3 nights of being drunk

So last week I became drunk three nights in a row. I don't mean buzzed either, I mean absolutely wasted. While I was completely wasted I ended up calling the hopeline (which is a christian based line for people in a crises).. Anyways the guy told me to stop drinking and that the next morning to read my bible and then call the line back sober the next night. Instead I ended up drinking again and called up the line completely drunk and the same guy read to me from the bible and tried to comfort me. Did I listen? No. The next night I call up again drunk but this time I'm screaming and crying to the people while cutting my legs(I'm a depressed drunk).... It was a bad night. To teach me my lesson the hopeline people said they would hang up next time I called drunk. Well I ended up pouring out all my alcohol and am allowing myself to call them again in a week with positive news of my sobriety. I'm being good though... in a sense... I haven't gotten drunk... mainly because I have no alcohol right now. I'm reading my bible... but not feeling a connection. The worst part is that I'm really, truly, entirely craving to be drunk again. I know that if I get the chance I will fall right into the sinful temptation of alcohol.. and I feel really bad because I know that it is against God's wishes for me to drink. But I honestly cannot help myself... =[ How do I get rid of this burning desire to be drunk and form a strong connection with Jesus?

Hi Kelly,

Abusing alcohol is a sin, not a disease. Obviously there is a part of your nature that enjoys the feeling of getting drunk. In order for you to stop exploring that enjoyment and the danger that comes with it, you must have the desire for alcohol replaced with a greater one.

Start by recognizing the consequences. Many are obvious and you have likely already confronted some (depression, hangovers, etc.). But more importantly take some time to study the seriousness of what drunkenness means to God. This is where you can find your greater want. Sin is nothing to fool around with. It starts subtly and leads to death. From there the results are catastrophic.

"Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1Cor 6:9-10)

However it does not have to be this way. Christ's grace is sufficient for you in weakness (2Cor 12:9) and you can overcome any sin with his Spirit. Confess your failures to God. Ask for forgiveness in Christ. Pray without ceasing. Make war with the cravings of your flesh. And lastly, share your burdens with other believers to strengthen you and hold yourself accountable.

I pray God blesses you Kelly with a deep desire to seek him above the fleeting pleasures of intoxication. And may you in turn be a blessing to others as he gives you victory over this burden.

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...forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit

Hey...I know that desire to get drunk all too well. How long have you been drinking? Do you know why you drink, what draws you to drink? Is it depression or do you get depressed when you drink, but not otherwise? I'm just trying to gauge whether you are a beginner alcoholic or just a person who enjoys drinking and desires drunkenness. (There's a difference in my mind). Just because you can't stop right now doesn't mean you are an alcoholic, it might just mean you need some support and some therapy for what is causing you to want to drink so bad.

Get yourself connected. The one thing that keeps me sober and off drugs is my friends and the time I spend with others in communion with God. When I attend prayer/worship group once a week and get in some strong God time as well as good time with strong christians, my desire to drink and do drugs plummets. I lose the desire. Every moment you spend reading your bible, talking with God, thinking about God, praying, listening to God, talking with other believers, you are combating the ways of the enemy and growing stronger against your desire. We all mess up, some more than others, some less...but remember that if you fall, you do not fail, as long as you get back up again. If you get drunk, get sober, throw out your alcohol, stand up and start again. It's not the end of the world, just reconnect and shake off the hangover and move forward. Don't run from God in shame and do not hide your face. After running time after time out of guilt and shame, I've realized that God wants us to run right up to him after a night of drunken cutting and cry in his arms. Getting rid of the desire is not easy and it will not just go away, but I do believe in full healing.

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I've got lots of poems...if you wanna read them...PM me....

Romans 7 discusses how Paul would do things he found disgusting, and not do the things that honored God. That is the nature of being a Christian. Our flesh will strive to take us away from the Lord, while our Spirit will guide us toward Him.

Alcoholism is a disease. There is a brain chemistry factor that contributes to it, as well as a genetic factor. It fits the criterion for diseases, in that is is progressive, fatal if left unchecked, and genetic.

But, it is also treatable. Abstinence is the recommended treatment. To achieve sobriety, total abstinence, I must attend AA meetings and work the 12 Steps recovery program. In addition, I attend outpatient treatment.

