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Dry January Challenge

Posted , 9 users are following.

Lizzie46881
Lizzie46881

Hi everyone

As some of you will know from my posts on other threads I'm doing the Dry January Challenge organised by Alchohol Concern.  I actaully started on Monday so this is day 3 dry for me.  Anyone fancy joining me?  Their web site is easy to find on Google and you can sign up to receive frequent newsletters and emails of support.  They also have a face book page which is worth a look.

Wishing all a dry 2016

Lizzie xxx

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  • JJO50
    JJO50 Lizzie46881

    Posted

    Hi guys...

    How was everyone's weekend? How are we doing? Today is 10 days of January dry for me so £80 in the pot :-) I'm off to spend some of it on a new coat as i was freezing yesterday in my old one which does not zip up anymore!

    Be lovely to hear how you are going? It's gone a bit quiet on our thread xxx

    • Radley13
      Radley13 JJO50

      Posted

      Hi Guys well done JJ you have done exceptionally well.  I haven't done as well as I had hoped - clear for 6 days and a blip back to it .  Enjoy getting your new coat you can wear it with pride.  Haven't heard from Lizzie hope she is doing ok.  Speak later xx
    • Lizzie46881
      Lizzie46881 Radley13

      Posted

      Hi everyone, sorry to have gone a bit quiet lately, especially as I started this thread.  Truth is I couldn't manage it and had to resort to the Samaritans to dig me out of an anxiety hole.  I did feel very ashamed and as if I've let everyone down but they guided me into thinking differently about my "failure", rather taking one day at a time and accepting my limits and the beautiful people I have supporting me.  So although I'm drinking moderately again I don't feel bad about it at all.  I spent so many years in my life trying to live up to other people's expectations of me (like my ex and various small minded employers) and failing that I'm not driving myself down that road again, its the thin end of a very dangerous wedge that in the past has led to serious mental health problems including suicidal thoughts, an overdose, my bipolar, anxiety, obsessional thinking, you name it, I've probably had it, due to being bullied into conforming to a mould that didn't fit me, and here I was doing it to myself.  The money I was going to give to Alchohol Concern I have donated to the samaritans.  I've obviously seen the new alchohol guidelines and am prepared tro accept the risk, I have no family apart from my mum and would rather die young, well relatively, than end up in an old folks prison.

      I'm very happy for those ofyou who are succeeding and with you too if you are back drinking again.

      Lots of love

      Lizzie xxx

    • Misssy2
      Misssy2 Lizzie46881

      Posted

      Lizzie...congratulations on your success....in both your personal growth and your relationship with alcohol..

      I can't do it....I came to the same conclusion you did...basically...I'm tired of what others think and say (family wise)....and then I JUST CANT DRINK.

      But, I DECIDED THAT....or it was SHOWN TO ME.  Whatever it is....as long as YOU are ok with your decision that is all that should matter.

      Hugs to

       

  • Lizzie46881
    Lizzie46881

    Posted

    Hi everyone

    As some of you know, I failed miserably with the dry January challenege.  The guilt and shame had a terrible effect on my mental health and despite appearing well on the surface, I have to keep up a face of happiness for some of the people around me, I felt terrible menatlly.  Of course I resorted to the bottle again and am back drinking a bottle of wine a day, its doing me no good at all.  Causing me to sleep when I should be awak, ruining my skin, aggravating my headaches (not the only cause), affecting my digestion, and genarlly making me feel aweful.  Isn't that ridiculous, it makes me feel terrible and I still do it.

    So I have finally come to the realisation that I am an alchoholic ...   there, I've said it.  I can't go to AA as I need to keep this from my family, who think my drinking is normal and are more concerned about me getting fat rather than addicted.  So HELP ME. I'm looking for online support to beat this.  I tried giving up for a month and failed so now I'm going to take it one day at a time starting right now.  I've tried prayer and that did diddly squat, I have a few friends who know about my battle but they've not been through it.  So anyone who could offer me a word of support on here would be very welcome.

    Love

    Lizzie

    • Lizzie46881
      Lizzie46881 RHGB

      Posted

      Hi

      I don't know, I just have to change, I can't continue this way, what are my options?

      Lizzie

    • RHGB
      RHGB Lizzie46881

      Posted

      Carry on as you are.

      Detox if you need it, diazepam from the doctor and carry on drinking in sensible amounts (not easy)

      Detox, give up alcohol.

      Detox, take Campral for a few months to clear your body of any craving and give up.

      Detox and try nalfemene or naltrexone and drink in reduced amounts, but without the same buzz.

      There's probably other options, I can't think of them all now, someone will come along and add to them or make suggestions.

