The trap alcohol sets for you is that by the time you realize your severe anxiety is a direct result of your alcohol abuse, that anxiety is nearly too powerful to cope with-- drinking is the only thing that quiets it. That's how I lost years to alcoholism: treating my anxiety with an anxiety-inducing agent. If you drink when you wake up to treat the anxiety caused by your hangover, seek help sooner rather than later.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Absolutely right. That's a message that needs to be amplified, because that's right at the heart of alcohol use disorder.

@vickibrougham956

2 ай бұрын

So true!

The first hair of the dog and how well it works is the singular moment when all alcoholics went over the edge. They just didn't know it at that point.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, absolutely. At some point, I suppose it's nothing BUT hair of the dog.

This video made total sense to me. I started drinking around the same age as you. Back then it was "Normal" to drink with your mates get home, pretend to your parents that you were ok, go to bed and wake up the next morning with a massive hangover the following day. There was always alcohol around. I used to go and stay with my grandparents at the weekend and they always had a decantor of whiskey and sherry in the kitchen. I always used to have a few gulps when i was a teenager. When i got to 26 i was drinking alone and i can relate to the walking and drinking part of your story. I used to love walking around the city with a bottle in my rucksack and going to see things like the museum or just take it all in while drinking. Getting well into my 30's thats when i started hiding bottles of spirits around the house. Into my late 40's thats when the withdrawals started really taking there toll on my body. I would have to take days off work just to recover. Now in my 50's i realise that i am not a responsible drinker and that i can't kid my self anymore. I stopped on the 29th April and so far its going OK. I do not have a choice, i had to stop the withdrawals were getting too bad (Theres a good reason your channel is called Bat Country after all). If i dont keep off the spirits i'm going to end up dead or in prison. Thanks for your videos they really help to keep my resolve and understand where i've been and the kind of person i want to be in the future. They remind me of why i'm sober and want to stay that way. Thanks

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Hey CJ, good to see you again and congrats on putting the bottle down. Stick with it. And yeah, I'm both pleased and saddened that you get the Bat Country reference. That level of withdrawal takes a huge toll, we incur a debt every time we go through it until it leaves us with nothing. Keep us updated mate, best of luck

"More alcohol cause more problems, and more problems cause more alcohol." Hit the nail on the head there, thanks for the video!

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment James. And yeah, once we're aware of cycles like that, we can get a handle on them.

16th May marks 1 and a half years sober. Not always happy but always grateful 🙏

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Ah congratulations Ralph! Here's to many more.

@danneal6510

2 ай бұрын

congrats that is fantastic

I thank you BC for all the work you put into these awesome videos. They really do help.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Jeff! I hope they're useful to someone out there besides me.

1. Another great video man, you hit the nail on the head with all five, I can totally relate of course. 2. Thanks for the shout-out dude!! That was awesome 🙌. 3. Im glad you’re a lord of the rings nerd like I am 🤣, favorite movies of all time!!!! Keep up the good work brother. 💯

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching brother!

💯 percent right on I too at my teen years added all my parents alcohol to one jar and drank it down. I had to in order to go out and be social. Looking back I remember my first drink and thinking, "this stuff is magic" until later in life when the toxic shit turned on me. So many black outs. My life is so much better sober.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Hey Mary! I want to talk about that bit in particular, the drinking to be sociable, in the future, so stay tuned because that's a big one. Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it a lot!

I started to drink 7 years ago to fight my social anxiety, at age 23. At first I only drank before major social events or before a date and all that. So I could be calmer and more confident. Or normal, so I thought. Then it slowly started to be before work or to be with friends. I needed the booze to feel like a normal person. If sober, the anxiety was now worse than ever. From that it progressed to everyday, regardless of anything social related. That's the point where I realized I had been an alcoholic all along these past years. For a long time I said to myself I only drank because of social anxiety, negating I had a problem with the alcohol itself. But everyday is a social day if you are an FA, so I had the excuse to drink everyday. It was when I quit my job that I was confronted with reality. Even staying at home doing nothing I still felt the need to heavily drink all day long. Right now I'm trying to quit because I think I finally kindled myself. Still mild, I believe, but regardless of that, this shit scares me too much and I better quit before I get in serious trouble. I fucked up most of my 20s and I don't want to waste my 30s. But I can't deny I'm hoping to unkindle myself somehow and come back to drinking in my late 30s. I hope to get over it, but for now that's how I cope with all of this sober mess. Thank you for your videos man, I'm watching all of them.

