Alcohol Addiction

[ShantiYogini]

Hi There
I'm starting raw again on Friday..... today I have had no coffee... and that's a huge feat in itself! Does anyone out there have an addiction to alcohol? have you found that being RAW has helped? I want to not drink and eat RAW and I keep letting myself down over and over again on these two things...... thanks,

[srsarri]

I can't say I had an alcohol addiction, but I used to do my fair share of drinking (im 22, 21 was a BIG 1). Since raw I CANT drink. I get sick immediately, so it wasnt hard for me to give it up. I had a glass of wine the other night and I passed out. Makes me really tired immediately. The one night on raw that I did drink heavily (4-6 drinks), I was violently ill the next day. I mean VIOLENTLY!!!

On the other hand I hear other people dont have an issue.

Depends on the person I guess. As for me, I had no choice but to not drink. The next question will be if you have a bad expereience drinking while raw will you stop being raw?

[lytlsprout]

if you really have a problem with drinking you should consider going to AA or some other kind of support group to deal with it.

[sweetlime]

i am fast learning that raw and alcohol don't mix. i have a pretty good tolerance--i.e. i don't get sick easily. but i noticed during week 1 of raw when i had no alcohol, i felt really great. but week 2 i drank semi-heavily twice, and i haven't been feeling that raw "glow" like i did the first week. i drank two nights ago, and today i am still feeling sluggish. i am assuming it has to be the alcohol. that stuff is mad toxic.

[EZ rider]

Different people react to alcohol differently. Some people find that booze is a health drink and improves their health with each drop they drink, the more they drink the healthier they get. Other people like Mel Gibson for example go berserk.

[Raw Yogini]

Different people react to alcohol differently. Some people find that booze is a health drink and improves their health with each drop they drink, the more they drink the healthier they get. Other people like Mel Gibson for example go berserk.

I seriously can't believe that the more someone drinks the healthier they get, no matter who you are. SOME studies show ONE glass of wine a day MAY have SOME benefits.

Anyway, ShantiYogini, people that are very addicted to alcohol sometimes have to have medical intervention for detox because it is possible to DIE from alcohol withdrawals. I have several family members that have had great luck w/ AA.

I know I drink way less now that I'm raw but I'm not addicted to alcohol and didn't drink much before raw either. I just plain don't feel like drinking very often and when I do I don't want more than one drink.

Best wishes and congrats on the no coffee.

[NYbutterfly]

I have found that since going raw, I can have one drink and STOP at one drink. Before raw, it was drink until I pass out or get sick, then keep drinking. No control whatsoever. My tolerance is fine, alcohol does not make me ill, but I really find that drinking alcohol has become a turn off. I have been to AA and the meeting are very helpful. If all addicts ate raw, they would find life much easier to live without their drug of choice. I know it worked for me!

As mentioned in a previous post, be careful coming off of an addiction without medical supervision. Withdrawal is very dangerous.

Best of luck to you!

[ShantiYogini]

Thanks NY Butterfly!! That's what I'm hoping for....no worries about withdrawl. I don't drink on a daily basis, but when I succomb to social pressure, I keep going and going and going..........
Your response means alot...

[phedre]

I also used to drink often and a lot and could drink freaking tons at a time, but since going raw I have almost no tolerance for it any more. 1 glass of white wine and I start to feel tipsy. I was celebrating an anniversary with family and had several glasses of champaign at 4 pm and still felt it at 11 that night. It's a huge turn off for me and I'm really not interested in drinking much any more. So it really might help you out that way too! :) Good luck with it :)

[saxmaam]

Shanti,

If you find that you can't get your drinking under control, to your honest satisfaction, then going to AA and following directions does work. I tried to send a private message to you but you've got that feature turned off.

Be well!

Susan

[FloridaPatty]

that sugar, alcohol, and cigarettes affect the body the same way. Increase blood sugar. Best to get off everything to get away from any of them I would say.

[domestic goddess]

I have found that the longer I am raw, the less I WANT to drink. I never had a real problem with alcohol, but I do enjoy a glass of wine or two regularly. I shoudl say I used to enjoy that. Now, I don't have the desire at all and even when I have had a glass of wine recently, I end up taking a sip or two and dumping the rest...it just doesn't feel right to put it into my body anymore. So, maybe just stick with raw and your body will naturally start to have less cravings. AA is a good idea too if you are having a hard time with the psychological piece of drinking.

