mjs777uk

Hi all, So I am new here, I joined because I'm wondering if anyone has had any success... I have been drinking since I was 13 I am now 26 I have been hospitilised three times with a delirium tremens, my livers fkd, my mind is a mess, can you realistically beat alcoholism? I get very anxious unless I have a drink... I cant leave the house unless I've had at least a few beers, I have never had a job, ive lost friends family & gfs dues to my drinking but I just cant stop... Is there any hope? Or is it time to admit defeat & throw in the towel? People have tried to help me, but I just fk up again... I have disulfiram but I dont take it... Is there any hope? or should I just give up?

Anna

Yes, of course you can stop drinking and if you take a look around here, you will many of us have done that. My advice is to talk to your dr before you stop drinking because, as you know, detoxing can be dangerous. Never give up.

least

Yes, it IS possible to get and stay sober. I did it. After relapsing over and over I finally 'got it' and am sober almost nine months now. Please talk to your doctor about a safe detox. AFter you're physically detoxed, check out some of the programs for staying sober. There are many ways to get and stay sober. Find the way that works for you and put your whole heart and soul into it. It IS possible.

Welcome to SR!

LaFemme

Hi mjs and welcome! There are many people here who have successfully given up alcohol andyou can be one too! I don't believe there is anyone so far gone they can't get sober. You have to be willing to do something about it. Going to AA is the most readily available way.

You are still young, with your whole life ahead of you...if we can do it ask can you!

DayTrader

MJS, of course you can. AA's chock-full of ppl just like you. Truth is, the worse off you are, the better your odds of recovering....IF you want to.

Nobody's going to force recovery down your throat if you don't want it......but I can tell you this for sure - you should want it. Life beyond the bottle is great.

shaun00

Hello and welcome to sr.

Please do not stop drinking abruptly without going to see the doc......being in the uk it should be possible to get a detox through your GP.....OR local alcohol support agency.

what area in the uk are you..?

My names shaun and im alcoholic.....my experience of a solution was found within a book called alcoholics anonymous......a simple program of action laid out by drunks like us.......that found they could not stop on willpower alone..

ever the sceptic......i turned up at AA some years ago........"maybe they could teach me to drink like a gentleman"..

i engaged in a program of action that is laid out in that book mentioned above.
Bloody uncomfortable at times......but the only option left open to me.

Since that day of complete surrender and honest engagement in that program of action......i havent drank.
i live a new life......a contented life without the need to drink......or even the desire.

i have experience of plenty of other options to stop drinking and all ended in another drunk..

have you attended AA?..........if so, what was your experience..

id be happy to help if i can........feel free to pm me....

Charmie

hello and welcome to sr.
my names charmie and im a recovered alcoholic.
20 months ago i stood in my kitchen in the same pyjamas and underwear i had had on for 3/4 days.i hadnt brushed my teeth in goodness knows how long.
i had been unemployable for months.
if my eyes were open i HAD to be drinking.
i had lost the power of choice in wether i was going to drink or not.
i told my partner i was going to die.
i was hopeless.
2 weeks later i went to alcoholics anonymous.
i went to lots of meetings and called folk from the fellowship every day.
after a month i drank again.
i knew then that i was never going to beat this thing unless i completely surrendered.
i prayed for a sponsor,somebody who had had a spiritual awakening as a result of the 12 step programme that is alcoholics anonymous.
2 weeks later a lady was put in my path and i have never looked back.
i see the world in a new light,i have a new pair of eyes.
over 20 years i had tried eveything,and i mean everything.
this lady taught me what i suffered from,the illness that is alcoholism.
i did a searching and fearless moral inventory and cleared away the wreckage of my past.
i can now look the world in the eye with no shame,fear,guilt or remorse.
i carry the message of hope to the still suffering alcoholic.that is all i am asked to do.
have you thought about alcoholics anonymous?
welcome again.

