I just found this site and have read a few of the threads. After completing this introduction, I plan to read more. I'm a female in my mid-twenties and have been drinking for 7 years, heavily for about 5. I blackout, wake up with bruises, get hangovers that make me shake and throw up, and sometimes get a dull ache in my lower right side that I think might be my liver or kidneys.
I don't know what to do. I've been to a few meetings, but never stuck with it. The longest I've abstained is maybe a week. I've lost jobs because I was too hungover to go. I've already missed a day of classes this semester (today) because I couldn't get out of bed. I have been very depressed about this lately. In the recent past I have had a strong desire to quit, now I just feel very depressed and really really tired.
Well, enough about that. Does anyone know of any medication you can take to get over the "hump" of quitting? What should I tell the doctor? Has anyone had any experience with the drug Antabuse?
Any responses would be appreciated, though I may find the answers with more reading.
Hi and welcome to the board... good job cuz you've already taken the first step and admitted you have a problem and have become powerless over it. You are so young, like me and you don't need to waste any more of "the best of your days in a haze." (weezer-lol) Anyway, about the antabuse, my friend who is a heavy, heavy alcoholic (so bad he wets the bed three or four times a month) took it. It only helped him while he was on it. But, as with all drugs that "assist" in quitting there will always be a time when the dr takes you off of it. I would really suggest you take some time off from school and go to an inpatient detox facility and an inpatient rehab if at all possible. Coming off of alcohol can be very dangerous and it sounds like you need medical supervision. I know you are thinking, "well i have to finish this semester". But, if you don't get help now, how good are your grades gonna be and youre not gonna learn anything when you feel so crappy. Take some time to get help now bf it's too late. I'll be thinking about you... keep posting!
Love and God Bless,
Briana :)
Love and God Bless,
Briana :)
Hey,
Your story sounds familiar. I am 25 this year and just beginning my sobriety. I think you can probly do it without drugs, as I think I can. It's a really tough thing though I'm finding. It's starting to get a little better I think. There is a couple things that have helped me soooo much thus far. First is an AA chatline I found. I'm so glad I found it, it's the reason I decided I could get sober for good. It's:
http://www.12steps.org/Brochure/res...egister_new.php
I REALLY suggest it. There are nightly online meetings. There are people from all over the US and Canada, and even the UK. Really good people. There are people on most times of the day, not just for meetings, but just to talk to about anything! The second thing I found helped is this board. The third, is face to face meetings. I really tried hard to skip that part. I was able to do well with just the chatline and online meetings, for about a month, but then I kept slipping up. Face to face meetings are the only thing, combined with the other two above, that works for me. At first, I hated the fact that I had to go to meetings. I didnt want to, I didnt like them, and I wasnt one of "those" people. I was an exception, I can do it without the meetings, right? Wrong.
So sign up for the 12steps cafe that I gave you the website for. My nick name is Muppy on there. There are a lot of great people to chat with. Hope to chat with you there!
Your story sounds familiar. I am 25 this year and just beginning my sobriety. I think you can probly do it without drugs, as I think I can. It's a really tough thing though I'm finding. It's starting to get a little better I think. There is a couple things that have helped me soooo much thus far. First is an AA chatline I found. I'm so glad I found it, it's the reason I decided I could get sober for good. It's:
http://www.12steps.org/Brochure/res...egister_new.php
I REALLY suggest it. There are nightly online meetings. There are people from all over the US and Canada, and even the UK. Really good people. There are people on most times of the day, not just for meetings, but just to talk to about anything! The second thing I found helped is this board. The third, is face to face meetings. I really tried hard to skip that part. I was able to do well with just the chatline and online meetings, for about a month, but then I kept slipping up. Face to face meetings are the only thing, combined with the other two above, that works for me. At first, I hated the fact that I had to go to meetings. I didnt want to, I didnt like them, and I wasnt one of "those" people. I was an exception, I can do it without the meetings, right? Wrong.
So sign up for the 12steps cafe that I gave you the website for. My nick name is Muppy on there. There are a lot of great people to chat with. Hope to chat with you there!
