Treatment will give you the tools you need – it’s up to you to pick them up and use them. It will be a challenge, but the results are totally worth it.
twicks, who’s been clean and sober since she entered in-patient treatment on 12/22/85.
I, for one, am very impressed that you’ve chosen this path, I admire you for the decision you’ve come to.
You are about to do battle with a very, very might foe. As you can see, we believe in you and are pulling for you, every inch of the way, whatever it takes. Stay healthy, stay focused, never lose sight of the goal. You may well need every fiber of your being to pass this test, all of your fortitude and definitely a cheering section.
Whenever you need us, we’ll be right here, rooting for you!
Congrats on your 5 months!! I, too, remember being absolutely terrified.
And congrats on your 23 years!!! I’ve got 21 years sober and no, it has not always been easy and, yes, every now and then I think “why not give it a try…it’s been so long”. But I don’t because it was very, very bad and I know myself well enough to know that I’d be right back there. I don’t need to add a problem to my life!
Alcohol sucks. You’ll be better off without it!
Best of luck, bean, sincerely. I’ll be praying for you.
When it seems like you really need your old crutch, just remember that you are the bean, the whole bean, and nothing but the bean. 
Thanks to all. It’s true, I am scared shitless, and I would be lying if I said that I know I’ll be sucessful. The thing is, there really is no other choice. I’ve known this was coming for a long time. I’ve tried to do it on my own, but at least in this situation, I have been my own worst enemy (morning-bean, “I’ll never drink again.”; evening-bean, “Christ I could use a beer.”; post-beer-evening-bean, “That was the last one. Mark this date.”; wash, rinse, repeat). So here goes.
- The bean abides.
Nice timing, bet that was a hell of a Christmas. 
I’m making a run at you though, today is my wedding anniversary; I can only hope that in years to come, tomorrow’s date will be an important anniversary as well.
You can do it, and will come out a much stronger and more confident person on the other side. The dope can be very useful in helping you through things… wait, that didn’t come out right.
It can be done! Good luck. (Myself, I grew sick and tired of being sick and tired. I still have a drink now and then, and feel good for about half an hour, but it really isn’t worth it! So “now and thens” are few and far between - Christmas and birthdays.) I hope you let us all know what the outpatient treatment is like, and of course how you are doing.
Well, out-patient turned into in-patient and good thing it did. Although I had no serious issues with withdraw, I needed to be there. It was the most profound experience in my life - the worst and best thing that I have ever been through. Humiliating, humbling, and inspirational. I was discharged yesterday evening and attended my first meeting as a “visitor” last night (meaning I wasn’t a patient and was allowed to leave afterward - also, I was allowed to wear a belt and shoelaces). It’s weird, in a way I miss the unit, in that I miss the guys - thirty or so men who listened to me and did not sit in judgment. The doctors were there to call in the scrips, the nurses were there to check vitals and the staff was there to boss us around, but the support of the other patients who were dealing with afflictions ranging from severe depression to heroin/cocaine/crack-cocaine addiction, that is what kept me up. I’ll probably write more later, though I don’t intend to turn this into a blog (::hears collective sigh::).
Glad to hear it.
Good luck, man.
Just remember, you are stronger than the booze, and you are in control of what you choose to pour down your throat.
Don’t expect it to get easy anytime soon. (5 years sober and I’d love to get shit-faced at 9:00 this Tuesday morning!)
Congratulations and good luck.
I’m on month 13 and went through a two week outpatient program. I went for the same reason as you - to save my relationship.
The program was very helpful, but very, very emotionally draining. I cried a lot. I felt a lot of feelings that I was covering up with alcohol and it really sucked some days. The first month was very hard, but I made it through and you will too.
I didn’t go to AA (but did go to a few SMART meetings) and decided when I quit drinking that I would be able to drink again in 6 months without going overboard. Six months came and I decided to wait a year. A year came, and I feel like I’d rather live without alcohol.
My life has done a complete 180. I have goals, and I reach them! You can too! I just finished my first triathlon this past weekend, and I in the best shape of my life, metally and physically. You won’t believe how great you can feel!
Please keep us updated.
Good luck Whole Bean. I hope it works, and improves your situation. Does not sound easy…
To me, this is one of the more difficult parts - learning how to deal with feelings. It just seems strange at times- for example, you’ll be doing something, then feel weird, then realize “Hey! I’m feeling grief about that!”. It gets easier with time.