New Alcohol self help

brodev

Hi Rach and welcome. If you read through some of this thread you will see that people with OHs and friends with suspected drink problems are usually guided to get in touch with Alanon who's contact details are on the first post in this thread. I will recommend the same course of action for yourself.
I am very disappointed that your AA contact hung up the phone on you. I have never heard of this before and I can only apologise.

Taffyscot

aah wrote: »

Sadly no, she died 5 years ago.

One of the new-ish benches on the front (next to the flats they made out of the Moorings and looking out to Cumbrae) is dedicated to her. Its a blue one and it has her name on saying that she is loved by us all... if you pass by it sit on it sometimes for me...


Has anyone used antabuse?

Ahhh I live across the road from the moorings next to the wee church, the white flats. I will go and sit on it for you. Tears run down my face tho writing this. There is nothing like a mum is there in life? How are you doing Ahhh I have been thinking about you. If you need to talk you can pm me and I will call you. My alcoholic son loves me so much he has often said it is the only thing that has kept the grim reaper away when he feels like he is losing it and feels so desperate. What is antabuse is it available in Canada I wonder? Take care Ahhh will say a wee prayer for you and your struggle on that bench and talk to your mum for you. Taffy

brodev

Taffyscot wrote: »

What is antabuse is it available in Canada I wonder?

Antabuse:
This medicine contains the active ingredient disulfiram, which is a type of medicine called an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor. It is prescribed to recovering alcoholics to help them abstain from drinking alcohol. If someone taking this medicine drinks alcohol, it quickly causes a severe, unpleasant and potentially dangerous reaction and knowledge of this fact can help to stop people from drinking.
You can google it for more info.
I have known people to get VERY ill when they have taken drink on top of antabuse. It does not affect the craving.

Taffyscot

brodev wrote: »

Antabuse:
This medicine contains the active ingredient disulfiram, which is a type of medicine called an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor. It is prescribed to recovering alcoholics to help them abstain from drinking alcohol. If someone taking this medicine drinks alcohol, it quickly causes a severe, unpleasant and potentially dangerous reaction and knowledge of this fact can help to stop people from drinking.
You can google it for more info.
I have known people to get VERY ill when they have taken drink on top of antabuse. It does not affect the craving.

Thanks for that Brod. I do not think it is what my son needs alone in Canada. Is that what georgie Best took and it didn't work? Ahh I dont know if it would help you either until you can control the craving I don't know your situation but feel you are struggling. Taffy

brodev

I believe GB took antabuse.
The phrase "why me" is one that is often used by an alcoholic when he/she looks at him/herself. When I see someone struggling it makes me wonder "why me" as regards getting sober. I have known some wonderful people who have not got sober, many of whom are now dead. Some of these people got sober for a while and then went back to drinking and could not find the ???????????? to stop again. If I only knew what that ??????? was I could stop the suffering of thousands. It appears to me that everybody gets a window of opportunity to stop and that for some it is not all that often. I have spoken to thousands and they nearly all have said that they got a chance which some took and some thought they would take the next one but they didn't recognise it when it came. As I said earlier I do not know why I got sober because I am no better than those who I have known who didn't. It makes me very humble and grateful that I took my chance. I beg everybody if they see their chance then to grab it with both hands as you may not get an other opportunity.
If I have been preaching then I am very sorry but I am close to tears as I remember some wonderful, beautiful people who are no longer with us due to this dirty, nasty, horrible illness

aah

Brodev that is truly moving. My gp described our illness as a silent wee killer...

You are right, what is the point in saying why me. I am so glad that you got well, and sober. I really enjoy reading your posts on here, and gain a lot from them.

I thought antabuse might help. If I had something in my head that I know will cause me serious damage if I drink then I am most likely never to drink; and that would so so help.

Its disturbing that GB took it, and of course other treatments and still succumbed to this disturbing, debilitating and damanging illness.

I have another counsellor appointment 25 Jan but I am nearer an AA meeting than I have ever been.

And Taff - please do sit on the seat and pray - not just for us alcoholics but for some sort of saneness in this world. And of course for your lovely lad, lets hope he is getting it together. I have two, they are (almost) 21, and 17, and the thought of this befalling them is a nightmare.

Yours, A.

