New Alcohol self help

Bogof_Babe

Hi Shaz, glad it went well. You sound very upbeat, which is great.

Just out of curiosity, how did you get referred to an alcohol adviser in the first place? Was it through your GP?

Also, was there any mention of the DVLA licence thing?

(Did you know you can spell adviser <like that or like this> advisor? )

shazrobo

hi bogof babe, i was given the number for the alcohol councillor through my gp and made contact myself, dont know if they are available in every area, you could do a search on google.
when i'd been drinking, i used taxi's, but he has never mentioned the dvla or my licence

shaz x

shazrobo

its not really good for your liver, as its over the recommended daily amounts

aah

Hi everyone, great to hear how well you have all been getting on, and I'm envious.

I went away for the weekend, with my family. We had hired a cottage. We had a good few reasons to get together, and we all get on really well, all 13 of us. I didn't take any drink but knew there would be plenty there, so I had some - but not nearly as much as I would have previously done.

Trouble is I am back now and seem to have lost my motivation - am drinking now - a little less than normal ..... but not much.

Had a letter from the counselling service. My GP got my name wrong (see my initials - aah - its the second "a" thats the name I use - the GP sent my details with my first name, even though she knows better. I hate it and don't feel like its me.
The the counselling "duty officer" said in the letter that she had sent me info leaflets and a reply proforma, which she hadn't.
So I phoned them for an appointment and they said, after loudly discussing the name issue and "is this about ALC O HOL??" (I wanted to crawl away and die) that they would "pop an appointment time in the post". Like hell I was letting them away with that..

So I explained that I have a busy work schedule and would need a negotiated appropriate appointment time. It was obviously too much trouble to do that so - somebody is to ring me - some time today - to discuss an appointment. I need to talk to somebody - NOT AA - about this problem, not about a b***** appointment.

Needless to say they did not ring, so Ihave a glass in my hand and no appointment, and really fading willpower. Think I need some meds.

Bogof_Babe

Oh dear, that's not very satisfactory is it? :mad: Sounds a bit shambolic to me. I hope they are a bit more supportive when (if) you do get an appointment.

In the meantime, as they say on the DFW board, keep it low! I was really fancying a drink earlier today, but as it is now three weeks I quickly had a glass of Coke and the craving subsided. It really does get easier once you break the habit.

Thanks for updating us anyway, and sleep well. One day at a time. xxx

suki1964

Aah, you are not going to like this, but i think you have set yourself up to fail.

Seems that from the start you dont like the term alcoholic and thats what you are using as an excuse not to get help in the few places that have the help you need available.

So maybe you arent an alcoholic, I know I certainly wasn't when I first got into counselling. Even when I was in detox i wasn't an alcoholic, two years in rehab and I damn well knew I wasn't an alcoholic. Hell I was a normal woman with the world and his wife on my shoulders, so I liked a drink to relax. I was "depressed" so a drink relaxed me. I was "co - dependent" drink helped me cope. Whatever it is you are, your GP has agreed (after you going to him/her) that you have a problem with alcohol and you need help.

So please, forget about the label, you don't need a label, a label means nothing. Give the place a chance, go along for the appointment, see how you get on. don't give up before you get started, you cant go back, this will forever pop up and niggle at you now you have acknowledged there is perhaps a problem.

Take care and I really do wish you well

shazrobo

aah, hope you get that appointment sorted out, my alcohol counsillor is great, and very easy to ring and make appointments.

i've managed three days with out alcohol so far, and am determined to stick at it.

good luck to everyone

shaz x

nickiboop

Hi Shaz

i am with you on 3 days, feeling OK but having difficulty getting to sleep

not givign up completely, just in the house and on week nights
going to spain next week so will be drinking there but until christmas no more unless I am out !

Its still quite hard, you don't realise how easy it is to rely on it, but I have to say I have got loads more achieved in the last 3 nights!

aah

I do want to get my counselling appointment and have had more problems with them today. I don't want to go to AA round here they are all held in churches and in the evening. Where on earth would I say I was going?

I rang up to find out why the counselling service hadn't called me back yesterday, and was told she was on the phone and would call me back as soon as she was off. That was at 11.00 am. Worked all day and forgot about it until 16.30 phoned back to see what was happening and they are all in a meeting! So I complained, said that it seems their service is organised around the needs of the service rather than the user. Also the first appointment is only information gathering so they can decide what service to offer me - when on earth will I get to talk to someone.

So I have been promised a call tomorrow morning I am going to see the gp again tomorrow, think I need some meds. And no booze tonight! yayy.

Well done everyone else, you all seem to be doing great - I'm the one letting the side down. Not tonight!

suki1964

Well done aah, that posting sounds much more up beat and positive, I was really feeling for you yesterday.

I wish all AA's were held in church halls, I went to two that were in pubs )

Good idea going to get some meds, you take whatever help you can get and if meds help, USE them.

And dont beat yourself up, you have let no one down at all. We all get to where we need to be in our own time. You be proud of the fact that you have made positive moves forwards.And be very proud that tonight is drink free. Thats how we do it, just one day at a time