Hi Gilabat,
I was prescribed Naltrexone and Campral tablets by my doctor, They are good for stopping the cravings, I felt a bit sick on them but they have worked, I have tried heaps of times to stop drinking, this time is the last time I am not going to drink again ,I havent had a drink in 7 mths today!
I am in Australia this medication is being used widely down here for alcohol abuse/ addiction, they are govt subsidised as well here.
I highly recomend them, But they are no wonder drug, You have to want to stop drinking!
Hope this is of some help, look them up on the net and you will find out about them.
Take Care
Ginge
I was prescribed Naltrexone and Campral tablets by my doctor, They are good for stopping the cravings, I felt a bit sick on them but they have worked, I have tried heaps of times to stop drinking, this time is the last time I am not going to drink again ,I havent had a drink in 7 mths today!
I am in Australia this medication is being used widely down here for alcohol abuse/ addiction, they are govt subsidised as well here.
I highly recomend them, But they are no wonder drug, You have to want to stop drinking!
Hope this is of some help, look them up on the net and you will find out about them.
Take Care
Ginge
Gilabat, Welcome! You're story sounds so similar to mine....all of the emotional, physical and spiritual symptoms you are experiencing are identical to what I went through. I am going to bump up my "story"...it's got the letters E, S & H in the title...perhaps you can identify with it...stay close and let us know how you are doing. Like Bri said you may need to take some time off, although I didn't go into rehab I did go to about 3 meetings a day while I was off work for 3 months...I also checked in with an Addictionologist for the first 8 days of my detox and she prescribed Librium, first day six pills and then tapered me down to none....hang in there. It's not always easy, but it is the better way.
Bri, Loved your post....Mupmup, OMG, you are such an inspiration to this drunk/addict woman here...I love it...keep up the good work...thanks for posting that site, I might check it out...Ginge, 7 months, holy mackarel buddy...you are doing it...ooooh and your vacation is right around the corner!
Take care everyone!
Bri, Loved your post....Mupmup, OMG, you are such an inspiration to this drunk/addict woman here...I love it...keep up the good work...thanks for posting that site, I might check it out...Ginge, 7 months, holy mackarel buddy...you are doing it...ooooh and your vacation is right around the corner!
Take care everyone!
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your replies. I hate to go on about my problems, but it seems like I really have no one to tell them to. All my friends don't see my drinking as a problem. I'm 24 and they are all "enjoying their 20s." Even my 18 year old sister calls me an alcoholic, but doesn't want me to stop because "I'm no fun sober." My live in boyfriend drinks heavily, but doesn't get hangovers or miss work. It's like there is no support to combat this in my life at all. I don't have health insurance. At one of the few AA meetings I went to, members told me I would need to quit my job as a large part of it is being around/serving alcohol (I'm a waitress).
I can't quit my job and I can't quit school right now. I've got about 13,000 dollars in loans that won't disappear if I decide to take time off. I know this sounds bad, but I'm almost considering waiting to go to a facility until January, when I have a month out of school. But that would probably mean drinking until then, and I'm smart enough to know something really bad could happen between now and then. I'm not sure what to do.
I would like to say that I'm not overstating my problem. I know it is severe. I have no illusions. I already have a DUI from two years ago. I've stayed in at least two physically abusive relationships because I was to drunk to care. I've put my life and physical safety directly in harms way, as well as other people's. This is making me physically ill, as well as out of shape. It is giving me this overwhelming anxiety (including intense graphic thoughts of dread that only happen while hungover), that only seems to go away when I'm drunk!
I'm sorry if this sounds like whining. I really wish I could talk about these things without feeling guilty for boring people or being to 'depressing' or 'emotional.' I've noticed my self esteem go from a very healthy level about 6 years ago to virtually nothing now. It makes me feel like less of a person, like I'm always defensive and sensitive to how other people perceive me. I know a lot of it is in my head, but the feeling persists.
