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How to stop drinking.

Posted , 7 users are following.

Ticklepickle
Ticklepickle

I don't really know if I would class my self as an alcoholic, but I know I need to stop drinking the amount that I do. It seems that one glass is never enough  and sometimes it's hard to stop. I can go a few days without drinking but then when I do sometimes it's way to much I have drank. Now I'm wanting to just stop drinking completely, I have had enough of not sleeping properly, the bloated belly, the not remembering.  Any help or ideas on how to make this all possible. 

1 like, 18 replies

18 Replies

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  • PaulJTurner1964
    PaulJTurner1964 Ticklepickle

    Posted

    Sian, can you answer these questions to help us better advise you?:

    How much do you drink a day?

    Do you drink all day or only in the evenings?

    Do you get any withdrawal symptoms when you don't have a drink for a couple of days?

    • Ticklepickle
      Ticklepickle PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      Hi Paul

      Some days I don't drink, it's just when I do I drink too much. If we go to the pub I will have about 3 drinks then will want to drink more when home.

      I don't drink in the day time, only evenings. I don't have any withdrawal symptoms, but most days I will think about having a drink when home. I do go days without drinking but not that many and not that often.  

    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 Ticklepickle

      Posted

      You may be an ideal candidate for Nalmefene, Sian, Google 'Nalmefene' and have a read. It's just been approved for use in the NHS. There is a discussion on Radio 5 Live about it on 15th December, which a few of us here were contacted about and I will be taking part in that debate and someone else I know from here is, too.

      Ask your GP if you can try it if you think it may help you after reading about it. Have a look around in this forum too, some people have found it helpful and have discussed it here.

  • vickylou
    vickylou Ticklepickle

    Posted

    It creeps up on you. I was always the one who wanted an extra drink, or a drink before going out at night, then one after coming home. Buying a bottle of wine to share with my husband, but actually buying two so I had more without my family knowing. That was over 25 years ago and alcohol soon took over. I suffer with anxiety and sometimes have episodes where it's so bad I start drinking. I've learned I'm not alcohol dependant, but enjoy social drinking. From personal experience I know how it can take over, without you realising it.
    • erica_88480
      erica_88480 vickylou

      Posted

      Hello vickylou, Thats whre im at now, and need to get meds to help me, just dont know what doctor to see.
    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 erica_88480

      Posted

      Your GP would have to be your first port of call Erica. He/she can then refer you to an alcohol specialist.
    • Ticklepickle
      Ticklepickle vickylou

      Posted

      It does seem to creeped up on me. And I know where you're coming from when mentioning buying two bottles of wine, as that's what I normally do. How did you come to find out your not alcohol dependant but a social drinker?  Hope you don't mind me asking you that. 

       

  • vickylou
    vickylou Ticklepickle

    Posted

    Hi Sian the best way I can describe myself is an all or nothing person. I couldn't have one glass of wine and put the bottle back in the fridge, I had to finish it. A couple of months ago, I went to see my GP as I'd had a couple of anxiety episodes quite close together where I would drink heavily and then not drink at all. Apart from feeling slightly sick the next day, I didn't have withdrawal symptons during the weeks I didn't drink. My GP referred me to the substance abuse clinic. I had an assessment there, and they said I was not alcohol dependant but suggested CBT with the follow on support team. It was the quickest route to getting counselling for anxiety through the substance abuse clinic, and I'm now on the waiting list.

    like Paul says your GP is your first port of call, I think, or rather I was told that recognising your alcohol consumption is becoming a problem is half the battle. It's a very powerful thing alcohol, if not caught in time, it's taken over your life.

    • Ticklepickle
      Ticklepickle vickylou

      Posted

      Many thanks for your response. I'm going to make an appointment for the Dr's. Wednesday is a night we normally go out for a drink but this time I'm going to say no, and stay in. We also have a family Christmas meal out on Saturday and I'm already chanting in my head soda water an lime.. I'm determined to beat this. And when I build up the courage ( talking to family about alcohol seems tough already) I'm going to sit down and speak to my husband about how I feel about drinking and my wanting to stop. 
  • vickylou
    vickylou Ticklepickle

    Posted

    Good for you. If you're doing this for yourself, you stand a much better chance of success than giving up because family and husband are concerned. I didn't have to sit down and tell my husband, he knew all along, as did close friends and family. My kids always knew from an early age. We stopped a lot of socialising at pubs, but close friends would invite us round with no pressure to drink at all. My best friend never had an alcoholic drink in front of me and never judged me. Other so called 'friends' we don't see anymore. I had two glasses of wine on Saturday, it was my birthday and also my sons as well. I've not felt the need or wanted anything since then. I will do the same this Saturday and Christmas Day. My key worker drew up a plan where I could stick to 3 glasses of wine and soda, but only had two. I have also knocked brandy coffees on the head after a meal out. Am pleased you've made an appointment with your GP, so good luck with that. I have to keep an alcohol diary which shows nothing apart from two glasses of wine in just over a month. I asked about the drug nalmefeme (excuse spelling!) but was told I didn't drink enough to warrant taking it!
  • jo85677
    jo85677 Ticklepickle

    Posted

    Hi sian, I am experiencing a similar time in my life. Boyfriend read me the riot act about alcohol yesterday. Feeling ashamed and very flat, I felt like a worthless person after the conversation. I am a working Mum, and like you drink at night to "deal" with stress of the day. Find myself buying 2 bottles  at a time , and drinking 2/3 of a bottle most nights. I am getting my head around that I am abusing alcohol - face my fears that I have for a lot of years since a family member died of cancer. Realising the alcohol night before draining my energy and making me anxious. 

    I am in Australia and have not heard of the medications you are discussing.

    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 jo85677

      Posted

      Jo, you are not a worthless person at all. Sometimes, we all need a reading of the riot act to give us a kick up the backside. It is when nobody cares enough to do that that we should worry.

      I am not sure of what services you have in Australia, but I understand that they are working to make Nalmefene available there. Here is a link to an article about it:

      http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/prescription-drug-nalmefene-prevents-alcohol-cravings-but-not-in-australia-20141109-11hyc2.html

       

    • Ticklepickle
      Ticklepickle jo85677

      Posted

      Jo please don't think you're worthless. At least you know yourself that you are abusing alcohol, and that's a big step. 

      I have now actually spoken to my husband about my feelings on how much alcohol I drink and he agreeded with everythink I said and  he is also going to cut right back on the amount he drinks.  

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