Any doctors around? Is this level of drinking unsafe to go cold turkey from?

[ashamedashamed]

Posting for traffic.

I'm really embarrassed to admit this. I've had a drink problem for a few years now. I think it's due to very severe childhood trauma I experienced. My brain is always in hyperarousal so I feel I 'need' a drink to calm it and obviously I like the fuzziness.

I usually keep somewhat of a 'handle' on it. Like no drinking before 8pm and no more than 60 units a week. Yes I realise 60 units a week will sound like a huge amount to most people and that I don't really have a handle on it, but I don't feel I can stop completely that terrifies me, so I try control it best I can.

I had some news about the perpetrator of the trauma 2 weeks ago and I've been drinking 20-30 units a day since then. I don't even get really drunk. I know this cannot continue. My eyes and skin are all red and dry, and as soon as the alcohol leaves my system I get sweaty, feel hot flashes like sunburn, headaches and get nauseated. I don't normally get this on my usual amount.

I'm aware I've done this to myself. I want to at least cut down to the 60 units I've been on for years.

I'm going to my support bubble household tonight.

I absolutely cannot go to my GP or anything about this. I don't feel I could do that. They know about my PTSD and I'm getting treatment starting tomorrow for that and have counselling already.

Is it safe to cut down from 20-30 units a day to 9 units immediately? Or does it risk DTs? Given I've only been drinking the higher amount for 2 weeks.

Are you sure you’re drinking as much as you think, 30 units a day is huge. If so, You definitely need medical intervention op, nobody will judge you for seeking help, you can do this!

I know you are worried about ss but please don’t risk your life. Your children are cared for and able to speak for themselves. If there was any follow up then that’s there for everyone to see. You are making a sensible decision by seeking professional advice. Best wishes. We all cope in different ways with trauma.

No real advice except to say see GP but well done for acknowledging the problem. That in itself is a huge step

OP I am just commenting to ask that you think of yourself with a little kindness.
You are dealing with an awful lot of distress on your own. You are clearly doing the best that you can to hold yourself and your family together. You deserve care, treatment & support.

Nothing useful to contribute I'm afraid, I just wanted to say I'm so sorry for the abuse you suffered.
I hope you can find a way out of this, you deserve to

You really need to get professional help as you are beyond can't let SS get involved or it on your records. Your dc need to come first and that isn't happening now. Call the doctor tomorrow.

Hi OP, I've been where you are. Seizures and DTs do not happen to that many alcoholics and it's absolutely impossible to predict if you will be one of them. The first time I stopped drinking, I was on a relatively low level of one and a half bottles of wine a night. The first day of zero alcohol was easy. The next day, the hallucinations and ghosts appearing in my bedroom started. I had no idea at this stage in my life that it was caused by alcohol withdrawal and I truly believed that I was going mad.

I cannot urge you more strongly that you must contact your GP. If it makes you feel better, I am the 100% sole parent to my DD, who was eight years old when this happened. Social services will not take your children away. Also, many in AA (I have been in recovery for 13 years) don't understand the extent of DTs or the very serious danger. Yes, you can cut down as a PP suggested but you really need diazepam, which you can only get via prescription. Please PM me if you want to talk.

Ok you’re drinking nearly a bottle of vodka a day? You must feel shit. You need to cut down immediately. Not go cold turkey. Normally you drink about a bottle of wine a day?

Does your children’s father also live with you? I’m concerned about them living with two alcoholics. This must be very tough.

Are you getting help to cope with the child hood trauma, what about with the fact the children’s father is an alcoholic?

[quote ashamedashamed]@MobLife I have DC. They are teen and almost teen, and I'm a single parent. I'm worried the GP would contact social services. The DC are clean and well fed with healthy food and go to school, the house is clean. I'm not a loud drinker I just sit in my room. I'm not going to lie to myself and say it doesn't have an influence on them at all or they don't notice though. I know I need to be a better mum for them. Their dad is also an alcoholic. I understand why the GP might contact the SS but I can't have that happen and I don't want it on my records either.[/quote]
Who is looking after the younger one whilst you've been drinking 30 units a day and going through symptoms when you aren't actively drinking? The teenager, by any chance? Are they also on alert all night in case of a fire, nightmare or other emergency as they know you aren't going to be in any state to keep them or the younger child safe?

You not wanting to get help from your GP in case Social Services become involved keeps that child exactly where you need them to be able to carry on drinking. It's a bloody good excuse to not get medical help, too. 'Oh, I can't stop drinking because I'd need help to do it'. It also makes it your children's fault that you aren't getting treatment. As though they don't have enough responsibility in their lives already.

