A couple of months ago I went to a doctor to get a prescription for sleeping
meds so I could stop using alcohol for sleep. The doctor asked me how much
alcohol I was drinking and how often and with that, told me NOT to go cold
turkey. She told me that immediate withdrawal could cause serious problems
such as seizure, stroke and at worst death. She also said that if I had any
trouble with withdrawal complications, I should get to the hospital
immediately. I followed these recommendations and managed to reduce
drinking until the doctor said it was time to stop.

I did it from my doctor's plan.

Now at AA today, there was a person who didn't know about the possible
problems of going cold-turkey. It was his first day. I'm sorry, but I
couldn't keep the possibility of complications from him. I opened my mouth
and stuck both feet in. I told him about the possible problems of immediate
withdrawal. I then said what my doctor had me do--no one believed me. How
would a doctor ever tell an alcoholic to cut-back slowly? It goes against
everything these people believe. I was basically lying. Right? Nope.
After years of abuse, I wanted to get off and that's what my doctor told me
to do.

It sucks. I thought I was doing the right thing by telling this person that
there could be complications. I didn't expect hostility. I didn't lie.

Sorry, just wanted to vent.

--Devon