DR. WALLACE: I know this is a topic that you have strong opinions about, but I'm going to ask you my question anythow. I already know that I need to quit drinking, but I want to run an idea by you since my best friend (who has always been sober) came up with it.

My challenge is that I'm a heavy whiskey drinker. I really never drink anything else, not even a glass of wine with dinner. I'm over 21 now, just barely, but I will confess to having started drinking whiskey at the tender age of 16!

My friend knows I'll be having a hard time whenever I try to quit, so he thinks I should throw out my bottle of whiskey and switch to only beer for the next three months. Then, from there, he thinks I may be able to wean off alcohol entirely.

My overall goal is to quit drinking entirely, which I know you would approve of. But the path I'm thinking of taking is unusual. But drinking a full bottle of Jack Daniels every day is pretty unusual too. — I Know I Need to Quit Alcohol, via email

I KNOW I NEED TO QUIT ALCOHOL: I can understand why your friend would want to help you, and he obviously likes you very much as a good friend.

I commend you for making the mental decision to quit drinking alcohol. This is a key first step on what will likely be a difficult and bumpy journey, but one I would encourage you to stick with no matter how rough it gets at times. Stick with it and know that your efforts will be entirely worth your ultimate end result when you achieve your goal.

Having said all of this, I don't personally feel that "downshifting" from one type of alcohol to another one will help you. Rather than that approach, I suggest you seek out mentors at AA meetings, medical centers, family contacts or any other source you can find. Ask those who were in your shoes one day years ago how they were able to kick such a tough habit.

See a physician right away and get current medical advice based on your unique human body and your own body chemistry. Then gather up a group of individuals, including your close current friend, and have them help you lay out a game plan to help you get started. I'm impressed that you took the time to write to me, and I'm behind you 100% in spirit on your upcoming journey. I wish for you to achieve a successful recovery as soon as possible.

I SIMPLY SAID IT OUT OF FRUSTRATION

DR. WALLACE: I'm 15 and I got into an argument with my mom about four months ago, and after 20 minutes of screaming at each other, I finally said, "Well, I guess I should just kill myself then."

When my father came home, he went wild and started calling a lot of his contacts in the medical field, counseling and so forth.

To make a long story short, my life has been a nightmare these past four months because I simply said what I did out of frustration during an argument. I never meant it at all and now I'm watched like a hawk and shuttled to endless counseling sessions. Do you think my parents are overdoing this just a bit? — It Was Just a Figure of Speech, nothing more, via email

IT WAS JUST A FIGURE OF SPEECH, NOTHING MORE: You've learned a hard lesson, rightfully so. Threating suicide is no small matter, regardless of the context in your own mind.

Do continue to act normally and communicate consistently with your parents on this topic. And be sure your actions and body language always back you up in this regard.

Since suicide is such a huge, sober and immensely delicate topic, no idle threat should ever be spoken, especially out of frustration. You made a mistake, but you are a good person who made a mistake. Forgive yourself and seek to have your parents forgive you also, even though it will take time.

Those individuals who truly are contemplating suicide also from time to time utter threats, even though they may not be acted upon right away. But sadly, a percentage of them eventually do act upon their threats, hence the worry your parents have felt for you. Remember that they love you and are acting out of an abundance of caution to protect you.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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