How An Alcoholic Can Make A New Life For Themselves

BACK IN MY DRINKING DAYS 5+ YEARS AGO

When you are an alcoholic you feel inside that this will be your life forever, but that is not true whatsoever.

Anyone can change their life if you truly have the desire to make that change, and if change is not in you vocabulary then I guess being an alcoholic is what you will be forever. It's up to you, and you only!

It is up to each and everyone of us alcoholics to make a difference, not only for ourselves, but all those that love and care for us.  They too want us to have a healthy and happy life which in turn makes the family healthy and happy as well.

"How an alcoholic can make a new life for themselves" is very easy if you have the willingness and the strong desire to change.

Honestly, I don't know any alcoholic that wants to stay an alcoholic for the rest of their lives. The problem is that they (including myself) are trapped in this horrible addiction and think there is no way out, but there is a way out and that is to make up your mind once and for all that you need and want to be clean and sober.

Get out of the denial you have lived in for many years and face the fact that your life is going down hill very fast, and sooner or later you will indeed hit that rock bottom, sad to say, but very true.

SOBER AND HELPING OTHERS NOW

Anyone can change their life and don't let anyone or anything stand in your way of doing so.  Don't listen to your drinking buddies, because once you tell them you are stopping drinking they will be all over you. They will try their hardest to talk you out of quitting drinking, because after all they are your true friends right?  NO they are not true friends, they are people that have an addiction just like you do.

Ever heard of alcoholics that hate to drink alone?  It is a truly lonely experience, because I know, I drank alone many many times all because some of the people that I did drink with stopped drinking.

Come on guys and gals, lets stop fooling ourselves, because you know as well as I do that continuing to drink and abusing alcohol the way we do, our lives are being cut so short just because we are so stupid.  Saving your life is easy my friends.  All we have to do is STOP DRINKING AND ABUSING ALCOHOL!

I did it over 5 years ago and I know for a fact you can do it as well.  Put your mind to it and think nothing but positive thoughts, telling yourself, "you can and will beat this addiction to alcohol!"

Are You Afraid Of The Holidays Coming Because Of Your Past Addiction?

Well everyone, the Holidays are right around the corner, and for those like myself, it is tough to watch others drink and have a good time during these upcoming Holidays, or is it?

Are you afraid of the Holidays coming because of your past addiction?  I bet you are, just as I am afraid.  Yes, the temptation is always there, and everywhere you look people are at Holiday parties, in bars, clubs etc. drinking and having a so called a good time, till the next morning right?  That is something I will never miss, those massive hangovers.

Listen everyone, I know it will be hard for all of us that have had a past with battling our addiction of alcohol, and for many others, drugs.  We are battling our addiction every single day, but we all have to be stronger than the addiction that once ran and almost ruined our lives, and the lives of the very ones that loved and cared for us, and hopefully still do.  I hope and pray we all got sober before it was too late.

I have been clean and sober since October 27, 2009 and have gone to many parties, bars and other functions that alcohol was at my hands reach.  In fact, my daughter got married and even though I bought all the alcohol for the reception, I had not one drop, not even a toast, because I know myself, and know if I were to take just that one sip and taste what alcohol feels like back on my tongue, I would be doomed and right back to my drinking and abusing alcohol once more.

I can not do that to myself and ruin all the hard work it took to first off, stop drinking, and secondly, the work it takes to stay sober each and everyday.  It truly isn't worth that one sip or that one drink my friends.  I hope you feel the same way and have the strength and willpower to say NO Thank You, I don't drink anymore.

Be proud of your sobriety, and tell those that may ask you if you want a drink during these Holidays, or any day for that matter, No I stopped drinking, but Thank you anyway, I'll pass on that.  

I love to brag about my sobriety as you should too.  After all, we worked our ass off just to get sober and still working each and everyday just to stay sober. 

Don't be afraid of the upcoming Holidays.  Just sit back and enjoy yourself SOBER.  You will thank yourself for not drinking, or even having that temptation.  It is not worth it, for that one more and probably many more buzzes ahead if you are too weak and break.  Be strong and proud of your sobriety.  Your body will indeed thank you too.

I have learned since I have been sober, I have more fun at parties and functions that alcohol is being served than I ever did when I depended on alcohol to make me think WOW I had a blast at the party last night, etc. IT IS FAKE FUN REALLY.

Never Lose Hope On A Life Of Sobriety

Many people that have an addiction to alcohol want in the worse way to be sober, but their addiction is holding them back from getting and staying sober. Many times the alcoholic is simply not ready for sobriety to be back in their life.  I was one of them. For many years I tried to get and stay sober with no success.

I did get sober twice in the years I drank.  The first time sobriety lasted for about a year and the second time I tried to stay sober lasted only two years until I went back to my old ways of drinking and abusing alcohol.

The reason for these two failures of trying to stay sober was that I simply wasn't ready to stop drinking and live a life with long term sobriety, BUT I never gave up hope on myself.  I knew sooner or later I would finally admit that something had to be done with my life and live with long term sobriety.

You can never lose hope on a life of sobriety.  The road to recovery is tough when you have an addiction to alcohol or any drugs for that matter, but if you continue to keep hope alive you will achieve that life you wished for.

If you truly want to change your life, and know that you indeed need to change your life, than anything is possible in life, and that includes long term sobriety.

Like I said earlier, it took me three times to get and stay sober, but I never gave up hope that one day I would finally surrender to the one thing that was running and ruining my life, and that was my addiction to alcohol.  The third time was the charm for me and I thank God each and everyday for giving me the hope, the willingness and the strength to get sober and stay sober.

You truly need to love and believe in yourself in order to have a wonderful life of sobriety.  You also need to get out of that negative mood you are in because of your addiction.  For myself, I was a very negative person and always wondered why nothing would ever work out the way I wanted it to.  Once I became sober and changed my attitude in life to nothing but positive, everything I wanted and dreamed of started to become a reality for me.

As hard as it was to finally make that life change and become sober, it was worth every bit of hard work, and my life shows it now.  I am a much happier person.  I continue to keep a positive attitude even when times are tough, and I never once reached for an alcoholic drink just because things were a little rough.