@jenn26134

2 ай бұрын

Yes quit quit quit -- never go back -- believe me it only gets worse -- I'm 50 - so believe me it's never ok -- you'll have a beautiful future if you Quit

I love listening to you., I also liked walking - going for a codiewomple and getting smashed was great. always an adventure and some weird stuff always ensued. I came home with a chicken (live) once ! I dont touch the booze now, sailed close to the wind, started drinking massively (spirits cmae into the show) to manage anxiety in my early 40s but then realized on holiday after stopping daily drinking, that the anxiety was from the daily drinking. , lager free beer saved my skin, gave me the pyscological reward to limit feeling like I was missing out and denying myself. keep on keeping on.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Glad to hear it mate, and thanks for the comment!

Thank you so much for this video. I feel like going on a long speal but I'll resist. Your videos have came into my life at the right time and I'm grateful for you & your channel. Kindest regards from Ireland. All the best :)

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Thank you Conor, I appreciate the comment, and we're all here if you need us. Oh and if you ever want to go on a speal, this is absolutely the place to do it - that's what I'm doing anyway! Keep us posted on your progress mate.

Hah. Touche. I use alcoholic because it is "Alcoholics Anonymous" to which I am a member. I do understand AUD and it is in the DSM V, I do believe. I am not offended by being called either an "alcoholic" or a person with "Alcohol Use Disorder." My red flags were legal trouble, job problems, relationship problems, early health problems and most of the same shit that is described in the Big Book of A.A., and withdrawal. I didn't start drinking until age 23 and it didn't become a problem until about ten years later. You won't ever turn the pickle back into a cucumber. After that, it was problem after problem. Great video, Mr. B., er, Mr. Nugent.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Thanks brother! And yeah, at some point, it's ONLY problems, right?

In the recovery journey, I've found that you become much more aware of yourself and your environment - you become a more stable and knowledgeable person. It's also good to hear from others in recovery because too often it's a treated as a taboo topic that brings unnecessary shame to those trying to get off alcohol.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

I heard someone say that alcoholism is the only disease that makes you a better person when you're cured than you were when you started. I like to think that's true.

If you wonder if you’re an alcoholic. Your a alcoholic

@words4dyslexicon

2 ай бұрын

there u go using 10 words to state what took me 3 paragraphs..☻️

@BigBoaby-sg1yo

2 ай бұрын

That’s the truth . My only saving grace was I was a gymaholic also . I thought if I keep training ,it would give me a form of protection- unfortunately I was totally wrong.I would hotfoot it from the gym to the pub and give it anywhere from 4-8 pints of relatively strong beer then have a few when I got home .Today I meet friends once a week and have only a few bottles , but if I wanted I could easily slip back into my old self . What I do is to keep a very visual picture of the times I looked in the mirror and was disgusted with myself , if I feel like I want to go back to my old ways I just pull up the mirror image. Good health to all 🏃🏼

@jenn26134

2 ай бұрын

100%!!!!!

@timothymoran2010

Ай бұрын

Exactly. Like being gay.

A very confronting yet necessary video, Stuart. With me, it all revolves around that first sip, then off to Everythingturnstoshit land I go. A colab with Slayer would be great. Keep up the great work, sir.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Thank you as always asif. I've been to Everythingturnstoshitland so often they offered me a timeshare there.

@ASIF_M1934

2 ай бұрын

😂 love that!

@jeff67788

2 ай бұрын

A collab with my two favorite KZreadrs would be epic.

@ASIF_M1934

2 ай бұрын

@@jeff67788 my thoughts exactly! Fingers crossed. Check out Tim Johnson as well, he is my go to when in withdrawal.

@words4dyslexicon

2 ай бұрын

think I have dual citizenship from Everythingturnstoshitlandistan..

for all the "not sure if I'm an alcoholic" alkies out there.. i was 26, married & had had a couple scary blackouts & over the course of a few days had asked my wife (an R.N.) every day whether or not she thought i was an alcoholic? & tho she didn't really have an answer, it finally ocurred to me that, "you know Carl, anyone who has to wander around for days asking themselves whether or not they think they're an alcoholic, geeze, that person is probably an alcoholic.." & when i brought this new found revelation to my wife, her response: " yeah, i was waiting for you to come around to that answer on your own.."

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

She was playing a dangerous game, but it paid off. A lot of people never get to that conclusion - but it certainly helps if you get there on your own!

