where do I start to access help

[DidntWouldntFuckIt]

Hello all

I'll have a good look around this topic for advice

But basically I think I drink too much (can't near to say the A word)

I do they the DTs but I often have two double G and Ts on a morning to 'take the edge off '

I dint drink huge quantities and dint get fall down drunk but there's clearly an issue that I can't cope with the daily grind and need/want to take the edge off/blur the reality.

Are there national charities? What help is out there? What form would it take? Are GP s sympathetic. I know it sounds flakey but I can't Do it alone and am too ashamed to discuss with friends/family

Any advice greatly received xx

Corrections:

Near=bear
I do they the DTs - I don't get the DTs
Dint = don't

Morning sober bump

Gp would be a start esp if you're having withdrawals.
AA has a list of local meetings online.
Good luck

You should find your GP is very sympathetic. Mine was. I didn't get withdrawal symptoms (how, I will never know) but he prescribed meal replacement drinks and folic acid (can't quite remember why now) and I saw him every fortnight for several months at least - and this is a very oversubscribed doctor in a busy city practice, but he made the time.

The book that really helped me get started was this one. It's very non-judgemental, it uses the term 'problem drinker' to avoid the A-word for people who find that too intimidating to begin with (very understandable). It has loads of info on where you can go to find help. As it's available electronically, you can read it on your phone or laptop today if you want to.

However, you really do need to break the barrier of silence surrounding your drinking problem. Not today - talking to your GP is more important. But addiction thrives on secrecy and it will be way too easy to slip if it remains your secret. I did a lot of my disclosures very quickly after I accepted that I had a problem, in a sort of 'rip the plaster off' kind of way, and I'm glad I did - it got it all over with quickly and it's now basically common knowledge. That doesn't need to be your approach, of course, but I do believe in the saying 'sunlight is the best disinfectant'.

I genuinely thought I couldn't cope with the stress without a drink. I used to read posts on MN about people who said they found stress easier to cope with without drinking and think 'I wish that could be me - but it never could'. It could. It is. Nothing about drinking enhanced my life in any way. Now after 6 years the only thing I miss is having a nice glass of wine with a meal in a restaurant. But overall I prefer being alive!

Have a look around the topic but I would start by taking the positive step of booking an appointment with your GP. Good luck.

Everything that tripbot said.

I confided in a few very close people (mum and bf)
I didn't go to the gp, but called AA and went to a meeting within 24 hours of my lightbulb moment of how much of a problem I had.

That was 7 years ago.
I very occasionally miss a glass of wine. But o couldn't ever stop at one.

Far more people have alcohol problems than you would think. The lucky ones get help and get it sorted. Life began for me when I stepped away from the bottle
Good luck