If you never give up hope, your life will indeed change as mine did.  Sometimes it may take longer than you wanted it to take, but if you continue to try your very hardest to change your life, it will happen.  Like I said before, it took three tries before I nailed sobriety and got rid of the demons that were in my life for so many years.  Three is a charm so they say!

So my advice to all those that are suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol is to NEVER give up hope on yourself.  Your life is so precious, and all of us were put on this Earth for a reason.  All of us should enjoy the life we were given and not destroy your one and only life with an addiction.

Lets everyone try our very hardest to make that change, and take Massive Action in order to make that change.  Some of us may have to stay distant from our friends that we drank with in order to keep that temptation and urge to drink again from coming over us.  As for myself, I did just that, and in the long run I lost many friends because now we had nothing in common such as drinking and getting drunk with each other.

It seemed like they all ran away because my life was now much different than their life was. I was sober and they still had their demons running their lives. I never preached to them about sobriety, although they saw that I was a new man because of my sobriety.  My hope is for one day they see the light as I did back in 2009.

NOW LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I NEVER GAVE UP HOPE!

• Even though I had lost many friends because of my sobriety, I gained many new sober friends in the end. Great sober friends are really awesome.  To be able to speak a conversation with out blurring your words, and to not get in any drunken fights because the alcohol is altering your thinking and acting is a wonderful thing.

• Back when I drank and abused alcohol my relationship with my wife and children started to decline, although we still loved each other very much, it still wasn't the same when I drank.  Today, now being sober the relationship with my wife and children are unbelievable.  It is so amazing how being sober and happy can change so many lives that are in your life.  People now are excited to be in my company and I get along with each and everyone of them.  No one wants to be around a drunk person unless that person is also drunk. Misery loves company so they say, and believe me I was very miserable when I drank.

• When I had a couple of drinks there were many people that stood and talked to me at parties or other occasions, BUT after those couple of drinks as I continue on my way to getting drunk I started to feel the effects of the alcohol and then people would shy away from me because they knew what the future hours would bring as far as my continuing to drink. Now being sober I still go to those parties and occasions, but without a drink in my hand and still have those conversations that last the complete night without anyone walking away because of me getting too drunk. Sober conversations are always the best believe me.

• I truly believe, and I hope that I am a service to many people that read my articles here on my blog and on so many other websites.  I write just about everyday regarding alcohol addiction and ways that I have found that helped me get and stay sober since October of 2009. Writing has been my life since 2009 when I got sober.  Each article I write gives me more hope knowing that maybe one of these articles will touch someones life and will help them to understand that having an addiction of any sort is not the end of their life.  Never give up hope on your new life.  All of you that have an addiction have the chance to make that life change.  The only thing you have to do is to want your life back no matter what it takes to get it back.

• Writing about my alcohol addiction experience indeed helps me to stay sober each day.  Some may wonder how writing keeps me sober and my answer is... as I write, I think about the way my life was years ago when I abused alcohol, and then I think as I write, how many people I maybe helping that have been suffering with their addiction as I was for so many years.  It brings me great joy and happiness to know I may help someone in the world, even if it is only one person. 

I pray for all those that are suffering with an addiction, and hope everyone can get clean and sober and live that one and only life they have with happiness, contentment, love and sobriety. 

How Life Can Change Just By Changing Your Life

HERE IS WHERE MY WIFE AND I SIT HERE ON LONG BEACH ISLAND.

For anyone that has an addiction of any sort, such as alcoholism or drugs, we tend to be simply down in the dumps most of the time, and the only thing that somewhat makes us happy is to drink or use.  At least this is my opinion, and my experiences with drinking and abusing alcohol for many years.

After that first one or two drinks, you start to forget all the problems you may have because you just care and only care about getting to that drunk you had the day before.  Mine you, this is my experiences and I am not speaking for anyone else that drinks or uses drugs.

Then it comes the time where you are feeling no pain because of the alcohol, and you begin to start feeling sorry for yourself and start crying in you booze.  "Why me?"  "Why doesn't anything ever work out for me?"  "Why don't I have what others have in their life?" Does any of this sound familiar to you?

It sure does to me, and it is very familiar indeed. You have to realize how life can change just by changing your life. I know it may sound stupid, but it is the truth and it really does work.  Changing your life and your lifestyle will indeed give you a brand new life in the end.

Just by changing your life, meaning giving up alcohol or drugs, and get out of the denial you have been living in will truly change everything, including your life.

Back in October of 2009 I decided to change my own life meaning, I finally got out of the denial I was living in and surrendered to my alcohol demons.   Ever since that night sitting in the garage all alone drinking my last beer of my life I knew deep down inside that getting and staying sober has to be far greater than drinking my life away and slowly killing myself along the way.

You don't have to be an alcoholic.  You have a choice of being drunk all the time or living a clean and sober life.  The choice is in your hands so make the right decision and change your life around all for the better.  Your body and those that love and care for you will thank you, Trust Me!

I have hundreds of articles I have written on HubPages.com so click here to read them.  They might just change your way of looking at life, and hopefully help you to change your life and life a life of sobriety.

Abusing Alcohol And Your Life Ahead

I have nothing against anyone that drinks alcohol, but abusing alcohol and your life ahead can be disastrous in the upcoming years.

What I mean here is that drinking to much, or doing to much of anything can be harmful.  For a guy like myself, I only wished I could drink only one or two social drinks, but in my case, and in many cases, we that abuse alcohol just don't when we have had enough to drink.  We continue to drink until we have had our fill of alcohol for the day and get to that buzz or high we all long for.

I have been sober since October of 2009 and have not touched a drop of alcohol, although there were many times I had that urge or temptation to pick up that drink and get drunk just like the old times.

I made a promise to myself back in October of 2009, telling myself I will never touch another drop of alcohol no matter how good or bad my life get.  I continue to keep a positive attitude at all times and continue to tell myself that drinking and abusing alcohol helps nothing in life, in fact it only make matters worse.

