Alcohol counselling

[lainiej]

I have an appointment with an alcohol counsellor on Tuesday as I've known for some time that I drink far too much - often 2 bottles of wine a night.
I'm quite lookijng forward to this as it may give me the push to do something about it. I dont want to give up alcohol just cut right down.
Anybody give me some idea what to expect at my session please? TIA Elaine

[cazzz1975]

I cant give you advice but well done for seeking help!

your liver will be thankful!

[curlyperm]

Errr i cant give you advice either - except to say, well done for doing something about it, it takes strength!!
good luck for Tuesday xx

[WendyS]

I suspect your counsellor will want to talk to you generally about the stresses in your life or other reasons which may act as a trigger for making you drink too much, i.e. do you have family/relationship problems, difficulties at work, low self-esteem and self confidence, debt problems, etc. .
He/She will possibly also expect you to contribute to your own cure by thinking about other things you could be doing to help yourself relax, other than drinking alcohol, such as reading a good book, taking more exercise, indulging in a new hobby during the time you would be drinking., etc.
You have done well to recognise that this is becoming an issue for you before it completely takes over your life, so "Well Done" for having the courage to deal with it. Also, your drinking must be costing you a considerable amount of money, so why not religiously put aside the money you have been spending on alcohol in an untouchable savings account somewhere so that you can wat ch the money build up for some desirable long term aim. Hopefully this will act as an incentive to help keep your alcohol consumption under control by helping you understand that ecessive alcohol drinking will prevent you from doing other things, , quite apart from damaging your health. Good Luck, and stick with it.

[raysparx1]

Hi lainie,, a couple of things. first off all it is great that you are admitting you drink to much, can you go without a drink for say 3 or 4 days without feeling anxious, do you drink because you like it or to cover up problems you are having ?

[lainiej]

Hi all. Thanks so much for your support. Ray, I drink wine because I like it, also because I like the effect.
I struggle to have evenings without a drink - my God this makes me sound like a total alcoholic. It gets to 7pm and I crave a drink and if i havent got anything in I get quite anxious so often dash to Tesco to get a bottle. I would never drink during the day - it never occurs to me to drink then and on the rare occasions that I have, it makes me sleepy.
I dont feel that I have any problems. I have a lovely husband, beautiful daughter, nice house, a job I love and wonderful family and friends.

[raysparx1]

Hi lainie, Please make sur you go to this meeting, you are drinking far to much, No I would not say you are an alcholic,but, and it is a but, could you become one ?, as you say you have a lovely family and friends,etc, so keep that thought, these things are priceless, My dad drank far to much and ended up with real problems, not just for him, enjoy a wine in the evening but please try and cut it down before you are drinking more than you are now, as you say you feel anxious, so now is the time to control it, if it controls you, a lot of people will suffer, good luck and take care, Ray xx

[lainiej]

Thank you so much for your support Ray. I really appreciate it. xx

[warpig3]

lainiej, well done for making that appointment and as Ray says, make sure you go. I have had serious problems and issues with alcohol and while you think you may not have a probem, believe me it can excalate and before you know it things get out of control. I started as a social drinker but over a period of 15 years this increased and I too drank two bottles of wine a night (sometimes more). I used to watch the clock knowing that the off licence closed at 9pm and that I could make it there in 5 minutes, sad and pathetic I know, but this is what I had become. Please nip this in the bud now, as I nearly destroyed my life through alcohol and I would not wish that upon anyone. Be brave and be strong and good luck.

take care
warpig
xx

[lainiej]

Hi warpig. I'm so glad that you have managed to overcome your alcohol problems. Youre absolutley right when you say that life becomes sad and pathetic. The music for Emmererdale starts and straight away I get the urge for a glass in my hand.
I do not want this and I need to break the cycle. i actually had an alcohol-free night last night - the first for about a fortnight - and found it hard to get to sleep. But I am ever so pleased with myself :o) !!
How did you get yourself out of your situation ?
Elaine x

[warpig3]

Elaine, I hit rock bottom, I was a mess. I became a person I no longer recoginised morally, physically, mentally! I was totally disgusted with myself and was on a huge downward spiral. I couldn't deal with my problems (mostly alcohol induced) and hid further and further in the bottle to get away from them, thus making my situation worse.

The weird thing to me was that it was obvious to everyone that I had a huge problem but in my drink addled mind I thought I was in control and on top of it, I wasn't, it controlled me totally.

