Drunk and regretting it!

Well this isn't good, I bought a litre bottle of scotch and have drunk half of it and guess what I'M PISSED! This wasnt what I'd hoped for but it's happened! I'm a wreck, really need to sort my shit out! Guess I need to do more AA! Too drunk to write anymore (it's taken me 15 mins too write this) I'll write more tommorow when I'm (hopefully) sober!

My first AA Meeting

Went to my first AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting today, rang the national helpline yesterday ( 0845 769 7555 ) spoke to a very normal and down to earth woman (everyone manning the helpline is a reformed alcoholic) so they understand, she took my first name, age and location then said she would get someone from the local AA group to ring me. Half an hour later a man rang, giving only his first name, we chatted for about 10 minutes, I could relate to everything he said and had been through, he asked if I'd like to attend a meeting and after I agreed he gave me the time and location and arranged to meet me nearby 10 minutes before the meeting started and with that I'd made the first step.

Well needless to say I was worried and nervous, not sure to expect, I met my new friend at the agreed place and we walked into the meeting room, everyone was welcoming, friendly and chatty, after being offered a coffee and mince pie we all sat down, roughly 30 people were there ranging in age from early 20's to 60's or 70's.

There were a few announcements, I was welcomed and then people took it in turns to recount their experiences, most recalled their first meeting, and most had had the same fears and misgivings as me, and of the 10 or so people all said hello to me.

After an hour it was over, these were normal everyday people, friendly and helpfull, some had not drank for 20 or 30 years, some may have had a drink this morning and although I felt awkward and embaressed when I arrived, when I left I felt less so.

several people came and talked to me after the meeting, several of the male members gave me their telephone numbers and invited me to ring whenever I was struggling or needed a drink

Although most of what was said went over my head and a lot of the steps to recovey were not mentioned the one thing that I did take away was that they dont try and stop drinking for ever just for that day and if you manage for that day then try the next day.

I feel positive and am looking forward to my next meeting.

First Post

Well hello, not sure who I'm saying hello too as no one will be reading this! But maybe someone will at some point.

So why have I started this Blog? And why is it called The Alcoblog? Well it's not a guide to the best pubs or the best alcholic drinks, infact it's quite the opposite.

I'm a 28 year old man with a drink problem who is trying to get sober and stay sober and I wanted a place to write my thoughts and track my journey, partly so I'd have a record of my struggle and partly because I hope that I may in someway be able to help other people with similar problems and show that if I can do it anyone can.

So, as I said I have a drink problem, I drink to get drunk, not socially with friends or family but on my own in secret, so how did it start you may be asking, well that's a tricky one, I suppose I've always liked a drink and for the first 6 or 7 years of my drinking career (after I turned 18) I was a social drinker, going out at the weekend with friends, going to bars then clubs and getting pissed but there came a point where this wasnt enough, about 3 or 4 years ago things changed, When out with friends I'd go to the bar on my own to buy a round of drinks including my own but I'd also buy a straight double Vodka and down it at the bar and things got worse from there.

I ended up getting seriously hammered on these nights out, doing and saying terrible things and waking up the following day having no memory of most of the previous evening. I lost lots of friends, alienated and upset family and generally going down in many peoples estimations.

So I stopped going out and socialising in hopes that this might solve the problem and it worked for a short while but then I missed the drink, missed the buzz and the warm happy feeling drink gave me so I started drinking at home, at first I'd buy a bottle of Vodka on a Friday, start drinking at maybe 8pm and be drunk and asleep by 11pm having only drank maybe 1/4 of a bottle but as time went on the weekend would start on Thursday I'd start drinking earlier and a bottle of Vodka would last me a night not a weekend.

So where am I now? Well I'm an alcoholic! Drink has cost me friends, relationships, jobs etc. the list goes on so I've decided to do something about it.

I start a new job in January and I dont want to mess up, I want my self respect back I want to be normal (whatever that is) My mother and my girlfriend are wonderful and are going to support me and I've joined Alcoholics Anonymous which brings us back to why I'm starting this blog, I want to get sober and I want to record my progress.

I'm sure there will be highs and lows but whatever happens it will all be here for the world to see.