Absolutely interesting video. I’ve had a problem with alcohol all my life. Your video had me recall a distant memory. I was quite sick and constantly coughing. My bedroom was in the basement under my parent’s bedroom. So obviously they were more annoyed than caring about my well being… Out of character my dad brought me a butter rum toddy (i.e. he NEVER took personal care of us kids). It knocked me out. I think i was about ten years old. It’s up there with putting brandy in a baby bottle.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Oh that's interesting. How old were you when you started drinking by your own choice?

I'm a big fan of the channel now. Binged all the alcohol vids last night. I noticed your highest viewed vid has a very vibrant blue thumbnail with a really good font choice. I thought that would be worth mentioning. Looking forward to more data and stories. Thanks.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Thanks mate! Yeah that's my favourite video, but I can no longer recreate that look because I moved apartments right after I filmed it. I haven't quite figured out my thumbnails yet :)

Thank you for this. I find it relaxing listening to you talk. And i like the music you play in the background. So much of this resonates. And i remember my own ‘threshold’ moment well.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Allison! Yeah that's the tone I'm going for: kind of relaxing background podcasty style recovery videos. It's harder than it sounds, given the nature of the topic. What was your threshold moment - if you don't mind me asking?

@boxingmonkey8621

25 күн бұрын

I agree , Great Videos and the points expertly communicated I find the background music and little “Overlook Hotel in the Shining”

Love this, because when we're talking about someone who smokes, we don't go ahead and say he's a smoker right off the bat, etc... Excellent, thank you for your amazing video! Nice listening, too, the accent (I'm American lol), and articulate, pleasant disposition! 😀

The life of an alcoholic or a drug addict which are similar to a certain point can become difficult because YOU are you own worst enemy to begin with, you hate yourself and want to die, that is a fact. Second, family, friends, relatives, society can help you dig your grave sooner than later. You can always find good people, good friends along the way but many a times family is a hindrance instead of a helping hand and often it is understandable because alcoholism distorts your sense of living in peace with your immediate family. To avoid all those things it's best to be sober and face the challenges of life be it difficult family and personal relationships without alcohol a substance which only promises immense problems besides the ones you already have. Thanks Bat Country for your teachings and advice.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Your welcome brother, and thank you for your thoughtful comments.

What a great video Bat Country. I can totally relate to the items you discussed. I agree that the term alcoholic just draws people to a conclusion off the bat. I believe there are different levels of alcoholism but I’m conscious that I’m only one bad moment to losing control. For me I never enjoyed alcohol but would just drink it fast. This year I have been reflecting as I didn’t realize I had a problem but started analyzing some of my behaviors, drinking faster and faster, hiding alcohol, drinking alone more often than not. But because I am a highly functional person, like you said alcohol was my medicine. Had a great day something to celebrate let’s drink, had a bad day let’s drink too. My ah ha moment or epiphany was when I couldn’t stop thinking about drinking when I tried to stop in January. I agree with all the points you made. Thankfully, I have not gotten to that threshold BUT I’m pretty sure that will end up being my life. So I’m focused on stopping to avoid that. The thought of never drinking again is scary so I’m focused on each day. Hopefully I will stop thinking about it. First time I’m commenting sorry for the rant. I hit subscribe. I started my self-assessment with LD, then Slayer, followed by shades, and now you. Thank you for sharing your story and helping spread the word of the dangers this poison can cause. Stay strong, someone in FL appreciates you! 💜

@Micru866

2 ай бұрын

Oh and I only made it sober in January. I have tapered off but continue to have moments where I find myself drinking. Like I’m a robot buying the booze. But im going to figure this out.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

@@Micru866 Hey Micru, thanks for the comment and you never need to apologise for a rant on this channel - that's largely what it's for :D It sounds to me you might have caught it early, and like every disease, that makes your prognosis better in the long run. I try to resist actually giving advice, but I'd say that the thought of not drinking ever again is a BIG hurdle. It was for me. But once you get through that, the idea of a life without alcohol starts to be quite exciting, quite energising. Once you've started to get comfortable with all the time you suddenly have on your hands, you'll wonder why it was scary in the first place. Keep us posted on your progress buddy, we're all here if you need us.

@Micru866

2 ай бұрын

@@_BatCountry that’s the end game. Thx

@ShadesOClarity

2 ай бұрын

@@Micru866 I wish you luck as well, man. I might as well wish you luck here a well since I did, in fact, make an appearance on this clown's channel.

@RonsMom40-pu1en2gj4p

2 ай бұрын

Same sequence for me!

Your definition of alcoholism is 100% on point. I call it the homer simpson syndrome. "alcohol - the cause of, and solution to, all of lifes problems" Ive found myself pondering that very comment many times after a binge.

