PT

Pay no attention to the people that sabotage. Focus on YOUR progress and walk around them.

bvb

Social climber

flagstaff arizona

Mar 14, 2013 - 05:15pm PT

Yes! Talk, talk, talk. You're doing it right Michelle. If you think booze might be holding you back from the happiness you so clearly deserve, just stop for awhile and see what happens. Considerer it a recon into potentially fertile and strategically desirable high ground. Wadda ya got to lose? I lost PLENTY before I finally gave up and ecided to get my life back. You go girl.

Norwegian

Trad climber

the tip of god's middle finger

Mar 16, 2013 - 07:39pm PT

oh, and being a drunk
is a multi-faced, tiered extistence.

like the glee and light-heartedness during
those moments of sinclair,
they clash titanically with the middle of the night
headaches and wretched dreams of sorrow and fear;

like the mad wife vs. the lone-drunken kayak down
poppy littered drainages;

the fat-ugly-gut-bleeding-liver versus the endless smile;

like the nonsense versus the worry;

like the bills flying outta my wallet versus the aluminum redemption;

like the devil's genitals cumbusting within god's reproductive cylinder;

like nothing versus all.

so i just ask myself,
"is the midnight misery worth the high-noon hijinks?"

S.Leeper

Social climber

somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'

Mar 22, 2013 - 10:49pm PT

bump...going into the weekend I'm sure some of us will need strength.

tradmanclimbs

Ice climber

Pomfert VT

Mar 23, 2013 - 08:50am PT

One more sighn that i feel cured. I have had a real bad cold the last week and have had to take Nyquil to sleep and breath. I take exactly the measured dose and have zero temptation to doubble up and suplement. BINTD I would have washed the nyquil down with bourbon and then done annother shot of nyquil for good measure..

the last few years if i have a bad head and chest cold I have had no problem running the course of cough medicine without abuseing it and getting a 2nd bottle just in case.....

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Mar 23, 2013 - 11:03am PT

Three years ago today since last drink.

happiegrrrl

Trad climber

www.climbaddictdesigns.com

Mar 23, 2013 - 11:32am PT

Happy THREE YEARS Jaybro! WOOHOO!!!!

And good for you too, Tradmanclimbs.

I too have been steady and that is a miracle considering my situation right now. I have the AA mindset though, and don't consider myself cured - but am DEFINITELY enjoying my reprieve!

I know, for myself, that all it takes is one slip and I could be back to where I was before. Maybe not - maybe I could drink like a normal person again... but I don't want to run THAT experiment!

tradmanclimbs

Ice climber

Pomfert VT

Mar 23, 2013 - 11:49am PT

Oh i know i could not have a little sip o wisky and control myself. no kidding around there but i feel rock solid most of the time and things like getting sick and actually following the direction on the medicine bottle instead of (self medicateing) help to reassure me that I am in fact cured. being cured keeps me strong. i don't need that sh#t anymore because i am cured. helps me stay away from the poor me syndrome.....

happiegrrrl

Trad climber

www.climbaddictdesigns.com

Mar 26, 2013 - 11:58pm PT

Anyone else not drinking tonight? I could use a little company.

Michelle

Social climber

1187 Hunterwasser

Mar 27, 2013 - 12:14am PT

Jaybro yay!

I've been talking with the doc. my consumption isn't overly extreme. we have a specific plan to taper this month before my surgery. the concern is any physical detox issues need to be managed right now. stopping entirely at the moment is the concern. I know its contradictory to Pope Bill W and Jimmy K and the concept of just ending it. that can happen later. my reality is that I'm not chugging scotch like a fiend and that a managed slow down is called for. I've been honest with the doc. Also, I'll be taking some narcs post surgery and don't want to die. hopefully, can phase both beer and narcs out at the same time. I already quit smoking, so yay for now. its hard to unindoctrinate myself of the AA principles. I "grew up" among some VERY hard core NY and Ohio drunks and it's their voices I hear when the feeling of judgement overcomes me. I'm hanging in there though.

terrie, pm me and lets talk.