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.

DAAT not data!

You are about to start treatment for PTSD, you say: I suspect the fact that you are drinking heavily won't be a surprise to the professional you are about to see. Tell them, and ask for help.

Asking for help is a big step. You've already done that - on here. Now do it in real life, and you will get the right support to succeed.

You really, really need medical help, either as an inpatient or an outpatient. You could have all kids of withdrawal symptoms such as DTs, seizures etc. Plus given the amount you're drinking you're going to need mega doses of Vitamin B complex.

Alongside that if you're an outpatient you need to engage with substance misuse services forbbth early. You can either go down th AS routed but if you're not religious or spiritual it's not for everyone. But if you Google your local mental health services, they should have their service luusted. They are usually keen for people to self referral as it displays a level of motivation.

Yes by going down this route, a Safeguarding Alerts will be raised for your kids. But if you engage with the process and are seen to be engaging with substance misuse services, it's unlikely they will be removed. If you don't, though, and something happens as a reSault of your alcohol use, then there may will be consequences.

I work in mental health services, and our psychotherapy services won't treat substance misuses until they've been substance free for a while, or at least until it's fairly stable (e.g. a heroin addict who's been on a methadone script for a year or so, is engaging with drug services and has consistently proved through drug screening that they haven't relapsed. It's very difficult to carry out therapy with someone misusing substances. It's difficult to work out for instance whether their mood and behaviour is due to substance misuse or mental health issues. Also, while you say on the surface you're coping, many substance misuses lead quite chaotic lifestyles, making it difficult to commit to therapy.

Good luck xxx

Sorry for fat fingers. Oh for an edit function!

OP I went through something similar a few years ago. I did have SS involved and we were on a CPP. It was grim and upsetting and I feared I would lose my children but I had to put my pride aside and worked with them to get myself better again. In all honesty I couldn't have done it without the help and support of SS.
And although my children were loved, clean and well fed like yours, it wasn't enough. It's rare that people can get through this without the right sort of support and doing it alone at home isn't safe. Please put what's best for you and your children over your fears of SS and go to the GP. They want to help you, not take your kids away. And that's even if your GP refers you, which they may not.

I would imagine the kids know, they pick up more than we give them credit for and probably don’t know how to approach it with you.

OP, please don’t be scared to seek help from professionals, seriously it’s very rare social services will remove teenagers from their parent due to drink issues, seeking help is proof that you recognise you have a problem and you want to stop. 20-30 units a day is a lot and I wouldn’t suggest just stopping, you really need to speak to your GP. Good luck and really hope you manage to get out the hole you are stuck in.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow - no, I'm not an HCP, but I AM a recovering alcoholic who has been through medical detox numerous times, tapering methods, and using medication in order to control drinking urges.

It's always best to taper when you have someone responsible around you, but don't dismiss tapering. If it's done properly - and there are a few different ways - it's one of the safest ways to wean yourself off of alcohol.

[quote criminallyinsane]@PurpleDaisies - why so aggressive?[/quote]
I don’t think she was aggressive, it’s terrible advice to suggest she keeps a miniature in her pocket for goodness sake.

My friend was an alcoholic. Her kids weren't taken off her. She did have SS in her life. But they only helped. She got help too xx

Hi I used to work in addictions. You can cut down gradually and slowly at home. Keep yourself hydrated and eat light snacks. If you are on 80 units a day don't do a severe cut. As you know there is the risk of a withdrawal seizure. What is your usual daily pattern of drinking. If you feel sweats or shakes or sickness then withdrawal is starting and you will need to take some alcohol. The NHS services here would advise you to cut down gradually or do a detox using bezodiazepines. There is a huge wait for inpatient detox and that is only indicated if you have a history of dts or withdrawal seizures or some other factor. Your gp may be kind and prescribe a reducing benzo dose but before that you would need to cut down yourself anyway. Good luck there is nothing to be ashamed of at all. Pm me if want more info. Good luck x

The op has stated she won’t get help. There is no point everyone giving that as the only option

A gp has commented there is nothing they can do for her apart from point her to drug and alcohol services which she can google snd she will not use.

So the op needs to try to taper this down. Slowly every day. Till she gets back to thr usual bottle of wine a night level.

There is also the option post detox to try antabuse or acamprosate which helps with cravings. Xx

No point in GP, addiction services are who you need to contact if you need help. If you don't want to contact them then tapering is your best option.

You've only been on the 20 units a day for a a couple of weeks so it shouldn't be too much of a problem to go back down to 10 a day. Cutting the 10 a day will be more difficult. From today completely ditch the vodka and drink a bottle and a quarter or half of wine a day for a few days (13-15 units). Over the next week or two try and get yourself back down to the usual bottle of wine a night.

Then start measuring. 9 units a day for 4 days, 8 units a day for 4 days etc. If you start getting bad withdrawal (headaches, anxiety and flu symptoms are far far more likely than seizures) symptoms at any point hold that value until your body is used to it.

By the time you're down to half a bottle a night you're probably safe to go cold turkey. Remember the headaches can last for months but is does get better.

