Quit drinking

[Hawk7051]

I have formally quit drinking. It started out as a "drying off" period, it is now day 16. I have been drinking for 9 years since I turned 21 at Camp Pendleton.

I fortunately have never been in any alcohol related incident. However there is too much riding on what seems like a trivial thing.

I have my civilian pilot ratings and recently just enlisted in the ANG as a C-130 crew chief.

It has been very psychologically demanding.

Semper Fi.

[devilbones2]

Congrats.

[USNAviator]

I have formally quit drinking. It started out as a "drying off" period, it is now day 16. I have been drinking for 9 years since I turned 21 at Camp Pendleton.

I fortunately have never been in any alcohol related incident. However there is too much riding on what seems like a trivial thing.

I have my civilian pilot ratings and recently just enlisted in the ANG as a C-130 crew chief.

It has been very psychologically demanding.

Semper Fi.


Congrats on all counts. If you're going to continue flying it's best doing so sober

Are you certified private, recreational or sport? And do you have your instrument rating?

[Hawk7051]

Congrats on all counts. If you're going to continue flying it's best doing so sober

Are you certified private, recreational or sport? And do you have your instrument rating?

Commander,

I am a commercial certificated pilot, multi & single engine land, with an instrument rating.

[USNAviator]

Commander,

I am a commercial certificated pilot, multi & single engine land, with an instrument rating.

Outstanding, you're good to go. :thumbup:

[Mongoose]

I have formally quit drinking. It started out as a "drying off" period, it is now day 16. I have been drinking for 9 years since I turned 21 at Camp Pendleton.

I fortunately have never been in any alcohol related incident. However there is too much riding on what seems like a trivial thing.

I have my civilian pilot ratings and recently just enlisted in the ANG as a C-130 crew chief.

It has been very psychologically demanding.

Semper Fi.
Good for you Hawk! I drank for 45 years. The day I turned 60, I put it down for good.

[Old Marine]

I have formally quit drinking. It started out as a "drying off" period, it is now day 16. I have been drinking for 9 years since I turned 21 at Camp Pendleton.

I fortunately have never been in any alcohol related incident. However there is too much riding on what seems like a trivial thing.

I have my civilian pilot ratings and recently just enlisted in the ANG as a C-130 crew chief.

It has been very psychologically demanding.

Semper Fi.

Outstanding. I gave it up along with the smokes when they opened my chest in 1990. These days when I so much as smell a bottle cork, I feel drunk. Best thing that ever happened for me and my health along with my wallet.

:evilgrin:

[Carpshooter]

I haven't had any great amount , just N A beer for the last 20 years , quit cold turkey , wasn't all that hard as I just woke up to the fact that I could get a DUI sometime ! ;)

[SlingerDun]

No tobacco and very little alcohol has created more liquidity and investment opportunity's around here!

After a full day of shoeing i used to drink my face off as a "reward", like a celebration for surviving, collecting a check and remaining relatively sound; then crippled my efforts with excessive alcohol. Did that for almost two decades but these day's only inebriate a couple times per year, or less. Guess i outgrew it.

Oh but the pain did suck! Wrastling shoes on horses while hungover is a farriers personal little chunk of hell.
Odoul's aint for me because i can now sample alcohol in moderation.


Haven't driven drunk in about 5 years and no open containers in my lap for at least 8.

[EGTSpec]

Great! Just wish I could. LOL Not ready just yet though. Although I have trimmed it back from a couple cases per week, to a few beers during the week, and only drink more on the week-ends. With me it's a leg cramp deal. When I drink more than a couple, I get severe leg cramps during the night.

[Kegler300]

Good for you! I gave up drinking for 15 years but somehow heard the Coors Light siren calling me back...

[jumpinjack]

Congratulations, keep up the good work, Jack Daniels and I use to be good friends, but he got me into alot of trouble, got me 10 ft tall and bullet proof, or the worlds greatest love, never went to bed with a ugly woman, but darn it I did wake up with a few, I quit drinking in Dec 1989 and quit smoking in 1992. Ain't been drunk since. But of all the drugs I ever did, that by far was the worst on me.

