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Embarrassing Problem

hi guys, I am now on a dmp, but you know before you have your lb moment - i found i was drinking more and more , first it was just friday nights then weekend nights then every night - and that was the only way i found i could 'sleep' at night - even though i know sleep is not what it is - anyway on dmp and do feel better for that - but get a bit down with it and have now been having a drink in friday nights again and seeing this as a massive treat - as you know you cant have or do anything silly so a cheap bottle is a treat except i am so worried i will slide again. I did try aa, but found this far far too intense and scary just wondered if anyone had nearly slipped this way and how they pulled out of it... help..
:Dlightbulb moment 8/12/06 debtfree date eons aways but on the road there!!!
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Comments

  • Bunnyinthelights
    Bunnyinthelights Posts: 15,278 Forumite
    Have you tried speaking to your GP or maybe a counsellor?
    Sorry not much help...

    Bunny
    Empty pockets never held anyone back, only empty heads and empty hearts can do that -Peale
  • crawley_girl
    crawley_girl Posts: 2,010 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Have you tried speaking to anyone else about your drinking? Your GP for example?

    Personally, my Nan was an alcoholic and one drink for her meant many drinks. She could never stop at the first and could sink a litre of vodka easily.

    I'm not saying that you have a drink problem in the same way my Nan did, but in posting this thread and acknowledging a past problem, maybe it would be sensible to avoid that bottle of wine.

    There is a thread (i think on health) about not drinking and although I rarely drink cos of my Nan and her behaviour, I do sometimes pop over there and mooch... how about you check that out? The people who post are really friendly and have probably experienced the same feelings you have about drinking.

    PS It's not embarassing, so please don't feel that way. I for one, admire people who admit they have a problem and and pro-active in their approach to dealing with it.

    Good luck

    :heartpuls CG :heartpuls
    Ever wonder about those people who spend £2 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backward.
  • Gatesygirl
    Gatesygirl Posts: 15 Forumite
    I too had the same problem. I was made redundant after 7 years and spent a year temping whilst trying to find a suitable job. It was the most stressful time of my life and i started drinking every day. Unlike you the drink had the opposite effect and i didn't sleep well at night. I felt truly dreadful in the mornings.

    I found a job in the end but it was a lot harder to give up drinking every night.

    I made the decision that i had to give up for my health. The first four days were sheer hell and i thought about having a drink all the time. I kept myself really busy. It does get easier and now i just drink on a friday/saturday. I have realised that when i dont drink i am in a lot better mood and more positive regarding all aspects of my life, especially my finances.

    The only positve words i can give are to keep trying. Try for a day first of all, then two days, then three. After that it does get easier.

    Good luck.
  • lynsayjane
    lynsayjane Posts: 3,547 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Xmas Saver!
    hi hun, just because you start drinking on a friday night again doesn't mean you'll slip. previously you were under a lot more stress and I can seehow drink would be a welcome oblivion to that, but now you are dealing with your debts I trust that stress has reduced?

    I know some will disagree with this but not all ex alcoholics give up drink totally. I know one who had severe problems with drinking, but after a drinking lbm he stopped. Now he does it one night a week with no adverse problems, no slippin back into past habits, just a normal person enjoying a drink.

    You seem to have your head screwed on in that your worried there may be a problem so if it does start to exceed the one night again then you do have something to worry about but if it's just a couple of drinks one night a week I don't see a problem with it.
  • newleaf
    newleaf Posts: 3,132 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker PPI Party Pooper
    If you go to your GP he/she will be able to refer you to a local counselling service where you can get help to look at ways to limit damage without giving up drinking altogether. Knowing you have the problem is half the battle. Good luck!
    Official DFW Nerd No 096 - Proud to have dealt with my debt!
  • joeblack066
    joeblack066 Posts: 1,757 Forumite
    To be truly addicted to ANYTHING means that you have to have that thing to just bring you up to normal. (ie 3 cups of coffee in a morning before you can function...me a coupla months ago!). So having a drink on a Friday Night to help you cope during the DMP does NOT mean that you are addicted. You have done very well to acknowledge that you don't want to become addicted to alcohol, and that is where your strength lies. My only advice would be, have that Friday Night drink because you WANT to, not because you've had a bad day/ feel stressed/ had a row etc. If you justify it like that to yourself, it is all too easy to then have a drink every time you have a bad day etc. **hugs**
  • hiya. i would say un-learn that habit!! the same way you have got into the routine, replace it with somethhing else that acheives a similar effect for you. whhy not make your fri night about relaxing and reflecting on the progress that you have made during the week?

    come home, run a bath, watchh a dvd, phone a friend, have a hot drink. what grabs me here is not the right or the wrong or the whether an ex-alcoholic can have a drink here and there or cant, its that its on YOUR mind enough to write bout it.

    practise a different routine and at the end of the night as you fall off to sleep pat yourself on the back for acheiveing your goal, and in line with AA -try it just for this fri night, not every fri night forever! one fri at a time huh?

    may also be good for you to reflect on how far you hhave come from drinking every night. keeping a straight head when in the mire of debt and facing up to your problems aint easy but with persistence it will pay off hun

    all the best
  • newleaf
    newleaf Posts: 3,132 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker PPI Party Pooper
    Brilliant post FieryBlondeScot :T
    Official DFW Nerd No 096 - Proud to have dealt with my debt!
  • mitty_2
    mitty_2 Posts: 58 Forumite
    You could try not drinking for a few days and see how much of a problem it is.
    If you find it really difficult, then why not try going to an AA meeting. You can go to an open meeting to just see how it works and just listen - it may be helpful, they can offer brilliant support IMHO.
    Hope its okay to give this link.
    http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
  • elantan
    elantan Posts: 21,022 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    mitty he /she tried aa didnt find them the best ....aa is good ...but only for some not for everyone ...thats not to knock them in anyway just different strokes for different folks
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