Alcholism......

[Flaptail]

sucks. How does a person get to the pits so fast? A co-worker is going through a period where the only way out is the big sleep or re-hab and we aren't winning the re-hab battle. Booze blows!

[Karl F]

as someone who works in the booze industry, been impacted by the disease on several levels, seen things happen, that most of youse would never believe.. i will just agree,....

only thing flap, is i bet is wasn't as fast as you think... the cover slipped and allowed others to see... usually happen once they are in waaay too deep to maintain the cover...

I hope your co-worker, will accept the help of re-hab... the one thing i know for certain, is if the person does not truly want the help, it will never work.

it is still the onlhy legal mind altering substance, (other than coffee, which blows too)....

legalize pot......i know a lot of folks that would actually benifit, from that

[FishermanTim]

What REALLY gets me, even to this day, is the cop-out reply: "I don't have a problem, I can quit anytime I want!"
I had an achoholic father who changed after a near death accident (not drinking related).
I've got brothers that thought they were fooling everyone, when in fact they were only fooling themselves.
Fortunately enough for me, I never had a problem with booze or drugs, even though I did "experiment" briefly in my youth. My feeling was that I didn't like the feeling of "losing control" so I just gave up on those negative influences. Now I exercise regularly, fish more regularly, and look and feel better than my younger siblings.
By the way, I'm 46 and could EASILY pass for someone in their 30's.

There was a saying that I heard years ago that has stuck with me for many many years: The best thing you can do is to live better than your peers. I don't have more stuff, make more money or eat at finer diners, but I like to think my experiences are creating a fuller life.

[ProfessorM]

They have to want to quit Steve or all the help in the world won't win. Rock bottom has not occurred yet I would think, sometimes it never does. A very frustrating disease to those involved. Good luck

[tattoobob]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

sucks. How does a person get to the pits so fast? A co-worker is going through a period where the only way out is the big sleep or re-hab and we aren't winning the re-hab battle. Booze blows!

You work in the school system? if the person is a teacher or works around children this is not good.

The only thing that can help is get him involved in AA and he must go to a meeting at least once a day sometimes twice works morning and night. Go to meetings and use the phone when you feel like drinking.
There are people there that have been thru it probably worse than most. But like most say he or she has to want it first. If the person has close family maybe an intervention could work then rehab then meetings, they need to know people love and care for them to really want to try. If there not doing it for themselves maybe they could be doing it foe a son, daughter of wife.

[striperman36]

Intervention and AA, it's the best way.
The next best way is hospitalize him and get pysch treatment.

It sucks either way.

[Clammer]

All of this advise is good.great ;;

but the person has to want it for himself /not others ..

&&& if he does he [HAS} to be a active person in the recovery ;;


&&&&&&&&& unfortunity there are those that want soberity soooooooooooooo bad && just can,t get it ;;

IMO .. if they don,t do the twelve steps [HONESTLY} they will not have the tools to deal with [THIS PROBLEM} when they need them ::

been there >> done that >>

I,m living proof /ya can still be f $%^&*( nuts without booze

[tattoobob]

My higher power is Clammer

[Goose]

There are lots of alcoholics living right under our noses. The truth is you don't know the amount a person drinks. Its sad but they gota get real low before they clean up

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by Goose

There are lots of alcoholics living right under our noses. The truth is you don't know the amount a person drinks. Its sad but they gota get real low before they clean up

Very true, sometimes you have to feel real pain before something gets your attention. Unfortunately, addiction is an illness that is often overlooked and left untreated. Sometimes it's an attempt to cover up something else deeply subconcious.

I do agree that the person has to want to participate in the rehab and yes, you need to understand and go through all of the 12 steps to even come close to succeeding with the AA treatment.

[Jenn]

Flap- I have seen more than my share and dont think it usually "happens fast".....fact is most have had a problem LONG before anyone would ever know it. Masters of disguise.....their problem is hardly noticed until their addiction has already escalated .....
Being supportive is noble but disheartening to say the least. You will never convince them to get help.....you can only suggest and hope they already have it in them to seek help themselves. You can be a friend but dont ever think you wont be deceived or lied too in the process......and with that last statement I will say that is the best advice I could give you to prepare for whats ahead.

[thefishingfreak]

There is a solution.
If AA doesn't help right away an addictions therapist could work wonders.

I've got 392 days worth of proof that recovery is possible.

[justplugit]

Fortunately alcoholism doesn't have the horrible stigma it once had,

so families can and should confront, and not hide the person's problem for the person or from others..

A person needs to take responsibility for themselves. As Clammer says," has to want it for himself[herself] not others".

Always takes the low of lows for an awakening.

Alcoholics believe there is no other happy life aside from drinking and are afraid to
give it up. Ya can't covince them otherwise.

