I haven't written in this section for ages, and I know very little is posted here. But, anyway, I hope there will be some replies.

 

After about 35 years of mostly intermediate level to heavy level of drinking, I have decided to quit it in a determined way. I am now doing it for totally due to serious health concerns, so this time I know there is a 99 percent chance I will make it. Of course, all that drinking has already done its damage and sadly there is nothing I can do about it. My serious decision to quit has come at least a few years too late sadly. 

 

Anyway, I have already broken my personal record. I am into five and a half months of sobriety now. My previous record was slightly over 5 months and this was about 20 years ago. Most of my other sober periods didn't reach the 1 month mark. 

 

I am doing it my own way. I respect the AA and people who go there. It is just not for me. 

 

I am now in Bangkok, still going out in the evenings, figuring out which venues have got non-alcoholic beer 🙂 Quite a few pubs and bars do. I am avoiding certain types of venues. Not because I am scared I might relapse but because I am thinking I will get bored at them and they will be disappointing experiences. I mean places like girlie bars and dance clubs, and possibly pool parties. I know I would never enjoy those places without being at least  somewhat drunk. But for example places with live music are fine. Especially if the place has food too. 

 

Anyway, I just wanted to share some thoughts etc. 

 

 

Thanks for sharing my friend and good luck on your sober journey 🤞☘️🤞

 

I got sober through AA but acknowledge that AA isn't for everyone

 

The bottom line is we are all alcoholics and we should all give each other the same level of support, irrespective of how we stay sober as individual drunks ☺️ 💟☺️

On 11/30/2024 at 11:35 PM, Andy F said:

Thanks for sharing my friend and good luck on your sober journey 🤞☘️🤞

 

I got sober through AA but acknowledge that AA isn't for everyone

 

The bottom line is we are all alcoholics and we should all give each other the same level of support, irrespective of how we stay sober as individual drunks ☺️ 💟☺️

So, this is nice, but I IMHO I would not make the assumption that "we are all alcoholics". I'd take care in labeling someone alcoholic because they drank heavy for a number of years.

 

Just because someone has a drinking problem or decides to quit after drinking regularly for years does NOT make them alcoholic.  People who can quit on their own willpower, at least by AA's definition of alcoholism, are not alcoholic. They still have the will power or "discipline" to stop.  They can do it on their own. Alcoholics are the ones who know they have to quit, try to quit, but go back to it no matter how great the wish or desire. This is alcoholism.

 

The OP has not stated he is alcoholic, but rather specifically says he was a moderate to heavy drinker. The fact that he is able to give it up on his own tells me he is NOT alcoholic but a moderate to heavy drinker who decided to give it up

 

There is a really good saying that you might here in quality meetings of AA.

 

All alcoholics are drunks but not all drunks are alcoholics.

 

Thorough study of AA literature outlines this simple fact. (read bottom of page 20 to top of page 21 in the AA book) Here they make the differentiation between moderate or heavy drinkers and  "real" alcoholics.

 

What I would say to the OP is this. If you find you cannot give it up entirely and drink again in trying to give it up then you are probably alcoholic and AA has an answer for you.

The key social transitioning.  You need to develop a life and personality that is busy doing thing that do not involve alcohol.  You need a new personality state, the alcoholic personality state may come back but you need to avoid triggers.   Go out to bars in Bangkok maybe a trigger. Learn tennis for example. Study Buddhism. Religion is what AA is selling you, it may work too.