Paddy's Day no drink- but Saturday I'm tempted !

It's a struggle. I plan on using the meds once I get them - I really want to try TSM if this is the alternative.

Great to hear that Sadie , look up all the medications besides Naltrexone that will block the opiate receptors. More than pills are available ,Injections that last a week  and pellets under the skin that lasts for six months. Do your research find the three step program best for you. Medication, counseling and detox.  Also counseling is a necessity. You cannot do this without understanding how to reset the alcohol stop button in your brain,and stop the body from dependence . It actually is better to take the meds than try to white knuckle it without medical help. It only causes the body and brain to demand more and it's beyond the brains control without shutting down the cravings with meds. Causing the alcohol cravings pleasure receptors to scream for more. 

CAMPRAL another pill. Pills can be a disadvantage to some remembering to take a pill. Others do well with injections or pellets.

HOPE4CURE

I have been researching the last couple of weeks. I am based in Ireland & requested a prescription for Selincro from my GP on Monday. She wasn't familar with this medication or The Sinclair Method. She is doing some research on this & will let me know this coming Monday whether she will prescribe it to me. 

I would like to try The Sinclair Method rather than an implant or a medication I would need to take everyday. I don't drink everyday so I would only take the Selincro with my alcohol at the weekend & hopefully be able to cut my intake right back xxx

This ia all to familiar in the US too. Even though the Attorney General has declared a war on alcohol treatment and it should be for everyone. Insured or not. It should be noted that US health ins companies are to pay for addiction meds and counseling. Yet it is still very hard to receive assistance. My son just tried the Vivitrol injection, back in rehab. Ordered by his probation officer. Haven't heard a word from him yet. It's only a month rehab for him then a men's housing rehab long term where blood testing is done daily. I hope to hear from him soon and let you know how the Vivatrol injection worked for him. As far as I know no one here has tried it yet.  It is essentially Naltrexone in injection long term acting form. 

Take is slow one day at a time! You will Rise!

Love, Peace and good health.??

Hope4Cure

Today I am feeling a bit better than yesterday & have decided not to think about Saturday until it comes. A huge part of my problem is I am always thinking ahead of myself because of anxiety. I haven't been diagnosed with anxiety but it is certainly something I believe & my husband believes I suffer from. It's why I like to know what is happening & why I am planning Saturday to make me feel safe is that makes sense.

If I do drink Saturday I will tell my husband & I'll do it openly this way no lies & I will restrict my intake as I will be paronoid he will think I am consuming too much & then in a way it feels pointless to drink so I may just decide against it. There can't be anymore deceit its the worst part - I can't go back to that. 

Thank you Sharon ! Trying to stay strong & one day at a time. I see why that is important now xxx

 

Good on you! You sound more positive. Yes if you do drink do it openly. I too suffer from anxiety....I think a lot of us with this problem do. Hey ho. Onwards and upwards. X

Thanks Sharon! 

Yes the sunshine we are having helps too! It would be nice if it's sunny on Sunday to enjoy it rather than be tired with a stuffy head.

xxx

I'm pretty sure you are going to drink Saturday. I just think the way the mind works with alcohol is so powerful...and I know for me..once I set my mind to drinking there isn't anything anyone can do or say that will change MY mind.

Its obvious to me that you are not "there" "ready" and have lost the bubble...maybe it takes this one last time..or the next last time to get you there...

What I think is important is that you are still trying...you are being honest with yourself...you have become "ready" to "own" your problem. 

My prayer for you is that after you drink Saturday that Sunday you wake up and realize...that you felt better last Sunday when you didn't drink.

You are probably already feeling tons of guilt for putting it out here that you were planning on drinking Saturday and really you shouldn't feel guilty...honesty is also a step in the right direction.

If you weren't even going for help on Monday for the Selincro..I probably wouldn't have replied to this post. Because, there really isn't anything anyone can say since it is clear that you are not ready.  I posted forever back in the day in 2005 on another website when I knew I wasn't ready to stop but I was just lost...and I know that I needed that website at the time. And eventually, with everyones feedback and my personal goal..I got the "awakening"...

Your mind says you are going to try even harder when you get some medication assistance..and that is when I think you have the best chance of stopping.

I guess..I am not saying it is OK but I recognize that the urge is still very powerful for you..and I do think you need the help of the medication and the support of others to help get you to your goal.

So the fact that you are in the safety of your home and around your husband... AND you have a limit of alcohol that you drink (I never could stick to a limit)...then I don't see any huge consequences such as withdrawals or hurting anyone coming your way.  

So, its ok sadie dee...just keep trying...keep being honest...and don't stop posting because you can't "adhere" to the expectations from anyone...powerful alcohol is...You are learning that.

and...yes, not drinking on St. Paddys day seems to be another goal you are ready to accomplish...that is BIG...I HAD to drink on St. Pattys day throughout my lifetime...I won't be drinking tommorow either.

Yes it's like the thought pops into your head & latches on & you can't shake it off. Last week it wasn't there I was feeling positive like I was on a journey. Friday my bubble burst a bit & on Saturday & Sunday I worked my way through my trigger times I just don't know why those thoughts came back to me. Maybe it was the disappointment of not getting the prescription on Monday & feeling the doc doesn't fully understand.

I am trying to be honest & this is the place I can be most honest. A place I can vent & share. I believe posting here will get me there. I am certainly in a better place than I was a few weeks back & even a few weeks back I was in a better place than a few months back as I had already cut my drinking days back so maybe this is a gradual process. 

Yes I do feel guilty that I put it out here & that I am letting people that have being supporting me down. I still wanted to be honest. I can't it that the thought of drinking came into my head. I don't feel like I decided. 

