Dependent Drinkers and Alcoholics (recovering or active) Support Thread II?

[kokeshi]

Welcome to the thread, the purpose of this is to give anyone, who is having any trouble with their drinking, to come and post about it honestly and without judgement.

There are many of us that use the thread for support and encouragement: some in recovery, others just needing a place to share about their worries. It's been going on in one form of another for a while now and has helped many people.

Everybody's welcome, no matter what stage your drinking is at.

Jump right in, the water's fine

Hey BM

Its just part of the whole process of change I think. Yeah I'm going regularly to meetings, and have been going through stuff with her today. Its ok though! I have stuff I try and implement on a daily basis, etc, and am going through the steps with her. She's reet canny like, my sponsor. (Geordie accent there)

Your new phone sounds cool. I don't even know what a pda is (confused, wrinkly emoticon)

Actually, I think I'll slope off to have a nice long bath and relax.
Hope everyone is well this evening.

Evening all. Had a tough day but am coping without a drink. It really helps to know this thread is here. I don't talk honestly to anyone in real life. JWFMT - I was a mental health nurse on an eating disorders unit a few years back, even though I had huge issues with food. I imagine quite a few of your colleagues have alcohol issues, to have been drawn to that work in the first place. You could definitely work in the field when you're sure of your own recovery, but I imagine you're putting yourself under a lot of strain by doing so now.

Hi,

I just wanted to say that I think it's great that this thread exists and is so positive.

For a long time, I thought I had a problem with alcohol. rarely a night went by when I wouldn't have a drink, and often I'd only go to bed when I'd finished the bottle (only ever drank wine, thankfully I can't stand spirits)

Since I found out I was pregnant, I haven't touched a drop and, in all honesty, am amazed at my own courage / determination to do this.

There is so much pressure for mums / women not to admit to drinking (or at least not to admit there might be a problem) so it gets hidden and therefore unresolved.

SO, hats off for this open and positive forum.

KCB

Hi guys,

Well done for all those who're sober tonight taesle, I totally empathise, I'm feeling the same myself at the moment, my work is never done . It's all good though.

Hey BM

Morning everyone - managed to actually throw the wine down the sink last night - had a bottle already open and I was determined not to drink it threw it away - yay to me as all the way home I was thinking about drinking it!! Anyway 1 night down only another 39 to go of my lent - not really thinking of it in exactly those terms but it would be nice to feel I was on top of it. I felt really weird yesterday like was having some sort of nervous breakdown really emotional - feel alot better today. Think this thread is great its the only place I can be really honest and no one judges me - thank you . I have started back on my St Johns Wort and even meditated last night so hopefully I will be able to change my name soon

Keep up the good work everyone.

unhappy, well done you! I'm not sure if I would have been able to pour an open bottle of wine away when I was trying to stop drinking. Then again, the bottles in my house were either empty, or in the process of being emptied - the cork never went back in the bottle!

You did so well yeasterday, those feelings (withdrawala) will only last a few days so ride it out. Well done on the meditation

Thanks Ornamentalhaggis - do feel quite good about being able to throw it away - didnt actually know what I was feeling was withdrawal - thanks for your post

Helps to know that it's temporary, the withdrawals I mean. Here's something quite comprehensive about it, if you experience any of the severe ones, call your doctor right away, but don't worry too much if you've been OK thus far.

Alcohol withdrawal refers to a group of symptoms that may occur from suddenly stopping the use of alcohol after chronic or prolonged ingestion.

Not everyone who stops drinking experiences withdrawal symptoms, but most people who have been drinking for a long period of time, or drinking frequently, or drink heavily when they do drink, will experience some form of withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking suddenly.

There is no way to predict how any individual will respond to quitting. If you plan to stop drinking and you have been drinking for years, or if you drink heavily when you do drink, or even if you drink moderately but frequently, you should consult a medical professional before going "cold turkey."

Withdrawal Symptoms:

Mild to moderate psychological symptoms:

• Feeling of jumpiness or nervousness
• Feeling of shakiness
• Anxiety
• Irritability or easily excited
• Emotional volatility, rapid emotional changes
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Difficulty with thinking clearly
• Bad dreams

Mild to moderate physical symptoms:

• Headache - general, pulsating
• Sweating, especially the palms of the hands or the face
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia, sleeping difficulty
• Paleness
• Rapid heart rate (palpitations)
• Eyes, pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
• Skin, clammy
• Abnormal movements
• Tremor of the hands
• Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids

Severe symptoms:

• A state of confusion and hallucinations (visual) -- known as delirium tremens
• Agitation
• Fever
• Convulsions
• "Black outs" -- when the person forgets what happened during the drinking episode

afternoon

well done unhappy on keeping your resolve

I caved , but I only had a couple of Bailey's (my MIL always buys me some at Christmas, but I can't drink any more than a glass or two. Still, it is a big achievement considering this time last week I'd had a bottle of wine and a third of a bottle of port the night before.

KacyB, good for you. You know we are here if you ever need to talk or feel yourself weakening. When is your baby due?

ha, having read your last post OH, I can safely say I'm cutting it down gradually rather than going cold turkey

some of those symptoms are recognisable to me, especially the dreams. the depression, irritability and anxiety I'm not sure about as I have PND so go through a lot of that anyway.

Thanks Lardymardydaisy You are not doing too bad I could probably drink half a bottle of Baileys - I love the stuff

Thanks LardyMardyDaisy... baby due in may and I've already made the decision that I won't start drinking again... I've come to the conclusion that it is easier for me not to drink at all (which I actually don't mind too much). I do find it difficult to have 'just the one' (unless by the 'one' you mean bottle!!!!!!)

