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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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Apr 21, 2010 - 07:48pm PT
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Today I'm holding my sister's hand as she waits to hear about her husband's medical tests. He is 50. If he is lucky, he just has cirrhosis. If he isn't lucky, she is definitely raising the kids alone. Absolutely started with drinking. His biggest regret is that he did this to himself.
So take great pride in each day that you take care of yourself and don't leave a mess for someone else. Hope that you have accumulated a more months since your first post.
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xtrmecat
Big Wall climber
Kalispell, Montanagonia
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Apr 22, 2010 - 10:55am PT
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To all of you struggling to get the early sobriety out of the way, let me say again, no matter how bad it seems now, it does get better, keep at it.
Mimi, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, so please don't. This disease, yes disease, kills.
And a last, and sad note. I have been waiting all week to find out when the funeral services will be for a lifelong friend will be. The family is so distraught from his drug related murder, they have decided no service is the best thing. It is all over the media here, and speculation as to motives, gangs, drugs, and the whole ugly mess is everywhere. This is a small community with none of these problems the norm. No room for the grieving or sorrow. He and I spent the last years of my using together almost every day, and night. My sobriety didn't end our friendship, but in order to remain diligent in my path, I had to walk a different road. I will miss him greatly.
The main thing I would hope you can glean from this is that he and I were the same, only I got lucky. Out of all the people we did our thing with, only three others and myself remain on this planet. And we will talk about it when we see each other next, most likely at a meeting. Hmmmm.
Bob
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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Apr 24, 2010 - 12:16am PT
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Good thoughts for everyone who's working on this tonight.
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Prezwoodz
climber
Anchorage
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Apr 24, 2010 - 01:05am PT
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Those times when people go out drinking and wasted after climbing drives me nuts. There useless most of the next day and I am still gunning to go hit something new. . I for one don't think its cool in anyway, could be because ive never drank in my life but to me its a waste of time. I give you a double thumbs up for giving it up for something greater. Those times spent in pubs could be better spent climbing something or on the wall.
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Roger Brown
climber
Oceano, California
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Apr 24, 2010 - 01:33am PT
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4 months-17 days
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Apr 24, 2010 - 01:39pm PT
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This may have been pointed out already. Key treatment for recovering alcoholics is to provide fave sweets. The candy replaces the sugar source from the alcohol and helps stem the craving. One thing about taking a break that I share with friends; why be forced to have to quit doing something you really enjoy? Don't let it become such a problem that you would consider quitting. What a bummer that is. Large doses of chocolate for example.
Other than that, it's like breaking any other habit. Just do it! God bless!
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This might be okay advice for getting past the initial craving for alcohol, but that's just a small part (the symptom) of an alcoholic. A program addresses the underlying malady that triggers the drinking in the first place. The reason that people need to keep going to meetings is that the alcoholism is a permanent condition. Yo only get a one day reprieve.
JL
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Redlands
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Flying back home to SoCal tomorrow after burying my only grandpa. Still sober. I don't really know how to deal with people repeatedly offering me drinks after being told I'd quit.
"Hey, you want a beer"
"No thanks, I don't drink anymore"
Five minutes later, same person...
"Hey, you want a beer?"
"Hey, are you f*#king deaf? I don't drink anymore"
Sugar cravings are basically gone, so I got that goin' for me.
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Mimi
climber
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Yes, the sugar supply is one part of the early physical side of things. Good counseling and support are mandatory along with the will and desire to improve your own wellbeing.
Sorry about grandpa.
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Chief
climber
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Thanks to Hank and everyone who's had the courage to share here.
It's an inspiration to many, myself included.
Best to all.
Edit; To those who haven't seen it, check out Michael Keaton's performance in "Clean and Sober". There's also a reality TV show, "Sober House" that shows no one's immune from the ravages of an addictive lifestyle and that the very things that drive people to apparent success are also their ultimate undoing.
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xtrmecat
Big Wall climber
Kalispell, Montanagonia
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Sorry about you Grandpa. Hardest part of life.
Congrats if your still sober though to all, but especially Hank and ECIYA.
Side jaunt if I may. I am heading to the valley next week for a month plus of festivities, is there an active meeting in the valley? When and where? Just asking.
Bob
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Glad to hear, Elc. When are you headed back to the valley?
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Jun 22, 2010 - 10:04am PT
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the south threshold of my fortitude co-boundaries the north end of a searing ailment.
mere inconveniences plucking at my life twine.
a sorrowful tune ensues.
my soul dances to the sad ditty,
and then limps home to enjoy the comraderie of lonliness.
a splinter in my toe,
becomes an arrow in my bow.
with poor aim but rich hope,
i fire the dart at the devil all about.
a lapse in his laughter as he falls dead to the floor,
though he rises again in mock praise of jesus.
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quartziteflight
climber
Who knows?
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Jun 22, 2010 - 10:22am PT
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Here's a question for yall who've quit drinking. I quit drinking for a while just for hell of it. Did you find life boring as sh8t after stopping?
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H
Mountain climber
there and back again
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Jun 22, 2010 - 10:44am PT
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Hi Bob I am a little late on the draw. I guess you in the Valley by now. They have meeting there just check the newsletter they hand you when you come in the gate.
Wow Norwegian that was awesome.
Quartzite, my life became very full after I changed a lot of my habits and went to a lot of meetings. I started climbing which rapidly became my new addiction. I filled my life with healthier things. Sorry your board, but that is a much better problem then where alcohol can take you.
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Jun 22, 2010 - 10:45am PT
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Sharp end= not boring. Get after it.
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Les
Trad climber
Bahston
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Jun 22, 2010 - 10:59am PT
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amazing thread. with advice from climbing luminaries such as Largo, Steve Schneider and Ward Smith, to name just a few. based on Ward's post, I would say there's something to this amorphous "climbing community" thing. have a few friends who've gone the way of sobriety, and I recall one telling me, after I told him that it was about time and that I was really happy for him, that I was one of the few people to actually say that to him. he said it meant a lot to him. best wishes for all of you out there who struggle with this demon.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Jun 22, 2010 - 12:42pm PT
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Sharp end= not boring. Get after it.
Love that post.
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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Jun 22, 2010 - 01:04pm PT
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Hank, people are pulling for you.
My sister's husband has had surgery and is getting further treatment. They are hopeful. Yes, his alcoholism injured to his liver. His subsequent sobirety is the only reason he isn't already in the ground.
Reviewing this thread, it appears that there are quite a few people who no longer indulge or who do not overindulge. I'm no world class climber, and I don't have a long list of folks clamoring to climb with me. I do have a list of folks I won't go climbing with - I don't want to come to a ledge and find them indulging, and I don't want a late start on Sunday cuase they are too hungover to get up. When I tie in with someone, I need to be able to really trust them. I'll pass on party boy. I'll tie in with a man or woman who has a clear head and focus.
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho-dee-do-dah-day boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom
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Jun 22, 2010 - 01:29pm PT
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Sober exactly 18 years as of one hour ago.
Funny how insidious this disease is that I can remember the exact second I put down that last drink.
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BrianH
Trad climber
santa fe
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Jun 22, 2010 - 02:03pm PT
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I started climbing when I was 33. I started drinking long before that and smoking even earlier. Lying in bed recently, recovering from surgery; I started planning a year long road trip to realize a 15 year dream of getting my ass up some big ol'mountains.
I can't do it if I continue to drink and smoke. Youthful vigor is giving way to something else and the booze and the smoke have become very hurtful.
Thanks for all the truths here.
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