I recently had a short stint in a psych ward. I had relapesed and had two beers. I disclosed that i was an alcoholic to my doctor in there, and i assume he heard the word alcoholic and assumed the worst. I was woken up every three hours to test how bad my "alcohol withdrawls" were for over four days when i haven't had a drink in years

I was born in the mid 70’s. My age group women were part of the ‘ladette’ culture. Not many of my mates don’t have an issue with alcohol whether it’s now being sober or still struggling. If only I knew then what horror awaited when I was pouring back all sorts of everything and the way it would take hold. I’d never have gone near it. Pain, misery, losing nearly everything and then finally redemption. Been a long journey. Thanks for the vid 🙏🏽

Thank you for your content! I enjoy it so much ❤ 5. I started drinking when I was 12. From the first time on, I would get black out drunk because I simply couldnt stop. Growing up on a small farm in Germany, it is not uncommon to start that early. Alcohol was everywhere and we even had our own distillery in the farmhouse. 4. Alcohol use disorder can be found in my family big time and I developed a high tolerance early on. I was known to be a good drinker and drinking companion. 3. Im unsure about the withdrawal one. I think Ive had cravings that were intense, meaning I was extremely nervous and shaky. 2. I started drinking alone in my mid-20s. Somewhere in my mid-30s I started drinking daily, mostly alone. Im 39 now and in a very unstable recovery. 1. Well, yes, the vicious cycle of problems and alcohol. Its a fucking demon.

@_BatCountry

3 күн бұрын

Hello, and thanks for watching! So how are you today - did you quit drinking, or thinking about quitting?

2nd half of this is very insightful .

Interesting. My mother had serious alcohol use problems, she was non functioning in the world. Her father also had problems but he coped better with functioning in the world. I was brewing my own booze at boarding school, age about 14. I have had bad hangovers, that's why I quit the booze, but I don't think I have had withdrawal. Home from work and needing the drink, alone, just to reduce the stress. I am not sure about the threshold part, not my experience, but I get it. I just think I am different. 9 months sober.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Congrats on your sober time! And you must have been popular at boarding school :)

Yup, yup, yup and yes! You got it pal hit the nail on the head for me at least in your definition. Different journey but same end point although there are some interesting relatable parallels to your experience particularly the ‘Flâneur’ or Dérive’ aspect where I fancied myself a visual poet roaming cities in Osaka, London or Hong Kong with a pocket beer or something stronger topping up at family mart or where ever unaware of the shadows closing in around me.

“Welcome to alcoholism” *flaily arms* LOL

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

hahaha it felt right in the moment :D

Pretty good definition. For me I felt like I was sick with this, when I felt likenit almost killed me several times and made me feel ashames of what I had done the day before, ywt was going back to it because I felt like it was part of me and a normal activity in life.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Yeah I think a lot of us can relate to that feeling.

Your introductions are fine. Long introductions help some of us focus on the video. And I have no problem with being called an alcoholic, but I'm 36 and I understand that perhaps it may be a term that's being phased out.

I had all the signs. Hindsight being 20/20 I really think I have always been an alcoholic. I had my first taste of alcohol at 8. My first drunk at 13. I started doing drugs at 13. Started having sex at 13. Everything started at 13. My hangovers definitely turned into withdrawals a long time ago. Fortunately I got the gift of desperation and surrendered. I am so much happier now.

@_BatCountry

Ай бұрын

Puberty is a major threshold. For me, sex and booze are intertwined, and I was also active early in both.

@Disappointingyourdemons

Ай бұрын

Same. People don't believe me whenni say you have to relearn everything after you get sober. Sex and relationships included.

another great video that I can completely relate to! Thankyou for your honesty 😊

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! Always good to see you here :D

Good one. Stop drinking and sleep good. No more bad dreams

Every thing you’ve said is my daughter. She is struggling and it’s painful, thank you.

@_BatCountry

Ай бұрын

Drop me an Instagram message if you want to talk about it mate. Links in the video description

Most of the people in recovery who I see on a regular basis, have a grocery list of other addictions. In my own case, my addictive traits were present long before I ever drank. I came out of the womb with the "More is better" gene. So...when I found alcohol there was no "long slide" into it. My goose was cooked from the get-go! I just didn't know it. By the time I was a Senior in highschool, drinking superceded everything! Yes, the alcoholic progression is different for different people, and a lot of variables go into that, but it's akin to being struck by lightning. If we don't seek shelter in the bosom of sobriety, it's only a matter of time before we get hit again, fatally. All the best, Mark 5/8/1994 ✌️♥️

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

It's one extreme or another, right? It doesn't even matter what the extreme is: when I was drinking I was extremely drunk, now that I'm sober I'm extremely sober.

