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.

What are you worried that SS will do?

Hi OP, I'm a recovering alcoholic. If you see your GP they will advise you to contact Addiction Services, but that is all a GP will do. It is not the GPs fault. This country is woeful for it's addiction and rehabilitation services so there is very little doctors can do.

I was drinking the amount you are now daily when I quit. My GP referred me to Glasgow City Alcohol and Drugs Recovery Services (I could just have done that myself though, I realised afterwards and would suggest you do the same). It was agreed I'd taper and detox at home. The level of drinking I was at I had to taper really. It wasn't going well a few days in and I was sent back to the GP who prescribed me a limited supply of low dose diazepam to get me through a difficult few days. I'm not sure he'd have done that (the prescription) if I hadn't had his referral to addiction services though. He knew what was happening.

There is a some good advice about tapering in the thread here. I would message some of those people who have suggested it. I think that will help you to formulate a plan and give you a push to carry it out.

Please be kind to yourself. It is incredibly easy to lose your way with alcohol. It creeps up on you like the bastard that it is. I wish I could give you a hug because I know the despair you are feeling, but you can do this. I have the will power of a blob of jelly and I managed it. Life is so much better on the other side I promise you.

No advice but just want to say I hope you mange to reduce the amount each night and get the help you need. The fact you’re thinking how you are is positive.

No, because there’s a worry about professional reputation and career progression that prevents doctors stepping forward to reveal alcohol dependency. Absolutely nothing to do with “plebs” as you ungraciously put it

I have known staff to be treated out of area to protect privacy and it can be an issue for treatment & recovery if an HCP is treated in a setting the may have worked or are known
There was a specialist MH unit in SLAM for staff (as we are can be problematic and difficult to treat). Adept at splitting, know the system etc
Nothing to do with plebs and everything to do with recovery

OP you have shown courage by posting here. I hope that you are able to get help. I know life can get so much better for you. Please be kind to yourself and get the help you need

From the vantage point of a SW I can say that we don't get to know about every person who goes to their GP with alcohol addiction issues. There would have to be other issues alongside. If you are working, keeping the children on a clean, warm home and they well fed I would imagine there would be little to worry about, even if they did become involved. What SW would want to know is that you were tackling your addiction and making progress. I wish you luck on moving forward with this and that you manage to kick your addiction.

soapyfrog has said what I was going to say.

I have a friend who is an alcoholic and probably a drug user too. Single parent (like me). She’s very functioning - works FT in a professional job, cooks astonishingly gourmet meals every night for the kids. From the outside you wouldn’t know. But her kids are on the child protection register. SS are involved because the whole family is at risk. MThe amazing meals don’t make up for her dependency and the impact it has on the kids (who are lovely and who are devoted to her)

Honestly she is glad to have SS support. They have been really good and have steered her through some tough stuff. They absolutely do not want to take her children away.

If it makes a difference they are a middle class family. Borderline posh. This can happen to anyone - and the best thing you can do to be the best mother you can is reach out for help. You’ve had a horrific time and it’s more than ok to get help. You cannot go through this alone. Please ask for help.

Hi OP! Recovering addict here. Have a Google and see if you can self-refer to you local community drugs and alcohol service - you could in my borough. Mine were BRILLIANT. I thought it would be scary and awful but it was fantastic they were so motivational and helpful. Also come on over to the long running sobriety thread, everyone there is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Good luck, and get the help; it won't work by yourself, alcohol is just too addictive!

@SentientAndCognisant

No, because there’s a worry about professional reputation and career progression that prevents doctors stepping forward to reveal alcohol dependency. Absolutely nothing to do with “plebs” as you ungraciously put it

I have known staff to be treated out of area to protect privacy and it can be an issue for treatment & recovery if an HCP is treated in a setting the may have worked or are known
There was a specialist MH unit in SLAM for staff (as we are can be problematic and difficult to treat). Adept at splitting, know the system etc
Nothing to do with plebs and everything to do with recovery

Because what NHS patients need is it being kept secret that the surgeon's office clanks like a recycling centre when the PA has to leave something on his desk?

