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Post by sloshychips on Nov 8, 2018 7:16:21 GMT -5
Went to the doctor today. I'm tapering down tonight with only 5 beers. Usual was about two to three sixpacks. He gave me a diazepam prescription however I'll scared to take it. I don't want to add/replace another addiction. It was good to tell someone. I'm going sober tomorrow. I'll be back to see him in a week. I'll let you know how I go.
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Post by soberinmi on Nov 8, 2018 10:03:31 GMT -5
Diazepam is better known as Valium which was carelessly dispensed like candy when it first came on the market causing a lot of addiction, not unlike the opioid crisis, so you were right to be concerned, especially if you are not under the close supervision of a doctor.
If you are truly alcoholic, an appropriate but disliked term here, rather than just being a heavy drinker "studying hard to be an (alcoholic),” you are not likely to be able yo "taper off,” at least not long-term.
On the Internet it is argued that drinking for alcoholics is just a choice or is voluntary just like any other addiction. Few have the intestinal fortitude or inner strength to even "control" their addiction or combat their "compulsion" on their own. This also denies the fact that alcohol does become physically addictive, after being emotionally addictive, in time. It can be done in many cases with help from others.
In my opinion, if you go that route, rehab by itself is no good, it fills you full of self-knowledge in a safe environment and then tosses you back into the same environment you came from feeling like superman. I believe in AA, another disliked term here, though it has its problems most notably the invasion of nonalcoholic drug addicts; AA is for alcoholics – what a concept. The simplest argument is the fact that there are so many 12-step programs, even programs for specific narcotics, which testifies to the fact that addiction sufferers see a difference among addictions.
The first step to recovery is an admission that there is a problem, denial among addiction sufferers is quite normal and quite problematic.
It is more of an NA concept, but be weary of substitution, substituting one mood altering substance or even a sustained and frequent behavior resulting in instant gratification for another. Alcoholism and illicit drug addiction coexisting is common, but alcoholism (and/or illicit drug addiction) and a gambling addicition coexisting, among others, is not unheard of.
Note that alcohol is a legal narcotic or mood altering substance served by AA which is one important way alcoholism is set apart from other addictions, while NA serves illicit or illegal drug users. That line just a got a little blurrier with the inclusion of Michigan among the handful of states where recreational use of marijuana is legal, though there is Marijuana Anonymous.
Don't be too concerned about most of what I have said, others will, the results of your tapering off will direct where you should go from here. Happy trailing off ("trails") to you!
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