You will never realize what you were doing to your bodies and those people that loved and cared about you until you have been clean and sober for some time and then it hits you exactly what you have been doing to destroy your one and only life.

Drinking alcohol and having a good time is okay by me if and only if you drink alcohol responsibly and not drink and abuse alcohol.  That is the part that just didn't go right with me and so many other people that have an addiction to alcohol. 

If you are one those that are abusing alcohol than you really need to sit back (in a sober state of mind) and look into your future and see the life that is ahead of you.  If you truly look hard enough you will see that your life will be going nowhere except downward to rock bottom.

Once you see what is going to happen, and you except this, you might want to make a huge change in your life as I made that change in my life.  I am not telling you what to do because it is your life, but I am just warning you of the outcome that is ahead if you continue to drink and abuse alcohol. It won't be a pretty thing, so act now and get yourself sobered up, and live that one and only life you have with long term sobriety.

There is hope for every alcoholic, if you really want to change you life.  Your life is not over just because you have a addiction.  Your new life is waiting for you!  Now, all you have to do is to go after that new life and make good of it.  Sobriety cost nothing except your acceptance that you need help and you are willing to change your life for the better.

Put the drink down once and for all and start living the life you were put on this Earth to live.

If you think alcohol will not ruin your life, you are dead wrong.  You just have to wake up and see it for yourself, and not let someone like me tell you in an article like this one.  I write these articles because I went through all of this and finally realized after many years of drinking and abusing alcohol that my life was going nowhere and I needed to change, so I did, and could not be happier.

Alcohol will ruin your life if you let it!

Read more of my articles here on the Clean Life, and my articles on HubPages.

How To Stop The Urge To Drink Alcohol While In Recovery

Here is how to stop the urge to drink alcohol while in recovery from what works best for me now being sober for over four years.

As we all know, or for anyone that has an alcohol addiction problem, we know that urges and temptations to drink alcohol come over us more than once while we are trying to stay sober.  For myself when those urges come over me I look back at the dark days of hell when I drank and abused alcohol.

It is a reminder of just how my life was, always depending on the alcohol to make me have a good day, so I thought.

You need to really think of what you put your body through, and not only that, what you put your family and friends through while you were drinking and abusing alcohol.  You know that when we drink too much, and are addicted to the substance that just may ruin your life, and the lives of others, you have to realize once you are sober and that urge comes about you can not give in ever!

The demons that are still inside us are just waiting for us to mess up and pick up that one glass of alcohol.  That one glass of alcohol that will be the ruination of out sobriety.

I know for myself, if I were to touch one sip of alcohol it would be the end of my long term sobriety, and I am sure it would be the same for anyone that has been sober for some time.  All of us have to be stronger than any urge or temptation to drink alcohol and it has to be forever.

Here is what I think about when that urge to drink comes over me:

• How I felt while drinking and abusing alcohol.
• What I put my family through all those years of drinking.
• The money I spent on alcohol instead of spending it on my families needs.
• The massive hangovers every morning.
• What I began to look like over time appearance wise.
• How I felt physically and mentally.
• How negative I became.
• How I felt sorry for myself and wondered why nothing ever went my way.

These are just a few things I think of when that urge to drink comes over me.  Believe me it is enough to say NO to alcohol.

Back in October of 2009, the 26th to be exact, I made a promise to myself that no matter what ever happened in my life, whether it be good or bad I would never pick up an alcoholic drink ever again and believe me, many things have happened over the last four years, some good and some bad, BUT it was never enough to make me drink alcohol again.

I always thought drinking alcohol would solve all my troubles in life and once I became sober I found out that that theory, or saying was dead wrong!  Alcohol solved NOTHING, it only made matters worse!  

Now being sober for the last four years I feel so much better.

My appearance has improved 100%.

All the weight I gained while drinking has disappeared, and I am back to the weight I should be.

My family and married life has changed 100%, all for the better.

No more massive hangovers.

My appetite is going strong.

I am now 100% a positive guy and very happy with the life I now live.

My health is great and I am finally a very happy man!

My dream of living by the Ocean has become a reality, something that never happened as hard as I tried when I was drinking.  Nothing ever worked out for me as hard as I tried.

I guess the old saying is right.... You can't be helped unless you are willing to help yourself first!

What Should You Do If You Are Just Tired Of Drinking

The question is, "what should you do if you are just tired of drinking?"  Have you had enough of the life you are leading drinking and abusing alcohol each and everyday?

I bet you would love to stop drinking alcohol, but you are afraid of how you will feel with the absence of alcohol in your body right?

Here is what I did to overcome my addiction to alcohol.

• I took a long and hard look at the life I was leading.
• I looked at all the things I missed out on because of my addiction to alcohol.
• I looked into my families eyes and saw fear on each face I looked at.  The fear that I just might die because of my addiction.
• I thought of all the money I spent on my addiction.
• I looked at the appearance of my body and how it was failing.
• I thought of all the morning waking up with a huge hangover.
• I thought of all the things I said and did when drunk.

So what does someone do if they are too tired of drinking alcohol?
You need to make up your mind once and for all that you want and need sobriety back into your life. You need to want sobriety and not be forced in to it.  If you don't want sobriety for yourself first, than what anybody says or does won't help you whatsoever.  (At least that was the way my life of alcohol went for me.)

Make up your mind to stop drinking and stick to your decision and don't let anyone or anything change your mind ever!

Everything gets old after a while, including drinking your life away.  It least it got old for me, and so what did I do? I stopped drinking and will never touch a drop of that poison again as long as I should live.

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Abusing Alcohol And Your Body

Abusing alcohol and your body is one thing we the alcoholics never think about.  Once we get that first taste of alcohol of the day, the eye opener so they say, we think of nothing but trying to reach that buzz we had only hours before.

It truly is sad for me to think and talk about something like alcohol that was a huge part of my life, and my families life as well for so many years.  Being sober now for over 4 years I get sick to even think about what I put my body through all those years abusing alcohol and my body.

