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Problem/Dependent Drinkers and Alcoholics (recovering or active) Support IV

1000 replies

lackaDAISYcal · 07/04/2008 00:07

Smile
OP posts:
sillytilly · 21/04/2008 20:53

hello to everyone posting for the first time.

a flippant aside, but have those of you who have abstained a while lost much weight/abdominal fat?

is heavy drinking significant calorie-wise to contribute to being overweight?

thornrose · 21/04/2008 21:18

Well that's it, first alcohol free night for ages, dd in bed so no chance of going to the shop now.
To sillytilly, I always lose lots of weight from my stomach immediately I stop drinking so heavily. My face looks leaner and less puffy too. i know there are loads of calories in alchol.

sillytilly · 21/04/2008 21:24

oooh, good incentive, hey?

presumably slebs don't drink much as they have to stay so slim...?

thornrose · 21/04/2008 21:29

I really notice the difference quite quickly as my non alcohol diet is good and I snack more when I drink wine, so that's an added weight loss!
I bet some slebs would rather not eat so they can drink more?!

kokeshi · 21/04/2008 21:49

Bottlebin every GP is different but will start with an assessment of how much you drink, and what problems it causes for you, possibly offer you some liver tests, then decide if they need to refer you on to an addictions service. GPs can prescribe Librium to help with detoxing and drugs like Antabuse which I've spoken of before. You'll also need some Vitamin B and thiamine supplements, and possibly be offered this in an injection (Pabrinex).

There are many differences between people with addiction problems, which make it impossible to give a clear general answer to this question. Globally, the treatment of an addiction is as follows: In the first place, there is an interview on admission. In this conversation, the therapist determines what is going on and if there is really an addiction. This conversation usually takes an hour. However, sometimes more admission interviews need to take place to get a clear picture of the problems and the person. Additional research may be necessary after this conversation; this is usually done with questionnaires. An example of such a questionnaire is the EuropASI, which determines the severity of the addiction. Depending on the impression of the interviewer and the preference of the addict, a treatment plan is made. This treatment plan contains your data, the goals of the treatment and by which treatments these goals can be pursued.

Usually, the first step is a treatment aimed at detoxification (not using) and suppression of withdrawal symptoms. This can take place either in a clinic or in the home environment, depending on the circumstances of the person and his surroundings. In this phase, the person in charge of the treatment can chose to use medication to help the patient to get off the habit. The treatment can have different goals; one can be to reduce the use of the substance, and to limit damage to the body, but usually the goal is total detoxification. The addict has a major part in the treatment: if he or she doesn't agree with the proposal, it will not happen.

After this, other treatment goals will be worked on; for example, preventing or reducing a relapse, and improving the mental and social condition of the person. Depending on the nature of the problems, this can be done either in a rehabilitation center (clinical) or in the home environment, in which case the patient goes for treatment during weekdays or a few days per week.

dandycandyjellybean · 21/04/2008 21:59

Sorry guys am having major problems with my pc at the mo. as in my dh, having had a prob with his bf, is now installed here every night, playing games and stuff. So this is my first post tonight and I'm really sorry i haven't even had chance to read things up to date. Will catch up again in the morning and must address this asap with dh. Hope everyone is doing okay. xxx

Flowertop · 22/04/2008 08:07

Hi all just checking to record that didn't drink last night - hooray!! Don't know why but Mondays are a lot easier to not drink and then desparate on Tuesday - any tips welcome? Drank lots of Camommile (sp?) tea which really seemed to help. Feel great today and have to question why I don't realise that I can feel like this everyday if I just don't drink.
Hope you are all ok. Good to read all the posts.
XX

gerbrajess · 22/04/2008 08:31

Morning all - how is everyone today?

Hi Flowertop - well done!! I am also hangover -free today and chuffed to bits!

Tips for carrying it on to Tuesday - can you not convince yourself it's Monday again - groundhog day! Seriously though, I'm not sure. I drank redbush tea last night and was actually quite relieved to go to bed at a reasonable hour rather than going to bed hideously late due to drinking.

How did it go for the other abstainers Bottlebin, Thornrose and Justawater?

Bottlebin · 22/04/2008 08:49

Morning, yes alcohol free last night, hangover free this morning
I'm the other way round. I stagger drunk to bed at 9pm ish and if I don't drink, I can't sleep.