Semper Fi

[Zulu 36]

I have formally quit drinking. It started out as a "drying off" period, it is now day 16. I have been drinking for 9 years since I turned 21 at Camp Pendleton.

I fortunately have never been in any alcohol related incident. However there is too much riding on what seems like a trivial thing.

I have my civilian pilot ratings and recently just enlisted in the ANG as a C-130 crew chief.

It has been very psychologically demanding.

Semper Fi.

Congrats. I've been totally dry since my retirement party from the Air Guard (July1992). I stopped drinking and driving sooner than that after I had to arrest another police officer for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk. There but for the Grace of God, went I.

I do have a serious suggestion. As you are learning, it is very difficult to quit cold turkey (but it's the best way to go). I suggest that you find a support group that you can spend some time with during the first year or so. I didn't do that and paid a bit of a price mentally down the road. My first shrink was rather amazed that I was able to do it on my own and stay sober that long (six-years at that point).

As you well know, drinking excessively is an emotional crutch and something will have to replace it. For me, I turned into a workaholic and that was almost as bad, as it turned out. So one needs some help avoiding harmful replacement crutches.

Nothing says you have to go once a week. Maybe just when you feel the need for some company and a chat.

Funny thing though, I quit smoking a year before I quit drinking, but now sometimes, I get an urge to smoke, but never an urge to drink.

Good luck.

[EGTSpec]

Congrats. I've been totally dry since my retirement party from the Air Guard (July1992). I stopped drinking and driving sooner than that after I had to arrest another police officer for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk. There but for the Grace of God, went I.

I do have a serious suggestion. As you are learning, it is very difficult to quit cold turkey (but it's the best way to go). I suggest that you find a support group that you can spend some time with during the first year or so. I didn't do that and paid a bit of a price mentally down the road. My first shrink was rather amazed that I was able to do it on my own and stay sober that long (six-years at that point).

As you well know, drinking excessively is an emotional crutch and something will have to replace it. For me, I turned into a workaholic and that was almost as bad, as it turned out. So one needs some help avoiding harmful replacement crutches.

Nothing says you have to go once a week. Maybe just when you feel the need for some company and a chat.

Funny thing though, I quit smoking a year before I quit drinking, but now sometimes, I get an urge to smoke, but never an urge to drink.

Good luck.I have a couple of friends who were full time hard core alcoholics. One, a former Marine who was Marine of the Quarter at El Toro when he was in, and was a drunk as a civilian once he got out. After ruining ours and many other friendships due to drinking, he finally tried AA. He has been sober now for over 10 years. In fact he adminstered CPR on my Dad when he had his fatal Heart attack, but felt guilty because he wasn't able to save him. It was that act that rekindled our friendship. But AA was the deciding influence in his staying sober. I've seen the results. It works. Like Marine bothers, AA members have the fact that they have been there to relate to those who ask for help.

[Burke7051]

I have formally quit drinking. It started out as a "drying off" period, it is now day 16. I have been drinking for 9 years since I turned 21 at Camp Pendleton.

I fortunately have never been in any alcohol related incident. However there is too much riding on what seems like a trivial thing.

I have my civilian pilot ratings and recently just enlisted in the ANG as a C-130 crew chief.

It has been very psychologically demanding.

Semper Fi.

Ben,
I'm really happy for you my Crash Crew brother. I still am having trouble constantly on a daily basis when it comes to trying to stay sober. I hope you will have the strength to stay committed. I found that AA has helped me a lot, but I still have some issues to overcome. I truly wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Semper Fi
-Derek

[charm1110]

I have formally quit drinking. It started out as a "drying off" period, it is now day 16. I have been drinking for 9 years since I turned 21 at Camp Pendleton.

I fortunately have never been in any alcohol related incident. However there is too much riding on what seems like a trivial thing..........

Semper Fi.

In my experience it is only a matter of time BEFORE there is an alcohol related incident. Being dependent on alcohol or any other substance is never a trivial thing. If you've felt the need to have a drying off period then there's a probably a reason for that, whether it be physical or emotional you should pay attention to it. I quit finally after years of trying half heartedly, and can honestly tell you the grass is greener on the sober side of this fence!