Good luck to you!

[sspl01]

I would say if I was going to do it over Hope Trust's centres are comfortable facilities where clients are treated with care and concern. The treatment is based on the world-famous 12-Steps program, which is proved to be the most effective recovery program, adopted by leading rehabilitation centres worldwide.

Mack


Idaho Alcohol Addiction Treatment (http://www.alcoholaddiction.org/idaho)

[Zaphirah]

Thanks NY Butterfly!! That's what I'm hoping for....no worries about withdrawl. I don't drink on a daily basis, but when I succomb to social pressure, I keep going and going and going..........
Your response means alot...

If this is the case, IMO alcohol *may* not be the issue. It may be something more internal re: esteem/peer pressure/stress releaser.

I have no clue if this helps but I heard this the other day and it resonated with me so intensely that I can't stop thinking about it

"You are the architect of your own life and body."

That has totally got me questioning everything I put on my plate, or drink, or do (or NOT do in the case of exercise. :p ).

So does alcohol (a poison) fit into your personal BLUE PRINT for your health/life/body? :confused:

[Blazin'Jane]

The being out of control after having one drink is what makes me think that AA might be a good choice for you. It's not the frequency of drinking episodes that make an alcoholic, but the not being able to stop once started. I finally went to AA in 1985 after years of frustration and not being able to ge hold of myself. Stepping inside the door the first time was the hardest thing....after that it got lots easier. I recommend it!

[annavon]

I have found that since I went raw, that I don't like alcohol as much as I used to. I pretty much had a glass of wine almost every night. Now, I have one per week, if that. Some times the wine doesn't taste good to me any more. I notice I don't feel well after drinking it either, so I am really motivated to not drink.

[Stina]

I noticed that Dr. Gabriel Cousens ridiculed AA in his first edition of Conscious Eating, then left that out in the second edition! Must have gotten some feedback on that! I'm an AA member and it's been such a joyful blessing in my life. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have the stability to be eating raw, to say the least. I also left behind a hardcore pot-smoking habit. And, for the record, not everyone I know who goes to AA smokes cigarettes and eats donuts, okay. Once people get some equilibrium, a lot of them grow and become health conscious. I get tired of that negative, false stereotype. But, anyhoo....... in early recovery, I was trying to eat macrobiotics and failing miserably. If I had had raw concepts in my life, it would've been an easier transition, a lot of which is because a deficiency of certain amino acids will produce cravings and we then erroneously try to fill that void with the wrong substance: alcohol, junk food, fill in the blank. So, AA's not for everyone, but it's very effective for those willing to bite the bullet, swallow their ego and work the steps. I've had tremendous personal and spiritual growth as a result. And I love how eating raw helps me to help others in the program since I feel so energetic, clear and spiritual thanks to the diet.
If nothing else, please get a wide variety of leafy greens in your diet to cover the bases with amino acids. I'm glad to see so much heartwarming responses on this board: please let us know how you're doing and feel free to e-mail me privately for moral support anytime.

Love and Peace,
Stina

[sujith]

Alcohol addiction is very bad for physical and mental health. If anyone is needed help to come out of it for more details contact here.
--------------------------
Sujith

New Hampshire Alcohol Addiction Treatment (http://www.alcoholaddiction.org/new-hampshire)

[Jenifae]

As it's already been said that it's not the frequency that indicates whether a person is addicted to alcohol and/or drugs but, the feelings and drive behind it. The cravings for more once you have one sip, toke, or hit. This is more of what it is. Most alcholic/addicts drink and use to numb thier feelings of being differnet in some way.......insecurities and/or fears.

A normal person "non-alcoholic/addict" stops when they begin to feel a little tipsy and the alcoholic feels like they are just starting to be comfortable and excited about that feeling so, they continue.

AA is a place where like minded people thrive in maintaining abstinence and new path and direction.

Alcohol withdrawal can be very serious so, if you need a detox it's okay. Better safe then sorry.

Easy Does It!

Fellow Recovering Person :)