Alcohol self help thread II

brodev

I see that no one has posted for a few days. I hope that everybody is just busy getting on with life and is feeling good. I have been having a frustrating time trying to negotiate a house buy out here in Portugal. IMHO the seller is beeing unreasonable so I have given it a rest for now. But , as my AA sponsor once told me "the problems of having some money are far better than the problems of not having any". I have been in both positions and I have to agree with him. Having someone to talk with or even somewhere to write about your problems great or small is something that I do tend to take for granted nowadays. Being in Portugal means that I am a little bit more isolated that usual and has made me more aware of what I have. Sometimes I need a little adversity to make me sit up and take stock. What is good is that my wife and I have decided that there is another house out here just waiting for us. Viva the serenity prayer

Al_Mac

Just to say that I'm still around, still reading. Things have been going on that mean I've been keeping my head down. Almost over now, so should be back properly in a few weeks.

Take care all.

Al Mac

jayne.doe

Al Hi........ its great to hear from you... and if it takes a few weeks ..... will miss you again:o but hi and its great to hear from you as usual:D :T xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Always here for you Al Mac as you were for me i dont forget..... you are a good friendxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

jacd

hi everyone - hope you are all well and happy.

I havent had any alcohol since before new year, though I havent updated my signature!!

Still have the urge to drink at times though its much easier than it was at first.

Unfortunately I've had a bit of a mental breakdown and cant work at the moment. I'm on anti-depressants which are helping a bit but not enough.
I think its becasue I used to drink to take away the physical and mental pain I have and now thats gone I have to face the reality and the pain. Its a bit of a nightmare tbh and sometimes i'd like a drink just to take away the stress and physical pain so I could get some sleep. I know thats why I drank so heavily but I havent been able to tell my doctor this. I have awful pains in my chest etc when I go out - panic I assume and I just want to get away from anything public and noisy. maybe its still withdrawl but its awful.

enough of my whining. take care you guys, you probably dont know it but youve really helped me a lot as I knew I had a secret support group I could turn to if things got really bad. you're stars.

jacd

jayne.doe

Hi jacd i am so glad things are going well on the drinking front, but equally sad to hear about your breakdown thats terrible. I think we all drink for a reason and it takes a real brave soul to face their demons. Do tell your doctor he probably would understand and be able to advise more than you think... and the pains in your chest you need to check them out, so go and see the doctor not saying anything is wrong just best to get it checked.

I have recently been reading the depression thread and they seem a very good bunch of people who help one another have you ever thought about having a chat with them about your depression.? Sometimes its just nice to talk to people who understand how you feel.

You havent whined you are as i have said immensely brave and have a lot to be proud of yourself for, facing up to ones demons is never easy... well done and take care, you are the star:)

boobless

hi everyone

please can anyone give me some advice, i have a neighbour who i have known for some years, although not close we acknowledged each other, she seemed to keep herself to herself but she and her husband divorced 2 years ago, she has a 22 yr old son who is addicted to cocaine and has frequently caused chaos in the street - well just before christmas i was on my way to local shop when i saw her lying on the street outside her house, i thought she had fallen over and went to help, then realised that she was so drunk she could not stand, i managed to get her into her house and clean her up, it seemed her son had hit her quite badly and left her,the poor girl couldnt tell me what had gone on but did not want police help, i stayed with her for some hours when her ex husband arrived and was so nasty and said she had been a drunk for years and to just leave her to it - i called on her the next day (not nosiness just concern) and she told me her whole story. i have spent the last few months helping her in ways i can, she had her electric cut off etc, and bills unopened for months - i have managed with her permission to get it all sorted, then her bank statements revealed her son had been using her card and debt was mounting, eventually she agreed the police to be involved and he has now left the house and disappeared, she was still drinking but seemed to be more lucid with every day, untill yesterday, i went to see her about 9.30 in the morning and she was as drunk as and has been since, i managed to get her gp to come and see her but she said she never drinks and told him to get out.

please please how can i help her start to overcome this if she wont admit to herself she needs help.

sorry its so long.

many thanks

jayne.doe

gosh that is dreadful and you are a good friend, sadly like with any addiction until your friend wishes to help herself there is little you can do. Personally i would try to persuade her to visit her doctor and perhaps offer to her accompany her if she needs support. But really other than being that shoulder to cry on until she realises she needs help there is little else you can do.

I believe that my drinking stems from many issues throughout my life, and now i am addicted to drinking.... I dont want to entirely give it up i have got better with it but i still drink. For me its a crutch when i feel i cant face issues or life, others will argue differently. I can only speak for me. She obviously has many issues and much unhappiness in her life, she needs the strength to face them and only she can do that:(

If you can get an appointment to see her gp and support her i feel thats a great start. There are other organisations, but with her vunerablity and problems it might mean she needs counseling to begin with.......She might not be able at the moment to cope in a group situation so one on one counseling might help.......I am sorry there is no miracle cure just time and patience with her, which you obviously have, but in the first instance she has to want to put that drink down.

A_Singleton.

Question - does one can of strong lager each night at bedtime to help me sleep make me an alcoholic.?

Al_Mac

No, but it could be indicative of a problem. Try Ovaltine

A_Singleton.

Al_Mac wrote: »

No, but it could be indicative of a problem. Try Ovaltine

Well I have to admit I enjoy the lager but I don't crave for it and I prefer it to a nightime beverage but I suppose it's fair comment to say it could be indicative of a problem. Perhaps your suggestion of Ovaltine is worth a try just to find out what the result is with my sleep. Thank you.