My family and friends were in dispair and I knew this but still didn't stop, very selfish I know but thats just one of the ways it affects you, I cared that I was hurting them but not enough to stop. I had tried in the past to stop, sometimes for a day, a few days or weeks, but always slipped back. One day I was trying to think when was the last day I didn't have a drink and I coudn't remember when it was, was it one week, was it 10 days ago, I just couldn't be sure and decided that this had to end. I didn't do it immediately (too much shock to the system or an alcoholics excuse, you decide). But I did it and now I am so much happier, I am in control of my life again and moving forward, my family and friends have been a great support and have never judged me for my mistakes, some of which have been huge. I had to draw a line under my previous drunken life, don't get me wrong I didn't do anything really bad just thinks I was not proud of, I had to let the past stay the past as there was nothing productive in torturing myself over it.

[warpig3]

As for the side effects of stopping you will find that it is difficult to sleep properly for the first week or so but this will soon settle down, also be prepared for night sweats and palpitations but these too will settle after a week.

I sincerely wish you luck and happiness as my life is so much richer now.

Good luck and keep me posted, the first step is always the most difficult.

warpig
xx

Oops, sorry didn't mean to ramble on so much!!!

[lainiej]

Dearest warpig ! I will think of you as my inspiration while I'm getting my life back in control.
I want to be able to enjoy and savour A glass of wine not a couple of bottles and to wake up without a mouth like the sahara desert. And also not wonder if I'm still over the limit when I'm driving my daughter to school - so not a good thing.
I will let you know how my session goes tomorrow and thank you so much once again for your encouragement and support.
ELaine x

[warpig3]

You go girl!!!!!!

Apologies if I scared the bejeesus out of you but it is truely better to be honest and blunt about it, it is what it is!

I do know people who have not given up completely and they too are happier but it is controlled drinking where they are the ones in control. If you can master that then perhaps you will have the best of both worlds.

If you ever need to off load you can always e-mail me

[email protected]

best of luck
warpig
xx

[lainiej]

Warpig you're a lady!! I thought you must be a guy with a name like warpig !!
Thanks so much for your email address
Thats what I want - to be in control of my drinking instead of the other way round.
Take care and I'll be in touch Elaine xx

[Trinny]

Hi lainiej, Just came across your post. I too think (well I know) I drink far too much. Have never made it to 2 bottles of wine in an evening, but can easily get through a bottle.

Been reading all your replies, and warpigs story too. I went to my doctor before because I was concerned about my drinking, he did a blood test and everything was ok. But I still find myself looking forward to my wine in the evening.

Please let us know how you got on with your counselling session. Good luck xx

[lainiej]

Hi trinny. It scares me just how many of us out there drink far too much.Esp us girls.
I go to a slimming club and I know that its cos of my drinking that I'm having difficulty getting past the 2 stone loss. But in our talk time we all joke about the amount of booze we get through and roar with laughter - non more so than myself. We are surrounded by alcohol at every turn - every soap on telly, most dramas programmes, so many aisles in supermarkets, 24hr booze delivery services etc.
My 15yr old daughter asked recently if it was normal for everyone to drink at home - I didnt know what to say.
I started on a bottle of wine a few times a week but it gradually got more and more - it sneaks up on you. If youre worried trinny keep chatting with me and warpig and we'll support each other. We should start our own thread or use this one.

Very best of luck and I'l leyt you know how it goes
Elaine x

[warpig3]

LOL elaine, I think if many were honest we would do with our own topic!

Best of luck today.

warpig
xx

[Trinny]

hi lainie, I hope things went well today. Let us know how things are xx

[lainiej]

Morning all. My session went really well. The counsellor was a lovely lady who just let me ramble on and on ...
I was given the option of having a course of 8 sessions or just seeing how I managed on my own so I chose the course, which I can stop at any point. It doesnt cost anything - just a donation to the organisation which does a great job with drugs as well as alcohol.
It has realy made me feel more in control - havent had a drink for 3 nights now and dont feel the inclination to have any tonight either (tho Ihavent got there yet!)
Still waiting to feel better my myself yet but I'm sure that'll take a while to happen. Thanks for all your concern and support
Elaine xx

[warpig3]

Thats great news Elaine, you just have to take it one day at a time and you will start to feel better in all respects.

Take care
warpig
xx