nolonger

In case anyone needs reminding of what alcoholism can do, there was a great film on the BBC last night. It was on “Newsnight,” probably the best daily news show in the UK – the whole show was about alcohol, but the best part is the first 20 minutes or so. A documentary filmmaker goes to a hospital, showed 4 very far-gone alcoholics, then went back a year later to see what had happened to them. It is really shocking stuff. Link below, and click on “Watch: latest programme.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/

barb dwyer

Nolonger -

I had to turn it off. I couldn't watch it.

It made me sick. I can't go back there. Sorry.

Tazman53

Thanks for the link and the reality check!

Alcoholism kills!!!

If we continue to drink and are lucky we will die quickly of a heart attack, stroke, or an accident!!!

If we are unlucky we can die very slowly and painfully from numerous different disease that are caused by alcoholism, cirrosis of the liver is not the only killer of alcoholics, wonderful things like numerous cancers, bladder diseases, digestive tract....... then of course there is one of the diseases that assures the alcoholic will quit drinking with out dying.......... wet brain!!!

barb dwyer

I took care of a good friend who drank himself to death.

Everyone had given up on him. Including him. He was a bartending legend. Taught me everything I know about the liquor business, and made me successful here. I was 'his kid' ... his protoge'....
I remember thinking at the time it was like watching a welder -
die of burns.
We (I - there was no 'we') couldn't get him in to a treatment center ... they all said that it'd be another two weeks - I remember telling the doc, "woman, this man doesn't HAVE two weeks - he's not going to make it to this weekend."
The emergency room wouldn't take him becuse he was an adult (60 years old) and no one could sign FOR him ... only family ...

That was on a Tuesday.
He died on Thursday night.

I've seen this.
I smelled it.
I picked it up and put it in the bathtub.
I cleaned up after it.

I'm sorry.
I can't go back there.

Just what I watched - suddenly I smelled that smell again.
It made me physically sick.


But I cannot close this out without saying thank you.

I need to remember that.

caraway

Thanks nolonger. I watched the original documentry back in the summer, I think it was July, it was quite horrific. I'll watch this newsnight version when my husband hasn't got the tv on so loud! I'll be interested to hear the talk at the end.

CarolD

I don't intend to watch it.

I too have first hand knowledge
My dead friends ...

John P Norman T Bobby D Pat C
Leo C Wayne T Ursla H Jo W Barb A
Ted P Jeff S John W Joe E Pat S

and others who did not survive their alcoholism.

barb dwyer

That reaction was unexpected for me. I thought I'd better post something about it ... just to warn others, Carol.

nolonger

Hi Barb,
thanks for posting the warning. It was quite horrific, and I probably didn't stress that enough.

Sometimes I need to remind myself of where I'm going if I forget that I am an alcoholic. It is a grim and horrifying film, and I'm sure the filmmaker partly wanted to show the horror to people who are putting themselves in danger, particularly young people.

I'm glad I am sober today, and that all of you are too.
peace, nl.

triniteec

We all must remember where we used to be at some point and give ourselves some credit for being sober! I am truly happy to be sober today! ~('v')~

caitlin666

would you believe it nolonger,
i watched that film in the addiction clinic a few weeks ago, and it had a profound effect on me........mainly because i seen myself in many of those people

i would ask if you can force yourself to sit through it.....please do so..but be warned it makes very painful watching

for me i needed that sort of reality check.

Dee_Sober4today

Thank you for the post. I wish I would have seen the first one. I need these awful reminders.
It scares me to think what I've done to my body.
I can't help finding it so ironic that when I was killing myself, I wasn't afraid to die...didn't care if I did or not and almost always wished for it.
Being sober...I'm petrified of what I did to myself and fear an untimely death due to my own neglect.
Drunk, I was petrified to live...Sober, I am petrified to die.
I never seem to stop being afraid....
Denise

Pinkcuda

I'd like to see it and even tape it. I don't know if I have BBC. I get about an hour every other week to watch TV and don't know my channels or how to use a TV guide correctly. Maybe I'll figure it out.
The saddest part is our "Human" attitude. It won't happen to me is the rule we live by. I'm "different" is what I hear most alcoholics say. That's what we need impress upon people. We need to get them used to the idea that we are just as vulnerable as the next guy and it can and will happen to us. Showing a film about what happens to "Other People" doesn't work for most of us. If we think it does, we underestimate our opponents power.

savoy

Detox's are where the action is for sponsoring,
they drop just as quick in the US hospitals, it brings a gravity to the message I carry.

Slowbriety

I would rather watch Leaving Las Vegas.

Crowgirl

Thanks for posting the link to that BBC documentary. It was good timing for me. I have 30 days and a week...and I'm going to two Christmas parties this week, and was thinking why not have one?

I needed the wake up call. Happy holidays.

TorontoGuy28

I'm gonna watch it tonight... Thanks for the post...

savoy

Was there any mention of AA?

It sounded like abstinence management.