Now is the time like no other for each alcohol and anyone who is addicted to alcohol and can't seem to stop drinking.  Sobriety is right at your finger tips if and only if you choose to change your life for the better.

I have found out through my own experiences with drinking too much, that drinking and abusing alcohol and your body is so foolish.  I often asked myself, "why can't I just have one or two drinks and call it the day just like others I watched through my dark days of addiction?"

They seem to be perfectly satisfied with one or two drinks, and I and other alcoholics just can't get enough alcohol in our bodies.  I think for myself that I was just too weak and let the demons inside me run and try their hardest to ruin my life.

I often wonder till this day, why and how did I get clean and sober 4 years ago?  Why couldn't I have done that years before?

The answer I came up with was, "I JUST WASN'T READY TO CHANGE MY LIFE!" I guess you just have to hit rock bottom in order to do something drastic to change you life.

A dear friend of mine, and the one that changed my life with his website says in his addiction site, TAKE MASSIVE ACTION!! Taking action to change your life is great but MASSIVE ACTION is what needs to be done in order to have success and sobriety in your life.

Just remember this one thing when you are abusing your body with alcohol.  Each and everyone of us have only BUT ONE life here on Earth, so why would we destroy this one and only body with alcohol when we can just stop drinking and start living clean and sober?

I know it was super hard for me to quit drinking alcohol, as it is for all of the alcoholics out there, but I made my mind up and stuck to the promise I made to myself saying,  "I will never, after this day (October 27, 2009, my sober date) touch another alcoholic drink for the rest of my life no matter how good or bad life gets!"

Once you make up your mind, and stick to that decision, you are on your way to living the life of sobriety just as I am right now.

I did it and so can you!!  Get out of denial, and just take a look around at the lives you are taking down with you all because of your addiction to alcohol. It is so possible if that is what you want out of the one and only life you have. Get out of denial, think positive and be stronger than your addiction, and believe me things will start to get better each and everyday from that point on.

Check out some other articles I have written about alcohol and positive attitudes in life.

Over Drinking During The Holidays

Many people like to drink alcohol, but over drinking during the Holidays gets to be too much for many of us.

I only wish for myself, and others that have an addiction to alcohol, is to be able to have just a couple glasses of wine, or one or two glasses of beer just to be sociable during this Holiday season.  The problem for myself, and so many other people is that we just can not have one or two alcoholic drinks because it just doesn't satisfy our needs, and why is that?

When we have a dependence on alcohol, and being so addicted to it, means that there will be no satisfaction to those that would have those one or two drinks.  That is why if you or I do have an addiction to alcohol and have got sober, like myself, there is no way that we can have even one alcoholic drink, because you and I know for a fact that we would be doomed and more than likely relapse and go back to our old ways of drinking and abusing alcohol everyday of the week.

Those that do not have an addiction to alcohol, but like to have that one or two social drinks, just keep in mind not to over drink during the Holiday seasons.

Accidents and getting sick from over drinking can happen to any of us whether you have an addiction to alcohol or not, so just be careful not only during the Holiday Season, but every time you sit down and have that alcoholic beverage.

Be safe, and I wish each and every person that read this a Happy and Prosperous Christmas and New Years.

How Can Sobriety Change My Life?

For anyone that has an addiction to alcohol may often wonder what it would feel like to be sober once again, and may ask them selves and others how can sobriety change my life?

I am here to tell you, that I drank alcohol for many years, and alcohol many times came before all else, including my family and friends.

Once I decided to finally surrender to my demons, and get out of the denial I was living in for so many years, everything began to get better in my life, and if you try the same thing you might find your life will improve also.  The thing is that many alcoholics are simply afraid to quit drinking alcohol for the fear that they might not be able to get along in life without their crutch named alcohol.

Believe me, I did it and so can you my friends.  I feel we all are friends and have the same thing in common which is an addiction to alcohol and just don't know how to stop drinking or are afraid to stop drinking as mentioned above.

Please never be afraid of changing your life for the better.  Sobriety will never hurt you, it's your addiction to alcohol and abuse of it that will kill you in the end, and if it doesn't kill you it will make your life turn upside down and you will then experience rock bottom if you haven't already.

Alcohol does exactly what is suppose to do, and that is to make you feel drunk, act like a ass, hurt people you love, say things that you would never say sober, and so many other things.  Alcohol when drank responsibly is okay in my book, and I wish so bad I could have one drink and just socialize with some friends, but my problem was, I didn't know how to drink responsible and never knew when enough was enough.

This I am sure, is the problem with many people that just don't know how to have a social drink.  It is never enough until you get that buzz your body longs for.

HERE IS HOW SOBRIETY CHANGED MY LIFE.

• I was a very negative person when I drank alcohol, but now being sober for four years I am now a very positive and healthy person.
• My social life is now enjoyable being sober, and I act like the real me, and not a fake and a drunk.
• My family life is excellent and my marriage has improved so much.
• I spend quality time now with my wife and family, when before I spent my time drinking at bars or drinking alone.
• My appearance has improved 100%.
• I lost 50 pounds by not drinking all that beer each and everyday of my life.
• I eat great now and have plenty of energy to do what I want each day.
• I can go out in my car anytime I please without worrying about being pulled over and giving a DUI for drinking and driving.
• I have fulfilled my life long dream of living at the Ocean, when before when I drank, I still wanted that dream to come true, but alcohol held my back from achieving that dream.
• I never wake up anymore with that horrible massive hangover.

Listen everyone, I am not here writing to piss off people or preach to everyone.  I just want to tell all those that will listen, that there is a great life out there after an addiction, and not to be afraid to change your life.

Just think, you can save your own life just by making that change in your life.  It really isn't that hard if you have that will, determination and that positive attitude to get and stay sober.  GRANTED, there will be those that need to enter a Rehabilitation Center, and that is the smart thing to do, for sure.  To be treated and cared for by Professionals. Get Sober the safe and healthy way!

For myself, I went cold turkey and was worried every minute of everyday wondering will anything happen to me. Will I get the DT's and get deathly sick?  Don't put yourself through that, do it right, but first off, you MUST want to have sobriety in your life before all else works. 