Good Luck and Semper Fi....:flag:

[USNAviator]

I was a pretty good drinker in my younger days, if there is such a thing. Beer call at the O club was expected, damn near mandatory and if you had a CO or XO who were booze hounds, you were in for a long night

I can remember mornings during flight ops when we'd get to our birds early and suck on pure oxygen to clear our heads. Hopefully that doesn't go on today but I suspect it does

What set me on the straight and narrow was becoming a husband and father. To realize I was responsible for the well being of others is a great sobriety test.

To all who are fighting the disease, I offer you my hope and prayers

[Hawk7051]

Thank you everyone. The responses I have received have been very motivating and real.

I am taking the cash that would have gone to booze and using it to buy an NCO sword. I never purchased one on active duty, and have always wanted one. I found a good deal on one at a local surplus store, exactly my length 32", have it on lay away.

[USNAviator]

Thank you everyone. The responses I have received have been very motivating and real.

I am taking the cash that would have gone to booze and using it to buy an NCO sword. I never purchased one on active duty, and have always wanted one. I found a good deal on one at a local surplus store, exactly my length 32", have it on lay away.

Great idea Hawk. It will last you one hell of lot longer than the last drink you had.

[Old Marine]

When our daughter passed from Leukemia I crawled into the bottle thinking that was the answer. The next day the same problem was always there and I have no memories of the 80's at all. When you are drinking you always find an excuse for the next drink no matter how much you have induced into your body. Used to wake up in the chair at home and go out and see if I drove home. Always checked the car to see if I had hit anything. I guess I was lucky. Really glad that I am finished with that life. Quit cold turkey and haven't had the desire to go down that path again.

[Hawk7051]

Today marks 30 days of no alcohol. After 9 years of drinking, the previous month has been a challenge, I quit cold turkey.

Semper Fi

[USNAviator]

Today marks 30 days of no alcohol. After 9 years of drinking, the previous month has been a challenge, I quit cold turkey.

Semper Fi

Continued sobriety Hawk......:thumbup:

[ecfree]

Today marks 30 days of no alcohol. After 9 years of drinking, the previous month has been a challenge, I quit cold turkey.

Semper Fi
Keep up the good work BEN,it's a tough road but you can do it Marine.....Have faith.....
SEMPER FI:iwo:........................Ed

[linda1945]

Today marks 30 days of no alcohol. After 9 years of drinking, the previous month has been a challenge, I quit cold turkey.


Semper Fi


Congrats Hawk!! I know you can do it!! I don't drink, but quit smoking cold turkey 8 yr. ago and it was hard for 3 mo. and now don't even bother me to be around somebody else that smokes. We're behind you!!
Semper Fi
Lin

[Burke7051]

Today marks 30 days of no alcohol. After 9 years of drinking, the previous month has been a challenge, I quit cold turkey.

Semper Fi

Ben, I really do feel you on this. I have been trying my best to stay sober myself. I haven't had any alcohol in over 2 months, and I have been going to AA and keeping active, but somehow it doesn't always seem to work. I still find nearly every single day so far since my last drink to be a struggle, not just with alcohol but also with my anger too. I really hope that you can keep up the sobriety and I hope I can keep my sobriety up too. I have confidence in you bro.

SF Brother

[charm1110]

Good Job Hawk ! Keep it up Brother....

Same for you BURKE!

I found for myself that alcohol and bad temper issues kinda go hand in hand. After a certain period of real sobriety though the anger issues needed to be worked on separately.

Semper Fi Brothers!

[Osotogary]

Keep up the good work, Hawk7051. I have a story or two but they certainly may sound the same as the other stories except for the time, date, names and happenstance. No need anyway because the focus is on you and your efforts. All the best to you.
Gary

[06yz125]

When our daughter passed from Leukemia I crawled into the bottle thinking that was the answer. The next day the same problem was always there and I have no memories of the 80's at all. When you are drinking you always find an excuse for the next drink no matter how much you have induced into your body. Used to wake up in the chair at home and go out and see if I drove home. Always checked the car to see if I had hit anything. I guess I was lucky. Really glad that I am finished with that life. Quit cold turkey and haven't had the desire to go down that path again.



Sobering message..I am sorry.

Thank you for sharing.