AboutClyde Expertise I can answer questions on the recovery from alcohol addiction as I am a recovering alcoholic with 15 years of sobriety. I can also address the spiritual aspects of the 12-Step program as I have a Master of Divinity degree and serve as a pastor for the Quaker church.
Experience I am a recovering alcoholic with 15 years of continuous sobriety.
Education/Credentials Master of Divinity awarded in 2000 from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Question I am 28 years old, female and am 5'5 weighing in at 116 pounds. I have been
dealing with anxiety and panic attacks since college in 1999. Itb was my
sophomore year that I began to turn to beer and alcohol to ease my anxiety
until I saw my doctor and he put me on Buspar. That helped a lot and
although I still drank, it was never an issue. I would always have 2 glasses of
wine with dinner and that was really it unless out with friends. I went of
buspar 2 years ago and it seems like alcohol has replaced it once again. For
the past year or so I have been consuming a bottle of wine per night,
sometimes more and sometimes less. I also have been on occasions where I
feel drunk or blackout end up binge eating on things I normally wouldn't eat
like chips, popcorn, ice cream, bread and sometimes all of the above. I know
my weight is not an issue but I was a restricter before and weighed 100
pounds just this past December. I am having a hard time dealing with all of
this and am hungover every day almost. I really want to quit drinking entirely
but am afraid now that I will have withdrawal. Do I need to see someone
before I quit or can I just stop on my own as I so desperately want to do.
Please give me some advice and also take note that my doctor bill will be very
high since they don't accept my insurance plan! I really would rather do this
on my own.
Answer Ashley,
Thank you for your questions and for giving me some idea of the situation in which you find yourself.
I can not answer any questions regarding these medications you have taken - the Buspar, etc. I simply have no experience but I wanted to respond with something about your "cold turkey" question.
It would seem that you are not in any eminent danger from the drugs you have been taking - meaning you do not seem to be dependent on anything other than alcohol and some other behaviors. So, in that regard, if you are serious about this, then yes, I think you can do this "cold turkey." It will take determination to do whatever it takes to stay sober and that means feeling the withdrawal (if it happens) and allowing it to pass. You will also need to replace the behaviors and the drinking with new, more productive activities. This will require help.
The help I suggest is in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. These rooms are full of people who have been where you are right now and made a decision to make the necessary changes so that they could get sober and stay sober. The ladies in the AA meetings will be your support system and encourage you on your new life. Making friends with them will give you a new structure to your daily life and give you persons with whom you can become accountable. Someone needs to be trusted during this work so that you have someone with whom to talk.
It would not be easy to quit drinking all alone. You need not do this - there are so many people waiting to help. Look up Alcoholics Anonymous in the phone book or on the Internet and find meetings close to your home.
I hope this may help and write again if I may be of any further help.
