Quote:Quote:I knew instantly it was my creator. Six days later, I was in a treatment facility for alcoholism. A few weeks after I was released, I got this understanding that God removed my obsession for alcohol.

I have no doubt you believe that. I'm a sober member of AA. Such delusions are common among brain damaged alcoholics. Such people often get up at meetings,and ramble incoherently about their personal relationship with their higher power.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard your post before. The fog will have lifted lift all it's going to after about 5years,if you stay sober. You have a roughly 3% chance.

In the meantime,considering your utterly appropriate mindset, I urge you: Don't pick up the first drink and go to AA,daily. There you will receive the acceptance and support you will not find on any internet forum,especially an atheist one.

You are almost certainly NOT cured.I guess there is such a thing as a cured alcoholic, but I've never met one.I HAVE met many with a faith a strong as yours seems, who have relapsed, repeatedly.


My sobriety date is June 30,2002.

And congrats, Pad.

(February 8, 2011 at 9:04 pm)Minimalist Wrote: And congrats, Pad.

Thanks Min.

Perhaps strangely, it was harder to quite smoking (Jan 14 2003) a 70 a day habit,cold turkey,after having tried everything else around. I still feel like a cigarette far more often than I feel like drink.

--I got quite thirsty yesterday. I went to the funeral of my girlfriend's father.(he died from smoking-caused lung cancer and also had emphysema from smoking. He was 76)).I then went to the wake, where everyone except me got legless and many were smoking. I found that hard.----- I love wine and champagne!

PS : J came through cyclone Yasi just fine,and her house was not damaged (lost a side gate). Because power and cell phone towers were down, police were needed to notify her of her father's death. She's bit of a mess and needs me,that's why I went to the wake. I don't normally go to wakes.

Grats Pad. Hey, if any of you have advice on how to go about tackling a substance addiction, I'd love to hear it...

I smoke entirely too much weed (don't laugh...)

And while I love it, I'm way too dependent on it. It's gotten to be an 'I just can't stop' situation and it would be cool to hear from others here about strategies and whatnot. You seem a great group of people

We've had some loonies here but this one has to be the winner.

He's the first to actually claim to BE god.

(February 9, 2011 at 12:22 am)OnlyNatural Wrote: Grats Pad. Hey, if any of you have advice on how to go about tackling a substance addiction, I'd love to hear it...

I smoke entirely too much weed (don't laugh...)

And while I love it, I'm way too dependent on it. It's gotten to be an 'I just can't stop' situation and it would be cool to hear from others here about strategies and whatnot. You seem a great group of people

Sorry mate, I don't really have any answers. Below is a brief outline of what worked for me,but I don't claim it will work for everyone.

I reject all 12 step based programmes: THEY DO NOT FUCKING WORK-- BUT it IS worth going to AA, Narcotics Anonymous etc for the acceptance and support you will get,at least for say the first couple of years. Just ignore the woo-based bullshit. (there are actually a LOT of atheists in AA,we just keep our heads down)

The approach is total abstinence.Period. It's possible, even likely that I could drink if I wanted to. However, it's not worth the risk. I would rather die than go back where I was in 2002.

What I actually did: sought and accepted help from anywhere and anyone I could think of:

(1)Made a committed decision to stop drinking because I wanted to for myself and for no other reason.


(2) Went to rehab as an outpatient for a month.Followed by a year of group counseling ,one night a week.

(3) During that time I went to AA three times a week.Did that for 2 years. Then once week,then once a month. Have not been to AA for over 4 years.

(4) Saw a doctor specialising in addiction,; he is the only one in this state.Most local GPs and shrinks know fuck-all about addiction. Some (including AA) will tell you addiction is an illness. Some will swear it's learned.My position; the cause can be either or both and is irrelevant.

(5) I was as open and honest as I was capable with family and close friends, but TOLD NO ONE AT WORK!

I call addiction a condition,and one which can be controlled by changing one's behaviour. Spend time looking for insights into 'the why' after you've dealt with 'the what' . Before then, asking 'why' is just a form of mental masturbation and a way of avoiding personal responsibility,in my brutally frank opinion.

Only natural; My friend my you say you are smoking too much weed. Too much is if it is harming you or interfering with your enjoyment of life. It can do both. You are already addicted if you are unable cut back or stop.

It's not for me to even suggest what you should do.I will not judge you,and will support you in any way I can if you want. Please PM me at anytime.

Sounds like a very 'common sense' approach to dealing with an addiction Padraic. So glad it worked for you....congrats on you stoicism over the years and your determination "Not to go Back to where you were in 2002" Doing "it" for yourself is probably the best reason ever!

You have my unbridled admiration mate.

(February 9, 2011 at 6:57 am)KichigaiNeko Wrote: Sounds like a very 'common sense' approach to dealing with an addiction Padraic. So glad it worked for you....congrats on you stoicism over the years and your determination "Not to go Back to where you were in 2002" Doing "it" for yourself is probably the best reason ever!

You have my unbridled admiration mate.

Thank you,very kind of you.

PS; Got quite thirsty at the wake yesterday,and could have eated a cigarette. I ain't cured, and cannot afford to become complacent.

(February 9, 2011 at 7:40 am)padraic Wrote:

(February 9, 2011 at 6:57 am)KichigaiNeko Wrote: Sounds like a very 'common sense' approach to dealing with an addiction Padraic. So glad it worked for you....congrats on you stoicism over the years and your determination "Not to go Back to where you were in 2002" Doing "it" for yourself is probably the best reason ever!

You have my unbridled admiration mate.

Thank you,very kind of you.

PS; Got quite thirsty at the wake yesterday,and could have eated a cigarette. I ain't cured, and cannot afford to become complacent.

This is what alerted me to bjhulk...addictions aren't "cured" as you say they are not an illness. I'm sure you won't become complacent Padraic

Yea well done pad, I've had very close family members struggle with both Alcohol and Heroin so know how addictions can mess shit up. I've got a rather addictive personality too when it comes to substances of different kinds, although not to the extent it's causing me any problems in my life...yet.