Anybody here ever been to rehab for alcohol?

So, in all seriousness, you don't want to detox by yourself. Stopping drinking all the sudden could be life threatening without the care of medical staff supervising it.

We had that conversation here or on the OT recently.

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Anybody here ever been to rehab for alcohol?

I usually just buy mine at the closest liquor store.

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I got medically detoxed and my ex gf of 6 years submitted herself. It sucks from what I've heard.

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I drink fairly regularly, though I ease down and then go without for a week or two. That having been said, if I had honest to goodness alcoholism, which I have talked about here I think... I'm going to a detox center.

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Totally agree. My entire life I've been able to get hammered socially for extended periods (like football season) and then completely walk away for days, weeks, or even months.

I firmly believe there is a genetic component that turns obsessions into addiction, and I've apparently been blessed to not have it in regards to alcohol, nicotine, gambling, etc.

The reason I bring this up is because if this is true, someone unfortunate enough to have that predisposition is going to be fighting a losing battle that will go against their very nature, and logically it will be one that is very difficult to win solely on their own.

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My entire life I've been able to get hammered socially for extended periods (like football season) and then completely walk away for days, weeks, or even months.

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This is me. My ex wife and I went to counseling and she tells the counselor that my drinking is the problem. They challenge me to go 30 days without alcohol. I said fine. A month later we go back to the counselor and the she asks if I was able to give up drinking for 30 days? I said I did it without any problems. No big deal. The counselor turns to my ex and said what are your thoughts now? She said it turns out I just hate him.

Lucky for me I'd just rather smoke a fatty.

When it comes to addictions, my best advice is to not give up quitting. While giving in to your addiction is always a set back, never allow it to be the end of trying to quit. Doing so makes it even harder to attempt to quit again in the future because you will just associate it with hardship and no reward.

So if you have a bad day/moment and it gets the best of you, stick with it the next day. Don't consider it a "well I failed to quit, time to go back to the old ways". Count the days, reset it when you fall and eventually you will go longer and longer and break it.

I have no advice as far as the physical/medical aspects.

Good luck, I doubt there is any easy solution.

I have an aunt who was part of setting up the IOP program for rehab at a hospital she worked at.

Really wish we had PMs so we could both share more details but it is what it is so...

1) If this is court ordered, IOP/AA isn't an option.

2) If it isn't, an IOP and AA can have great results, if you are actually committed to stop drinking and not just doing it because family, friends "want you to get help" and you just want them to stop ragging you.

3) An IOP involves an intake evaluation. Be honest when you're talking with the person asking the questions.

4) AA is a great program if you're committed to it. I've attended a few open meetings to support a family member. It was very enlightening seeing actual meetings in person and not just what Hollywood portrays it as.

If you're at the point where you're asking anonymous people on the internet about this, I think you should sit in on an AA meeting, you don't have to share a thing in there.

5) Get with your primary care provider to see what your liver enzymes and cholesterol numbers look like. A self-detox might not be possible

6) Depending on what your physician says, self-detox might not be an option. Alcohol withdrawal is a real thing, and can be deadly, which has already been discussed. Say if you drink a fifth a night, ease yourself off by limiting it to a pint for a week, then a few airplane bottles, etc...

Very well said Murph. If the problem is bad enough someone is asking about potential cures then it is probably bad enough they need professional help to take those first steps. Do not roll the dice with your life folks.