The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

barshamhillbilly

Bismarck wrote: »

The "bargain" deals are a conspiracy....I used to hate the 3 bottles of wine for £10 offers....

I'd just stick to buying your daily shopping and ignoring any saving you could theoretically make....that saving isn't real until the can is sat there waiting to be drunk on the next day,

I would agree with Bismarck on that one. If I stop in on the way home and get just one bottle, thats all I have. If I have 4 cans in the fridge I would drink them all in one evening.

BHB

eselt

I've just come across this thread- I think its a really important one- particularly as Martin is campaigning with MIND to try and support people with money problems who develop depression, mental illnesses and drug/alcohol problems as they try to deal with the stress of it all. In the months leading up to going to court to be made bankrupt I ended up in hospital three times- I was going through a nervous breakdown really, and part of that ended up with me developing a massive drink problem as I tryed unsuccessfully to cope with bankruptcy.

After 7 detox's, three stints in hospital, and being on ANTABUSE and CAMPRAL for 2 years I can honestly say that the advice you are giving Simon and others on this thread is spot on- there are many routes to getting sober or dealing with an unwanted drink problem and every individual has a different strategy. If anyone wants any advice about where to get help and support I'd be very happy to try and help ( I have had librium treatment and antidepressant treatment from the GP, Vitamin B injections, counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy, hospital emergency admission and detox following a brain seizure brought on by DT's, ANTABUSE and CAMPRAL therapy, home detox with local alcohol and drugs agency plus follow up 1 month daily meetings etcc) . Best therapy for me seems to have been going bankrupt as no more letters, phone calls, sleepless nights, anxiety/panic attacks etc and hence no real need to drink myself unconscious to escape having to think about the money mess.

Certainly life is better as a sober bankrupt!!!than it was as a drunk trying and failing to keep afloat. Being sober helps you think more clearly and problem solve better, plus you can put things in perspective and tend to deal with things as they arise rather than try and sweep them under the carpet.

Some great strategies and support on this thread, I wish it had been going when I was going through all of this as feeling part of a supportive and knowledgable community, rather than think you are the only one makes all the difference.

Great job everyone- I'm so pleased I found this!!!!

Bismarck

Welcome aboard...I don't know where the road's going but the journey's OK to me!

jo1972

Hi eselt and welcome :wave:

I was given campral on my last detox but it didn't really do much for me, think I would've benefited far more from antabuse cos then I'd really be afraid to drink. Are you dry now, if so how long for, you don't have to answer just wanted to congratulate you on facing your problem and dealing with it - stick around give us your tips, others could really do with the support you can give

Had a really positive meeting with the counsellor this evening, talked/ranted through a few things but he told me he has such faith in me and I'm doing so well that I feel really positive about all this. Unfortunately I'm not free any of the time he is next week, then he's off for 2 weeks and will be seeing him on 8th July......he said 'when you'll be sober' :eek: :eek:

(don't tell him I just did that face, I'm not allowed to be negative during any of this process :undecided)

I'm down to 2 tonight, he told me to space em apart, they are not for enjoyment, purely medicinal to help any withdrawals (so I am literally like Dot Cotton asking for a small sherry to help with nerves :rotfl:), so I had one earlier and will have the other in half hour or so, not worrying about it too much cos he told me not to. I can't take it in the bath with me cos I often drink in there, he told me to drink it out of my normal routine. This man is like god, I'm so pleased I was assigned to him, he's like a lovely old grandad but not that old, only about 50 with a thick scottish accent that you can barely understand. Looking forward to waking up non-hang-over'd tomorrow

How's everyone else?

xx

elantan

Bismarck wrote: »

Am
I never was a violent man
G Am
Said the man in the bar with his head in his hands

He's trying his best to understand
G Am
The cause of his dismay

But years of gin have broken him
And left him cold where he fitted in
And it's too late now to turn around
And find another way.

Chorus :
Dm F
All the laughs in the late night lock-in
Am G
They fade away when he gets in
Dm F
The girl from fifteen years ago
Am
Has packed and gone away.

Verse :
That's never how it used to be
What happened to all that energy ?
You took one too many liberties
I'm tired of being afraid

So after a fight she took flight
Hiding swollen eyes and a wounded pride
The best years of her life denied
And sold for liquid shares.

Chorus :
And the laughs in the late night lock-in
They fade away when he gets in
The girl from fifteen years ago
Has packed and gone away.

Bridge :
Am G
And the victims of this world
Am G
They're advertised on posters
Am G
Just a beach and a pretty girl
Am G
You just take this potion.

Verse :
It's another week 'till his cheque comes through
He's got a fiver left now to spend on food
But the doors of the bar are open
And he breaks another rule

He sits on the stool that bears his name
He's got a favorite glass now that's called the same
And he's never been kept waiting
'Cause he pays the landlord's wage.

Chorus :
And the laughs in the late night lock-in
They fade away when he gets in
The girl from fifteen years ago
Am G
Has packed and gone away
All the laughs in the late night lock-in
They fade away when he gets in
The girl from fifteen years ago
Has packed and gone away.

I was going to take the chords out of this Levellers song but there are probably some players among you so you may appreciate them

this is one of the best songs i have heard from one of the best bands i love the levellers have seen them live many times

Bismarck

as a Levellers fan, can you offer a second opinion?

was "Hello Pig" utter garbage? The last Levellers album I bought was Mouth to Mouth and I got a copy of Hello Pig and it was very disappointing....was it just me?

jo1972

Bismarck, I just watched that Levellers song on youtube and it gave me the shivers at the end. It's funny though, I don't know whether the lyrics are actually about someone or just made up, but reading about someone's life like that and kinda peering in from the outside makes you feel so sad for that person, why the he!! doesn't he stop drinking and get his life back together .......seems so simple huh?

Well, feeling extremely proud of myself this morning, I had just the 2 last night, in fact I spread the 2nd one out for so long that I didn't even really want it cos it had gone warm! I spent a lot of time in front of the telly with the family which is where I should be (well not necessarily in front of the telly!), only downfall to this whole thing is going to be that they will no longer be getting some amazing elaborate meals in the evening whilst I'm holed away in the kitchen beavering away. Can't spend time in there anymore cos I need to change my routine, so luckily I had saved left over curry that I'd made the day before and it was a warm up job last night. Tonight is fresh tuna and salad so that won't take long, gotta prepare myself for the evenings now! Least I'll be able to watch BB sober

How's everyone this morning? Haven't got time to spell/grammer/anything check this, I'm late for work so apologies if I'm talking complete twaddle!

xx

elantan

Bismarck wrote: »

as a Levellers fan, can you offer a second opinion?

was "Hello Pig" utter garbage? The last Levellers album I bought was Mouth to Mouth and I got a copy of Hello Pig and it was very disappointing....was it just me?

it took me a few good listens to get into it to be honest ...and i still aint that into it ...i like levelling the land and a weapon called the word i dont think those two can be beat for albums ...have you ever seen them live?

elantan

there's another levellers song i love about drink infact there are many levellers songs about drink hope st ...fancy a drink (i dont think that is the title though ...i have the song playing in my head now)

Bismarck

I think the one you're talking about is "Just the one"....I'd almost forgotten Hope St!

I playing Levelling the Land on guitar yesterday (One Way sounds good but I need to work on the singing!) and I think Zeitgeist is my my favourite...