I agree with the threshold definition, ide say im very close to that piont. Also for me its when you add up the dry days in a month, 4 out of 30 isn't good

What I enjoyed about alcohol was even after people where gone I still felt like people were There. It wasn't scary but kinda comfortable like I was not alone. It was when I began drinking By myself that I decided to give it Up. At the same time I was taking Hydrocodone daily so I was addicted to that As well. Cold Turkey for Me. No help and no doctor. That was 15 years ago. I replaced my drug and alcohol use with Excersize. No Better High than felling All those wonderful chemicals My body produces on its own ❤. Better than Any Narcotic 😂

@_BatCountry

Ай бұрын

I agree. No one needs more than endorphins. What kind of exercise do you do?

I came to alcohol relatively late in life, 21. I had been a cocaine addict for two years, lost everything and with the help of therapy managed to kick it. Unfortunately I merely substituted coke for alcohol, though hadn't entirely realised it at first. I did know that I didn't particularly like the taste of alcohol, and had to acquire it. I drank for the buzz, not the taste. To cut a long story short, alcohol became a problem very quickly. From a functioning alcoholic to a non-functioning incredibly unwell one. Incorporating the whole DT rollercoaster rides on many occasions, to the point of them becoming almost entertaining. My relationship with alcohol was and has always been a binge drinking one, which include long periods of abstinence. It's always there and I accept this. Currently I am fairing the best I ever have, having not drunk for almost 18 months, but I would be lying if I didn't say the thought of a drink doesn't enter my thoughts process several times a day.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Congrats on your time Mr. Benn. And oof, that point about going through DTs that they become kind of objectively fascinating struck an uncomfortable chord with me, I know what you mean. I've never even said this out loud but sometimes I think maybe I should go through it one more time to record it, but I know, really, that's the addiction talking, trying to get me to relapse. It sounds like you and I have similar patterns of behaviour.

@mrbenn1489

2 ай бұрын

@@_BatCountry - yes, I have watched many of your videos, and our patterns are unbelievably similar. You could at times have been talking about myself. Spooky.🙂

@user-gn9vu7wn7t

2 ай бұрын

AA rule: 24 hours periods. You can do it and here with Bat Country you can find great support and great advice. A friend of mine who is an alcoholic told me that he always tries to replace a bad habit, alcohol consumption with a creative new activity be it painting, music, learn how to play an instrument, read great books, you name it the idea is to accomplish something great little by little and become an expert at something. That will give you a goal.

May seem strange… but I am not an alcoholic. I am a person who literally had potentially 2-4 drinks per month or sometimes none at all. However, I did notice a change in the way that my body metabolized alcohol such that after a fee sips of wine or beer I barely felt positive effects and IF I finished the drink, I immediately felt dehydrated and humgover. After a couple years like this I finally decided there was absolutely no point at all and decided to abstain entirely. I havent gained anything healthwise from this decision but I kinda feel like it’s my own little super power. I dont need to and Im not going to. I like to watch other people’s commitment to abstaining even if the reasons arent all the exact same because my conviction grows

Thanks for this. Lots of "I did that too's" in this one for me. Best regards.

@_BatCountry

26 күн бұрын

Hey, thanks for the comment. Solidarity.

