binge drinker

Hello Stephen

I will try to give advice from a personal level and it may not be suitable for you, but I do feel that we have something in common: I did not want to loose my family and wanted respect two years ago and completely stopped drinking and it has worked. It is never too late if you stop this year and gradually gain back your family through respect. However, it is not going to be easy and you need advice from professionals or people around you who understand you and wish to help. You will find good advice and help in this discussion board and I wish you best of luck.

Hi I just want to say thank you for your comments I have been to the doctor who is referring me to the alcohol team so I will discuss nalmefene with them and see what they say

Hi,

please se read my reply to Stasy.

thank you.

Hope4Cure. 

Hi stephen sorry to hear that you lost you loved ones due to alcohol. having been an alcoholic for 20 years i went through similar losses. my advice to you would be to see an alcohol support worker, get counselling and do CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). get in touch with a community drug and alcohol worker who will refer you to their doctor who specialises in giving you medication that will help you with the craving (Acamprosate). if you are given acamprosate i must stress that they are not a magic wand, and that you must continue to take them for at least two to three months. i took them for years and thought they were no good to me until i started taking them for a longer period of time. the urge to pick up that drink is decreased. i also take disulfiram (antabuse) which has been a life saver for me, giving me no option to drink. stephen have look up on the net about these medicines and also baclofen which helps you relax. by taking these i have been alcohol free for 15 months. i have not found anything else that works. i am not saying they will work for you, we are all different. you need to distract yourself when the temptation to drink arises. pick up the phone do some house work , exercise, join a support group. i know when i wanted that drink nothing would stop me. antabuse stopped me right in my tracks. have a word with a support worker or social worker and they will refer you to the right people. i hope this has helped. stay strong stephen you will get there, it will be hard but it will be worthwile.

ps stephen, dont try to do everything at once ,just one step at a time.

Hi Stephen if you can book an appointment with your doc on a Monday  then try and stay off the drink  for a weekend go to the appointment get Antabuse implant you will be sorted just remember

ACOHOL IS A GREAT SLAVE BUT A VINDICTIVE MASTER 

and as that famous silly arse in the cave once said,,if at first you don't succeed try try try and try again all the best laz 

Hi Stephen,  I am at the stage as u I ve just detoxed again and need to stop, good luck mate

Hi Stephen, I just picked up on this thread. Now aged 54 I have been drinking since I was 15, managed to cope holding down jobs family etc until 2 yrs ago. I was drinking anything I could get hold of mainly beer or strong cider every evening after work and for breakfast at weekends then all day long till unconscious. Managed to get fired from my job 2 yrs ago for smelling of alcohol in morning(several times).

Plenty of time on my hands then to get totally p*ssed 24/7

Nearly lost wife n kids so decided to go to gp and be totally honest.

Referred me to local alcohol services,they sent me to psychiatric Hosp for detox. I walked out on first day.

Carried on boozing and counselling and got a home detox arranged. Best thing that ever happened. Was visited daily by detox nurse for OBS and Meds. It was actually good fun cos of the drugs for 7 days. Made a point of telling everyone what I was up to and got loads a support from friends and family.

With continued help from counselling and acamprosate prescribed, I've been off it for 3 months. the campral really helps me as I have hardly any cravings, apparently they only last for average 3minutes ,not totally sure about that!

Hope this has been helpful.,

I think the key is be honest with yourself and those around you and your doctor,and don't blame yourself.

I am not saying its easy but if you can see that this is an illness not a personal choice it may help.

I wish you the very best of luck with this,but please take all the help that's out there. The counselling may not seem to be going anywhere then something happens to you,not sure what,but you'll know when you're ready.

Be lucky and let me know how you get on.

Regards Jaycee