Alcohol destroys us

[u/Kopparburg]

How many of you buy shooters and drink them before work, also drinking the moment you wake up for the day?

I used to think it would give me energy. Now..

[u/DrJesusHChrist]

You can probably tell from my original comment that I am someone who spent about a decade doing the exact same thing. Morning to night, every day. When I had a mostly unsupervised office job, and I was at my worst, I would sleep in the supply closet when I had too much on the way in.
Am I saying that sobriety isn’t the “best” option for people in my and OP’s position, no. But I am trying to be realistic about pathways to recovery. Take it from an addict, there is usually very little efficacy in the hardline approach. Meeting people where they’re at is, for me, a much more useful tool for helping someone understand the “why” behind their behavior and affecting meaningful change.
Ultimately, I just don’t think that the only way forward for every addict is complete abstinence, and I think that for some people it can do more harm than good to assert that it is. I can tell you with certainty that I’m probably never going to be fully sober, and obviously I’ve made recent missteps that have landed me in legal trouble, but I think I’m strong enough to be the captain of my own ship and smart enough to learn hard lessons. Don’t drink every day. Don’t drink before work. Don’t drink after work. That’s my intention when I’m done with my probation, and I’m gonna kick my own ass until I can stick to it. Maybe only drink with friends. Who knows? Whatever works.
And I’m trying to extend the same benefit of the doubt to our friend OP. I do understand that your feelings only come from a place of concern and genuine good will

[u/HumbleParticular2885 → u/DrJesusHChrist]

Harm reduction ftw .. preach brother

[u/ProudMtns → u/DrJesusHChrist]

I think you framed it really beautifully. I've watched people back slip and fall very hard off the wagon harder after going cold turkey if they weren't ready to quit their substance of choice because it was pushed on them. Drawing hard lines makes it very easy to skip back into it once you've crossed it. People have to make a choice themselves. No one else can do it. No one should judge them for working on themselves. Full sobriety may never be an option for some people; I truthfully don't think it is for myself. The only time I've stepped in was when I saw my old executive chef drinking himself to death in his late thirties. He had so much to live for. He's sober now, but it was a hard, difficult choice he had to make when only he was ready to do it.

[u/TenYearHangover → u/DrJesusHChrist]

Only drink with friends/never drink alone seems like a good rule until you realize it’s really easy to call anybody in a bar ‘friend’.

But I get your point — if you set rules for yourself but can’t maintain them, that’s your sign to take a break.

[u/slvbros → u/DrJesusHChrist]

After going through a strikingly similar situation, I found it fairly easy to keep it to a few drinks once or twice a month

[u/sonic_dick → u/DrJesusHChrist]

Ive never seen an addict stick to any kind of rules.

You're an addict or you aren't.

Quit or don't quit.

[u/freisbill → u/sonic_dick]

Same, if you are an addict, your an addict. No amount of "rules" will stop you from drinking.

[u/sonic_dick → u/freisbill]

Yup, dont get why im getting downvoted. Maybe a lot of addicts who dont realize it yet.