Anyway, enough rambling. Does anyone have any other online reading/resources they could share? Or good books in addition to what they have at AA? Maybe something with a proactive approach, like things you can actually DO to help? There are so many out there and I know they can't all be effective.
Thank you for your replies. I hate to go on about my problems, but it seems like I really have no one to tell them to. All my friends don't see my drinking as a problem. I'm 24 and they are all "enjoying their 20s." Even my 18 year old sister calls me an alcoholic, but doesn't want me to stop because "I'm no fun sober." My live in boyfriend drinks heavily, but doesn't get hangovers or miss work. It's like there is no support to combat this in my life at all. I don't have health insurance. At one of the few AA meetings I went to, members told me I would need to quit my job as a large part of it is being around/serving alcohol (I'm a waitress).
I can't quit my job and I can't quit school right now. I've got about 13,000 dollars in loans that won't disappear if I decide to take time off. I know this sounds bad, but I'm almost considering waiting to go to a facility until January, when I have a month out of school. But that would probably mean drinking until then, and I'm smart enough to know something really bad could happen between now and then. I'm not sure what to do.
I would like to say that I'm not overstating my problem. I know it is severe. I have no illusions. I already have a DUI from two years ago. I've stayed in at least two physically abusive relationships because I was to drunk to care. I've put my life and physical safety directly in harms way, as well as other people's. This is making me physically ill, as well as out of shape. It is giving me this overwhelming anxiety (including intense graphic thoughts of dread that only happen while hungover), that only seems to go away when I'm drunk!
I'm sorry if this sounds like whining. I really wish I could talk about these things without feeling guilty for boring people or being to 'depressing' or 'emotional.' I've noticed my self esteem go from a very healthy level about 6 years ago to virtually nothing now. It makes me feel like less of a person, like I'm always defensive and sensitive to how other people perceive me. I know a lot of it is in my head, but the feeling persists.
Anyway, enough rambling. Does anyone have any other online reading/resources they could share? Or good books in addition to what they have at AA? Maybe something with a proactive approach, like things you can actually DO to help? There are so many out there and I know they can't all be effective.
Hi gilabat and all of the above. I too am new to the board, but have been an "on looker" for a while now. I love reading the post here and have learned so much by doing so. Gilabat, when I read your story I felt as if I were reading about myself. I totally identify with you and how you feel, atleast all that you verbalized here. I am 27 and have experienced the same things as you from losing jobs because being too hung over to go in to bruises that were unexplained. I have always been "the fun party girl" that everyone wants to hang out with. I have always been the initiator for any celebration. I look for reasons to celebrate. The seasons changing, a new pair of shoes, a hair cut and my moto is the old faitful...It's 5 o'clock somewhere! A year ago in July I admitted myself to rehab with my drug of choice being Xanax (which was prescribed to me 6 years ago for anxiety) and alcohol (which has been like water to me since I was 15). At first I took the Zanax as prescribed (just before bed), but eventually started abusing it for the high and mixing it with alcohol. Needless to say that is where the sick cycle carosel began. Back to rehab...was in detox for only two days and then fed Phenabarbatol (spelling?) and then the rehab process started. The Phenabarbatol numbed me and made me so sick that I could not participate or share my feeling in the meetings. I felt that I was making no progress. I also had the mentality that I was not one of those people and did not belong there. Eventually I broke out of there (literally) and started doing research on my own, which brought me here! I am not knocking rehab, I am just saying that I learned that it won't work unless you want it. I guess at the time I did not want it. I had convinced myself and even said out loud to many people there in rehab that I was only there for precautionary measures. I had not hit my rock bottom and still haven't and that scares the hell out of me. I have had many lows and when I think about them...gees...what is my bottom gonna be? I do not want to go there. I still drink heavily. I drink for fun but do not have a stopping point. I don't drink to supress or to forget. I live in a small town and have myself convinced that "there is nothing else to do here" and "that is what all of my friends do." Although I went without Zanax for over a year, I started taking it again 10 days ago. Went to the Dr. and let him in on my terrible anxiety (which never went away and is worsened by drinking). It is so bad that I can't even put on mascara without being medicated because I get so anxious and sick. Crazy...I know. When I am in the bath tub, I stay in there until the water turns cold while contemplating my next move, which is simply getting out of the tub. Then the rountine or lack there of continues. Anyway, I am rambling because my anxiety is at a high point.
