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.

Hi

I did speak to the GP earlier this month. She gave me diazepam but I never took any. I managed a few nights completely sober but then feelings took over and I started again sadly. That time the withdrawals lasted days and were really unpleasant but thankfully nothing happened. I feel embarrassed to go back and say I went back to drinking, but I'll need to soon for a note for work.

There's no way I could afford private rehab.

Late last night and when I woke during the night I drank a 1/4 of a bottle of whiskey total but I poured it out and put it to the bin. Since then I've had 3 small bottles of beer 'only', seems to be keeping any withdrawals away and I managed a productive evening of lots of housework and showering. I know it's not abstinence, but I guess it's good going for me.

I had forgotten you can call AA. I will do that. I remember I called Al-Anon once for support with ex partner's drinking, back when I barely drank.

Hi OP, addictions nurse here.

I haven't read the full thread, but noticed on your post before last you mentioned you have PTSD. Are you having any kind of treatment for that? I only ask because in my experience, it's likely your drinking will be linked with your trauma, and willpower alone is hardly ever enough to stop and stay stopped in that situation. You need some proper support here. Are you adverse to the local alcohol service? Some of them have integrated mental health services that may well be able to help you with both matters, in a planned way.

Sending lots of positive thoughts your way.

OP no shame in going back to your GP a lot of relaspes happen in the first month. You are moving in the right direction by reducing your alcohol intake, keep it up, it's a really tough time for everybody at the moment so don't be too hard on yourself

My sister is an alcoholic. At 53 she did rehab. ( 6 weeks)

She was medically detoxed for 1 week, ( 3, possibly 4 libruim ( not diazepam but in the benzodiazepine group) daily, 15mg of Zopiclone at night and strong vit B compound. This was a weaning dose (the Vit b lasted a month but the Zopiclone and Librium were weaned over a week).

She was drinking 3 bottles of wine a day.
She could not reduce herself, had tried and tried. But once she'd had the first drink, she had no control over herself to mitigate her intake.
She was drinking in the night, round the clock. She too, had dreadful nausea, shakes, skin prickling, vomiting... She did not fit, but clearly rehab recognised she was bad enough to require a medical detox
She drank to feel normal.

She is 7 years sober now. She was and still is a lovely person, but alcohol changed her.
Good luck OP, I've just spoken to my sister, who feels you need much more support than just weaning down.
Btw, she says alcohol masks, almost completely, any possible benefit of AD.
She said to contact your local drug and alcohol services, they can do community detoxes. She had really good support, before and after rehab. You can self refer, no need for GP to do this.
She is amazing now, happy, good friends, repaired relationships with my nieces ( they were strained relationships, to say the least.
This is possible.
All the best OP