advice needed, drinking is out of control, anyone else been here?

[scaredmydadwillkillhimself]

my dad has had many problems over the years but tonight he talked about the worst possible scenario

he has finally given in to the drink and said the words... i am an alcoholic

he cried when he said it

he told me he could not see a way out, he believes it has got a grip of him and is terrified his life will never be the same again,

he admits to going into the garage and looking for a piece of rope this morning, the only thing that stopped him was the fact that he could not find the rope

i have talked him out of it for tonight but what about tomorrow and the next day and the next day?

i am scared it will happen again but next time it will be worse

I haven't direct experience, although my brother in law is an alcoholic who won't admit it. so to my mind, the fact that your dad is aware of it and wants it to stop is a good thing. Is he willing to try AA? Sorry for you. Call the Samaritans maybe?

thanks castaway,

the problem is that although he is aware of it for the time being he does not want to do anything about it,

he is scared as what to expect (he does not say this but i know) his life has always been a life with alcohol in it,

i am off to a support group for children of parents who have drink problems tomorrow evening,

i have never been to anything like this before but i am prepared to try anything to help understand his feelings,

good luck tomorrow. it must be so hard but you are doing all the right things i'm sure.

thanks,

the thing is i have watched him kill himself slowly for 20+ years now,

the fact that he has admitted the problem to me and my mum (who is struggling to come to terms with his confession) is a huge thing but it seems to have opened the biggest can of worms you could imagine,

there have been 20+ years of difficult situations and things which have floored him through no fault of his own and drink has been his 'only friend' in his times of need,

the drink has now become his worst enemy but they have formed an alliance which seems to be impossible to break

I think that accepting having the problem is the first step towards finding the solution for it.

Hopefully tomorrow he will feel a bit better and think things through with a fresher mind. With a bit of luck you may get him to contact someone about it.

he's very lucky to have you on his side caring about him. i guess this will be a gradual thing - but hopefully you will get the help you all need. make sure you keep asking for it though.