You are the only one that can make sobriety happen in your life and nobody else.  It is up to you, and you alone to make that choice to change, and to make a new life, not only for you, but your family as well.

Get out of denial and make up your mind to surrender once and for all.  You need to take that first step and all others steps will follow.  One step and one day at a time. You will reach the top of those steps before you know it.

Admitting Your An Alcoholic Is The First Step

There are millions of people all over the world that drink alcohol, but how many of them will admit they have a drinking problem?

Admitting your an alcoholic is the first step towards a new life and a life of sobriety.  That's of course if you really want to get sober and live that life of sobriety.  I know so many people that really think they have no problem whatsoever with their alcohol consumption.  In fact, I was one of those people back almost four years ago.

Denial is a huge thing when it comes to drinking alcohol, drugs or any kind of addiction for that matter.  We never think we have a problem, but many people that know you and see you and your actions know better.  They can talk to you until they are blue in the face and you will look at them like they have two heads.  I know I did when someone approached me and told me I drink too much and I might have a problem.

If we, including myself, just would look at our lives and see which way our life is going, and if you have your eyes wide open and be open mined you will see exactly where you are headed in the future if you continue to drink and abuse alcohol.

If you ignore what you see, and what you have been told by others, then the future will not be a surprise as you look back at those statements, because you were told, and you saw your life through your own eyes, but blew everything off because you were living in denial and never believed a word.

I know for a fact, for me, I knew deep down inside that I have a serious drinking problem, but never wanted to change my life for I was so afraid to be without my alcohol.  I was afraid to admit to my family and friends I was a true alcoholic. Although I was a functioning alcoholic, this was one of the reason I thought there was no problem with my drinking.

After all, I never missed work because of those late nights of drinking and never got into fights at bars.  I never got a DUI and never arrested for drinking in public or drinking and driving.  So I thought to myself, "what seems to be the problem with my drinking?" See, that is how I thought, and I am very sure many alcoholics can relate to these words I speak.

When I speak of the first step admitting your an alcoholic means to get out of your denial you live in and take a good hard look at your life and the lives your are taken down on the way to your rock bottom.  Remember you are not only hurting yourself, you are hurting many people that love you and care for you, such as your spouse, children, parents and your friends.

Don't let yourself down or the people that love you.  Stand up to your addiction to alcohol and tell your demons goodbye once and for all.  You don't need alcohol believe me.  Once you have got sober and stay sober you will then realize why in the world was I killing myself when all I had to do is to stop drinking.

Yeah I know, it sounds pretty easy by just writing this, but anyone can stop drinking alcohol anytime you want.  The problem is, and the question is, "Do You Really Want To Stop Drinking?"

If you said yes I would love to stop drinking alcohol, then you are on your way to a new life of sobriety.  Yes it will be hard and yes it will not be easy by any means, but if you have that determination, the willingness and the desire to change your life it will happen.

You have to make up your mind and just do it and stick to it with no cheating whatsoever.  You will need to stay clear from your drinking buddies, the bars and anything that has anything to do with alcohol.

As time goes by you will find it easier and easier to live each day without your crutch, the demons of alcohol.

God Bless to all those that have made it to sobriety and those that are trying so hard to get sober.  Never give up hope because your life is full of hope and sobriety is just sitting there for your taken, so go after it and don't look back at your horrible past of addiction.

Stay positive and strong to yourself and never let anyone or anything stand in your way of changing your life and living that one and only life you have, clean and sober.

Sobriety Is Like Living In Paradise

For any person that has an addiction to alcohol, and has been abusing alcohol for a long time hasn't had the experience of living life sober for some years.  Yes, I was one of those people.

Having sobriety is like living in paradise I must say.  When someone has had an addiction to alcohol for years they tend to forget what it feels like to be clean and sober.  They are so used to having that buzz or being drunk each day they think that this is the only thing in life.

In my opinion there is nothing greater than sobriety.  To be able to think clearly each day, and to be able to wake up in the morning with a clear head and not have that horrible hangover we all know so well.  

When we depend on alcohol in our everyday life we tend to forget what life is really all about.  We don't see the beauty that life has to offer us because we are blinded by our addiction to alcohol.  We tend to breathe, sleep and live for alcohol.

I remember so well that the minute I woke in the morning even after feeling like crap from drinking the night before, the first thing that came to mind was, "when can i have my first drink of the day?"  That is so sad that I thought about how I could ruin my life even more than it already is.

To be able to think and want to self-destruct myself one day at a time.  Now that I have been sober since October 27, 2009 I can not believe those thoughts of drinking came to mind each morning I woke.

I know that many people that have this addiction to alcohol think the same way as I did back then.  Now, I write to help those that have an addiction to alcohol, and to let them know there is hope for all of us if and only if you want to get and stay sober and live that life of sobriety.

I have to tell you that you must try out sobriety for it is like living in paradise.  All you have to do is to want sobriety bad enough and work hard on staying clean and sober and you will too live in paradise as I do now.

Granted getting and staying sober will not be easy, but nothing good that comes out of life is easy right.  You need to work hard and not let anything or anyone stand in your way to living a sober life.

The longer you are sober the easier it will be for you as long as you don't cheat and say to yourself, "well I guess I can have one or two drinks because I have not drank in one month."  That is a huge NO NO!  Once you decide to get sober you must promise yourself that no matter what happens in your life you will not break and have that one or two drinks, because if you do you will be back to square one and day one of trying to get sober again.

Think of what you are doing to yourself and others that love and care for you.  Look into the your mind and see what is making you depend on alcohol each day of your life.  Read this hub I wrote called "looking into the mind of an alcoholic."  You will see how we think, or least how I thought about my addiction to alcohol.

Keep a positive attitude in everything in life, and that includes having sobriety back into your life and you will see, having that positive attitude, the will and determination and the power to say NO I don't drink, sobriety will be a part of your life once again.

