(Part 2) Best products from r/alcoholism

For you carpet, Febreze tends to work really well. The Dyson dysolv and zorb products work really well too.

As for your drinking, the answer is to drink less. That isn't meant to sound insulting or patronizing, honestly. If you can control your drinking, then do so and drink less. (Or maybe don't smoke pot, if that is the main problem for you.)

Those of us who can not reliably control how much we drink have found the only long-term reliable answer is to quit drinking entirely. It is a very tough decision for most people. Are you at that point? Only you can decide.

If you are unsure about your drinking, you might try this quiz. Answer honestly, it's anonymous. It can help you decide how seriously to take this problem.

Since I quit drinking, I have found that dealing with problems instead of drinking them away is far more productive. (Because drowning your sorrows doesn't get rid of them, it is just a way to ignore them.) It's not always easy, but talking about your anger/disappointment/whatever with your husband is far more productive.

Lastly, if you do ever decide you need some help and support, remember that AA stands for Alcoholics Anonymous. People who attend those meetings all take that second A pretty seriously. It has also been my experience that sobriety is not grounds for firing someone, and it isn't even bad for a career. Many of us have found our careers and relationships have improved with sobriety.

Good luck.

I used to want what people with "faith" have. It seemed to me that there was something out there that was working for people who believed in something bigger than themselves. This applies to all spiritual & religious types. I would wonder - what is it that these Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims etc had that gave them this common serenity? I didn't care from whom or what this came from as long as I understood it. I just wanted to be happier and content but no one could explain faith without using faith in the definition.

After some digging I found a book 'The Paradox of Intention'. It explains why various faiths seem to have the same requirement to "let go" and "have faith". It also brings in modern psychology (Viktor Frankl) to explain this "faith" thing. After reading this I went from hating religion to a more tolerant position. I still can't respect people who abuse and mislead in the name of "god" but I now understand why people need faith in a higher power as well as how it works from a scientific point of view. To sum it up - the book states that faith is a state of "being" when one is happy regardless of the outcome of their efforts. When we stop trying to reach a goal is when we attain what we want. When this is practiced, a paradox occurs and we find that the things we want most arrive when we stop striving. All the major religions have discovered this and the language they use to teach it is in the form of metaphors. "God" is the best term for this thing that gives us what we want when we follow a selfless path etc... Please read the book if you want to whole scoop. It's a difficult and deep read.

I don't think people use the "God" stuff as an excuse. I think that AA needs to grow and mature to include people who are intelligent and don't require the metaphor language of religion.

It would be a great idea to sit down with your husband and watch the documentary that was made about The Sinclair Method. It's just under an hour long and can be viewed via Amazon, and for free if you have Amazon Prime or 2.99 if you don't. Coming from you, it sounds like an excuse to drink, but the documentary is scientific and factual and it will be easier for him to start to understand. We've had so many people say that this documentary was the breakthrough thing for friends and relatives to understand that this is a proper medical treatment. Sometimes I think the fact that it is named after Dr Sinclair can make people think it's just something someone found on the internet. The proper, medical term for the method is 'Pharmacological Extinction'.

http://smile.amazon.com/One-Little-Pill-Claudia-Christian/dp/B01F5U541E/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1463413933&sr=1-1&keywords=one+little+pill

The documentary explains the 'whys' and 'hows' of the method, has explanations from doctors who use the method on their patients and follows people on the method.

It's important for you husband to understand that this method didn't just happen - it's been 20 years of research from Dr Sinclair. Part of the reason it isn't known to well is because places like Hazleden want your money, and also because the naltrexone is so old it's out of patent now and so no pharma company is interested in focusing on it - they would rather focus on their newer medications that they have exclusivity on and earn mega bucks that way.

That sounds like a binger, BellaPop. Have him take a look at this and check it yourself, it helps to have the folks close to you on board:

http://patient.info/health/sinclair-method-for-alcohol-use-disorder

This method basically uses the booze against itself and he can use it while he's drinking, he'll gradually drink less and less and less.

Check out Claudia Christian's talk at TEDx too. Look for the first movie that shows CTRL ALT DEL on the screen and run it out to 2:51.
http://livestream.com/TEDx/events/5288559/videos/121386805

It'll give you a better idea of what he's up against, as Claudia was fairly buried in it herself. Tried just about everything to break the spell.

If that appeals to him, it can't hurt to check out Moderation Management or SMARTRecovery to take a look at the tools they use. The Sinclair Method will handle the cravings and the CBT / mindfulness tools will help manage the habitual part of drinking and make the process go more smoothly.

This has about an 80% success rate and it's what I use myself.

If you have Amazon Prime, there's also a video called One Little Pill, you can watch it for free:

http://www.amazon.com/One-Little-Pill-Claudia-Christian/dp/B01F5U8O5M/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Let me know if you have any questions, I'll be happy to get you pointed to the right resources.

