I slipped last night...

[WhenItAllGoesDownAgain]

I used to drink a lot, although it was never really a major problem, I hate myself for it. I really hate drinking and I feel so badly when I do it, I don't feel like it's something Christians should do. My friend drank a lot, but they don't anymore, and I support them with it, but I feel like a hypocrite now, because after quite a few months, I snuck 4 shots last night of Southern Comfort...I feel so badly. Can anyone offer advice? I have the bottle still and I should get rid of it, and I keep getting pressured by my friend to drink, but I really really don't want to, I don't want my friend to at all, so I feel so bad. What's worse is my friend will probably find this post and find that I have been dishonest with them and that I am a hypocrite, and I am worried about the fallout from that. My drinking isn't a problem, and I don't want it to become one, and I really don't want to do it again. Anyone help?

 

[Angeldove97]

I'm sure others will come in here and speak to you about what they've been through in life and how they've dealt with similar problems, but I just wanted to remind you that we're human... we will slip up, we will mess up, we will sin again. What you did last night does not mean you have to repeat it again today or in the future--- you can throw away the rest of that alcohol and start over.

Every Christian makes a decision that when we sin we can either let it take our souls over with anxiety and hurt or we can go to Jesus and ask for repentance and start new with Him... which is honestly something He truly wants us to do. He would never want us to close the door on us being truly alive and happy because of our past sins... which is exactly what this is: a past sin... something to repent and forget (like Jesus will).

As for your friends... you might be surprised that they can be very understanding. If you choose to not drink anymore, you should really be open and tell your friends that you don't want to be in that situation anymore. They're NOT being very friendly and caring if they then pressure you into that. You know the difference between right and wrong, you know in your heart drinking is wrong, so please don't worry about a fallout over alcohol with your friends.

With life being so difficult as is, why would people bicker with you over drinking? We need all the true friends we can be blessed with in this life... true friends will see that this is NO reason to fight over and lose a good friend over. Pray to the Lord that He would soften their hearts and let them see this reasoning and that the situation would be handled with love and grace.

 

[BlessEwe]

Very well said Angel Dove.

WhenItAllGoesDownAgain, first off congrats on the sobriety time. Did you know that abstinence is not about Will Power. Sobriety is very hard, but through the support of others and strength of God ( not ourselfs ) or some say a power greater than ourselfs.

Addiction is powerful, and it is very well known that if your around it you will find yourself drinking it without even knowing it. Its like a very heavy person trying to loose weight to save their life, yet they sit in a room filled with cakes and cookies. A person trying to quit smoking sitting in a room with 10 people smoking at once.

When you abuse any substance your brain chemistry changes. It is in the subconsious, the primal survival area of our brain. This is why we can find ourself using very fast if we are not careful. We can be in the Relapse mode for along time before we actually use. Check it out on the internet.. "Relapse"

Many times a relapse can really wake a person up into the reality of just how powerful addiction is, and they change what didn't work.

Your friends need to not worry about what you did, but see what their behavior can led to. If they continue to do this you need to ask yourself what is more important... Your life, or your friends.

Again very good for not staying in that behavior, but you got up and are learning from it.

 

[TheMainException]

Sneaky drinks is the first sign of a problem. You know it and you don't like it. Understandable. You can do a few things in this situation now...1) Continue feeling guilty and doing the same things, 2) Not feel guilty and allow drinking to be a social thing and not to get drunk and get tipsy or 3) throw away the bottle this second and if you slip up again, well, so what, just keep throwing out the bottle.

Getting drunk is bad, yes. Drinking is not bad, unless you cannot simply drink without always getting drunk. But if you just enjoy a drink or so every now and again, what's the problem? If you don't want to be a bad influence on your friend because they have a problem, don't drink around them. Be honest and don't hide it, just don't make them uncomfortable by drinking around them, that's all.

But if you really don't want to drink, don't. Don't let anyone tell you that you should. There's no NEED to drink. If you feel fine the way you are and don't need to "loosen up" or anything, don't worry about it. Enjoy life, don't let alcohol hold it up.

 

[devonian]

I used to drink a lot, although it was never really a major problem, I hate myself for it. I really hate drinking and I feel so badly when I do it, I don't feel like it's something Christians should do. ... My drinking isn't a problem, and I don't want it to become one, and I really don't want to do it again.

If you dont want to drink, dont drink. Its that simple - if you are not an alcoholic. I mean, normal sane people who do not want to ingest something that they do not want, simply don't. The problem is that this doesn't work for someone with an alcoholic mind.

So, I guess the important thing for you to do is determine if you have an alcoholic mind. No one can diagnose this for you, only you can diagnose yourself. If you read the doctors opinion from the book titled "Alcoholics Anonomus", it will help you to diagnose yourself. Google "Big Book Online" and you will find several complete online texts.

The good news is that recovering from an alcoholic mind is possible, so dont be discouraged if you discover you are. Just read the rest of the book for the solution, and put it into practice.

 

[healy]

sneaking drinks is the first sign of a problem? that's me,and i too dont think i have a problem but rather a crutch,i feel alot like the OP

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I think something helpful would be to throw all the alcohol away. It removes the temptation. Pour it down the sink, throw it away, give it away, get it out the way so you don't have access. Put as many barriers as you need to in the way, so that you can help yourself not to stumble.

 

[MarkChristopher]

WhenItAllGoesDownAgain, hang in there. It can be very hard. and its easy to fall back into the pattern of drinking.

Do your best, reflect and pray often.

And we are here if you need us.

God bless you.

MarkChristopher

 

[ww2pigeon]

You might want to dump out the Booze. That would be a good start. And you might want to check into some type of 12 step or other program. My sponsor always told me that the slip always starts long befor we pick up. Relapes are about being in the problem, Recovery is about being in the solution. I pray that you find what you need to stay sober, in Jesus name I pray.