                                                                                                                             
Read my Ebook on  My Life Of Alcohol Addiction

Do You Have Depression Knowing That You Are An Alcoholic

Many people that drink too much alcohol, or even abuse alcohol often have depression as I did when I drank too much alcohol.

The question is to all those folks is, "do you have depression knowing that you are an alcoholic?"

In my personal experience with drinking alcohol, and abusing it every single day was that I really thought by drinking alcohol I would be happier and all my problems would disappear by drinking those problems away. In fact, by drinking too much alcohol those once small problems began to seem larger and the more I drank the more depressed I would get. Does this sound familiar to you?  I bet for some it really does.

The photo above shows me just how life can be living it sober, meaning, we all live in a world that has beauty all around us and many of us that are alcoholics never even realize just how beautiful the world is looking at it through addicted eyes. Just looking at that photo, how could you and I be so depressed when we have beauty right in front of our eyes if we live that life clean and sober.  The alcohol that we drink thinking life will be so much better blinds us in seeing and feeling the beauty of life.

Depression is a horrible thing when you think your world is falling apart around you.  Drinking and abusing alcohol does not help the matter whatsoever.  I believe it just makes you more depressed knowing that you are an alcoholic and you don't know what to do to get out of the rut you are in, and start living a healthy and happy life.  You may want help to stop drinking alcohol, but may be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for the help you need.

So, what is your next step in finding your sobriety, that is if you are serious about getting and staying sober, and you want to get out of the depression you have and start living a happy life once again.

If you know you are an alcoholic, and you want to have sobriety back into your life you need to sit down with yourself (being sober) and ask yourself how bad do you want to get and stay sober.

Are you willing enough to say goodbye to alcohol and be able to promise yourself you will never pick up an alcoholic drink ever again?  If you can't make that promise to yourself then I think you are not ready to stop drinking alcohol just yet, but if you can say yes, I am ready to surrender once and for all (like I did over three years ago) then you are on the right track and have taken that very important first step to finally having peace in your life and will no longer feel depressed that you are an alcoholic.

I guess you can say you and I will always be an alcoholic, but we are both in recovery and leading a healthy and happy life.  Just remember the demons are just waiting for us to cheat, give in, or relapse so they (the alcohol demons) can take control over our bodies and minds once again.

Don't be weak and give in to them.  They are powerless without the feed of alcohol, so just don't give them what they are starving for.

• We need to have a positive attitude at ALL TIMES.
• We need to believe in ourselves.
• We need to love ourselves enough to not go back on our promise to never drink again.
• We need a strong desire, determination and the willingness to get and stay sober.
• We need to ask for the help we need to help us get and stay sober.
• We need not to be embarrassed of our addiction to alcohol.

How To Avoid The Temptation To Drink During The Holidays

The Holidays are coming up soon and there will be many of parties and get together s throughout Christmas and the New Years.

The problem for many people that have an addiction to alcohol is "how to avoid the temptation to drink during the Holidays."

The biggest problem for many with an addiction to alcohol is when they stop drinking just before the Holidays are coming, like I did over 3 years ago.  I stopped drinking on October 27, 2009 when Thanksgiving and Christmas were near by.  It was a tough time for me, but I was determined to stay sober no matter what the Holiday was and who I was with during those Holidays.

Once you make up your mind to stop drinking you have to stick with it no matter what happens in your life and no matter what the day of the year is.

If you have surrender to your demons, don't ever give in to them ever again, because if you happen to do so you will be back in the same boat as you were before, and that is drinking and abusing alcohol.  Believe me it will not be pleasant knowing that you gave into your demons the morning after.

AVOIDING THAT TEMPTATION TO DRINK

• Continue to think of how hard you worked to get and stay sober.  
• Continue to keep that Positive Attitude every second of the day.
• Remember how you felt when you drank alcohol and all the mornings hungover.
• Look at your spouse and family and think how disappointed and hurt they would be if you drank.
• Look at yourself and how disappointed you would be of your own self if you drank alcohol.
• Drink your soda or coffee and mingle with all those at the party just as if you were drinking right along with them.
• If they ask you why you are not drinking, be proud and say, "I stopped drinking and never will drink again."

If you want to stop drinking alcohol and live a clean and sober life, then CLICK HERE to read just how you can do it and live the rest of your life with sobriety.

So when you are out at your Holiday parties don't be embarrassed that you are not drinking and carrying on with the others.  Be proud that you have the strength to say no and that you don't need alcohol to have a great time.


If you are looking for cell phone information here is a link that may help you http://www.touristhaven.net/ . a blog from a friend of mine.

How To Get Ready To Walk The Road To Recovery

Here is my version of "how to get ready to walk the road to recovery."

First and foremost, you must want to change your life and start to live a life of sobriety.  Until you have admitted you have an addiction to alcohol, and need help, your road to recovery is not in the cards just yet.

You have to really want to live life clean and sober, and I don't mean for a week or month, I mean Long Term Sobriety. Forever without another drink of alcohol.  Do you think you can handle that, or do you think you will cheat while sober and just have a drink or two every now and then?

If you are sober now that is wonderful, but as the Holiday's are approaching us the alcoholic that has sobered up has that temptation and the urge to drink.  I know for myself it is a touch road when these Holiday's come around each year.

You see some many people drinking alcohol and just having a grand ole time while you sit there sober and drinking your soda or coffee.  The parties are everywhere around Christmas time, and then New Years Eve comes and the booze really is flowing at many New Years parties.

How can you stop the urge to drink alcohol during these times of big parties?

1. Remember just how hard you worked to get on the road to recovery.
2. Remember how you felt each morning after a heavy night of drinking.
3. Remember how you acted when you drank too much alcohol and made a fool of yourself.
4. Remember what you almost loss when you were addicted to alcohol.
5. Remember how much money you have saved from stopping drinking.
6. Remember the arguments and fights you had with your spouse or friend because of your drinking.
7. Remember those days you got behind the wheel being so drunk because you just didn't care.
8. Remember being pulled over and given a DUI.
9. Remember the horrible things you said to someone that meant so much to you.
10. Remember the buzz you had was only temporary, until the next time you drank.  It is nothing but a vicious cycle, day after day.
11. THESE THINGS SHOULD MAKE YOU THINK TWICE WHILE AT A PARTY AND YOU HAVE THE URGE TO DRINK.