    • Lizzie46881
      Lizzie46881 RHGB

      Posted

      Thanks RHGB

      Realistically I'd love to be able to drink socially occasionally but I don't know if I can trust myself any more.  I already have access to diazepam for anxiety but I find it goes very badly with alchohol, so I don't use it very often.  Its funny, I don't noticably get cravings but just drink out of habit, its soenthing I've just done off and on for years.  I have a good history of giving up other addicytive substances: gave up smokin, came off co-codamol and am able to safely control my usage of diazepam, its just my alchohol habit that it casuing me harm, ridiculous, I don't even enjoy it any more.

      So I guess the second option is best: detox, give up alchohol.  Whats the best way to detox? my nexta ppointment with my gp is in four weeks time

      Thanks for tyour advice

      Lizzie

    • Lizzie46881
      Lizzie46881 RHGB

      Posted

      Thanks RHGB

      Realistically I'd love to be able to drink socially occasionally but I don't know if I can trust myself any more.  I already have access to diazepam for anxiety but I find it goes very badly with alchohol, so I don't use it very often.  Its funny, I don't noticably get cravings but just drink out of habit, its soenthing I've just done off and on for years.  I have a good history of giving up other addicytive substances: gave up smokin, came off co-codamol and am able to safely control my usage of diazepam, its just my alchohol habit that it casuing me harm, ridiculous, I don't even enjoy it any more.

      So I guess the second option is best: detox, give up alchohol.  Whats the best way to detox? my nexta ppointment with my gp is in four weeks time

      Thanks for tyour advice

      Lizzie

    • RHGB
      RHGB Lizzie46881

      Posted

      Well, if you're already taking diazepam for anxiety, I can only think your body has got accustomed to it. Diazepam gets me off alcohol in four days, two days if I really must.

      There are other similar drugs, that your GP can prescribe, that they offer for coming off alcohol.

      I would ask about Campril at the same time. This isn't a detox drug. It just helps your body recover from long term sustained drinking, which your body and mind can't shake off in a few days. It is meant to blunt the craving for alcohol, but not affect you in any other way. Anything from 3 to 12 months.

      Where a detox, takes away the pain of cold turkey where life is so bad, we need a drink to stop it, Campral should ease life afterwards and help recovery.

      Just be honest with yourself and your GP in what you're hoping to achieve.

    • Paper_fairy
      Paper_fairy RHGB

      Posted

      I really wish it was that easy. I can't get diazepam, lorazepam or anything to stop. So after 10 days sober and clinging on for dear life, gone back to naltrexone. Time will tell..
    • RHGB
      RHGB Paper_fairy

      Posted

      Well,if her GP is willing to give a long term supply of diazepam, and I can get two boxes at most (use one box and save the other for an emergency), I am sure that he will prescribe lorazepam or Librium or something else.

      He might send her somewhere else for Campral. I know my GP wouldn't hand out regular supplies of diazepam to me. In fact, the second time I was given it,it was 50/50 whether I got it or not.

      It's an NHS/GP postcode lottery as to which drugs you will get.

  • Paper_fairy
    Paper_fairy Lizzie46881

    Posted

    Hi Lizzie. Good to have you back. Don't beat yourself up about it. You are not a failure you are struggling with addiction and most of us on this site have been there and are still there. Today is a new day and new you. I really hope you get the help you need from your doctor so you can conquer this. I would definately go down the root of trying to get campral if you want to be totally abstinent or naltrexone/ nalmephene if you want to drink but cut down to safe levels. I wish you luck and let us know how you get on.

     

    • Lizzie46881
      Lizzie46881 Paper_fairy

      Posted

      Hi

      Thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot to me.  I have felt like a real failure but you are right, today is a new day, the first day of the rest of my life.

      I've got an anthem for what I'm trying to do.  A friend sent me a funny story about it totally unconnecetd with addiction, but it reminded me of the song, which is Let It Go from FRozen - I've got it on my mac and iPod and will listen to it whnever I feel down.

      I'm not making big promises this time, just taking it a day at a time.

      I've never heard of campral, what is it? trouble is I can't get to my gp for four weeks unless I make an emergency appointment, which will mean I don't see my very unbderstanding lady doctor.

      Just to be clear about some earlier posts, I hardly ever use the diazepam, its not good for me and just makes me wooly brained and sleepy, even worse than the alchohol.  I have in the past occasionally taken the two together but never do that now, or haven't done for a very long time.  I'm on a short lead with my gp with the diazepam and if I over use it I'll have it taken off me.

      Thansk to you all

      Lizzie xxx

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