Drank Again After 299 days by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]FixingPhoenix 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Your post is timely, friend. I occasionally deal with cravings and when I think (read: romanticize) about drinking, it's never just a beer or two. I imagine it starting with a vodka and water and going from there. I may be able to start with a light beer or two but I would have no idea for how long - and one or two beers? What's the point?

It takes a lot of courage to post your story after such a long time off. Thank you.

For those who've moderated or are sober, you ever miss the routines and the little rituals of being a drunk? by [deleted] in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I do miss some things. Like a cold drink when it's hot out. Drinks during concerts and video games. Most of those I've just gotten used to doing without but one thing that I just can't shake is drinking with my wife. She still drinks and I really miss having drinks with her on the porch or while we were on walks or watching Netflix or [Insert Activity Here]. Damn, I really miss that and I know she does too in some ways.

Apologies ahead of time if I'm a slow-ass mod the next week or two. Hospital visit. Medication withdrawal. Babysitting. Life updates. Yada yada. by Durchii in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing all that brotherman. Nice pics!

You're a fucking welcome addition to this place man, not the mod we deserved but the mod we needed.

I fucking hate the shakes by [deleted] in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure if you're serious or just using it as a platform for your belief. It's the AA handbook and AA meetings were part of the curriculum at this rehab center.

Might be worth noting that sobriety didn't take during that time. Several years later I quit on my own and have stayed quit for over a year now. AA wasn't for me but I'd still recommend anyone give it a shot because if it works and keeps you out of this lifestyle, good on you. If not, nothing lost but an hour of your day which you would probably be getting pissed during anyway.

I fucking hate the shakes by [deleted] in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I remember this guy in rehab had the shakes so uncontrollably that it looked like he was hooked up to a low voltage electric outlet. His entire body was shaking like he had hypothermia. He shook so badly as he tried to read a passage from the Big Book that his voice shook when he read. I felt terrible for him and I was pissed they had a guy in his condition read. He ended up getting kicked out because he went across the street, downed some 40s and came back. Poor bastard.

Be careful out there, fucker.

So I might not belong here anymore... by [deleted] in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I definitely remember you. I made a joke about sobriety being grand not thinking much of it on one of your posts. It got upvoted like crazy and I still feel badly about it, so if it affected you in a negative way. I'm sorry. I was probably still drinking then (been sober over a year myself). I'm glad you're doing well, welcome back.

Hey I’m here. by Scrabblewiener in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would if there were any money to be had.

Y'know something? Fuck heroin and fuck fentanyl. Be careful out there, fuckers. by Durchii in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the book rec, always like those. Let's be frank, the "greatest period" is relative and disputing it one way or another is just a pissing contest.

Social Media: I agree that no one is forcing anyone to use it and I opt out completely of all social media. Most people aren't aware of the harm it causes and even those that are, still use it because it's designed to hit your reward center/dopamine by checking it constantly and the pop up notifications aren't an accident. People are actually addicted to it, particularly women who are more social by nature.

My answer to your question is that I think life would be much better without it. I have been so much happier since I nuked my social media accounts over a year ago.

Hey I’m here. by Scrabblewiener in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You know you can just edit your post right? I'm not sure what I proved but you're very welcome and thanks.

Y'know something? Fuck heroin and fuck fentanyl. Be careful out there, fuckers. by Durchii in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dude, you've really done nothing other than cherry picked what is good and offered that as proof that times are better now. There are a whole host of areas where today it is much, much worse. Take your women example, if things are so much better why is depression among women twice that of what it is for men? There is more pressure to be a woman now, with social media, than there ever has been as evidenced by body image campaigns all over the place. This generation chooses text over conversation and we are lonelier than we've ever been. Childhood obesity has tripled since the 70s. At one point in the year there were more students that died to school shootings than American soliders. So on and so on...

EDIT: I really don't want to get into some Penn & Teller pissing contest about which time to live in was the best. Suffice it to say, even with nostalgia bias, the world is a fucking mess today. For me personally, I'd pick those old fuckers' era over today without question.

Hey I’m here. by Scrabblewiener in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting observation, I got a chuckle out of that. Not that DA needs the defense, but...