The ones i know who have gone to AA or couseling, seen the light and gave it up, one for 27 years now, have never been happier in their life.

Tough row to hoe.

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

There is a solution.
If AA doesn't help right away an addictions therapist could work wonders.

I've got 392 days worth of proof that recovery is possible.

Congrats for you!!! Anyway you can do it, as long as you want it, helps you onto the road to reality and freedom

[Joe]

I've been thinking about doing a book/story on the most depressing fishing places in the winter and downward spirals of alcoholic fishermen.... Good stuff there..

[FishermanTim]

Then there are the "innocent bystanders" affected by the addicts habit.
I have a family member that was an Oxycontin addict, and she recently gave birth, and now the baby has to go through Oxycontin withdrawal.
I want to scream. It's bad enough that she wanted to trash her body, ruin any and all relations with the family, but she didn't give a damn about the baby.
The topping on this cake from hell is that she has 2 other daughters that had to live with her habit, her lies and her abuse.
She will obviously loose them to her ex, who wants to move to Florida, so this is shaping up to be one heck of a Christmas.
All I can do is keep thinking positive.

[OLD GOAT]

You can drink and that's OK but i can't

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by Joe

I've been thinking about doing a book/story on the most depressing fishing places in the winter and downward spirals of alcoholic fishermen.... Good stuff there..

You know Joe, most of the big name local and regional heroes, the real hard core guys, all seem to have that demon to fight. This passion of ours can easily get in the way of things like home, family and work. Once the obsession controls your life and the aformentioned parts of your life have been lost to your need to fish more and more regardless of the consequence you find that the bottle or chemicals is your only way to console yourself and forget what you gave up to be the "best". On the rocks or the beach in season one can have many friends but in the cold of winter there can be some lonely days for those who cannot manage both homelife and the call of the bass from April to October.

It's really an eye opener when you find out the real story behind some of them. Very sad indeed.

[stripersnipr]

Originally Posted by Joe

I've been thinking about doing a book/story on the most depressing fishing places in the winter and downward spirals of alcoholic fishermen.... Good stuff there..

Aint it the truth.
<Insert seaside fishing town name here> "A Quaint Little Drinking Village with a Fishing Problem". I can give you a long list of interviewees to help in your research.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

I've got 392 days worth of proof that recovery is possible.

A whole-hearted thumbs up to you Mike - Keep Up the Good Work.



My father was a very smart man and lost it all when he became an Alcoholic. He never was successful in recovery and died that way. I truly and deeply applaud those that make the turn and recover. I wish my dad had and was able to be a grandfather to my son.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

This passion of ours can easily get in the way of things like home, family and work. Once the obsession controls your life and the aformentioned parts of your life have been lost to your need to fish more and more regardless of the consequence

Funny you mention that....one thing I've noticed is that most of the really good fisherman when you are talking to them always have at least one sentence that starts with the words "My Ex-wife..."

[Joe]

If a person really latches on to fishing as a source of personal fulfillment, they are often (at least in my experience) very dissatisfied and alienated people with respect to other areas of their lives. Fishing does it for them in a way that their professional lives, their personal relationships, faith in God, whatever the things that "normal" people find rewarding, does not.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

solution.


I've got 392 days worth of proof that recovery is possible.

I'm proud of you .. sometimes your darkest day, looking back turns out to be the brightest.. enjoying your family and life itself is what its all about . helping others comes back to you ..

[Tagger]

Sorry Flap ... My old man died of Cirrhosis .. I've seen and known the beast . It takes many to the grave .. really sucks having a front seat watching it happen ..

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

It's really an eye opener when you find out the real story behind some of them. Very sad indeed.

It sure is, almost always some deep seated pain behind it.

I read that 8 out of 10 alcoholic women were sexually molested as children.

When it comes to addictive fishing it can be pretty lonely with the only thing to keep you company,
is a stuffed fish on the wall and a bottle in your hand.

[striperman36]

There is medication now that if you try to have a drink you puke.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by striperman36

There is medication now that if you try to have a drink you puke.

antabuse...or disulfiram

[piemma]

Demon Rum is a killer. As a salesman on the road for 30+ years I became a highly functioning alcoholic. Not much to do in the hotel after meeting with customers all day so you drink. pretty soon, it translates to home and it starts as 1 martini before dinner and escalates to 2 then 3 and finally you are passing out before you can eat.
I had my last drink on November 3rd, 1999. 8 years and I still miss the buzz but not the aftermath.

[Clammer]

A M E N >>.keep on fightin it >> it won,t quit on tying to kill you ::::

[Tagger]

funny ,when your young, your a party animal ..
when your old your an alcaholic ..
At what age does that change ?
think it was like 12 for me ..