Waking up to this video was a great way to start my day! Thank you for this, as I totally understand and relate to it. While I was admittedly never in a Turkish prison or going through DTs on a plane with British officials, my own experience with acute alcohol withdrawal, alcoholic hallucinosis and delirium tremens were bad enough for me. That invisible line that we imperceptibly crossover at some point is very real. I somehow, inexplicably became that guy in his mid-40s, who was standing there, shaking like a leaf in a windstorm outside of the grocery store at 6:59 every morning seven days a week waiting for the clock to strike 7am so that I could purchase my vodka. Other than the availability of purchasing alcohol, time became somewhat meaningless to me, days and nights went by in a dark room, laying in a sweaty bed, all by myself for months. Food was of no interest. Exercise was impossible due to my weak state and my mental well-being was atrocious. I was so sick that the word sick doesn’t even do it justice. I became really not much more than an empty bottle and I’m pretty sure I’m always going to struggle with the shame of that. I certainly still do today and every day, even with some years of comfortable sobriety under my belt now. Like you, I often think about my days of unrestrained, active alcoholism. In fact, I think about it every single day multiple times a day. Within those thoughts I always encounter a mixture of shame, regret, and confusion over how it all got so bad and how I let that happen to me. And if I’m honest, my daily ruminations usually end with me marveling in disbelief at the fact that I’m somehow still alive. I often feel alone in my experience because even through all the hundreds and hundreds of AA meetings I’ve attended, I’ve rarely encountered anyone who knows what real real real heavy duty acute alcohol withdrawal feels like. I’m not taking anything away from the soccer moms at AA meetings who decided they need to stop drinking wine with the girls on Wednesday afternoons. That’s good for them, but I need to hear from real bottom of the barrel alcoholics who became nothing more that a barely breathing sack of flesh who’s master(alcohol) dominated their existence with a cruel iron fist….and then survived it. Thank you, once again for giving me the opportunity to wake up this morning and find a fresh new video from you. I first walked my dog, then eagerly brewed a pot of coffee and sat down to enjoy this with a clear, sober mind, free from the daily horrors and imprisonment of a 2 fifths of vodka a day habit. Cheers buddy.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Hey Steve, good to see you again, and thanks for the thoughtful comment once again! There's so much in this reply that I profoundly relate to. Waiting outside the shop at 6.59, feeling sick to the point that the word sick is inadequate, feeling like nothing more than an empty bottle. That's so real to me, and it's only ever a moment away. More than anything else, I feel you about AA. I have no criticism of it, and everybody there is there fore the same reason, including me. But between me and you, I don't really have much time to hear a 20 year old talking up the room's time with a story about how drinking made their grades go down. I have all the time in the world for stories like yours. I really appreciate your support and your comments.

@D-Fens_1632

12 күн бұрын

When I look back and feel shame it's often when thinking about those times of alcohol availability. All the times of "shit, they stop selling in 20 minutes," or "why didn't I have the least bit of restraint and save those few shots for the morning," dressing to head out for morning "donuts" after a sleepless night and waiting for the time to pass. Makes me shudder. I've also met few physically dependent alcoholics, the kind who would wake up just to drink and go back to sleep, keeping a steady stream of it going in every moment you're awake. It's real hell. It is a different beast from people whose negative consequences come from occasional binge drinking.

@_BatCountry

12 күн бұрын

@@D-Fens_1632 Very much so. I remember that time, watching the clock, convincing myself I wouldn't go back to the liquor store tonight, and then grabbing my shoes and running out 5 minutes before it closed. It's a terrible way to live.

@stevekozle7247

12 күн бұрын

@@D-Fens_1632 you hit the nail right on the head, man. I’m sorry you went through what I went through, because I know how bad it was. But I’m grateful to know that you went through it because while we don’t know each other, I’m certain that you understand me on some level.

Being sober for a week now, feel great! Will have a bottle of wine tonight for the Friday night and punish myself to be sober for hopefully a month.

You are so right on. I enjoy your videos and love the channel.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

You're too kind, thank you :)

So true. It sneaks up on you.

I remember being at a new year's party back in 2009, I was still young then, and all I kept hearing from people the day after was "ive never seen anyone able to hold their booze as well as you". And comments like "we thought harry was going to bed, but he was going for another beer!". I didn't realise at the time, but these people were pointing out, subtly, that my drinking was abnormal. Already. I was 21. I had already gotten a taste for it and nothing was stopping me I'm also of Irish stock and alcoholism is rife through both sides of my family, along with mental illness which obviously doesn't help either.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Yep, that's exactly the kind of thing I used to hear. Glad I walked away from it.

I feel bad for laughing about Doug and the rats. 🤣 Lmao

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

I feel bad for laughing too.

Love your video and I'm so happy to have fond your podcast. For myself I stared drinking at 18. The legal age here in the province Quebec in Canada. That was a little late I was the last one out of my group of friends. Like I said started at 18 and I was hooked by 18. At about 19 or 20 I went to an AA meeting with a friend she was having major issues with both alcohol and drugs'. Once I heard the speaker I knew I had a problem. Even that I knew it deep down. I was a blackout drinking from the start. The longest I been sober was 5 years and 11 months. Then relapsed that was about 5 years ago maybe more. In that time I have put in months at a time sober. Two years ago I went to rehab, they used CBT it was a great help. however came back to a chaotic living situation then relapse after 5 months. Now I have puts months at a time sober again. I'm primarily doing AA meeting. Yet at times I have my doubts. I know that I really need to add some SMART Recovery meeting again.