Contact the Drug and Alcohol team. Do not try and 'cut down' because you don't want to actually stop drinking. It doesn't matter one shiny shit why you are choosing to binge even more than usual. It's sad that something has happened to you in the past and you've heard something you don't like. But that doesn't stop the impact you are having on those children from drinking. And it doesn't change what it would do to them to have you permanently brain damaged or dead because you'd rather risk them suffering that than do the sensible, responsible thing of getting proper medical help.

I’m a GP and there is nothing a GP can do for you with regards to reducing your drinking. We can’t prescribe medication to help you cut down. We can’t arrange any kind of detox. All we can do is give you the number of your local drug and alcohol support service, which you can probably find online.
Are you able to make a more gradual reduction? Say reducing by 2 units per day?

Alcoholic in recovery, here. Six year sober. I know all about shame and secrets and functional alcoholism. I also know about the devastation of childhood trauma.

Tell your GP. S/he will help you, not hurt you. Your story is not unique. You just need help.

If you had any other illness you would go straight to your GP. Think about that.

As others have said, you could put yourself in serious danger of dying. You don't want to leave your children motherless.

The other big things is the burden of your secret is keeping you sick. You cannot do this on your own. You won't be able to recover, or even think straight. without relieving yourself of the secrecy and lies and conniving.

Thinking positive thoughts for you. You can recover.

Oh and I’m sorry, but wanting to avoid social services getting involved is abusive to your children. And actually, rather than taking your kids away, social services are more likely to help you with reducing your intake and getting your drinking under control.

Please don't make any drastic change to your alcohol intake without talking to your GP. At the level you are drinking at there is a real risk of immediate harm from continuing to drink, as well from withdrawal if you stop- call the GP, be really honest about much you drink and ask to be referred to addiction services. Good luck & hugs Xx

@BeautyGoesToBenidorm

If you're reluctant to seek a medical detox (I totally understand that fear - I had SS involvement when I was an active alcoholic, the cause being C-PTSD), the safest thing to do is to taper.

Say you drink 12 glasses of wine per night. The next night, drink 11. The next night, 10 - you get my drift. Eventually, you'll get to zero.

DO NOT COLD TURKEY. Tapering takes discipline, but it keeps you out of the withdrawal danger zone (especially seizures).

I wish you luck, OP. I have a lot of experience with this, please PM me if you need anything.

Anyone on this thread who tells you it is safe to cut down by yourself, or who tried to advise you on how many units to cut down is not an HCP. Do not listen to PPs who are telling you how to cut down - what works for one person is not necessarily safe for another.

You must speak to your GP. Please do not be embarrassed - your GP will have dealt with many people from all walks of life with addiction problems.

how many bottles of wine equate to 60 unit of alcohol a week.
perhaps you could ring the samaritans to talk about the trauma.
and they may be able to suggest other sources of support and listening re the trauma.
good luck.

A gp has already responded.

@Mintychoc1 would not refer individuals to local MH services for dual diagnosis assessment and management?

I’m sorry you’ve had a bad time in the past and everything’s been brought back to the fore recently.

Please go to your GP.

Honestly there aren’t enough foster carers to take kids from everyone who has an addiction problems into care. If yours are fed, clean, not crying in class or showing other signs of distress they will leave them with you while you work through this difficult time.

I’ve seen the effects of cold turkey on my late stepfather. I would strongly not recommend it. He would not have been able to leave his bed to care for children for sure.

You have to care for children. You have to not risk dying via cold turkey.

Your children love you and need you. What would happen if you collapsed in front of them, they’d be very upset.

The GP is there for you. If you feel you can’t say the words write it down and let him read it. Tell the truth as minimising things won’t give him a true picture. It’s ok to tell the truth.

You will get through this OP. It could give you more coping strategies and you could get more support with past trauma too. You’ve suffered for so long. You deserve help and support.

Good luck. You can do it with professional help and be well. You are stronger than you think.
💐

I have worked with alcoholics in the past and the GP who posted is right - there's very little they can do other than to sign post you to Alcohol services whom you can contact yourself. You will need a lot of self discipline.

There are very few dual diagnosis services left which is appalling, but there may be one near you. First step has to be to refer yourself (if you can, or get a GP referral) to data. I am 7 years sober and it was incredibly hard but you really can, and need to, do this

@PurpleDaisies - why so aggressive?

Interesting that everyone is advocating the GP when a GP has posted to say they can do nothing to help and would just give the OP the number of drug and alcohol services. If this is true, it doesn't give anyone much hope of support from primary health care. I would also imagine that given the lockdown getting that support from specialist services will be even more challenging.