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

[kokeshi]

Welcome to the thread, the purpose of this is to give anyone who is having any trouble with their drinking, a safe place 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.

Thank you to all of those who have kept it going thus far, and welcome to anyone who has decided the time has come to ask for help.

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

Jump right in, the water's fine

We were in Hemsby. We are going to book with Hoseasons for the half term holiday in February though, near Horning, so if you fancy meeting up.....

Such a beautiful part of the country and such a change from around Boston where DH is based through the week.

Is Boston near Skeggy?

Boston is about 35 miles down the coast I think. We visited when we stayed in Boston last Easter.

Are you in Skeggy then teasle?

No, I live near Newcaatle-but I remember Skegness from holidays as a child- grew up near Nottingham, it was one of the closest coastal places to visit(I think).

How is everyone doing tonight?

I'm doing fine teasle! Hi to everyone else too

Well, somehow managed not to go on that bender in the end and just had the usual. It was weird though, my mind and body was just screaming out for the feelings to change, for things to be numbed and to 'go away'. Didn't sleep well last night.

Went for my acupuncture today and that was weird - kinda floaty relaxing feelings. Spoke to the keyworker afterwards. Told her how that wine therapy was a load of tosh. She was very pleased I had laid off the Stella and cider, and doing %age reduction with diff lagers instead. I made 59 units from last Thurs to today. She gave me a hug for that.
She also said she would accompany me to court, just gotta let her know the date when I get my summons and she will book the time off. It seems that social services are now involved, and now the child protection team.

Feeling a ton better today now I've got it all off my chest.

Hmmm, Norfolk! Me and dd's lived in Great Yarmouth for a year and a friend lives in Boston. I also highly recommend Cromer too - lovely place.

I'll be around tonight for a while. Nice to see the thread active again.

oooh, we had a trip to Cromer to go crab fishing off the pier

bloody effing sodding great big hugs to you on the 59 units PO . Heres for another 11 units less next week.

and well done on the bender avoidance

acupuncture sounds good. I should maybe try it for my anxiety attacks.

Having a bit of a bad day today. I forgot to take my ADs away over the weekend and i think it's caught up with me. getting my blood test results back tomorrow and hoping that they show something that will explain how awful I feel. I'm also having an ECG done, although since I made the appointment the palpitations have stopped

Well done on the reduction Purple- you have a lot to contend with and you are being amazing. Sending lots of positive thoughts to you. xx

Evening back to enjoying tea drinking. At least I know I am not missing out on anything.

Bladebla feel relieved for you that such a difficult decision has been taken out of your hands. Hope your life now regains some stability.

Glad your getting some support from your key worker Purple - it's lovely to feel that someone is in your corner isn't it .

We are getting geared up here for our holiday this weekend. The kids enthusiasim is rubbing off on me. It would be such a great boost to me if it goes well.

Will be thinking off you all while were away.

xx

I hope you have a great time away Jelli. x

Has everyone had a good weekend?

Hope all is well x x

anyone around who might be able to help me? think its time I dealt with this...

hi boyracer... havent been on here for a while but here now....

Oh hello everyone.

Hi manky how are you?

Hi boyracer, whats up?

Hello to everyone else.

hello... whats the protocol? I'm downing a bottle of wine a night. Have been for years. Sick and tired etc...

hi boyracer... not sure there is a protocol as such. i'm in the same situation, bottle of wine a night for over two years. i came on here for a bit of support, everyone is lovely. have managed almost a week off but am drinking again now.

what would you like to do about your drinking? cut down quantity, give up completely, just weekends?

hi teasle...

thank you manky. I'd like to cut down but I'm not sure thats realistic. I went from 0-60 in no time at all with my drinking. I went to university sober. Within the first month there I was a daily drinker and I've never looked back. Its never got better and its never got worse - 8-10 units a night every night for 16 years with the exception of my pregnancies when I somehow managed to be t-total both times. I was back up to a bottle of wine a night within 3 days of giving birth though.

I vow to myself not to do it EVERY morning and every night at 5pm I start getting jumpy and by the time I say goodnight to the children I'm racing to the fridge.

No idea what to do to fix it but I'm utterly shattered and look like crap

Self centred rant over.

how are you coping with it manky? making progress?

you could be describing me, its always come 6ish that i feel so frazzled i think "well, i deserve a drink", and then carry on drinking til the bottle has gone.

have you tried cutting down? not finishing the bottle? i started doing that and that in itself gave me the confidence to try a non-alcohol day.

i think i was making progress but i think i got a bit smug after the period i had not drinking and am now back to drinking again.

immensely reassuring and empowering to know i can go a day or so without it but even so...

and apparently its very bad to just stop like i did so i'm not recommending it.

why do you drink do you think? is it habit, a reward, physical need?

you've made a huge step coming on here andtalking about it by the way...

I drink because I'm tense, because I always have, because the evening is just soooo long if I don't. I think. I've never really thought about why I suppose. I drink because at a certain time of day I crave it.

How about you?

I think keeping busy and avoiding "trigger" points is very important.

I think I drink for lots of reasons...

• habit
• reward
• to chill out after a long day
• DP drinks too so when he starts its hard not to

What do you drink? Do you always start drinking at the same time of the day?

ha! you're living a very similar life then!my DP is the same. He was worse than me for a long time and I kidded myself that I was the one that wanted 'us' to stop. He's suddenly started making real changes - 2 days sober a week is not unusual for him now despite the fact that when he does drink he drinks much more than me. I thought my problem wasnt as bad as his but hes taking baby steps (and some giant leaps) and I'm still in the same boat - as I say, never getting better, never getting worse. If I were crashing down toward a morning sherry type of problem or if it were getting worse I think it would feel more urgent, but I've always been at the stage where it still feels almost civilised. Nice bottle, nice glassware etc - its hard to equate the ritual and the clink of glass with the headache at the moment. Thank you for listening. I have to pick up L/O's. I've been rather selfish and just vented - I'd love to share rather than spout at some point.

dont be daft, venting is good for you !

and this is the perfect place... even just reading about the little steps everyone on here makes may help you to start changing things....

thank you for your kind words mankymummy. I didn't make any major headway last night - I thought I was going to cos I started a lot later but then I just carried on going and ended up going to bed later as a result. Feel worse than usual as a consequence.

How about you?

Hello everyone/anyone else

Well, I really would like to stop drinking for a bit longer than 2 days! I polished off a whole wine box between Friday and Sunday. I hate the anxiety associated with too much alcohol. I hate the 'oh god what am I doing to my body, will I get cancer again because of it, oh no..'etc.

It's nice to go to bed and be able to read a book, rather than stagger up the stairs bashing myself along the way. I've really hurt my arm and will be very very upset if it all puffs up because of my operation.

hello bladebla. I get what you say about the going to bed bit. If I get just get there before I open a bottle the second I lie down I think 'This is bliss, why dont I do this every night?'

but I say good night to the girls, look at the mess, think 'wine will make the chores easier' and off I go....

HI boyracer- you've taken a big step in admitting you think you have a drink problem to bth yourself and on here, and thats not easy.

What do you want to do- cut down, return to 'normal' drinking, stop completely? Have you tried cutting down before?

Also, are you able to talk about how you feel yet to people close to you in rl, like your partner, etc.
It helps to have people behind you.

Keep posting, its lovely to see the thread active.

Hello Manky- how are you?

Hello Bladebla, how are you doing?