Quick question. I’ve been told by doctors and family that going cold turkey might not be good for me due to the amount of time I’ve been dependant. Has anybody successfully cut down slowly to a healthy place? Or is cold turkey a strong recommendation?
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And you want to Cold Turkey from what?
Alcohol. Everything else in order these days … but this has been the one I’ve never been able to defeat for long spells.
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I’m not an expert on this.
I would suggest talking to your family doctor and seeing what the doctor says.
It seems to me it would be based on your overall consumption more so than the length of time.
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Usually cutting down would be like moderation and usually moderation doesn’t work because it gives you a good excuse to just go back to full-blown consumption/addiction.
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The question for the doctor is is it safe for you with the amount that you currently drink to cold turkey, to stop drinking completely, on your own, at home?
If the answer is no, then he will give you a treatment plan hopefully, possibly inpatient somewhere.
If the answer is, yes, it’s OK for you to do it on your own then there is support here and out in the 3D world
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There lies the problem! Family doctor did say that cold turkey isn’t advisable. Really hoping to get back to just a couple and not going overboard
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Isn’t advisable and the process should be what?
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Find ways to cut down slowly and eventually not need it. Get right life balance so I don’t need the drink to calm me etc. It sounds possible - but not easy!
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I might be wrong but for me it sounds like terrible advice. If you keep drinking your alcoholism is not fading away, it progress. If you consume a lot of alco cold turkey at home, on your own might not be a good idea, you might need medical help. But i never met an alcoholic who just started drinking less untill he/she stopped drinking at all. Never.
I wish you the best. Its difficult (impossible?) to do it alone so stay with us, there is huge bunch of people who will support you big time. Im soon 3 years sober and I’m here every single day, I would not be able to go through it alone, I know it for sure. We got your back 
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The thought process is that I drink because it de-stresses me … so eliminate the stress and get a balanced life & shouldn’t need it as much. Been given meds for anxiety too which helps. I’ve made some life changes to eliminate the cause of the anxiety too. That’s the plan atm. I feel I crave peace more than I crave the alcohol - but it’s a confusing time, so if I seem vague and unsure - it’s probably because I am!
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There is medical help for the withdrawal phase. I strongly recommend you look for a doctor who is experienced, so they can help you through the first days and weeks and not let you alone with it.
Cold turkey IS dangerous. Moderation isn‘t a good tool to become sober. If you could do moderation you would have.
Please look for a doctor who knows what they are doing, maybe a rehab center can help, too.
Stay safe 
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If it is an option … I am yet to discover it 
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That’s a very fair point … if I could do moderation, probably wouldn’t have fallen back into old habits so many times by now. 
I appreciate the quick and helpful advice people are giving me. A lot of my problems are kept to myself which hasn’t helped
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„A lot of my problems are kept to myself which hasn’t helped“
Very wise words. We can’t do it alone, we need each other. Like @Mno says: The opposite of addiction is connection, which is very true for me.
So glad you‘re reaching out and sharing. You don’t have to do it alone.
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Think it will help a lot sharing with people who understand. Not really my thing to share - but can’t just sit alone worrying either 
good to see that this place has been a big help to folks
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Keep sharing, we love to see you stay connected!
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Will do! 
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That delusion almost killed me. At one time, I had gone to an inpatient detox and rehab program, a two week stay. I remained dry for about nine more months after that, and I rationalized my return to drinking because I was so stressed out by my work situation.
The truth is, when we get to this point, we drink because we cannot not drink. We have an obsession with drinking, planning it, getting it, hiding it, using it, romanticizing how good it will be this time, noticing how much others are drinking, keeping track of our lies so that we can continue to drink etc etc etc. And when we put one drink inside ourselves, we lose control and are unable to stop as we intended, and drink until we are stopped by circumstance or other outside influence.
No matter the underlying causes and conditions (which must be addressed for a full recovery, of course), what is necessary for sobriety is abstinence. No drinks and no substitutes for drinks. Alcohol withdrawal is always uncomfortable, and can be damaging, so the general recommendation is to not try it alone - let others know what you are doing and seek medical help if it gets too bad.
Or get yourself arrested and detox on the floor of a booking cell, that’s what finally worked for me. I had the shakes for about 3 days, and the shits for about 18 months. No hallucinations or fevers that time. It did get the booze out of my system and allowed me to implement a recovery that changed my thinking, my feelings, and my actions.
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