If I go to the doctor

[Anonymous1211]

Name changed for obvious reasons

If I go the gp and say I am anxious/depressed and drinking to much and I need help… will they involve social services?

TIA

Usually not, unless they feel someone is at risk.

Do you drink when you’re taking care of your children or drink drive with them in the car?

Do you partner at home?

@Riverlee really? I have 3 young children, would they not see that as ‘a red flag.’

I drink every evenings
i am looking after my children during these times
i do have a partner

& no I never drive when I drink, alone DEFINITELY not with the children.

No, they won't. A referral only happens if you disclose serious neglect. Even if SS were involved they'd offer support services. You can be a functioning alcoholic.

You can be an alcoholic, and still function relatively normally. Are your kids at risk?

If you need help, go and get it.

Tbh nobody can fully answer your question.

Social services will not swoop in and take your children.

You'd be doing the right thing by going to the GP. In fact, I would say you are being very responsible and brave . Hope you get the help you need, OP.

I’m functioning 100%. From wake up - 5pm I just function with severe anxiety. But I do drink in the evenings to relive some of the mental LITERAL TORTURE I feel during the day. I would never harm nor neglect them (although some may argue I am by drinking in the evenings)

I really want to get better, but I don’t know how but am terrified they will think my kids are at risk if I disclose how shit I’m feeling.

@dizzydizzydizzy thank you. You are kind.

@Mariannas I can’t deal with social services involvement at all. It would terrify me.

Social services only get involved when there’s abuse or neglect. As long as your children are cared for, get fed, go to school if they’re old enough, and you’re not beating them black and blue you don’t have anything to worry about.
Getting help is important - you deserve to live a happy life without anxiety, rather than struggling through every day. It’s good for you, but it’s also important for the rest of the family.

@Pepperama hi. They definitely get all these things they’re all that keep me here tbh. & the main reason for wanting to seek help. But will they not just see me as a liability of a mother and report me based on my own mental health?

I think you should go to your gp - they only break confidentiality in a very limited number of situations and if (and that's not saying it's likely) they need to they should talk to you about it first. Having an addiction does not always mean that children are at risk.

Another way of looking at it, is that going to your gp may reduce your risk of social services involvement in the longer term. You have realised your drinking isn't ideal and are taking steps to solve it. That's super positive! If you do nothing, you may find your drinking becomes worse and you use it more and more to cope - then social services may become involved.

As someone who has severe anxiety I'm very aware that it's so easy to go down the self medicating route with alcohol or drugs. But there is help out there and things can improve. Sometimes askinh for help is the hardest step. You can also take your partner or a friend with you to the appointment in that'd help, or write what you want to say and just hand it to the gp in the appointment if you find that easier.

Maybe go direct to AA. They don't ask questions.

@VeraForever thanks, you’re right. Not even sure what the gp can offer anyway.

Even if they did make a referral, which for this reason they can’t without your consent.
mall social would do is call you and ask if you need any support. Without any incidents having taken place they won’t make a referral.

well done for taking these steps, anyone would see it as a positive

That helps with what you're doing to try and drown out your MH, but doesn't deal with the cause (ie the anxiety and depression). If you didn't have that, by what you've said, you wouldn't have started to drink in the evening.

OP the gp could prescribe medication to help you, refer you to the MH team for therapy, give you access to some online treatment, refer you to local addiction programmes, give you information about support groups or several of those things.

It could really help you to see your GP. Read this for more info re your SS question.
https://childprotectionresource.online/if-i-have-a-drugalcohol-problem/

i Have generalised anxiety disorder and used to smoke weed every evening to try and calm it down, I’m now on medication for it I’m on 600mg of pregabalin and 100mg of sertraline for it and it’s really helped and my gp has never said anything to SS, even if they were involved, they would see it as you being proactive in getting help, if you do that and your kids are well looked after and in school every day, then they would have no reason to intervene. Good luck with everything ❤️

I also have a 10 year old son just FYI 😝

They can offer medication, and therepy if you feel you can do that ☺️