I 100% want to try Selincro. If I am having trouble with these thoughts I feel this is the best option. I cannot & will not live the life I was living. I'm trying to tell myself its just thought. It's not even Saturday yet. Like last week deal with Saturday when it comes. I got myself through my trigger time that was the hardest part. I believed I had The Awakening last week I just got knocked back on Monday even if the doc had of met me sooner then next week I could be moving forward.

I understand  the medication isn't an instant cure I'm prepared for that & it will be a life commitment to take it.

I will keep going Misssy . I hope I don't drink on Saturday I really do.  My plan is one day at a time. I will not tonight as I have no urge & no urge tomorrow so I'm with ya on having a sober Paddy's day. Just need to get that bubble going again. 

Misssy thank you! I am certainly learning just how much of a power alcohol does have. xxx

 

Good luck with working your way out of the trigger points. I have had quite a few of those myself over the last few weeks and yesterday i did give in. Its horrible to be back in that place in your mind that knows what i did was wrong. If you need to think of anything to stop you it should be the terrible feeling that you have afterwards, it just is not worth it. I am the same as you i feel that i have let everyone down again. I dont even know what made me give in, i think i should have been able to get through it but that stupid voice in my head went for it so to speak. I hope the doctors goes the way you want it to. Keep in touch x

Don't beat yourself up Sharon . The triggers times are difficult to get through. How much did you drink yesterday? The voice can be overpowering.

I actually had 1 glass of wine last night & I was fine with that. My husband asked me how did I feel about it this morning. I said fine. To be honest I feel a bit confused. I'm wondering if I can keep to just 1 or 2 glasses of wine at the weekend in the open & keep it under control do I need the medication? I'm wondering is the reason I drank so much was because I was doing it in secret & now that is out I can just be open & more in control? That I broke the habit & it was the secret habit trapping me. This is probably just part of the process though the questioning yourself & I'm just putting out my thoughts that I am having today. Tomorrow could be different.

I don't have an urge tonight to drink it poppped into my head a couple of times today but didn't stay long & I'm happily sitting here with a green tea. 

I will still push for the meds tomorrow as maybe this is just me being optomistic that I can now be in control. Feeling a little confused xx

I would still push for the meds. At least then you have the back up of them being there. I have had weeks of being good then crash bang again and again. You may be different of course.

Yes I definitley want to get the meds. It will be good to actually have them there. I'm going to write out what I'm going to say tonight & tell the doc I have been talking to people on this forum who use the meds with success. I hope she will listen & understand. xx

Don't forget to mention JoannaEurope 3 and the fact that she is trained to support you and be your counsellor etc. If you have an iPad/iPhone screen shot some of the information from the website so you can show it to the Dr if you need further information/background etc. Good luck.

I told my doctor about Joanna last week . She said I was he first person to ever come to her with online counselling. It is the way the world is moving.

She suggested AA but that is a no no for me. 

Thank you keep fingers & toes crossed for me. x

on line consellilng...did not think of it that way but it is. Great situation since different people here give different advice depending on their situation and we are all BRUTALLY honest but also forgiving..or should be ...and understanding...great forum...Robin

AA is not for everyone. I tried it myself but it just wasnt for me. On the other hand i know of a girl who drank loads and much more and in the end it did help her. As we all know a large part of it has to come from the person themselves... i am struggling so much with this right now. I know i have a major problem but there are parts of me that feel so worn down by it. If money was no object i would book myself into rehab for a while and remove any temptation and also myself from the world for a while. Its hard on the family which makes it even harder to stop so to speak. 

YOU are trying your best and i think we all know its a long journey. However its easy to tell that you have been taking things very seriously and do want to change. You have done so well so keep that in your mind

I'm sorry to hear you are stuggling. I think it can vary day to day. You do need to get yourself to a better place Sharon. Do you speak about it openly with your family. I found speaking honestly with my husband really helped me work on things there was then no barrier. Show your family any research you are looking at to help you it involves them in the process. 

I am in a much better place then I was previously. I have decided to hold off on getting the meds.  I have only had 1 glass of wine in over 2 weeks. I have discussed with my husband that I can drink on Saturdays infact together we can share a bottle of wine & take it from there. I think since I removed secret drinking I have broken the habit of wanting to go overboard. It's an early stage & if I resort back I will be straight onto the meds. 

Keep pushing Sharon & posting communicating your feelings helps xxx

I did say to the doc that online councelling could be the way forward. The only difference is the person isn't in the same room as you. She agreed it will probably become more popular. I also told her that talking to people on this forum actually gave me the push to go & see a doctor. 

This is an amazing forum!

The other Sharon replying 😉....confusing having both of us. I think you are right in removing the secrecy. I haven't been able to do that and have to try the meds but still in secret. This does make it harder. Never mind in a couple of weeks I'll be away at my Mums and will be able to drink openly. I will maximise this time to drink using the meds. Should be able to speed up the retraining process. Well done Sadie, you have done amazingly well!!!! I hope it continues, you may have caught the problem just in time. X To the other Shaton, its hard isnt it but we CAN do it. Let's support each other. X

Interesting discussion re online counselling.

We prefer to call it remote counselling as we use skype, phone or email.  All are valid ways to communicate.

The NHS even use it!   It's just many don't know about it.  From the NHS Choices website: NICE has approved the use of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CCBT) for the treatment of depression, generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder. CCBT is the name used for delivering CBT via computers, tablets and phone, usually online. Research suggests it can be just as effective as having face-to-face therapy with a therapist if you are supported by a remote therapist.

In addition, some of the oldest forms of support are phone based - think of The Samaritans or a Suicide Help Line.

I am also a Pet Bereavement counsellor for the Blue Cross - I was specifically trained to help counsel/support people who have lost their pets for this UK animal hospital.