@_BatCountry

Ай бұрын

Hey Lyle! I have a few comments recently from various remote parts of Canada, I guess there must be something a little lonely about the place that drives people into the bottle. You mentioned you have doubts about AA, what are they?

@lylemccomber9460

Ай бұрын

@@_BatCountry I been having some issues with step 6 and 7. I keep working on them. I just rally don't know if God would take away some parts of ego. I am just not sure it works like that. I know many people that AA has worked for I even knew a man that had 68 years sober when he passed away. Yet I'm not sure if my issues are more psychological then spiritual.

@_BatCountry

Ай бұрын

@@lylemccomber9460 that's a sophisticated critique, and while I would dearly love to say something to reconcile it for you, I actually agree. In fact is go even further: to consider your own little addiction to be the focus of God's attention is surely the height of egoism. So ummm... good luck figuring that one out. If you come to a satisfactory resolution, do let the rest of us know what it is

@lylemccomber9460

Ай бұрын

@@_BatCountry Thank you I 100% agree with you about egoism. Nothing more I really want in my life is to be sober. Yet I wonder if God who is running all of creation would stop and say " Lyle is thinking about having some Jack Dandles I need to stop and keep him sober." Don't get me wrong I love the 12 steps groups. I just wonder if at this point of time what else could be done to fight addiction. I have seen people walk into AA and other 12 step groups and do very well. Yet I have sadly known who have died from addiction. For myself I have done so/so with the 12 step groups. I do have some great people around me in AA. I may just be at a point where I am a little lost. But I am just going to keep trussing the process.

When I stopped drinking over 10 years ago I saw all my friends drinking in different eyes. They drink, alot and could care less about whether they drink around me or not, which to me was disrepectful. I stopped going to get together's because each and every time it was really just an excuse for others to get drunk together. I don't hate them for it because at one time I didn't want to go anywhere that didn't sell alcohol (football games, concerts, dinner out, parties) but now I rather just not go if it's a drunk fest.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Yeah exactly. My social life has taken a hit, but my actual life is far better.

Stop, and STAY STOPPED. If you can't, there's your answer.

Thank you 🤔

I loved alcohol from my first drink. Hence why I drank enough of it often enough to develop a problem.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Yeah me too. It was a problem RIGHT away.

Alcoholic = one at war with themselves. You want desperately to stop but you can’t. You give up every morning but are always drunk by supper time. Noone knows the harms better yet still you need it more. An excruciating internal war and mental obsession.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Very profound.

It started with one beer and ended with 18 ounches of hard liquor every day.

@_BatCountry

Ай бұрын

Yeah, that's common for a lot of us I think.

Was on it for 18 year, drinking QC and black cans of cider ,been sober nearly 8 year

@_BatCountry

19 күн бұрын

Amazing, congratulations on making it out the other side!

Hi , this us good stuff ! I heard u talk about delirium dirk , he was a top chef ( as u guessed ) , one of his videos explain his lifestyle, he had shit loadsa money n everything! Sadly I saw he passed away last year 😢 don't know reason x

@_BatCountry

16 күн бұрын

Thanks Karen! And yeah, terribly sad news about Dirk. He was important in my own sobriety. Don't google the reason - it's not good news.

Damn that soft drink special sounds insane ahaha. As a teenager in Australia I started out on dog shit champagne. Come to think of it that probably wasn’t any better lol anyway screw alcohol! life is way better without it! stay strong peeps 💪🏾

Recovering alcoholic (19 years sober). Alcohol Use Disorder is too clinical for me. People in white coats in a laboratory. Does anyone say Heroin Use Disorder? I haven't heard anybody say that. Alcoholic is a term gives a real sense of the down-and-dirty reality. I am an alcoholic and I will remain that till the day I die. Just my thoughts. Peace to all.

@_BatCountry

Ай бұрын

Yeah that's a good point. Congrats on your long sobriety, it's reassuring that people with as much time as you are still sitting down and watching sober content!

Very sadly, your threshold definition resonates too close to home, Stuart. Hey ho...it is what it is and we are what we are.

Bro you sound so much like Carl Benjamin (Lotus Eaters)

@_BatCountry

Ай бұрын

didn't he used to be sargon?

@ConnorBriggs

Ай бұрын

@@_BatCountry Yeah

I called "Special brew" my potion.

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

What did you put in it?