And, Unhappy, I too could drink Baileys till the cows come home - but MAN does it give me a hangover... SO no Baileys for me for several years now!!!!!!!!!

I am very impressed with this support forum and how honest people are able to be.

KCB. x

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Hey, try not to worry until you know what you are dealing with...

Hope it does OK tomorrow.

I'm really sorry about your news souvenir. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping for a good outcome for you. xx

Hi Kacy. Congratulations on your pregnancy. I remember feeling at your stage like I'd been pregnant for years but still having aaaages to go until I got to meet my baby. I was really emotional and felt like I needed to drink more than I ever have at any other point in my life - thank God I didn't do it. Keep posting and come back to us if your resolve starts to weaken after the birth. It's a dangerous time when you realise that your body is all yours again - well it was for me anyway!

souvenir - our thoughts are with you x

Will be thinking of you tomorrow souvenir. If you can possibly draw any comfort, whatever it is, it's better seen to sooner, rather than later.

Keep coming on here for support, we'll be here for you.

Kacy, sorry I missed your message below, congratulations - both on your pregnancy and being able to give the drink away for the sake of your unborn child. I saw picture of a baby born with Foetal alcohol Syndrome yesterday and it was really sad. In fact, I'm sure on of my cousins has similar facial features .

Stay with us, even if you're not drinking you'll be a source of support, and any hits and tips you have to make it easier will be very much appreciated.

DAisy, I was astonished at how many symptoms could develop JUST from stopping drinking. It's good to know what to expect though.

Where are our other regulars?

HI all- I've worked with a baby born with foetal alcohol syndrome in the past. It is awful, I agree.

Hope it goes ok tomorrow, Souvenir- keep posting to us. x

I'm going to a meeting tonight, but will check in later!

I laughed at regular lurker, Fio.

I must admit, the stuff you read about FAS is Sooooooo scary I don't think I'd dare drink!!!

I don't have any children yet, so I don't know... but it does feel like I have this instict to protect my child... I've 'tried' to cut down in the past and never really made a proper go of it - but now it doesn't matter how good or bad my day has been, I AM NOT DRINKING.

For me, the only way was cold turkey... I did have the option of 'cutting down', it was something i had to do immediately.

TBH, I did worry about the potential damage for the weeks I hadn't known I was pregnant, but my (lovely!) obstertrician put my mind at rest and he too was pleased with my resolve!

Hi all. KacyB - I'm sure you're right that it's easier to give up completely when pregnant than to try to limit it. Well done! Souvenir - so sorry for your difficult news.
Unhappy - well done for pouring it away. I did the same on Monday morning this week when I felt so horrible and just wanted to change my ways.

Now the test for me is tonight. DH has bought wine, but I've made a commitment to only have a glass on Fridays and Saturdays from now on. Let's see how it goes...

Good luck tonight all.

I have devoured a whole bottle of wine tonight.

I bought a new tabletop dishwasher off eBay on Weds. What was a simple 10 min plumbing job, has now ended with my stopcock being turned off and a water inlet hose being turned the wrong way and drastically overtightened. Now the inlet tap is dripping.

Got no mates to call. I know getting pissed was the worst thing I could do, but there's no one to call on, and I can't afford a plumber. So I decided to get pissed and forget about it until tomorrow morning.

Well done and congrats on everyone elses successes, nice to see you all posting. It has been hard, very hard, but managed it. Tonight was just about the end of my success.
Decided on getting pissed, rather than throwing my wrench and assorted tools across the room and scaring the kids. I walked away from it for tonight. But by heck, have I got the hump?

Hi PurpleOne,

I was wondering where you went It seems like you do fine for a wee bit and then something happens to you that takes you back to drink? At the course today we were doing relapse prevention which was really interesting.

I guess what that boils down to is what you (each of us) find effective in avoiding relapse when we have a strong craving. For me, that means identifying how I feel at that point in time eg, am I anxious, worried, stressed, down, or even seemingly bizarre things like hungry, angry, lonely or tired (HALT).

Then once I identify what I'm feeling I'll try to talk to someone about it. I would usually go to a meeting, contact and AA pal, email someone or even use this thread.

Other more practical distraction for me could be going for a walk, doing the dishes, going for a drive, reading...something that will take my mind off it.

So, what do you find works for you - PurpleONe - when you feel like you're about to relapse? I think it's important to acknowledge that very rarely you'll find yourself drinking 'out of the blue', if we analyse our thoughts, feelings and behaviour leading up to it, we can see a clear path leading to picking up a drink. They say that a relapse starts in your head WAY before you ever get to the offie.

So, what do the rest of you guys use to stay sober and distract yourselves? Even when the cravings are really strong?

PurpleOne, I've been thinking about your situation and I was wondering if you'd ever heard of Antabuse? It's a drug that has no other effects except when you drink it makes you ill. The people I know who are going through the treatment service use it, as a safeguard, especially when they don't have immediate support. What do you think of this for yourself? Has anyone else eve heard of it and consider it as a solution to chronic relapsing? I guess I'm thinking of those of you who either don't fancy AA or can't, because of their family situation, devote a lot of time to going to meetings?

Lots of questions there

Purple0ne - what now? Can you stop at a bottle of wine or are you continuing? Do you avoid having alcohol in the house and then make a decision to go and buy some? Would it help that, knowing you will consume whatever you buy, you only buy a half bottle, or are things more out of control than that - I'm sorry I don't know your story. How are you today?