His office was a fucking obstacle course. Lovely guy, great doctor when sober. Utter liability with a scalpel. Should have been out to pasture years beforehand, though - but the short stays at the Bethlem were kept so secret that nobody, not even the AMD could do a thing about it. The kickoffs when his list was cancelled on the day, though, were spectacular.

Can’t offer any advice but good luck with it. I grew up in a home where my (wonderful) parents drank too much at the weekends...dealing with the stress of the working week. I was well cared for, wanted for nothing, and had a great upbringing but I was always scared for them. They’d never have hurt me, but I was scared for their health. It’s hard being a teen in that situation. It left me with crippling anxiety and a healthy aversion to alcohol!

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

This seems like good, practical advice op, if you're going to try and reduce your drinking by yourself.

@MitziK of course we all need and should get safe,capeable,clinicians I wholeheartedly agree
Cancelling theatre list is catastrophic and has a significant impact.
I’d hope colleagues,staff feel able to whistleblow about incompetence or poor practice. I’m aware hierarchy and a myriad of other factors are obstacles to reporting. At least post Francis report there is an increased emphasis upon being supported when speaking up

I am from a family of alcoholics and I can assure you that if your children don't know now when you're drunk and when you're not they will learn to. When I visit my mum I can tell straight away if she's had her first drink of the day and whether she's having a 'steady' day or a bender. I have known since I was a teenager. It was awful coming home from school and as soon as she spoke knowing she was drinking.

Your children have two alcoholic parents. I know it's not what you want to hear but you need support from social services. They need it. One of my siblings died in her 30s to alcohol leaving a small child. This shit is really real and you've gone past the stage where you can do it alone.

I think it's really irresponsible to suggest the OP tapers when she has children in the house. She's already having significant symptoms. I used to work alongside an alcohol team and used to attend referral meetings and they would have accepted and supported her. They were a brilliant, non judgemental team.

[quote MobLife]@Mintychoc1 would not refer individuals to local MH services for dual diagnosis assessment and management?[/quote]
OP says the GP is already aware of her mental health problems so I assume she has been having counselling.

But no, just being an alcoholic doesn’t trigger a mental health referral. In fact, psychiatrists won’t see alcoholics unless they are dry.

Please don't try and cut down drastically on your own, an ex did this and had a massive stroke as a result. It's too risky to do this on your own please go to your GP and get help with a managed withdrawal plan.

@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.

Well I am a GP. And the same has been said by other health care workers in this thread. But whatever. I’m not fussed if no one believes me.

Mintychoc1

I don’t disbelieve you. I am pointing out that we can’t be certain of anything on the internet.

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.

Laughing at the suggestion that someone after 11 glasses of wine will have the ability to say “that’s enough, I’ll stop there”

being an alcoholic doesn’t trigger a mental health referral yes that’s correct

But no, just being an alcoholic doesn’t trigger a mental health referral. In fact, psychiatrists won’t see alcoholics unless they are dry.

An issue which has caused us no end of problems with a family member of mine. Can’t get his depression under control so he drinks. MH won’t see him til he has stopped drinking. Can’t stop drinking until his MH is under control. A viscous circle that the HCPs won’t help him with.

I don’t disbelieve you. I am pointing out that we can’t be certain of anything on the internet.

I Agree, Online people are often really bombastic and offer advice as if it’s absolute. When in reality and RL it’s often a number of possibilities and outcomes

I’m a recovering alcoholic and I tried to stop and had a seizure. It was very scary for my partner who was with me at the time. My DC were 6 and 11 at the time and were thankfully at school. SS were told and did not take my children away from me. They saw I was dealing with my problem and were happy with that. See your GP and get to AA I had ptsd and I had help with that too. Hand hold you can do this.

iwould seek help, you may be prescribed diazepam

I think it sounds like you are drinking about 2/3 bottles of wine a day?

If so I think you could manage to detox on your own.

But definitely get help if you can't do it yourself, regardless of social services. Having parents who are drunk every night is very frightening even if you think they are fine.

@Mintychoc1 but she isn't 'just' an alcoholic-there's the ptsd issue too so would make sense to go via her GP in the first instance to see if a referral could be made to MH. Having an allocated key worker through a treatment service could make a significant difference
Granted though, as another poster pointed out, dual diagnosis services are really limited so it would very much depend on which part of the country she's in