@veritas3379

2 ай бұрын

Whatever was in my grandparents cubbard, tequila, brandy, I don't remember the rest it was pretty nasty. But my first drink was around 13 or 14. I didn't have any real issues with alcohol until my mid 30's when I became a caregiver for a family member, I began to drink on the regular to escape, cope, kill the pain, numb out, etc and I do feel like I crossed that imaginary line into aud/alcoholism. I do feel it is a complicated issue, genetic predisposition, developed through abuse, environmental factors/pain/ trauma that can certainly incline a person to want to escape/ abus​e a substance, keep doing that, reinforcing that in the brain, changing the brain, force of habit,etc@@_BatCountry

@end2endburners635

18 күн бұрын

Zombie Juice 😂 worst ones were when we put Baileys in and it curdled, like drinking tuna flakes.

@_BatCountry

18 күн бұрын

@@end2endburners635 oh god, it had the texture of puke before you even threw it up, what were we thinking

Anyone else just a mild mis-user? I will grab a couple of pints at the pub with a mate or on my own and then drink 3 or 4 cans when I got home at 10pm to midnight and then go to sleep. Nothing wild or insane. No crazy hangover. No big fights or trouble. But regular poor drinking behaviour. Not even sure if theres a name for mild problem drinkers

amazing video

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Dan, that's very kind!

@danneal6510

2 ай бұрын

@@_BatCountry so much of that video was relatable to my past . starting at early age, even had a similar experience at uni and always been the last one standing at pubs and parties to the point where i would carry on drinking on my own quite often well into the next day . i still struggle now but not nearly as much as i used too. are you fully sober ?

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

@@danneal6510 Sounds very familiar. And yes I am. Are you thinking about it?

@danneal6510

2 ай бұрын

@@_BatCountry yeah definitely I am . I am 35 now so want to be alot healthier I convince myself I can have one drink but it Never works out that way

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

@@danneal6510 Well mate look it's not my place to convert you and i'm not on any crusade to get everybody to quit drinking, but i can tell you that my life is better without it, and it seems like we're pretty similar. Maybe it would be good for you too.

Take theanine, glutamin, dopa mucina, lithium orotate, vitamin b complex etc..

I love these , every one . The way you speak reminds me of dorian ' of herbs and alters ' youtube . Fascinating , intriguing and loads research too . Clearly we are smart people ( addicts , of all kinds ) funny, articulate people but lordy ( me ) find life hard ... dont drink anymore but have anorexia ... try not to dwell on these aspects of my personality n go with flow ? ! ...😅

@_BatCountry

16 күн бұрын

Thanks Karen! Congrats on beating the alcohol and I hope you can get a handle on the anorexia in the long term too.

it's not "problematic" drinking... unless you consider creating hell on earth for yourself to be a problem..

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

Yep. Also there's has big haiku vibes.

@words4dyslexicon

2 ай бұрын

hey Stu, i have discovered something you may be aware of that a week ago I was not, what do you know about AVRT? [ Addictive Voice Recognition Technique ] last night I listened to this 30 min.KZread video, 'Guided Addictive Recognition Technique AVRT, Crash Course, A Tool For How To Beat Addiction On Your Own.' the channel name: Psychofarm, video posted Feb 1,2024. it's a radical approach, but if someone is in the grips of life threatening/ending addiction, they could be motivated enough for a radical aporoach!

@_BatCountry

2 ай бұрын

@@words4dyslexicon not much without googling it, what is it?

@words4dyslexicon

2 ай бұрын

@@_BatCountry the comment I left here earlier with youtube title was deleted, did u see it? video was 30 mins long, about as thorough & concise as I've seen, I think u will appreciate its straight to the point approach.

@words4dyslexicon

2 ай бұрын

@@_BatCountry if u Google book, Rational Recovery, pub.1986, the author, CA. licensed social worker (&recovered alkie) Jack Trimpey developed AVRT (addictive voice recognition technique) as an atheistic counter to A.A.s spiritual approach/formula of recovery. i haven't read the RR book yet, but from watching Trimpey interviews/ videos, u can argue with his atheistic stance, his breakdown theories on how the brain, thinking & memory works, but even as a non-atheist, i am super impressed with how AVRT, in practice emphasizes the _importance of paying attention to our thoughts_ _the voice in our heads_ becuz the one thing I've learned, thru experience, the difference between sobriety and relapse, for me, was learning to be acutely aware of the nature of my thoughts. from experience, the voice in my head, (along with mental movies, & or flashes/snippets/collages of imagery) directly creates/translates to sensations in my body, every relapse was preceded by thoughts, imagery & sensations that I either overlooked, was distracted from noticing or just plain didn't notice until I was on my way to taking that first drink.