Obviously it's better to contact addiction services for help but if you don't feel able to do that then this is the safest way. I'm sorry you're going through this

@Coconut80, THANK YOU. After multiple seizures and medical detoxes, tapering worked for me. Once I'd tapered, I was prescribed naltrexone and it was an absolute game changer.

The ignorance on this thread is astonishing.

Hold on, Bluntness. A person who claims they are a GP has said they can’t help. That does not mean the OP should not visit her own GP. Let’s all remember this is the internet.

@flaviaritt

Hold on, Bluntness. A person who claims they are a GP has said they can’t help. That does not mean the OP should not visit her own GP. Let’s all remember this is the internet.

That’s true.

Sorry you’re having such a hard time, and recent bad news
Alcohol is a powerful drug and dependency can build quickly.alcohol affects your brain chemistry and it’s slows down functioning and processing (depressive effect) . Your central nervous system adjusts and gets used to a certain level of alcohol and when it’s absent you can get withdrawal

Not all withdrawal require an inpatient or residential setting admission some are safely managed at home in domestic setting. At home tranquillisers are prescribed to manage withdrawal. However you need an assessment by GP and alcohol services advice to determine what location and method is safest for you

You’ll need an assessment to include your
mental health
Nutrition
Social support
Plan to manage alcohol use after detox and going forward

Speak to your GP they will recommend best course of action

I don’t advise a diy approach, it is well intentioned but you need support

Good luck

i. a recovering alcoholic, 6.5 years sober.

at the end of my drinking i just didn’t stop. i think i drank during every conscious moment for about a year.

my last binge was 3 days and from the wreckage in my house, included strong cider and bottles of brandy. i ran out of booze and i was so sick i couldn’t go out and get more.

i’m going to be honest, OP., and tell you the withdrawal was brutal. i too had hallucinations, both audio and visual. i was so sick i just lay in my bed and vomited. i got up at one point to get water and just collapsed.

i think i was very, very lucky to survive that on my own. do you have a trusted friend who could at lowest come and be in the house with you in case things get bad?

i had 3 medical detoxes during my drinking. none of them stuck. the last withdrawal did. i was already in AA and someone got me to a lunchtime meeting the next day. the anxiety was horrific but i did it. not picked up a drink since. i got a sponsor, worked the steps and i am so, so grateful that it worked for me.

AA isn’t for everyone. most towns have drug and alcohol services - find yours and call them tomorrow.

i took vitamin B and thiamine for about 2 years afterwards. your GP should definitely be able to help with that.

ultimately, if you are severely medically unwell in withdrawal you need to get to A&E. alcohol withdrawal is dangerous.

i just wanted to finish by saying how incredibly brave you have been by posting this. it’s hard to stop, i know it is. i drank regularly from age 8, escalating to finally quitting at 41.

you can do this. you CAN. you just need to believe you’re worth saving. i wish you all the best and hope you can dig deep and sort this. life without alcohol is better than any day you spend drunk.

be well.

at *least, not lowest

@Mintychoc1

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?

There you have the issue.

I'm aware that my drinking can err towards 'unsafe' levels, but just about the last place I'd go is my GP, because part of my work role is (state) public facing.

My referral would say ' 'Excess ETOH' (and believe me when I say I've seen F1s write that on a referral for

In my experience, there is little SS shows more indifference to than a parent who is willing to access help. Social workers know that a lot of parents are able to combine excessive alcohol use with good enough parenting, so don’t let fear of SS stop you from accessing the help that could hugely help your physical and mental health and will improve your children’s experiences of home life.

The ages of your children are such that there won’t be huge concerns about their immediate safety if you were under the influence. So, you don’t need to worry if the GP will pass information on. You will be taking responsibility for yourself and your family by getting help in a traumatic time. Kudos.

The average body processes 1 unit of alcohol per hour, and so, can process 24 units each day. If it has to process more than that, it is never free of alcohol, and that's when things get dangerous, including stopping.

You won't have an 'average' body, OP, few of us do. Men are included in the stat and drive the average up. Women usually process at the slower end of the scale due to body mass.

Don't stop suddenly. Seek help from alcohol services. If you want to cut back gradually, a good tip is to pour away a measure from the full bottle, if you know you're going to drink until it's gone. It means you do the sensible bit when you're sober, and don't have to try to pull yourself up after a few drinks when it's more difficult.

Your doctor will have seen people in your situation a hundred times or more. Alcohol services deal with people like you every day, day in, day out. In the kindest possible way, there is nothing unusual about you. There are lots and lots of people who deal with stuff the same way you do.

Seek help. They will be glad to see you, and glad you're helping yourself. They won't judge you negatively. They will see that you're one of the ones brave enough to do something about it, brave enough to face it.

Good luck, and I wish you strength in overcoming this.

And there's a reason why there's a shadow, anonymous 'excess alcohol support service' for doctors out there

Largely because they don't want to have to rub shoulders with the plebs in the same hospitals. Same reasons why doctors go private rather than NHS.

Nothing to add, but just by posting here you have shown courage.
Good luck on your journey and I hope you get the real-life support that you need to reach sobriety.