Go to some AA meetings and learn about how other people have been where you are and have found freedom from alcohol.

Alcoholics Anonymous :


Trish

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Seek always to do some good, somewhere. Every man has to seek in his own way to realize his true worth. You must give some time to your fellow man. For remember, you don't live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here too.
Albert Schweitzer

When you are struggling with problems/troubles you need to get your eyes off of your weakness/habit and get your mind on God. The bible says: "Walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh." What does that mean: Read the bible more, listen to good music, praising and worshipping God, less time worrying, less time trying to figure out your problems, less time struggling, less time being afraid that if you don't overcome this God will reject you and more time just Hanging on the vine. Guess what? God will give you the strength to overcome that weakness and that flaw. If you are struggling with something you don't need to put more effort in it you need to spend more time with God, you don't need to call up four friends ask them what to do you need to spend more time with God. - Joyce Meyer

Alcohol and drug addiction doesn't care who you are, what age you are, or 1st Gods plans for you. Also alcohol poisoning is a reality for many who consume large amounts in one sitting, especially when the body is not used to it.

Normal drinkers don't like what alcohol feels like after a few, so they stop at 1 or 2. Reading your post throws up some red flags to me, and I am glad you are recognizing them as well.
Think or write down in a journal whats going on with you, is there something bothering you that you are trying not to feel.
Did something happen? Perhaps you may need to see someone to work it out.

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Thank you all for your responses! It's true I do need to find the strength to stop drinking. Unfortunately the friends I have tend to pull me back down into the darkness of alcohol. I really ought to see someone and hopefully I will find the courage to ask for help... It's just that I've had such a hard life and sometimes I feel so sad that the alcohol numbs it for awhile... However I have been reading my bible lately! And I intend to continue reading it..

When I first began to attend AA, I was taught to avoid people, places and things that associated with my drinking. That meant, avoid the people I drank with, the places I would drink at, and the things that went with my drinking. That is why a program like AA is so powerful. I made new friends in AA, and hang out with them, and do sober things with them.

As for finding the strength, the truth is, NOBODY has the strength to stay sober. If we could do this on our own, we would not need God's help to resist the temptations to drink. That is what the AA 1st Step is all about. "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, and our lives had become unmanageable." The next two steps are about finding God to be our strength and giving Him our will and our lives.

If you were to attend some AA meetings, you would meet a whole lot of people who have had really crappy lives. I grew up in a household where mom was mentally ill and hospitalized when I was just a baby, and Dad was a violent alcoholic trying to kill Mom most of my life. At 14, I was sent to live with relatives for a while, and when I came home, I developed a relationship with a man I babysat for, and was molested for nine months, thinking he loved me. Then, I was in a bad marriage for most of my adult life, and on and on.

The beauty of my program is that I have learned not to drink under any and all circumstances. I have no excuse for drinking. I have been in psychotherapy for many years, and have resolved a lot of my issues, but I am living with God as my strength now.

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Seek always to do some good, somewhere. Every man has to seek in his own way to realize his true worth. You must give some time to your fellow man. For remember, you don't live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here too.
Albert Schweitzer

I agree 100% with Madison aka Trish
I really wonder if there is anyone in AA who had a perfect life, 0 pains to avoid.
I have yet to meet anyone like that.

We all have learned through the 12 steps and the strength of Christ to work through our pain, face the issues with the support of our sponsor and other members who are working on themselves. We find freedom of the things that once brought darkness.
Its not easy, but living with the tools of sobriety allows us to find joy and peace in our everyday journey.
Perhaps just go to a few meetings and give it a try, you may find this is just what you needed and it all clicks. You are not a failure going to these meetings, but a winner for reaching out for help. So many stay in the pain and darkness because they feel they can do it on their own, and reaching out seems too hard. Some don't make it.

I am so glad you are here talking to us, there are some terrific people here.

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Trish is right, you've got to stay away from those who drag you back down. Over time, you will begin to see warning signs within yourself that will help you to avoid drinking, but it takes vigilance abd time with God to give you the strength you lack as a human. You may not be a full blown alcoholic yet, but that doesn't mean that those who have been there can't help you out, so if you're having a hard time staying away from alcohol, you may want check out AA to get some support if you need it.

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I've got lots of poems...if you wanna read them...PM me....