Alcohol self help thread II

piggeh

I had problems at uni and ended up binge drinking to try and forget about them. It's partly accepted at uni as people just think you have had 'one too many' and don't really say anything. However, I often ended up forgetting what I was doing, throwing up in the toilets and hardly being able to walk back. Wasn't enjoyable, I just needed some escapism really from all my problems. I only really thought about how much of an alcoholic I was when I quit uni and had some time to reflect away from it all. Once I left uni I was away from most of my problems, so the alcoholism pretty much stopped straight away. I still drink these days, but I'm a lot more aware of how much I've had. I tend to avoid going out to any big nights out if I'm in a bad mood. Will go down the pub for a quiet few but not much else.

My alcoholism and problems at uni eventually led to me declaring bankruptcy, but onwards and upwards eh. Just glad I learnt it all when I had little responsibility, rather than when I have a family, house, etc.

beer2006

Hi piggeh
I find it to be accepted in alot of society, theres not that many places that don't think its normal to drink alot. Ok varying amounts of "alot".
I'm glad you sorted it, maybe moving into a completely different life helped with that.
Thanks for the input.

jayne.doe

i gotta go i cant read anymore your story was sad enough but reading feeling upsets is too much i relate to a lot of that and i just feel ill reading it.

Al_Mac

jayne.doe wrote:

can i ask you guys anyone when you discovered you had a problem and when you decided to stop, the defining moment.. How much and how often were you drinking pls i am not being nosey its just such a taboo subject and i feel an empathy with you, even tho you are strangers...:)

Knew I had a problem for a year or more. I was drinking upto a litre of vodca a day, breakfast, dinner and tea.

Mrs Mac went away for a week with children, I drank twice as much as normal, emailed my family and said I'd had enough.

My sister and her husband arrived the next day, front door wide open and me passed out:o That was when I decided enough was enough.

Hi Piggeh

feelinggood_2

Ahh, is my story up there? I can't even remember posting it.

Lewt, thank you for thinking about me, it means alot.

Al Mac, thanks for your nice comments - I don't get them very often, and its very nice of you

Beer, I didn't realise that you were that low, glad people here helped. If you ever feel like that, reach out. I know this place and its people have saved me a few times, don't know if I ever really thanked them - I hope they know what they did for me.

Its 9pm, and I am sober Didn't even have my tiramisui thats got alcohol in it - I knew it would trigger a big craving. I'm past my danger time now, so fingers crossed I'll get through today.

Thanks for all the help today x

beer2006

feelinggood wrote:

Beer, I didn't realise that you were that low, glad people here helped.

Actually the first post I did as beer was this
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=155959
That was the night before the other thread was started, I was !!!!ed out of my head when I wrote it, only way I could get up the courage, I'd been thinking about it for a week or two.
That night/morning, everyone who posted on that thread saved my life, especially trafalger, Nelski, bethom, jellycat40, spikey, rushnowt and frizzhead.
I went to bed and for the first time in ages, felt not alone, happier and with a sense of optimism. I cried alot that night.

It hasn't been plain sailing alot of the time and I realise its not right for everyone, but it has helped me.

beer2006

I didn't want to make it seem that no-one else helped me, lots did, "lots and lots" as my little girl would say you know who you are

Its been a tiring day and I have to get up when some people are still going to bed, so I'll say goodnight, sweet dreams and thankyou to everyone, I hope I've given some back.......... and still have some to give as well

:wave:

Al_Mac

I found the original thread around the start of April, how I'd not seen it earlier I'll never know. It helped bring me to my senses. And helped me to survive after 16th April, my D day.

feelinggood_2

It was the thread that first made me look at my drinking.
I'd considered it might be a problem before. One of my lowest moments was waking up on a sunday evening, with very little memory of what had happened. My mum had left AA leaflets under my pillow, and tried to persuade me to go to a meeting. I don't think I ever could have gone to a meeting, not at 13! Still feel too young to have a problem you know? No one really takes it seriously at this age.
And still not drank And its been a very bad day aswell, if I can get through a day like this, maybe I can just about do this.

piggeh

Hi Al Mac & Beer. Thanks for the comments, hope things are going well for both of you.

Nowadays my alcoholism is behind me but the problems that caused it are still in the background. I'll no doubt end up addicted to something else (like spending money probably - glad I cant get credit atm!) as I'm finding it hard to overcome them. I'm still a nervous wreck 5/6 years on. I should stop typing as it's almost making me cry!