It will take lots of work to get on that road to recovery, but once there, and you stay on that road, life will be so much better for you and those that love and care for you, such as your families and friends.  

HERE IS HOW I PREPARED MYSELF FOR THE ROAD OF RECOVERY.

1. I took a good hard look at my life as it was at that moment.
2. I looked around at those that loved and cared for me and wondered if drinking alcohol was worth losing all of this love and respect they have for me.
3. I had to get out of the mood of being negative and change that to Positive Attitude.
4. I looked at what I was depriving my family from my addiction to alcohol.
5. Preparing yourself for the road to recovery takes thought and the willpower to stop drinking alcohol.
6. You must have the willpower, determination and the strength to say NO MORE to the demons that have run and ruined your life, and when you see what they have done to you and what they are going to do to you in the future, you may what to think long and hard to stop drinking and get on that new road to recovery.

**Here is a great website by a friend of mine that will help you sober up and have long term sobriety back into your life.  He has great Pod Casts, and so much information on stopping drinking alcohol and turning your life around, as I have, and he has as well.  It is called Living Sober Sucks, (but living drunk sucks more).  Check it out for it will help you get on that road to recovery.

**As for myself, I wrote this eBook a couple years ago regarding how I started drinking and and my life of alcohol addiction.

So if you want a new life and get out of the addicted life of alcohol then here is what you should think about doing:
* Think positive, and continue to tell yourself that you can and will find long term sobriety.
* Have the strong desire and the willingness to change your life once and for all.
* Don't let anything or anyone steer you off the road of recovery no matter what.

God Bless all those that have an addiction to alcohol and want to change their life around.  Keep telling yourself that you can do it, and before you know it you will be on that road to recovery.  Stay strong, believe in yourself, and keep that positive attitude in everything you do in life.

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Quit Drinking Cold Turkey

The question I asked myself when I thought it was time to stop drinking alcohol is, "should I quit drinking cold turkey?"

I wanted to quit drinking and knew it was way past time to do so.  I have wasted many of years of my life, and other lives as well, all due to my addiction to alcohol.  I am sure many alcoholics have thought about stopping drinking alcohol, but were afraid of how they would feel with the abstinence of alcohol in their bodies.  Thinking this way will tend to hold up the process of recovery and getting and staying sober.

As for me, I thought, and knew I was doing wrong and harming my body with each drink I consumed, but no matter how I thought, and what other people would say about my drinking, I just wasn't ready to give up the one thing I loved, and the one thing that was a huge part of my life and other lives as well.

The alcoholics really don't realize what harm they are doing not only to themselves, but those that love them and care about them.

I was lucky enough to be able to quit drinking alcohol cold turkey.  I had it in my mind that no matter what happened in my life I would never go bad to my old ways of drinking alcohol again.  I heard a life changing whisper that night.  I made my mind up once and for all that I had to stop drinking, before it was too late for all involved.

I made a promise to myself that lonely night in the garage drinking alone.  I told myself, " I will not let this addiction to alcohol run and ruin my life, and other lives for one more second of my life."

The promise to myself was that I would never pick up another alcoholic drink for the rest of my life, because I knew by past experiences I would be doomed if I did.  It is all balls out or nothing!

For any alcoholic that wants to quit drinking you must know that there is only one way to do this, and that is never to touch a drop of alcohol ever again, if and when you stop drinking.  If you are okay with this promise, as I was when I made mine to myself then you are on the right road to recovery.

There is no such thing as, I will only have one or two drinks.  This will NEVER work if you have had a addiction to alcohol, and have abused alcohol for some time.  There can be NO cheating whatsoever.  It is all or nothing!

NOTE:
I must add this in: I am not saying quit drinking cold turkey.  I quit cold turkey, but I was taking a chance and was afraid of what could happen when I stopped drinking.  I worried for days and weeks of the DT's and just getting sick from stopping that fast.  If you are concerned about what may happen to you if you do quit drinking cold turkey you should look into a Rehab. Center that has trained professionals to help you detox in a safe manner.

So if you are serious about getting and staying sober, the first thing to do is to admit you are an alcoholic.  Second, promise yourself that once you stop drinking alcohol you will never touch it again. You need to believe in yourself and love yourself enough to make this sobriety work for you.  You need to continue to have a positive attitude each and everyday from that point on and never let anyone or anything stand in your way of your recovery and long term sobriety.

What Is A Functioning Alcoholic

Can you handle your alcohol? How do you get along each day with or without alcohol in your life?
Do you miss work or late to work because of a hard night before "drinking alcohol?"

What is a functioning alcoholic, and do you think you are one?  For myself, I would certainly consider myself a functioning alcoholic.  I never missed worked because of my drinking.  I went to work and preformed my job just like the sober ones, but the difference with me was my head was in a fog for most of the day until evening when I was right back to the beer and the fog would disappear and I thought I was thinking straight again.

The booze really does tricks on your mind and body don't you think?  There are so many people that are addicted to alcohol and go about their everyday lives as if they didn't drink at all and many people may not even know that these people have an addiction or a problem at all.  Have you ever heard the old saying, "I never knew he/she drank till I saw them sober?"

That is so true, but we are only fooling our self and no one else.  Even though we can function in our everyday lives does not mean we are not an alcoholic.  It seems that many that are functioning everyday and drinking at night gives the impression to their self that they do not have an addiction to alcohol problem.  That is exactly what I thought and I was dead wrong for sure.  It took me many years, as it may for those that have an addiction to alcohol, but hide it well, to admit there is a huge problem with our drinking and something must be done before the days that you never miss at work because of drinking, turn into something totally different and start to go into a full addiction and may change your life forever.

It can only go on for so long until something happens to your health, your job, your family life and possibly your own life.

