[MK21204]

I am 23. I am an alcoholic. All of my friends are alcoholics. I don't have very many friends, but those I do have I am very close with and we have been through a lot together. We have all admitted to ourselves and each other than each one of us has a problem. I know that surrounding myself with alcoholics is only worsening my own alcoholism. I don't know what to do. These are my friends, my support system, they are all I have in this world.

[splitimage]

Hi MK21204.

Welcome to PC, I hope you find it a supportive place. It's good that you're looking at your drinking and presumably thinking about doing something about it, yes? You'll probably find it easier to stop drinking if you find a new sober peer group. I go to AA and find it really helps me, I've made lots of new sober friends through AA.

And don't worry about being too young to go to AA. You're never to young to have a problem, you're also never too young to find a solution, before addiction completely destroys your life. Some larger cities even have meetings specifically for young people in AA, and there are young people's conferences.

If you decide that you want to do something about your drinking, I'd suggest giving AA a try.

Good luck.

--splitimage

[Leed]

Hi ~ Since the others have admitted they have a problem, are they not going to do something about it?? Are they just going to keep drinking??

I know what you mean about not having a lot of friends. All my friends flew the coop when I quit drinking -- so even tho most of the people in my home group were older than I was, a bunch of us became friends anyway and we had a great time together. Another couple (one was my cousin) and my husband and I started going boating/fishing together all the time or we'd go camping. Never any alcohol of course. Then our AA group would usually have social activities thru the year too. I made a lot of friends thru AA.

I don't know if you're going to meetings or not -- but it would be a good idea. Perhaps you don't like the "God" talk -- well you can take what you like and leave the rest. You don't have to believe in that. Anything can be your "higher power" -- it doesn't have to be God. Just so it's something greater than YOU.

Best of luck -- I hope things work out for you. Please take care. Hugs, Lee

[madisgram]

welcome to pc, mk. i'm very glad u found us. this forum is an indredible forum-lots of support and good suggestions. as i've met ppl here many have found sobriety. it is so rewarding to see ppl get sober. i went to AA and discovered new friends, ppl like me. those friends are still in my life even tho i've moved 3 times in 20 years!!! and i cant express how dear they are to me. most of my in real life friends are members of AA. i encourage you to give AA a go. you do not have to do this alone. i don't know if your friends decide to try it, but it sounds to me that you have the willingness to stop drinking. that is one of the first steps on a journey of sober living. it's certainly not a drab life for me. once i got sober absolutely things got better...beyond anything i could have imagined. i wish for you to find that way of life too. you will never regret it. please keep us posted. we're here for you and if you have question let us know. we can share with you our experience, strength and hope.

[MK21204]

Thanks for the replies
My friends and I have all discussed AA. It's sort of been a running joke though. We know we all need it but we are all too coward to take the first step. I could NEVER find a new peer group. I could add on to my peer group, but I could never leave my friends.
We've also joke about what our higher power would be... mother nature... father time...
I'm not sure how they feel about ACTUALLY going, although I know we all know we need it. I think I will try pressing this issue further with them. I just know I could never find sobriety without them. I would be lost without them, and I certainly would be much worse off. They have helped me through so much.

[madisgram]

having an open mind about going it alone mk may yield good results. peer pressure can often times lead us astray. you would not be betraying your friends by checking out sobriety. addiction is a known killer. you may not want to "go down with the ship". it could yield deadly results. give it some thought. co-dependent relationships can yield bad results too. you are young but it isn't always bad to forge ahead with your own life. you say your friends have helped u thru a lot. sounds like they can offer u support even if they choose a different path. if they are true friends they will be there for you regardless of your independent choice, in my humble opinion.

[Epimetheus]

Hey MK! I hope you can take the first step into the program. You have already admitted it and that is a big deal. We all love and care for you. Please pursue the life of a sober person! I know from experience, please check my thread and good luck, thanks...

[MK21204]

Thanks for the replies

I'm still thinking about what steps to take from here. I know that I need to do something though...

[FFABD]

Originally Posted by MK21204

Thanks for the replies

I'm still thinking about what steps to take from here. I know that I need to do something though...

Your self-awareness is admirable. When I was 24, I was in the exact situation as you, with only addicts of all kinds for friends and me deciding to quit it all. I wish I could tell you that there is a positive road for getting out of that, but for me there wasn't. I no longer have any of those friends, and most, if not all are still (15 or so years later), have gone seriously downhill and are leading lives of desperation.

I don't have a lot of friends now, but the ones I have are based on true connection and mutual love and support. If your primary connection is the addiction-fueled event (i.e. going to parties and bars and such), then there isn't nearly as much of a connection as you'd think. It is terrifying to think of leaving that all behind, but you know exactly where that life is headed. You are not wrong in either choice, it is your life afterall, but you know where help is to be had if you need it.

Good luck.