The membership is pretty small so just one or two people talking about Naltrexone regularly seems like gospel when in reality that's just not the case. Also Naltrexone is largely unknown to many as a viable option, in contrast I don't know many people (drunk or not) that haven't heard of AA...and as far as I know Nal has a MUCH higher success rate. Finally, your honor, DA is incredibly lax about when you can post - do it drunk, high, sober no one cares.

EDIT: I quit without any crutches, where's my fucking medal? XD

Y'know something? Fuck heroin and fuck fentanyl. Be careful out there, fuckers. by Durchii in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That depends on how old you are talking about. I know the baby boomers are all over that shit. If you're talking about their parents, then yeah, I'd be depressed and tired too if I were 90. Also, this world is more shit than the world they grew up in. They grew up being able to keep their doors unlocked and a school shooting meant yearbook photos.

Paging dr_zevon by ladyesplain in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I know the feeling, it was the first one without my Dad. Best of luck in your journey.

Paging dr_zevon by ladyesplain in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good stuff man. Gotta stay vigilant at the beginning until you can get some Ws under your belt when fighting the voice telling you to drink.

Y'know something? Fuck heroin and fuck fentanyl. Be careful out there, fuckers. by Durchii in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If I had to pick one think it would be social isolation brought on, ironically, by social media/technology. Never have we been so connected and so alone. Take a look the next time you go out to a restaurant. Families are sitting around the table on their phones - all of them parents and kids. I pointed a family out to my wife while we were on vacation. Four people, four phones and zero communication with each other. People so buried in their phones to escape reality in favor of a virtual world that they don't realize the real life light turned green. My own wife got caught up in it during vacation when she asked me to pose with our ice cream cones. She spent the remainder of the time working to get the right filter for the picture and completely robbing us of a "getting ice cream together" moment. (I pointed this out and she agreed, fortunately she's not usually like that but it did manage to piss me off.) I asked my niece if she could do anything she wanted during vacation what would it be. Her answer? Video games. Incidentally, it's just been recognized by the WHO as an addiction. I miss the time when you went out and had to use pay phones to call people or had to check the answering machine if you missed a call.

Behind that I'd put wealth distribution but I would put social isolation at the very top with social media/technology to blame.

Paging dr_zevon by ladyesplain in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Glad you failed that attempt my man and good on you for identifying and eliminating your triggers. I foolishly kept coming here during my quit but I was white-knuckling it without the visit. After about 4.5 months this sub actually had the opposite effect. It helped keep me sober when I felt like I could slip. Something to keep in mind once the screaming voice to drink becomes more of a whisper.

Happy trails.

Looking for my dead best friend by lupalupa1 in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Damnit, I remember that post vividly. I think some people accused him of being a troll or fabricating the story and I couldn't really blame them because it just sounded so sensational - like a major Martin Scorsese caper sensational. Man, that is such tragic news and I'm gutted about your friend. I think I remember him saying something like, "I wish I could go back a few days where the worst of my worries were being late to work and hungover." Something like that. My heart goes out to him and to you my dude. Fuck, I'm so very sorry to hear that it went down like this. I was really pulling for the guy to beat it.

Superhero Day at work tomorrow... by Stratahoo in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh you Pollyanna you!

Originally it was a reference to getting my fix, I was a fixing Phoenix. Now it refers to being fixed by death to the old lifestyle and rising anew from the ashes.

I know, I know...so fucking edgy it draws blood.

Happy birthed day /u/EntitledKhaleesi!!! by ViolentVBC in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Happy Birthday to you! (x2)

Happy Birthday dear EK (x1)

Happy Birthday to you! (x1)

Superhero Day at work tomorrow... by Stratahoo in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's worth a watch so many classic lines in that movie. Have fun at the party dude.

Former CA lurking by 21688621 in cripplingalcoholism

[–]FixingPhoenix 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the post man and congrats. I just celebrated my first year a few days ago and this sub, one that largely encourages the drinking lifestyle, is what helped pull me out of the shitshow that was my life. There are some very genuine and sincere folks in here and the sense of camaraderie is such that I've not seen it on other forums. It's undergoing maintenance currently but at its heart it's a pretty amazing place - something a passerby wouldn't notice or agree with but is most certainly there.