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

[lackaDAISYcal]

hope everyone is doing okay. I'm off to bed now with my supper, am still compus mentus even after 1/2 bottle of gin. did try to really pace myself tonight, and the last glass is upstairs. hang in there all. xxxxx

Thanks for the sympathy! Cunny and OifOif, 'tis very good to have you guys back as well.

Teasle, this would have been handy, especially when rendered incapable by the vodka .

Kokeshi sending you lots of love and hugs for a speedy recovery. Cubby so great to see you posting again and sound like you are doing ok. This is a fantastic thread and although not delighted to be part of it (for obvious reasons!) so glad you are all out there knowing how it is ifyswim.
XX

Good evening all - how is everyone?

Kokeshi - so sorry you're ill - if you're allergic to penicillin can they not give you anything else? Poor you.

oiFoiF well done for staying off the wine, despite the fact the thought's floating round your head. Once it floats in mine, it's usually game over. I reckon that's very strong indeed...

(re the worktop - just wondered whether you can get different tones/colours of danish or other oil as we want to make ours darker.)

Hey Brassic - I hope you weren't serious about feeling bad . As far as I can remember it was me glugging back the wine and posting pissed drivel - to be honest it got to a point last night where I probably wouldn't have noticed if anyone was on the thread even if they had been .

...that awful moment in the morning when hazy recollections return. I spent 20 mins doing a terrifying MN audit trail of Gerbra's last night activities. Luckily, it could have been worse!

Hello everyone else !

Spent day dreading DP's return but apologised when he got back. Came clean and told him I'd drunk a lot and he's put it down to giving up smoking. (There is some truth in that, I do tend to glug when I've quit in the past).

Still convinced he's in denial on my behalf though - despite me bringing the subject up several times now.

Have had 1 glass of wine tonight and will try and stop after two. That will feel like a major achievement.

Gerbra x

Brassic,
I'm interested in what you say about CBT. I think I said I've heard nothing but positive feedback about it for all sorts of issues. Can you get referred on the NHS then?

I saw a ED specialist for over a year so am very good at confessing embarrassing things but I totally remember how difficult it was at the beginning. All these things you've been hiding from everyone for god knows how many years, and suddenly you're expected just to blurt them out!

I also wanted to ask what anyone thinks about hypnosis as a way of helping break a drink habit?

I have a friend who has been a fairly heavy drinker and he went to a hypnotherapist to tackle the issue and so far it ssems to have been really positive. He's given me her contact details and I'm wondering whether I might try it? I'd be really interested to hear if anyone's gone down or knows anyone who's gone down that route...was it successful?

I've been to hypnotherapy a few times a while back for other things, and it was helpful.

Gerbra x

Gerbra well done for quiting the fags. I'm green with envy. I hope to get round to it in the scheme of things. It's not one of my more endearing traits. Under mega pressure from my daughter to quit. Recently there was a children's programme called 'The Smokehouse'. I had to ask her to switch it off .

Jellibabe - I know I'm only 2 days in...but...just to give you some encouragement...it's really been fine! (and I think the first few days are always the toughest).

I'm chewing the old nicotine gum but not too much and I haven't been craving a cig at all (and I was a very dedicated smoker - I won't tell you how much, it was way too much!).

Honestly, it feels good!

Gerbra x

sorry, cunny!? I meant cubby. Flowertop always good to see you too.

Gerbra, although I think it's a good idea to investigate your own strategies for tackling your problem, I'd be really dubious as to whether hypnotherapy could really 'cure' something as physiologically and emotionally ingrained as addiction. You can't get away from the fact that there WILL be a withdrawal process and all the triggers that took you to drink in the first place will still be there. I don;t want to be too negative but I think when we start to obsess about quick-fix solutions to drinking, it's just that we're still in a bit of denial as to how serious our problem is.

