"ebros" <ericksonbros@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:gB3Ka.11622$e26.8550@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.ne t...
> Celebrate the morning without a hangover.
>
> I am in three sports leagues: Tennis, hockey, and lacrosse. Tennis on
> Tues., Hockey on Thurs., and Lax on Sunday. We drink beer like fish after
> we play. It is really starting to get me down. Lately, I have had a hard
> time not drinking on the off days. Last year I did not even think about
> drinking on my off days. Tonight I am going to try to drink my bottle of
> water and then two beers. Usually I drink between 4 and 5 after a match.
> Then have one when I get home.
>
> At age 42, I stay away from wine. It seems to hurt my vision. In the
> morning, following a bottle of wine at night, I have a hard time focusing
> between 7 and 8 a.m.
>
> Thanks for your story.
> Steve

Hi Steve,

I know what you mean when you say that you could at one time, go a day without a drink and now
find it hard not to. I experienced the same thing.

When I began drinking, initially in the late 1970's, for many years, I was able to drink moderate
amounts when I drank. (By moderate, I mean, not more than two glasses of wine in a session). Often,
when down the pub or at home, I was happy with just a soft drink. At some point, I crossed the line
at which I could take or leave alcohol and began to drink considerably more than was good for me
every night. It was many years before I admitted that I couldn't leave it alone. I only admitted it
when I felt that my life was no longer worth living. To this day, I don't know what made me seek
help at that point. What I do know, however, is that I was ready to give it up and because I really
wanted to, I succeeded in doing so.. I was on the wagon for about eight years. Then, as you know,
one night, I decided I wanted to drink again. So I did and very soon I was again hooked .. When I
now think about how I used to convince myself that I could control my intake, I realise what a fool
I was. .

If you think the time is now right for you to give up drinking and you really want to do it, I see
no reason why you shouldn't succeed in doing so. I will not offer advice on whether or not it is
better for you to follow the route whereby you slowly reduce your intake or go (is it go ?) cold
turkey. Only you can decide that. For me, going cold turkey was the only way.

If you have decided that it would be best for you to stop drinking, then here you will find
encouragement to do so and maybe even strength to get you through those periods when your resolve
not to drink is weak

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you a long and happy life..

JB.