Had a talk with dh last night but it was all, 'Yes I know, yes I know,' rather than any fresh promise to each other to try harder. I guess it's all een said before and tried before and we'll just see how it goes.

Bottlebin · 22/04/2008 08:50

DH took the empties to the bottle bin so we don't have to put them out this week.

gerbrajess · 22/04/2008 09:23

Well done Bottlebin! It feels bizarre to me relatively clear-headed doesn't it?

It's a tricky one with your DH...I understand what you mean now when you said you've got to do this on your own.

My DP is a big weekend drinker but has no problem leaving it during the week. He won't accept I may have a problem - perhaps because it will change all sorts of things. Perhaps I'm not being emphatic enough about it though...

There are bottles of wine from his wine club scattered around the house and I stayed away from them last night which I'm thrilled about. I know it's not an ideal situation - but when DP is sure I haven't got a problem, I can't really ask him to get rid of them all (or I don't think i can anyway).

(I actually dreamt that I was trying to find a replacement Pinot Grig for his stash that I had drunk - I had to go and check this morning that I hadn't actually drunk it!)

Sun is out and I'm feeling good - have a good day all...

Gerbra x

BrassicMonkey · 22/04/2008 09:46

Morning everyone

Well done FT and BB on your sober Monday. I used to find it relatively easy to go without on Sunday and Monday nights. I think I was so badly hungover on Sunday's that I couldn't face it, and then on Monday I'd be really grateful that I felt better and not want to throw the feeling away. I couldn't hold on past that though so would be drinking by Tuesday.

My DP didn't accept that I had a drink problem until it started to affect his life. He's not much of a drinker (beer with football or occasional pint after work) so it wasn't because he was afraid that he'd have to change his habits. I just don't think he 'got it', because he found it so easy to go without completely, or stop after a couple. For a long time he thought I drank because I was unhappy and that I'd be like him if only I developed some interests, lost a bit of weight, stopped smoking (or whatever else it was that I was moaning about at the time). He never encouraged me to drink, but it was easy for me to convince him that having a drink wouldn't lead to a full on binge, but inevitably it always did.

I've got another CBT session this afternoon . I know I'll be relieved once I've got it over with but I'll sit here and fret about it until I have to leave.

gerbrajess · 22/04/2008 10:04

Good luck this afternoon Brassic. I can't remember if you said how many of these sessions you've had already?

They are a nightmare at the beginning, really hard - I felt that everything I said sounded SO stupid - but after a few sessions, realised it was quite a relief to get everything out there and the end result was really positive in terms of the ED. (Even after a year though, I couldn't shake the feeling that she thought I was a bit mad - she was younger than me and seemed so together! That's just me though )

Hope it all goes okay...

Work is calling...have been procrastinating...once again...

Gerbra x

Bottlebin · 22/04/2008 10:21

Thanks. Have just been to the Co-Op and actually had to avert my eyes from the alcohol. I've never felt that before which I think is a good thing. It perhaps indicates that I really mean it this time rather than eyeing up the ofers for when I give in.
I bought a great big cake instead!

Have a nice day!

Stripteasle · 22/04/2008 10:31

Really positive on here at the moment- well done all youse for not drinking.
Its weird when you realise that you actually CAN do it isn't it?
x

sillytilly · 22/04/2008 10:53

Flowertop - tips that have worked for me (I really feel I have changed my mindset - hope that's not too optimisic of me...)

eating well - lots of water, fruit, veg, protein, wholegrains

exercise - tires me out so sleep easily at night

making nice drinks (such as Expat suggested on previous thread) - fruit juice cocktails with ice and mint, pomegranate juice - and drinking a lot of water/squash to make up for all the wine I used to drink!

taking B vitamin
supplement (thanks to Kokeshi's advice)

drinking the Birt & Tang detox tea in the evjing, or peppermint, or roobois

having some lollies, chocolate or really nice fruit in in case I feel like a treatin the evening

having a bath when children gone to bed, then getting into comfy clothes

hope they help a bit, D

jellibabe · 22/04/2008 10:54

Dear God I am having such a bad week at work. Please don't let me cry at work or at least let me do it with dignity alone.

