I don’t really want to get into the specifics of it but alcohol has been wreaking havoc in my life for years and I’m finally at the point where I want to stop drinking but almost everytime the weekend rolls around I drink a f*** ton (mainly just a weekend binge drinker) and almost always end up doing or saying something I regret.

What are your guys suggestions to try and give up alcohol? Anyone have experience with AA? Should I look into some sort of counseling? Lmk if you guys have had some success with this.

DONT DRINK

WATER,JUICE,

@op

figuring out the reason why you feel the need to drink is an important step. because then you can work on fixing it and getting rid of that urge

if you drink purely out of boredom, then go out more, spend time w sober friends, try new hobbies, and find ways to keep yourself occupied. if there’s a deeper, emotional reason for it (like loneliness or depression), then i’d def suggest counseling or some AA meetings

but the fact that you have the self-awareness to know you need to stop and to reach out for help is something you should be proud of. wishing you well bruv

drink something else on the weekend, kombucha, diet soda, tea, prime

Thank you for the thoughtful response.

It’s definitely a combination of boredom and emotional reasons. I’m diagnosed bipolar and am mainly a depressive as opposed to manic so I do constantly feel loneliness and depression.

I have no “sober” friends. Almost all my friendships revolve around partying/drinking so I definitely think going to AA and meeting people around me who are interested in being sober could help. The only reason I’ve been kind of hesitant about it is cause I’ve been before but it was mandated by court and I didn’t take it very seriously and didn’t like the quasi-religious aspect of it but I’m willing to approach it with a more open mind now to meet other like minded people.

While I have a psychiatrist that prescribes me medicine for my condition I am also looking into getting a therapist, perhaps one that specializes in substance abuse, to get some one on one help for this issue.

Thanks for the tips I am definitely trying to get a handle on this before it further destroys my livelihood.

All you need is Christ brother.
For your weak mind with alcohol dependency and all your shortcomings. You don’t need a psychiatrist or meds. Calm your mind, sit in silence and think of the lord.

AA is a pretty dope program with good people if you need community and support

How do you end up finding yourself near alcohol? Start there and try to find a way to create a barrier

Not OP, but sharing a similar struggle. Its so ingrained in my life and social settings that i dont have to do anything to find myself near it.

I’ve gone through a similar situation and the best advice I can give is to find a hobby that’ll keep you busy over the weekends. You might have to see some friends less but you might make new ones through the hobby

Alcohol is a mf cause it can make you the most confident version of yourself then it could also make you a complete a****** and the line between those two scenarios is a tight one to walk