reddit-stopdrinking

Self-linking because I'm a narcissist. Some common traits of alcoholics that AA tries to break you of from day one.

WHAT.

Good advice about how to connect with people without the crutch of alcohol

It's a bit like getting a glass of water barefoot, but the floor is covered in broken glass from all the bottles you smashed while wasted the night before. The objective couldn't be easier, but the wreckage in the way and the pain and the effort involved in accomplishing your goal seems insurmountable in your weakened, deluded state.

Step 1: I'm fucked Step 2: There might be a way out of this fucking mess Step 3: Decide to level the fuck up Step 4: Take a good hard look at how fucked up I am Step 5: Tell someone else about all the fucked up stuff I've been through Step 6: Prepare to stop being such a fuck up Step 7: Try to stop acting so fucked up Step 8: Make a list of everyone I fucked over Step 9: Swallow my fucking pride and tell them I really fucked up, except when doing so would fuck them harder. Step 10: Keep an eye on my fucked up thinking and behavior Step 11: Chill the fuck out sometimes Step 12: Help the next poor fucker that walks through the door

offtherocks has got this shit down to a science. Bonus for a pic of the actual 24/7 worksheet.

"I built it up waaaay too much before getting there." slinginintherain goes to her first AA meeting.

12 Steps of Alcoholics Bro-nonymous

A quick call-out to the best thing about /r/stopdrinking; the cameraderie among drunks.

Deep shit from both pizzaforce and strangesobriety re: why can't I quit.

May I offer something that has helped me? When opening up about your sobriety, I have found that people usually gauge their response to how you are acting. For instance, if you simply said 'I do not drink', confidently, without hesitation, people are less likely to even respond and just move on. If you kinda him-haw, 'Well.. .uh, actually.... I don't drink anymore', it is much more likely to turn into a bigger deal.

qqwpq from a year in: You can learn from your mistakes.

If AA is a cult, they're not a very good one.

StupidWasteOfMoney could have been reading right ouf of the Big Book with this insight. I probably shouldn't mention that to him.

PaintWithCorn drank for years & always felt fine.  He quit for two months then went to get some medical tests.  Check out the results.

The key to not drinking is to realize that it's literally poison and that you don't want it in your life.

"He-man, Master of the Universe: Grant me the balls of steel to deal like a man with bad news, instead of turning into a quivering, whiney douche who wants to dive into a bottle and hide; the power to deal with good news by not feeling like I need to pop a cork to celebrate; and, while you're at it, help me to level out and just breathe no matter what happens. Also, please give me X-ray vision and the ability to predict lottery numbers. Shazam!"

"I always wanted to be mystified by it all - and rather fascinated with life itself. I think maybe when you drink, you're probably robbing yourself of that genuine experience, even though it appears what you're doing is getting more of it. You're getting less of it."

Guy tries drinking moderately, learns he can't. (Note: I asked his permission to link to this.)