Struggling With Drink, Dear God I Need To Stop This Now.

[dieseldick]

only beer but thats not the point, its taking over my life. i drink 5 days a week about 8-10 coors lites. i want to stop but im finding it increasingley difficult to do.

i used to run 10k a day 2 years ago, i want to get back to fitness and my old self.

i have lost interest in work , i need to protect my health as i have a 5 year old daughter who needs me.

went to AA meetings few years ago but did not continue. i did not find them usefull or helpfull at all.

[dieseldick]

should of said that i spoke with a hypnotist recently and she guaranteed me she would make me stop after 3 sessions with her, i find that hard to believe, she works for a very well known hospital / clinic .

[anneasquith]

good step. you admit to having a ' problem' if you really want to stop and not just cut down. appointment with gp. there are numerous associations/alcohol abuse /support groups around. but, you need to do the work, take care .

[jno]

can you take action at the buying stage? If you don't buy the beer you won't have it round the house; if you don't have it round the house you won't drink it.

[Marijn]

Are you willing to try the hypnotism?

[tamborine]

Only sure way is to NOT drink any alcohol. Am fighting smokes! Fill your mouth with aniseed balls. They take a lot of sucking & cheaper than booze or cigs. Keep sucking, night & day for as long as it takes for the dependancy to wane.

[Peaspeculiars]

Hey Diesel - good luck with this. Are you shaking when you stop for the 2 days? If so, head to the doctors before you start cutting down and they should give you some medication to alleviate the shakes and reduce the risk of going into alcoholic shock. This is more prevalent when people who have been overdoing it, have the DT's (shakes) when they suddenly stop. It's not pleasant (trust me).
The best advice is to reduce the intake gradually, and if you do have a 'blip', don't beat yourself up about it and start again.
Life will does better without alcohol - even if it's the little things at first - but if you ever wonder why you are doing it, and why it isn't easy - whilst you are making changes to eventually give up the alcohol - just look at your daughter, she will give you the answer you are looking for.

All the best, and remember, there are people about who use AB and have been through alcohol withdrawal themselves and might be able to offer you some advice & support if you are ever feeling low over the next few weeks, so do keep posting and try and get walking each day, fresh air and nothing to think about but walking can really help re-set the brain - like you said in the original post - If you want to do something and get fit again, then go for it!

And remember - You can. xx

[dieseldick]

thanks
yes im willing to hypnosis or try anything, i would give my right hand to stop, been drinking since 9 years of age. doctor is a d**k he thinks its easy and doesnt even give me librium when i need them.

[Peaspeculiars]

Diesel - can you change doctor? (even if it's the same surgery)
Next time you see him or a new GP could you ask them to refer you as an out-patient to an alcohol management programme on say, a one morning a week? - You will find more understanding professionals there and also people just like yourself to talk things through (AA didn't do anything for me either, but going to one of these 'clinics' for one morning a week for several weeks changed my life around). Often they will ask if you want to stop completely or go on a controlled drinking plan, and offer you the choice of individual or group sessions (or both) - It is very odd at first but it did seem to help the majority of the people that I met there - and no, these places aren't full of 'strange' people, just folk who are addicted to alcohol, nothing more, nothing less. You will however have to be sober on the day that you go as some do a breathaliser test at the front door.

[anneasquith]

hi. do you have a next step ?

[dieseldick]

wish i had a next step, been sitting in drinking coffee all day to substitute beer. think all my life its been boredom, if i can get back to motivaring myself to have an interest in fitness etc ill stop or at best control it, drink takes away all your motives.

[Marijn]

Give the hypnosis a go. You've nothing to lose only the money you pay for the sessions. It's got to be worth a try. And like you say; she is a professional working from a well known hospital. You could see her, a new GP AND a support group; why not try them all.