Bill W, was greatly influenced by reading William James' book - the "Varieties of Religous Experience". Aldous Huxley wrote in 1945 a very similar book illustrating the same spirituality through a very detailed "Interpretation of the Great Mystics, East and West". A book which covers the same ground as James but I find personally a lot more readable

• http://www.amazon.com/The-Perennial-Philosophy-Interpretation-Mystics/dp/0061724947/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1
  
  
  In Steve Taylors Book "The Fall" - http://www.amazon.com/The-Fall-Insanity-History-Dawning/dp/1905047207 - he blames the desertification of the Sahara for six thousand years of unpleasantness. He says that Spirtuality certainly in the west and middle east was a direct result and contermeasure to balance out the ego-explosion that occured in man at that time. Freud describes this cultual ego explosion as super ego. Carl Jung, a pupil of Freud, argued that the only method successful in treating alcoholism was a complete psychic change brought about through ego deflation at depth - the sort of deflation that James describes. He told this to a patient of his - Roland Hazard who as a direct result joined the Oxford group where he met with Ebby T (Bill W's sponsor), gave Ebby James' book to read. Ebby didn't read it, he gave it to Bill instead and told him what Jung had told hazard. All this is documented in the "Alcoholics Anonymous" which Bill wrote (though I have added the names).
  
  If you aren't a book worm try this - Steve Taylor in an interview partly describing the his book Fall and the History of Western Spirituality - the soution employed by AA.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZrZYYAp7QQ
  
  TLDR; The perenial philosphy is the title of a book written by huxley in 1945. It describes what sprituality is. Modern western spirtuality grew up as a direct consequence to couteract a cutural ego explosion that occured 6000 years ago in the middle east as a result of climate change. The solution proposed by AA is ego deflation at large which brings about a complete pyschic change making alcohol a complete irrelavancy. Bill W just documented what had already been known for thousands of years and wrote it down in simple language simple enough for a modern day drunk to follow.
  
  Hope that Helps
  

> God, he's not lose. God is in us. In you.

Yes, that is a Buddhist notion. A great book that discusses that is The Zen of Recovery

My problem is finding a sponsor who is as open minded as he expects me to be, and is willing to accept that I need to work the principles in a way that will work for me.

I would love to PM back and forth with you and possibly share phone numbers.

I have a book suggestion for you called "I'm Not Sick, I Don't Need Help" It's written for families of loved ones suffering from mental health issues and it's about how to convince them to eventually seek help. Good luck!

Hey,

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Welcome! You have come to the right place. You are not alone. Read "This Nake Mind" by Annie Grace. It will set you free.

https://www.amazon.com/This-Naked-Mind-Discover-Happiness/dp/0525537236/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1556289466&sr=8-1

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Audioable has free trial promo. Sign up and start listening to the book now! Will change your life.

https://www.audible.com/

​

You got this. It's not you. Alcohol is ADDICTIVE period but you have to change your beliefs around this popular drug.

Need electrolytes my friend. Potassium and sodium are vital. Eat more bananas or try some dehydration salt mixes.

Here's an example:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OG8G9U2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PQNUCb8ABSX5T

First of all...congrats on coming this point.
You are admitting you have a problem and you know you need to address it.
How did I start the process....I told my family & friends, I was DONE drinking for LIFE. I told them WHY. This helped me be accountable.
YES you can sneak it....but you are only cheating yourself.
Then I got a book that I really connected with and started listening to podcasts which I also connected with. Both are the same guy..
https://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-Freedom-Powerful-Kickstart-Alcohol-Free/dp/1511611529/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480913845&sr=1-6
Maybe you connect with him...maybe not. But find something you DO connect with and fuel that fire daily.
Lastly, I realized that I am not a "normal drinker"...I don't "just have one"...after that first one, I want them all. So I chose to have none.
So far, I have been a million times more productive and life is much better. I hope the same for you!

I have exactly the same problem.

I bought a small kitchen timed lock box.

When I know I'm going to have heavy temptations I'll put my cards and cash in it and set the lock timer for 12 hours, 24 hours, heck, I've locked them for 3 days knowing I won't really need them.
Also removed my card info from my phone so no ordering that way.


I know this isn't for everyone but it's helped me get through some tough humps. I've easily saved what it cost me in a couple of weeks.

I enjoyed Running Ransom Road...Good read!

Don't know where you are on your journey, but I like this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BEFNXCM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1

It's just a short article promoting her book, which does seem to have a Notes section with references: https://www.amazon.com/Unbroken-Brain-Revolutionary-Understanding-Addiction/dp/1250055822

I have a Bactrack. It's Bluetooth and works with or without your phone. It's small and easily attaches to a keychain. It has a digital readout on the side, or you can link it to your phone. It tracks your BAC and can send the results to someone if you are trying to be accountable.

Don't know if they have these saliva tests at the drug store, but you can get them online. Cheap and easy, no urine required...unless you're into that.

Something I do is lock my cash and cards away in a timed lock box when I really want to have a stretch where I simply can't drink. Could be for an evening, a day, weekend, a week even.

It's helped me get through some rough patches where I needed a break.

This one.

Here is the mobile version of your link

This one?

It is possible to do alone. I've been to (court mandated) AA and NA and I simply cannot stand it. One sob story or wild tale of drunken adventure after another, the same stories week after week...everyone with tears in their eyes, a good 40% of people in there saying they are sober when the reality is that they have just switched up to something else (weed or pills generally). All the God and Jesus bullshit. I hate everything about it, even the camaraderie/people pretending to care about you

I wanted to become sober and I have. books like these X † X help me put things into perspective and realize that there is much more that I want to do in life than get home and get wasted and then feel shitty the entire next day.

I was a monster...I'd do any drug under the sun, I'd drink a fifth of vodka every night and I was able to stop with my own willpower eventually