timeismula wrote:
Alcohol and Marijuana. I'm gonna go full cold turkey.
Cold turkey will just make you a miserable, resentful addict. When you stop drinking, your disease doesn't go away. Most common thread amongst those of us who have been there but bucked the insurmountable odds....... AA.
I turned my life around and am really happy about it, but my past is embarrassing so I don't spend much time talking about it. I suspect more people have done it than op thinks.
My story isn't exciting. Grew up on a computer, pretty nerdy in high school and fat but not obese. Normalish college life, graduated, got a nob, got married, but it all happened within my comfort zone and I was coasting without paying any attention, but it also meant I was ignoring my family, friends, and wife and just sitting around in my free time.
Eventually got divorced and gradually changed over a few years. Picked up running as a hobby, then a social activity, then a social outlet. Still programmer but became a lot more extroverted in a leadership role, no more computer games and a lot more traveling and a new group of friends. Nobody from 5 years ago would recognize me. I also got remarried last month for what it's worth
And the friends I'm with tonight are giving me shit for typing on the phone so maybe I haven't changed as much as I think :)
Well I can't type and that post is incomprehensible so whatever
SoCal Pete wrote:
When I was 38 years old, I collapsed at my house--a predictable consequence of years of heavy alcohol, drug, and tobacco abuse--and woke up in the ER, where the attending physician told me that unless I changed my lifestyle, I'd never live to see my then 6-year-old son graduate high school. I couldn't change everything that was wrong with my life. But I could pull a pair of old Nike's out of my closet and start the long, incremental journey back to health, sanity, and a productive life. I haven't become a huge success, and no one's asking me to give seminars on winning at life. But I did mange to adopt a healthy lifestyle, get a job that allowed me to pay the rent while doubling as a good father, and 12 years later I got to sit in the stands and watch my son graduate from high school. I now run a fitness program, write books about running (my latest, The Born Again Runner, addresses my own return to fitness and sanity through running, as well as offering a path for others seeking the same), coach runners of all ages, and continue to train and compete at 55 years old. Just this past week, an old drinking buddy--a great guy who was never able to escape the substance abuse lifestyle--died. There are different levels of success, so I can't really speak to that. But I did turn my life around, and the experience has been incredibly positive.
I didn't know this about you Pete - congratulations for turning your life around.
kmaclam wrote:
Cold turkey will just make you a miserable, resentful addict. When you stop drinking, your disease doesn't go away. Most common thread amongst those of us who have been there but bucked the insurmountable odds....... AA.
That's a likely outcome but isn't necessarily going to happen to everybody.
In June 1986 I decided to stop drinking (I'd been doing it heavily) and just quit. No taper, no AA, no therapy. Once I made the decision, it was as if a switch had been flipped. Since then I have not once wanted a drink and I've been through full-blown depression, two marriages, and two divorces.
I don't do other drugs.
I'm good friends with some AA people, successful ones, but their paths to sobriety were not mine. We talk about it; I realize that I am very, very lucky for whatever physiological/psychological combo I tapped into 30 years ago.
As far as the OP's question is concerned, I can't say that stopping drinking alone turned my life around, but not having alcohol either as a crutch or an excuse sure helped. I had issues after that but my life definitely took an upward trajectory. I can't really say what might have happened to me if I hadn't quit drinking, but I'm confident that it would have been bad.
Amen to you brother. More people need to get on there knees and pray and they will get much more out of life. Was an addict for 18 years and my personal relationship with god is what got me straight.
I’m a D2 female runner. Our coach explicitly told us not to visit LetsRun forums.
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Guys between age of 45 and 55 do you think about death or does it seem far away
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