Gilabat, I want to invite you to begin this journey with me. At whatever cost and whatever we have to put off to get our drinking under control...lets do so. Look at it this way, if we don't begin our road to recovery soon, everything that we are working and have already accomplished that is important to us (college, friends, job, graduation, career, etc.) could go to crap ande disappear all because of alcohol. Like you have already stated, if you wait until January, alot could happen and alot could be lost and destroyed. Why put our recovery on hold when we could put your life on hold to begin recovering. I re-read that sentence and it sort of confused me, but then I really thought about it...without recovery there is no life. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me to finally post.
I agree with most people in this little family that this is a great place to be. I t feels to to know that I am not alone. However, I am having trouble resenting (I know that is a bad word) the people that can have just have a few. "Hey let's go have a few drinks!" Yeah right, not this girl. Not to sound cliche', but I have learned that it is the first one that gets me drunk.
Gilabat, I want to invite you to begin this journey with me. At whatever cost and whatever we have to put off to get our drinking under control...lets do so. Look at it this way, if we don't begin our road to recovery soon, everything that we are working and have already accomplished that is important to us (college, friends, job, graduation, career, etc.) could go to crap ande disappear all because of alcohol. Like you have already stated, if you wait until January, alot could happen and alot could be lost and destroyed. Why put our recovery on hold when we could put your life on hold to begin recovering. I re-read that sentence and it sort of confused me, but then I really thought about it...without recovery there is no life. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me to finally post.
I agree with most people in this little family that this is a great place to be. I t feels to to know that I am not alone. However, I am having trouble resenting (I know that is a bad word) the people that can have just have a few. "Hey let's go have a few drinks!" Yeah right, not this girl. Not to sound cliche', but I have learned that it is the first one that gets me drunk.
Cactus flower,
send me an email with your phone number (or I can give you mine) if you're serious about wanting to talk about getting better.
gilamanda@hotmail.com
actually, anyone can write, I don't mind... it might be comforting.
send me an email with your phone number (or I can give you mine) if you're serious about wanting to talk about getting better.
gilamanda@hotmail.com
actually, anyone can write, I don't mind... it might be comforting.
okay, well this is it. First day. I am going to go to work today, but put in my notice. Then I'm going to have to talk to my professors, which kind of scares me, but I'm probably just over anxious. Then I'll need t find a job not serving alcohol, which will mean less money, but there's the old phrase, "If you go to the barbershop every day, pretty soon you're going to get a haircut." Restaurant people are always trying to get you to go out after work. And a large part of my job is tableside presenation of wine, which would probably make me start drooling. ;)
I'll send an update to say how it goes. Oh, and my boyfriend says he'll stop with me, so we'll see.
I'll send an update to say how it goes. Oh, and my boyfriend says he'll stop with me, so we'll see.
Sounds like a big day and a big step. It also sounds as if you are serious about it. Give your boyfriend a big thumbs up (or more ;) for offering to quit with you. I know from expierence that, for me, without that from him, I would not be able to do it (sounds bad, but true). So, with his support and it being a new beginning for both of you, you can go through it together instead of trying to explain your feelings. etc., to someone who has no idea about what you are talking about and thinking that you are crazy and dramatic. I look up to you for going to your professors with this...very brave. I relate to you about the food business. For s o m e reason everyone wants to go out and drink after work! That is always so inviting. Good for you for attempting to get out and find something that does not involve all of that...ugh..and the wine thing. Yeah, get out. It sucks that for us trying to get control of ONE aspect of our life, we sometimes have to change everything. I sent you an email with my phone number. Good luck today and if it has already happened, let me know how it went. Thank God for this board and the people who are here!
Hugs and kisses!
Hugs and kisses!