You know, getting sober, stopping drinking, is the easy part. The hard work and slog comes when we have to cope with life on life's terms and learn better ways to deal with our emotions. That's just something that comes with life experience and unfortunately having to deal with the shite that life throws at you. I don't think there is an easier, softer way.

This is just my own opinion, and having spoken with lots of recovering alcoholics over the years. I'd like to hear any success stories with hypnotherapy and alcohol addiction though.

Did you do CBT to deal with your eating issues? I guess if you dug that out, it would all still apply to your drinking too. I think it IS better to have some help from a professional though. It seems like you're doing everything you can to avoid going to the doctors, would that be right? Seriously though please think of your health in this.

Oh and well done on the fags! I hope that post doesn't sound too pessimistic. I'm just always wary of these 'therapists' promising cures to vulnerable people where they're really just exploiting them for a quick buck.

How you feeling today jellibabe? How long is that now?

Hi Kokeshi
I know it wouldn't be a quick-fix solution. My experience of hypnotherapy has been that it's helpful in re-directing a thought path though.

My thought path currently is 10pm - I WANT A DRINK. At 9.45pm it may cross my mind, but I don't get twitchy and craving it until 10 or past 10.

Does that sound mad? Because of that though, I do think hypnotherapy could be beneficial for me. What I wasn't craving at 9.45 I'm suddenly craving at 10.00 - that's got to be a habit as much as an addiction?

You're right though. In many ways I'm reluctant to go to the GP. Because I'm so reluctant though, I'm really considering why not try the hypnotherapy if I'm not in a place to go to the GP right now.

I'm just musing out loud here really - but if as a cig addict, I get to a point when I've come off the gum and am nicotine-free, can the same not happen with alcohol?

I haven't spoken to friend for a week or so, but will get in touch at the weekend and see how he's doing.

Really good to hear your input - as always! - I value what you have to say.

Gerbra x

I feel fine today. Still waking up achey. It's been just over 3 weeks now so is that still likely to be related to drink? Feel like I've come a long way since last years Friday to Sunday sessions.

Purpleone I hope your still lurking. It's really disheartening when you feel like your not getting anywhere. Sometimes I have to have a break from giving up things because it's so emotionally and mentally exhausting. It gives me a chance to psych myself up to try again. Don't lose touch.

Hi jelli (and all)

I'm still here lurking. It's been really hard doing this and have reverted back to the first time I tried staying sober after my first AA meeting.

No wine, no cider, no spirits. If I fancy a beer, I will just buy the 2 and open it very late (am working right now anyways) so thus I cannot get drunk and can't go out and buy more as the offy is shut.

But there's a big difference between wanting a beer, and WANTING a beer.
Feeling really good in the day but I just wish life's crap would stop it's heady onslaught and give me a break.

Hope everyone else is well. Get well soon kokeshi x x

gerbra, absolutely go for it if you think it will help. There's no harm in giving it a go, and then it will be clear in your mind the nature of your drinking issues (habit/addiction). There's no wrong way to do things I don't think (within reason!), as long as there's a lesson learned.

jellibabe, have you had your general health checked? It's known that drinking and feeling generally rough with that can mask other symptoms that we only start to notice once we eliminate booze. I'd go for an MOT at the docs, and make sure you're eating properly and drinking enough fluids.

PurpleOne, great to see you posting, you know you're always welcome on here. I hope you get some relief from your problems soon. Thanks for asking after me.

Thanks Kokeshi
I think I will give it a go...

Have to share this ... have been chortling constantly since the 'Cunny' post ! It only makes me laugh because I once spell-checked a whole document and it was only when the thing had gone back that it was discovered that XXXX was 'pubic enemy number one' !!!
Spell check, of course, didn't pick it up...

I still laugh about that now (how sad am I) and your mis-type reminded me of that!

Gerbra x

It could have been worse, if the 't' had been closer to the 'b' or 'n' it may have come out as 'cunty'. Now, that would have been embarrassing!

I'm away to bed, I have to give a talk to doctors and audiologists tomorrow about life with a cochlear implant. I've done no preparation at all and as usual I'm wasting time on here!