So if you think by being a functioning alcoholic gives you the permission to continue to drink alcohol, you are mistaking, exactly what I thought.  Now clean and sober for over two years now, and counting, I now realize alcohol means nothing to me and I don't need it to have a so called great life. Having a great life revolves around sobriety and the ability to think and act straight and clear minded. Out of site, out of mind.

As the months and years have passed I totally have forgotten about my past addiction to alcohol and have not looked back only forward to a more and more brighter future and a clean and sober life.

The only time I think about alcohol now, is when I am writing about it, and that's the extent of it. Goodbye forever my addiction, you will never be missed, but not forgotten of how you almost destroyed my life!!

Drinking Alcohol In Moderation

For all those that are addicted to alcohol, is drinking alcohol in moderation the way to go?  Can drinking alcohol for the alcoholic be controlled or should they just not drink at all?

For myself, I was not the kind of person that could have two or three beers or mixed drinks and call it the night till the next time.  No, I had to drink until I got that buzz my body longed for.  As many people that are addicted to alcohol they can't drink in moderation because once they start there is no end in site until the booze is gone or they are plastered.

It takes great will and strength to know when you have had enough and to limit yourself before you even walk out the door to go to a party or meet some friends at the local bar.  You need to set your limit of how much alcohol you will consume that evening. 

If you set your alcohol intake to 3 or 4 drinks, than that is all you can have, but many of us have great intentions to stick to our 3 or 4 drinks, but once we start having a good time and realize that we have hit our limit for the night we tend to cheat and say, "I'll just have one or two more drinks.  Well, if that's the case then we can not drink in moderation because if we could we would of stopped at the limit we set before we went out for the evening.

I truly believe that people, including myself are just fooling ourselves saying we have set our limit, but if you are not going to stick by your word then there is no reason to even set a limit at all.  These are the people that just should stop drinking all together, in which I did.

I could never stay true to my daily consumption, so why even try.  I knew in the back of my mind it would never work.  It didn't work in the past and would never work now, so I simply surrendered and quit drinking all together in which I might add was the best thing I have ever done in my life.

It's pretty sad when one can not even trust their self.  This is when you must decide what is best for you and your health.  I wish, and I am sure many alcoholics wish they could drink in moderation, but unfortunately it isn't possible for all.  I love my drink just as much as the next person, but it tends to be hard to stop and know when enough is enough, so in that case I must not drink at all.  I recommend to those with the same problem to not torture yourself and destroy you life with the tease of alcohol.  If you can't drink on occasion or in moderation just quit as I did and believe me you can have more sober fun that being that alcoholic drunk that doesn't even remember the night before.

So, if you think and know for a fact that you can not drink alcohol in moderation then you should consider doing what I did and that is to surrender all together and start living a clean and sober life.  You will not regret living a life a life of sobriety.  You will begin to start feeling your old self again and much happier and healthier.

Always stay positive and continue to keep a positive attitude in everything you do in life and by doing so things will start to look up and you will overcome your addiction to alcohol.  Stay focused, determined and have the willingness to change your life, and by doing these things you will find your sobriety once again.

Going Back On Your Word To Stay Sober

Staying sober for many alcoholics is the one of the hardest things they will have to endure in their lives.  I can say this because over the last few years many things happened in my life that would of driven any alcoholic that is trying to stay sober right back to drinking alcohol again.

You and I must stay sober now matter what happens in our lives and stop making excuses for going back on your word to stay sober.  I don't know about any other alcoholics out there, but when I decided to surrender to my addiction to alcohol, I made a promise to myself to never ever pick up a drink of alcohol no matter what life throws at me, and I am not a person to break my promise, especially to myself.

Just imagine if you went back on your word and starting drinking.  How do you think you would feel after you took that first sip of alcohol because of something in your life didn't worked out as you planned or it up set you enough to start drinking again?  I know for a fact I would be so disappointed in myself and so sad that I let my addiction run my life again.

All of us that have suffered with an addiction and are now sober have to stand strong to our past addiction and not let it get hold of us ever again.  I know it is easier said than done, but never go back on your word or it might be the worst mistake you have done in your life.

If a situation does arise in your life and drinking alcohol comes into your mind, don't do it.  Don't break and don't give in to your demons.  You and I will get through any situation that life gives us and none of us need to revert back to drinking alcohol to resolve our problems.


Stay Positive, Stay Focused and Stay Sober no matter what! 

How A Positve Attitude Helps With Getting Sober

Have you any idea how a positive attitude helps with getting sober?  For many people that are suffering from an addiction to alcohol sobriety and getting sober is the last thing on their mind.  Why, you may ask?  When an alcoholic has been drinking for so many years they forget just how sobriety and being clean and sober feels.

They have a hard time with excepting that they may have an addiction problem, and don't what to admit that they are living in denial and think nothing of drinking and partying, just like it is the way of life for everyone.  Well everyone in our society and in our world drink and abuse alcohol to the point of getting addicted to it.

When I finally said, "enough is enough" and surrendered to my addiction to alcohol is when I realized that a positive attitude has had a huge impact on my sobriety and has helped me to get sober and using that positive attitude continues to keep me sober as well.

Can you imagine walking around with that chip on your shoulder and thinking nothing but negative thoughts, saying why me?  How in the world can anyone get sober thinking negative and telling them self that they will never be able to kick their addiction and get clean and sober. Thinking is this manner no one will ever get sober.

Just think about it.  Negative thoughts give negative results and positive thoughts give positive results.  Sound right to me, how about you?

I can certainly say from my experience with drinking alcohol, and then getting sober, that my positive attitude helped me to get sober, and without thinking this way I would still be stuck in my little world of my own addiction and self destruction.  Our minds, and we all have one I might add, can and will do anything you tell it to.  If you want to live in a world of addiction and telling yourself you will never get sober than that is exactly what your life will be.

Now, lets turn the coin and say you are thinking nothing but positive thoughts and thinking with that positive attitude telling yourself that you can and will get and stay sober no matter what it takes to achieve your sobriety.  Which of the two attitudes do you think will work the best for you?  I have my answer, how about you, do you have your answer?  I think the answer is a no brainier in my opinion.

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