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I am an alcoholic

Posted , 12 users are following.

d910
d910

Hi there, I am 23 years old and been drinking every night for 3 years. Started at 3-6 beers a night. Now 10-12 beers a night. I have a very high tolerance. I am 5'2 weighing 127 pounds, so smashing a 12 pack really shouldn't be as easy as it is for me. I want to try an stop drinking every night. I've done it before but found my way back. I would like people's opinions on tapering, out patient programs and partial programs. I am a full time student and I work on the weekends. So I have been thinking about tapering. Go from 10 to 8 to 6 etc. then zero. Anyone done this before? Am I safe? When I went to my doctor she was scared but I feel as if the doctors can not give me the OK to taper because they just want to fill my body with benzos to ween off alcohol. But then I'll just have to get off benzos. (I am not a pill taker, I have a very hard time taking them) 

1 like, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • Robin2015
    Robin2015 d910

    Posted

    Hello. You are still very young and can stop gradually as you suggest yourself. Fewer and fewer should work. I drank much more than you and managed to stop. Best of luck
    • d910
      d910 Robin2015

      Posted

      Thank you. I google things too much and saw that I could potentionally have a seizure or DTs. So I worked myself up.
  • colin30375
    colin30375 d910

    Posted

    Self medication is extremely difficult and can be dangerous - depends to some degree on your level of consumption. I have done this at home but only after many experiences of pofessional de-tox and other methods learned from around the world.

    My advice: see a pofessional.

    • d910
      d910 colin30375

      Posted

      I drink 8-10 beers a night. Sometimes more , sometimes much less. Have you ever tapered? Gradually reduced? I got a list of detox centers from my doctor I'm going to look into. 

    • colin30375
      colin30375 d910

      Posted

      Only you will know if you are an alcoholic. I could give you well meaning info' but this site won't let me.

  • Robin2015
    Robin2015 d910

    Posted

    To see a professional is good advice for certain
    • d910
      d910 Robin2015

      Posted

      I went to the hospital tonight and they gave me a list of detox centers. I just figure I am an alcoholic because I drink every night. I do not know if I'm physically dependent on it or not. It just helps me sleep. I didn't have my first drink until 1030 PM today. 

  • kenny93401
    kenny93401 d910

    Posted

    Hi man there is no right or wrong way in my mind. If you want to stop l would recommend you slow down maybe by one bottle a night.

    But take your time. Not suddenly. That could be dangerous for you.

    Maybe get out do some slow walking, who knows later you later you could become a jogger like l did. With a medal to prove it.

  • sara89946
    sara89946 d910

    Posted

    Hi there. If you can taper, that sounds like the best way. I am hopeless, once I started drinking I couldn't stop, so tapering wouldn't work for me. 

    I know it sounds cheesy but I started going to AA meetings and found them very supportive. There are people from all walks of life and no one judges you. For me it helps to realise I am not alone and that my story is not even remotely unusual. 

    All the best

  • JulieAnne101
    JulieAnne101 d910

    Posted

    Hi d910,

    If you are drinking 10-12 beers a night, you certainly have AUD Alcohol Use Disorder. If it is a light beer they are I believe to be about 2-3 units a bottle. 10-12 of these daily is easily 20 units, per week 140 plus units. That is way too high.

    My Husband was always advised by his gp and detox nurse to reduce by 10% a day. This is apparently, a safe amount to taper back on. However, it can be tough and you need to work out your units and complete a drink diary. If you want to be safe, don't reduce too quickly.

    I feel I need to point out that my husband did this for years, in the end he was very poorly, his brain and heart was being affected. He had seizures and dts because he didnt follow his drs advice.

    He is now on TSM and hasn't looked back

    Hoping this helps

    Kind Regards

    JulieAnne x

    • Joanna-SMUKLtd
      Joanna-SMUKLtd JulieAnne101

      Posted

      So pleased to hear that hubby is still doing so well. biggrin

      Now you know what you know, don't you think that proper medical treatment should be one of the first options discussed, and not one of the last?  Of course, no treatment is 100% right or suitable for 100% of the people, but the fact that this is largely ignored in favour of acupuncture and talk therapy etc drives me crazy.  ALL pharmacological treatments should be discussed at the onset.  It shouldn't be a case of someone running across a treatment by chance on the internet.

      I am reading my way through a report commissioned to explore the lack of uptake from the NHS about nalmefene (which of course we all know is TSM using the more expensive medication, rather than the less expensive and generic naltrexone that your hubby is using) and it is pretty shocking and soul-destroying to read.  It's really quite a damning report into a) the belief of immediate abstience is the only way and b) local NHS areas putting a pathway in place for this treatment to meet their legal requirements and then not exploring it any further.

      Once I am through the entire report (it is long!) then I will start work on a video to explain more about the individial taking the knowledge TO their physician rather than waiting until hell freezes over for their physician to mention it to them!

    • JulieAnne101
      JulieAnne101 Joanna-SMUKLtd

      Posted

      Hi Joanna

      Yes I agree with you wholeheartedly with you. When you can least cope with challenging your gp, unable to fight, you cave in. And so off to the ARC, you jolly well go.

      As all the regulars on this forum know, ARCs are horrendous places, the AUD sufferer is expected to put his/her life on hold for 6 months. In that time the sufferer told it's AA or the highway, 90 meetings in 90 days dreadful when you are possibly at rock bottom.

      We shall be going back to the ARC when my Husband is ready. This time he will be well enough physically and mentally to get what he wants. He is still completing a drink diary as evidence that TSM works.

      Good luck with your research and actions you will need to take

      JulieAnne x

      PS if you manage to get us some more info we can present to our gp, then of course we will try there first xx

    • Robin2015
      Robin2015 JulieAnne101

      Posted

      total respect to you!! totally organised and you are doing to much!! Great to ready your feedback and replies!!
    • JulieAnne101
      JulieAnne101 Robin2015

      Posted

      Hi Robin

      Thank you for that. Husband is so organised now, back to the man I married when he was dry for 2 years. Glad to hear you're well too and enjoying life xx

    • Robin2015
      Robin2015 JulieAnne101

      Posted

      Hello JulieAnne. How is your husband now? Still going according to plan and doing well I hope? You are a great support to him for certain. 😁

    • JulieAnne101
      JulieAnne101 Robin2015

      Posted

      Hi Robin

      Thank you for asking. Hubby is very well. Even I can't believe the impact Naltrexone is having on him. It has turned his life around. He has the odd beer or two of a evening now and a couple of AFD's a week. Still slowly reducing, no desire to binge according to him. To live without the stress is so wonderful.

      How is life with you?

      JulieAnne x

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