justwaterformethanks · 22/04/2008 11:00

Hi all ,did really well last night until my DH brought home a cold bottle of white wine ,then i drank 2/3 rds of it ,the rest is sitting in the fridge waiting for me to pour it away . How crap am I ? Id rung him at work to ask him to bring a few bits home for tea and purposefully didnt ask him to buy wine ,but then i didnt say dont either so thats my fault, he wouldnt normally though ,i think he did it because he bought himself some whiskey which was on offer and felt like he should get me something too ! Im going to have to have a chat about me absteining tonight , i know he worries about the amount i drink ,he makes comments all the time

sillytilly · 22/04/2008 11:01

Jelli - how come? are you OK?

Justwater - at least you left a third! deffo have a chat with your partner about abstaining and get his support, much easier then...

justwaterformethanks · 22/04/2008 11:03

Jelli why is work so bad it would make you cry? Is crying such a bad thing anyway ? its better to let your emotions out than bottle them and go doolallypip dont you think although im sure my kids would disagree when i go into meltdown . I bet all those people who go 'postal' in the states could of done with a really good cry !

justwaterformethanks · 22/04/2008 11:05

just wanted to add ginger and lemongrass cordial is yummy ,thats what i drink when i am not drinking alcohol,its got a bit of bite to it ,so it feels like a grown up drink!

dandycandyjellybean · 22/04/2008 11:18

Jellibabe, so sorry you're having such a crap week at work. Know exactly what you mean about the crying...I tend to cry when I'm angry and it really pisses me off...instead of being able to be indignant or express my emotions properly i just end up a big blubbering mess which makes me feel weak and pathetic.... REally hope things get better, come on and post and let us know how you got on. {{{hugs}}}

Sillytilly, thanks for the tips, copying and pasting for future perusal.

Gerbrajess, Thornrose and Bottlebin, you are fan-foogoo-tastic!!!! Well done. Go you guys. Times when I've managed to cut back i've always put the money I would have spent in a jar and watched it pile up. Man what a lot we waste! And then, as you say there is the 'waist' issue. Drink is the only reason I'm overweight now. Have addressed my eating issues and eat really well and healthily, make good choices for myself....until I have a drink. Aaarrrrggh!!!!

Justwater, don't beat yourself up...I'm impressed that you stopped at 2/3! Just keep on keeping on....

Brassic hope your sessions goes okay. Let us know how you get on.

Kokeshi, wise and informative as always....did you see the whole comedy of errors you're typo sparked? It was really funny...hence the name change, although I'm not sure I'm sticking with this, just can't think of anything better at the mo. Hope you're okay. Often think of you, and wonder how you're getting on.

WILL post tonight before i drink...!!!!!!! (kicking dh off computer emoticon)

dandycandyjellybean · 22/04/2008 11:20

your not you're duh!

gerbrajess · 22/04/2008 14:35

Jellibabe - are you okay? Is there anywhere you can take yourself off to and have some time to yourself?

Dinny - thanks for the tips. Have to go to the shops in a minute so will peruse the tea aisles and see what I fancy...Might look for that ginger and lemongrass too JustaWater.

You're right Teasle - there is a definite positive buzz on the thread re abstaining / cutting down - yay! Well done everyone!

Hairybiker, I'm quite fond of your new name now!

Work came in this morning and then dried up so used the time to wallpaper one wall of the front hall (not very big space) - something I've been trying to do for ages. I got it off e-bay and it's supposed to be subtle charcoal grey with darker leaves - when the light shines on it (ie. all day today), the leaves look like leopard print - giving an overall tart's boudouir effect - DP is going to be when he gets home - it was supposed to be a nice surprise!!

Will check in later this evening - big hug to everyone (feel in that kind of mood today despite leopard-print effect in hall!).

Gerbra x

sillytilly · 22/04/2008 17:56

Gerbra - get any delish teas?

Jelli - you home from work?

just thinking about alcohol etc - I honestly think that I under-estimated what a habit it was to drink wine regularly at home - now that I have changed that habit and resisted the initial complusion to do so, so far it seems to have sort of lost its power

going out tonight with some friends so I may have a couple of glasses, if I don't drive.

weird, am wary it's been too....straightforward

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