Community Detox

[fairydustandpixies]

I've had a love/hate relationship with alcohol for all of my adult life. It has got to a stage now where it is out of control. Yes, I go to work and run my home but drinking a bottle of vodka a day is beyond ridiculous, not to say dangerous.

I am doing everything I can to get support (which has taken most of this year tbh) and am now under the care of a drug and alcohol wellbeing charity. They have suggested a 'community detox' where I have to take a week to ten days off work, am given extremely strong Valium type drugs at home and have to have a 24/7 carer for the first four days due to the risk of seizures and fits. I'm also not to leave the house during this period for the same reason. After the detox, I will never be able to drink again (which is a blessing and something I'm excited about!).

I just wondered if anyone has had any experience of this kind of treatment and how gruelling it is? I can't wait to start but I am scared.

I don’t- but want to congratulate you on this and bump for you

Aridane - thank you. That means the world to me x

Hi - I used to a community psychiatric nurse and ran home detoxes . They can be very succesfull but once the initial detox is safely over you have to address the patterns of thinking and behaviour that prompt the need to drink . AA can be great for support and other resources may be available to you locally as can family and friends, but it will really be down to you to sort out the why's and wherefores of your drinking and get your new thinking and behaviour plans sorted .

Good luck

A bit more ... The initial stages can be a bit uncomfortable but a good graduated regime of medication - we used to use diazepam - will see you through . Expect some sweats and possible mild tummy upset , some people found eating mashed potato quite soothing as the carbs eased some stress ..
Sleep patterns may be disturbed and you may sleep more or be interrupted. Also some self defeating or guilty thoughts can come to the fore and you may be quite emotionally sensitive ... Let these ride and when you are through the actual detox you start work on yourself . Hope this helps pm me if you want further info 👍😊

Starling - darn right I will!! (Heehee - I'm hoping!) I will keep you all updated. It's not going to be easy but I will (WILL) do this!! x

Anyone else going through/thinking the same desperate thoughts/mental health problems, hey. It's going to be okay. If I can do it, you can do it!! I'll let you know the date I start as soon as I know.

Gin - thank you. Good job I love mashed potato, haha! Thank you for your offer and I will PM you x

I know it's not going to be a walk in the park but I'm concerned about any fits, etc and how it will affect my two sons (18 and 17) and my partner who doesn't live with me but is going to have to for a few days. As for sleep interruption - flipping heck, he snores when he does stay over, used to that interruption, hahahaa! Emotionally with guilty and defeating thoughts, I feel those anyway! Bah!! Every moment :( Thank you so much and I will take up your PM offer :) x