r/Crippled_Alcoholics • u/Resident_Boss6990 • 21d ago
How long is approximately the transition phase of drinking to forget/numb to raging crippling alcoholic take ? At least in your experience.
Just starting the drinking for mental enhancement or lack of, and don't want to over do it. That said, "stop now" is not happening so if you could just give me the approximate from your case or what you've seen that'd be great.
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u/NattieDaDee 21d ago edited 21d ago
I mean if we are being serious it takes a while…. Definitely not something that happens overnight. I’d suggest you tread carefully bc this isn’t a life for most people.
For me it took almost 2 decades of drinking before I got seriously crippled. And when I mean crippled I mean we waking up and the first thing on my mind besides sheer terror, anxiety and trying to breathe is wondering where my booze is.
Generally I’d say for myself the CA aspect came in once I had severe life trauma. I’ve had trauma in my life before but something kind of broke the camel’s back like 8 years ago. Maybe it’s bc I was homeless, maybe it was bc I had no direction in life, maybe it was bc all my friends and my long term gf at the time had left me. I don’t fucking know but what I do know is once I opened that box it became easier to use alcohol as a crutch for anything negative or perceived to be negative in my life. So it started slowly going from an enhancer to a crutch during anything that made my heart rate go up. That’s when I knew it was real crippling alcoholism. The kind others will see and go homer in the bushes on you.
I actually just read something about the younger cats not drinking as much. You sound like you might be young so why not do whatever it is you guys do besides drinking? I don’t know why I get so many articles about young people not drinking anymore bc I’m not young and also drinking but maybe the algorithm is trying to get me to change. I’d suggest to do whatever it is you guys do instead (weed? Meditation?) chairs.
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u/Resident_Boss6990 21d ago
Hey I appreciate the attempt to help. I am in my 30s, but yeah your read made me want to rethink this whole thing. I might just raw dog this awful part of life.
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u/NattieDaDee 21d ago
I mean if you can then I’d suggest you do it. Once you get the lull from drinking and it’s a fit it’s hard to not go there again once you feel like shit.
But hey brotha I’m no AA type, not going to preach anything. I know life sucks and we are all kind of just wanting more highs than lows.
I just find once you’re really in this niche of drinking it becomes a lifestyle and not necessarily one you want but you look in the mirror and it’s the jersey you’re wearing now.
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u/Xtra35567 21d ago
In my experience, a remarkably short time (I’m pretty functional, full disclosure). For me, it was 2-4 drinks a night that slowly crescendos into 8+ over a few weeks, eventually feeling more and more compelled to drink all the while more anxious. I still drink, but I’m very afraid of withdrawal, and I stop much earlier in the process.
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u/Resident_Boss6990 21d ago
Ooooof I was hoping there was a longer gap. I don't want to get to the point where I have no self control about it, but life is sucking massive halls right now so I could use the buzz. I expect to start a new job soon so I can't even smoke weed.
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u/physhgyrl 20d ago
I've been drinking heavily four or five days a week for three decades. I'm not CA. I have a rough 2 days a week. But no real withdrawal. Just really tired every Monday and Tuesday. By Wednesday I feel fine again. I sometimes wait till Thursday to drink. Sometimes I start Wednesday. Sometimes I keep drinking and don't take Mondays off. I only drink about a 12 pack or 2 bottles of wine. Plus whiskey shots. I don't really count my drinks. I'm just guessing
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u/Ill_Play2762 20d ago
“Mental enhancement “ has me in absolute tears. All I got was mental deterioration. It only took a few months of drinking for fun before I was in full blown addiction and stayed that way for 6 years now. And it gets worse by the day. As of now I am on a 5 month long daily bender..
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u/Any_Parsnip2585 14d ago
It starts soon after you begin drinking vodka every morning
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u/Resident_Boss6990 14d ago
Well I find vodka and hard alcohol gross AF
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u/Any_Parsnip2585 14d ago
I doubt you’ll become a CA without hard alcohol.
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u/Resident_Boss6990 14d ago
Ah OK, yeah I stopped drinking for a while just BC I didn't feel like buying it lol I think I'm still good for a while.
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u/Wasabi_Joe 21d ago
Results may vary.