I've been taking sleeping pills combined with alcohol every night for the last 10 years. Doctor referred me to alcohol help centre but they don't think I need a detox because I don't drink enough. Half a bottle of spirits a night.
Have suggested I cut down myself at home.
Everyday I promise myself never again, but come night time and I'm at it. When I do try to stop, severe sleep problems.
Can anyone advice me on what to do?
I hate myself every day and am full of guilt.
Hi Alisha...
If i was you what i would be looking at is eliminating the alcohol altogether instead of cutting it down,you see all our good intentions of cutting down on alcohol go out of the window after the first drink, because that first drink sets off the craving and obsession for more,and off we go again...
I found it easier to do without it completely rather than trying to moderate my alcohol intake...
Paul
If i was you what i would be looking at is eliminating the alcohol altogether instead of cutting it down,you see all our good intentions of cutting down on alcohol go out of the window after the first drink, because that first drink sets off the craving and obsession for more,and off we go again...
I found it easier to do without it completely rather than trying to moderate my alcohol intake...
Paul
Thanks for replying Paul.
That is what is say to myself everyday. That I will not have a single drink.
But I don't understand what comes over me at night time.
I just can't seem to stop myself.
I will keep trying and hope for the best.
Thanks again.
Alisha
That is what is say to myself everyday. That I will not have a single drink.
But I don't understand what comes over me at night time.
I just can't seem to stop myself.
I will keep trying and hope for the best.
Thanks again.
Alisha
alisha, thanks for coming here and posting. you sound very genuine in your desire to change and very frustrated. it seems that you may have received some very bad advice. while you may not need "detox" you may well need the help of others to stop drinking if you are finding that you cannot control or eliminate your alcohol consumption when and as you want to. don't be afraid to ask for help. you don't have to be in this struggle all by yourself. others are willing and waiting to help you. buy you must ask for the help.
posting here is a good start.
posting here is a good start.
Thanks Bob. I went out this evening so as to get away from the same routine.
Have come back home, and have not yet touched a drink.
But, I know I will have to if I want to get some sleep.
I have forgotton how to sleep without it.
Staying up all night is even more frustrating.
What sort of help do u think I could get? Unfortunately for me, I struggle alone and even my own family don't know what I am doing. I am too ashamed to admit this to them.
My life is about drink at night and my day starts at around lunch time.
Even then, I am only half living. The constant " I don't want to do this" stays with me all the time.
At the moment, I don't see a way out.
I want my old self and my life back.
Alisha
Have come back home, and have not yet touched a drink.
But, I know I will have to if I want to get some sleep.
I have forgotton how to sleep without it.
Staying up all night is even more frustrating.
What sort of help do u think I could get? Unfortunately for me, I struggle alone and even my own family don't know what I am doing. I am too ashamed to admit this to them.
My life is about drink at night and my day starts at around lunch time.
Even then, I am only half living. The constant " I don't want to do this" stays with me all the time.
At the moment, I don't see a way out.
I want my old self and my life back.
Alisha
alisha, thanks for coming back. maybe you don't quite realize it, but you've taken a very small, but at the same time a huge step forward towards recovery and relief from your affliction by asking for help here and by asking for help from your doctor. so many people can't bring themselves to do it or just won't do it. they either want to continue to be dependent, don't want to attempt a better life, or have just totally given in or given up. you, on the other hand, are chosing a different route, and should expect a different result.
first, do you know anything about alcoholism ? and don't be afraid of the word. because alcoholism is a disease. yes, a disease. you are alergic to alcohol. unlike many others, alcohol has a different effect on you and your bodily system. trying to quit and not being able to or deciding that you are only going to drink "so much" on a particular ocassion (and not being able to keep to the limit), or trying to quit for let's say 3 months, and not being able to carry it out is a good clue that you have the disease of alcoholism.
second, the disease is progressive, meaning that it will get worse, not better, over time, and it is incurable. the disease can be arrested, but not cured. the disease is "arrested" by abstinence -- not drinking. and the key is all in not taking the next first drink.
now if you have not had any of this said to you before, it's a lot to digest, i know. and if you have, try to understand, as best you can, that one of the key elements or attributes of the disease, unlike most other diseases, is that the person afflicted denies the disease, or the severity of the disease, or that there is a condition or problem to be dealt with.
so, if i might offer you a suggestion, and it is only a suggestion, while you are discerning what to do, read all you can on the internet or otherwise about alcoholism and addiction. educate yourself about the disease. take your time. and read the stories of others that have sufferred your affliction.
one place to start, if i might suggest a starting place, is with what is called the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book. The first half or so of it was written in the 1930s. it's available online for free -- here's the link to it: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/ Just click on the book icon at the website and chose the english language.
many forms of help are available. if i may make a suggestion, one of the simplest is attending meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. The meetings are free, non-threatening, and you will find many others who are suffering from the same mental obsessions with alcohol that you have experienced. also, the same guilt, shame, hopelessness, and exhaustion. through interaction with them, thousands of others have found relief or at the very least the beginnings of the road and path to relief. then there are some steps that they will suggest that you take to stay in recovery.
let me know what you think.
while you may feel alone, you are not alone. and there is no reason for you to fight this condition and disease alone. working together, we will find help that you are comfortable with.
check back and let us know what you think.
first, do you know anything about alcoholism ? and don't be afraid of the word. because alcoholism is a disease. yes, a disease. you are alergic to alcohol. unlike many others, alcohol has a different effect on you and your bodily system. trying to quit and not being able to or deciding that you are only going to drink "so much" on a particular ocassion (and not being able to keep to the limit), or trying to quit for let's say 3 months, and not being able to carry it out is a good clue that you have the disease of alcoholism.
second, the disease is progressive, meaning that it will get worse, not better, over time, and it is incurable. the disease can be arrested, but not cured. the disease is "arrested" by abstinence -- not drinking. and the key is all in not taking the next first drink.
now if you have not had any of this said to you before, it's a lot to digest, i know. and if you have, try to understand, as best you can, that one of the key elements or attributes of the disease, unlike most other diseases, is that the person afflicted denies the disease, or the severity of the disease, or that there is a condition or problem to be dealt with.
so, if i might offer you a suggestion, and it is only a suggestion, while you are discerning what to do, read all you can on the internet or otherwise about alcoholism and addiction. educate yourself about the disease. take your time. and read the stories of others that have sufferred your affliction.
one place to start, if i might suggest a starting place, is with what is called the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book. The first half or so of it was written in the 1930s. it's available online for free -- here's the link to it: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/ Just click on the book icon at the website and chose the english language.
many forms of help are available. if i may make a suggestion, one of the simplest is attending meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. The meetings are free, non-threatening, and you will find many others who are suffering from the same mental obsessions with alcohol that you have experienced. also, the same guilt, shame, hopelessness, and exhaustion. through interaction with them, thousands of others have found relief or at the very least the beginnings of the road and path to relief. then there are some steps that they will suggest that you take to stay in recovery.
let me know what you think.
while you may feel alone, you are not alone. and there is no reason for you to fight this condition and disease alone. working together, we will find help that you are comfortable with.
check back and let us know what you think.