Night night.

LOL at pubic enemy number one. I've come across one of those before

Night

..pubic enemies are obviously more common than one might think...

ROFLMAO at 'cunty' and 'pubic enemy'

Off to bed now, thanks for the chuckle before bed!

Purpleone - good night and nice to meet you! (I don't think we've met before?)

If I've contributed in any way to a pre-bedtime chuckle, I'm happy

Night night

Gerbra x

oh purpleone, ikwym. I have to keep reminding myself that if I am strong enough to get through the day/week/month with all the onslaught of shit - surely I can beat something as 'simple'() as relying on alcohol to get through the the bad times. I think thats what I really need to focus on aswell, another way of dealing with 'things'. The alcohol route just isnt suitable anymore. I cant have just one or two glasses of wine. I could sit here kiding myself that I have neevr drank spirits so that means I do not have a problem but the amount of wine I drink equated into vodka or whatever would be a worrying thought. Its silly because in the cold light of day I sit here thinking 'I really can do this' and then I get to 4/5 in the evening and think, 'shall I go to the co-op to fetch wine?'. So far I am resisting it and it helps that dh isnt drinking either. I have got no booze in the house apart from gin, which I cannot drink. Thats why I was interested in the CBT and how it helps.

I had counselling a while ago now (pyscho dynamic) and it really helped me deal with my other issues like the death of my sister, estrangement from Father, daughters SN etc and the cousnellor felt my drinking was analysed more than it should be because of my family history with drink (some alchies, some heavy drinkers-call it what you may) She said she felt that as I dealt with my problems my alcohol intake would decrease and I would find other ways of dealing with things. In a way its true but in another way it appears to be taking a long time and its the long time that worries me. It was established my life would never be stress free so I did need to look at other ways to de stress, its just i dont seem to have time to do anything else. Though I think i need to start sorting through my house and studio and getting my arse in gear, so maybe thats a plan?

Gebrajess, I dont know about hypnotherapy. I know it has helped people with mild/moderate problems but I tend to agree with kokeshi a bit. If you dont explore your feelings as to why you drink the problem is still there surely? Oh and about oils...I will have a think

I cant be arsed to namechange anymore

think I may need to name change...

Good to see it's still so active on here

Gerbra, I agree with what's already been posted about hypnotherapy. I'm a cynic anyway though . I think, considering that you've an ED in your past that you need ongoing support and ideally professional input to get you started. Does hypnotherapy work by some kind aversion technique? If so, would that put you at risk of developing some other compulsive behaviour to replace drinking because you haven't worked through the reasons behind the problem? I don't know anything about it though, so forgive me if I'm talking crap.

I think CBT is available generally through the NHS although the waiting lists are probably long and you might not get that many sessions. I didn't know I'd be getting CBT at the Community Alcohol Team. I had an initial asmt. there and then the therapist told me how she wanted to treat me. For me, that's CBT, detox, CBT and group support and then maybe psychotherapy afterwards. I think it's all patient specific though. They only treat people that are committed to staying sober long term though. There is another Alcohol Support Team in my area that do treat patients who want help to cut down and stay in control. I went there last year, but the waiting lists for counselling were really long and I don't think it would have been for me.

oifoif - good for you. A week is a big achievement.

Hope you're feeling better soon Kokeshi, and that your talk goes well today.

Hi to everyone else as well.

Hi everyone!

Hi Brassic, the consensus definitely seems to be that hypnotherapy is a no-no. I just thought if I'm still avoiding a GP route, it might be beneficial.

You are right though - there's a good every chance another bad habit will spring up to take it's place.

I am really interested to see how my friend's got on - I'll speak to him this weekend and will post as it might be interesting...

The idea of seeking professional help basically scares me too much at this moment.

After a slow start had a really good day today...no work came in so helped mum out in her garden and took dog for a long walk.

Hope everyone's having a good day...
Gerbra x