New Alcohol self help

Bogof_Babe

Wow, 44th birthday! You must have been about two when you had your last drink :rotfl: . Huge congratulations, what an inspiration for us all.

Taffyscot it was the mention of hugging Brodev that made me wonder whether you were actually a girl and/or Brodev was actually not a bloke. I'm so pleased we've sorted all that out now!

Thanks for asking about me Taffy, I am very well. I'm spending more than half my time at our little holiday flat in Southport these days, and trying not to waste too much exploring (aka shopping ) time online . It has been a glorious summer up there, but once the clocks change I will probably not go up so often until Spring, which seems a long time away.

Aren't we all a jolly bunch - long may it continue :j .

brodev

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Wow, 44th birthday! You must have been about two when you had your last drink :rotfl: . Huge congratulations, what an inspiration for us all

You have put your finger on the one major disadvantage of being sober for a long time old age. Actually I was 23

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Taffyscot it was the mention of hugging Brodev that made me wonder whether you were actually a girl and/or Brodev was actually not a bloke. I'm so pleased we've sorted all that out now! .

I am definitely a bloke. Most of my hair seem to have relocated through my head on to my chin. Result a balding white beardy bloke, either that or a job in the circus as a bearded lady

Nice to hear from you bogof. Enjoy you holiday flat. I ended up living in mine and then having a place abroad

indiegirl_2

Hello all,

Firstly your stories are amazing and I hope that any new joiners to this thread are inspired by you all. I hope you all continue to stay strong and all goes well.

I hope that this is the right thread to ask this question on, if not I apologise, but I'd appreciate your thoughts:

I have a slightly different problem, in that I am the line manager of someone at work who I think has a drink problem. I can't prove anything, but he arrives in work frequently smelling of alcohol, and disappears on long lunches and arrives back slurring. Obviously, work issues aside, I am concerned for his health and the welfare of his family: he's father to two young children (3 and 9mths) and has been known to go to the pub at lunchtime, sink a few (or more) and then drive to pick his daughter up from nursery.

I know I need to approach him and talk to him, but I don't know how to say what I need to say. For those of you whose work has broached the subject; what did they say, and do you think it was the right/wrong thing to say? I'd appreciate any thoughts on the angle taken and how you feel it could've been dealt with.

Sorry for the long post; but thank you in advance!

brodev

I would suggest that you keep it professional. If his drinking is affecting his job then as his line manager it is up to you. I do not expect that you will get thanks for it. Depending on the area that you are in and/or the company you are with, there may be professional help available to him. Personally I think that AA is best but no matter what help is available if he doesn't want to apply it then there is not a lot can be done. Again, personally, I believe in tough love and perhaps a bit of pressure applied by his manager may point him in the right direction. I do not envy you but, as he appears to have a caring manager then he is one step ahead of most. Good fortune.

suffolkb

Morning all. I just had my first drinking dream for ages. The kind where you wake up wondering if you really had been on the Special Brew.
On the other hand, things going well. Been at uni for 4 weeks and really enjoying it. The local AA groups have been very welcomming. I left my house in the care of my 3 daughters (17,19,19) and it`s in better condition than when I left it. That was a bit of a surprise.
Hope you are all keeping well.

Bogof_Babe

That must have been quite a dream, to get you out of bed at 5.42 a.m.! I still have smoking dreams and I gave up 16 years ago. Don't you feel relieved when reality dawns.

I wonder what your house would have been like if you'd left it in the care of three sons! What are you studying?

brodev

It's awful to awake after a drunk dream. For a few moments you lie there in a panic, then the gradual realisation that it was a dream creeps over and a mixture of relief and fear floods in. All in all I did not like them. I did learn to be grateful for them as they brought that numbing fear and despair back in a way nothing else did. I do have that tendency to imagine that it wasn't that bad. Fortunately I haven't had one for years.

loopy_lass

just a quick one, to tell you, my alcoholic still has NOT had a drink, just over a month now. He went to AA again, now his third meeting, so who knows...

His behaviour took a dive last weekend and i suspected he may of had a drink, but, as im poweless over others and poweless over alcohol.... i said nothing....

loops

suffolkb

Glad to hear that Loopy. Hope it lasts.
Bogof-Babe - I am doing a science foundation year which consists of modules in Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Maths. Will probably specialise in Maths after the first year, but that`s not certain. It depends on my results.
I felt guilty all day yesterday and I hadn`t actually done anything. It was just a dream, but It brought back all the fear and horror.

Bogof_Babe

Wow Suffolkb, that sounds like a lot of hard work! I congratulate you on undertaking such a challenge at what must presumably be a later stage in life than most, given your three adult daughters. I imagine you are planning a career change, so all the best to you, with your determination you are bound to succeed.

Loops that is encouraging about the AA meetings, and I'll keep my fingers crossed that last weekend was just a blip, and might have had nothing to do with drinking.