Taffyscot

Brod and Ahhh You too write a moving piece Ahhh as well as Brod. It is my night to let it all out methinks as tears run down my face, not of happiness, not of sadness but just is.
Ahh you might have answered this before but where do you live now?
Are you in Port Glasgow, Greenock I was there tonight after dropping my eldest son off at the airport to fly to Wales for a few days before flying home to Canada. Ahhh if you live close to me I will come with you to an AA meeting if you want. Sometimes you need that support because it is a scarey thing.
One bloke made me laugh he said that he went to his first AA meeting and he was shaking and having the dts and still kind of drunk. Anyway he saw all these smiling, happy, sober people and he thought it was like some kind of board like a tribunal that pass you or not and say yes you are going into the room now with all the other alcoholics because yes you truely are an alcholic. He was amazed to find that all of these people that greeted him so warmly and were all so happy and normal WERE the alcholics. He thought he would be sent to a room with people sweating, unable to concentrate and feeling lousey. It's stories like that that make you realise peoples perceptions of AA. I am glad that you are close to going Ahhh.
Brod what you said is so true the window of opportunity comes some take it and run with it some toy with it and God willing it will come back again if they fall by the wayside.
Some never take it and some miss their opportunity once taken and it doesn't come back. Most in AA say a special thanks to the God of their understanding that they were given the precious gift of sobriety. Take care all. Taff

masterthief

jo and Rach! welcome to the thread, hope it is of some help to you, as it has been to me.

I've had only one slight slip-up since the last time I posted saying I'd drunk (whenever that was). I went to a local jam night to perform (I play guitar, but stopped for a few years just before my drinking became a problem). I never drink before or during a performance because I found it adversely affects my playing and my music is more important than my inebriation. I didn't drink that night (about a week ago now) and performed quite late - around 1am, lol - even afterwards I had a glass of lemonade. But my friends went on to another bar and I was getting a lift home with them, and then I cracked and had two bottles of Becks. I felt disappointed about that the following day, but also proud of my abstinence before that point (I'm not really one for going to bars and not drinking alcohol, except when I'm playing). So I'm trying to take the positive feeling of achievement from that experience and haven't drunk since. Played another jam night and stuck to lemonade, and was ddelighted at the money I saved compared to when I went to bars as a drinker, and by my willpower in refusing drinks offered for performing well (that was always something I had a problem with, I don't want to refuse praise, or that was my 'excuse', lol).

Feel pretty rough now - I'm setting up a small recording studio and have had some nasty funding setbacks/delays/mess-arounds. Part of me just wants to get wasted and deal with it after that, but I know from my own experience and reading this thread that getting wasted would be the worst thing I could do. Some I'm just gonna chill at home and have a day or two off from trying to deal with the funding crisis, just playing guitar and sleeping, and then deal with it after that. I'm sure I'll be the better for it, too.

jo - I am always a little sceptical of using any 'drug' to aid withdrawal/giving up of another 'drug' since I think its far too easy become dependent on the 'treatment' and continuing the underlying addiction just in another form. But that's my opinion, and I've never had majorly serious craving issues with anything except cigarettes. I have my doubts/crises of faith now and then, but I could/can generally cope with this. That said, I'm aware that this form of treatment has helped some, and I'm of the opinion that whatever works for the individual is what is right for the individual, even though that involves some trial and error.

Rach! - yes, your OH's drinking is a problem. Both the financial aspect (valuing alcohol above necessities) and the compulsion/need to drink every day. I could go without drink fairly easily for long periods of time, but whenever I did drink I consumed a lot and felt the consumption to consume a lot. I hid behind the fact that it wasn't affecting my work (until the 'end' of my drinking, though that's still sorta ongoing) and the fact that I could refuse drink when I wated to. Your OH is doing the same, IMO. This thread really elped me to understnd that I did have a problem. I wish I could offer you more advise, but I can't really speak beyond my own situation, except to say that your OH wont be able to get better until he decides/wants to get better. You have to decide whether you can live with that or not, and if you can live with that, how you will live with it (i.e. tough love, being supportive all the time, etc, etc).

Anyway, essay over. Hope everyone's doing well.

aah

Taffy thank you - you really are very kind.

However - I live now in the NE of England, but spend much of the week in the Midlands which is where I work - where I am now. If I go I will do it by myself.

A long time since I have been to Largs....

suki1964

aah wrote: »

If I go I will do it by myself.

.

Oh I think you will find we are all with you