mjs777uk

Hi, thanks for the quick responses ive never actually joined a forum before, but I thought it would be the right place to start as other people dont seem to understand me. As for going to the doctors I just moved to Canada to get away from England because of its cheap alcohol prices... But it hasnt done me any good I drink just as much it just costs me much more here... I cant go to the doctor here as I dont have my visa yet.... & it could be a while before I get one. I should go to AA but its getting to a meeting & back that is the hardest for me... I mean sure I could go to one, but it would mean getting drunk just to leave the house, I dont use public transport as I get to anxious & thankfully i never learned to drive. I wouldnt trust myself not to drink drive. I drink because im anxious all the time & alcohol cures that for me.... But I recognise it has ruined my life in countless ways... I need to find another solution & kick alcohol again. I quit for a year after my last DT but I lost a lot of money gambling one day & returned to the beer. I guess you could say I have an addivtive personality... Not sure what programs Canada has to beat alcohol, I am going to have a look.... I want to quit for good. But I just get so anxious without alcohol...

ozgoddess

Hi mjs

I can relate to what you are saying about the anxiety, however what I found is that after giving up alcohol for a while, my anxiety actually disappeared. Alcohol actually causes anxiety. Something I found ironic because I always thought I was drinking to relax haha.

Hang in there. Keep asking the questions and looking for the right path and you will find it. I never thought I would get this far, and by taking it one day at a time I have 5 months sobriety now.

I am never under the illusion that I will be "cured". I will always be an alcoholic and have proven to myself time and time again that I cannot have one drink. It's best not to look too far into the future though.

We may be alcoholics/addicts but we can CHOOSE not to let this disease control our lives.

Take care and keep posting

Dee74

Hi mjs777uk

Welcome to SR.

I don't know your situation, or the situation in Canada, so I'm not beating up on you - but I know when when I kept bowing to the inevitability of obstacles rather than finding solutions, things just kept on getting worse....

You can't be the only person who just moved to Canada who needs a doctor, mjs. There must be things in place for non official types - even just walking into an ER.

I hope some Canadians here can help.

Similarly you can't be the only person with social anxiety who needs face to face help and support to stop drinking.

In fact I know you're not - I'm not downplaying your anxiety...but I had a whole lot of social anxiety (and mobility problems to boot) but it never once stopped me getting on a bus and buying booze, y'know?

I hope you find some solutions.
D

Anna

Hi,

Not sure where you are in Canada, but I believe all provinces have Community Health Centres for people just like you.

I know for a fact they have them in Ontario and Quebec and likely other provinces as well.

You do not even need a health card to go there and you will offered a complete range of services and you can likely get some advice on how to get a health card for yourself.

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care - Public Information - Community Health Services - Community Health Centres

mjs777uk

Yeah you raise a valid point, i always seem to be able to make th effort to go out if I know theres alcohol at the end of the road... I feel anxious but I know ill be safe when I get to the bar... When I get to a bar its like all my anxiety just dissapears, I am at peace I have my beer & im happy. Its a strange feeling... Even if its my first beer at the bar & im not even drunk yet its just a big relief to be in the bar, like all my worrys have dissapeared... I would probably quite happily drink everyday if it wasnt for the physical & mental problems it causes... I have aspergers syndrome so I find it very hard to socialise with people in general unless I'm drinking... It seems to be the only available cure I can find & it works, but the problems it causes are overwheliming finacially & mentally. I often sleep with the light on because I see things that arnt there & hear voices, I know there not real, but never the less I realise I shouldnt be having these problems... I know its unsafe just to stop drinking.. I have disulfiram & every now & then I will take one but it only cures me for a week because I dont keep taking them... And I just start drinking again....

SSIL75

Please understand the chicken/egg relationship between anxiety and alcohol. Lots of us have seen our anxiety vastly improved in the absence of alcohol. Being an alcoholic is exhausting. You never sleep well. You are chronically exhausted and that breeds paranoia and debilitating anxiety. Sleep deprivation is a torture technique for a reason. It makes you lose your mind.

Keep posting, keep reading. Get help, please. You can do it.

SSIL75

The link between ASD's and alcoholism is noted. There are books about it, too. Hang in there.

julez

Oh boy what others are saying about anxiety worsening with alcohol is so true. I didn't realize how much anxiety drinking was causing me until I stopped drinking! Don't get me wrong I still have some normal daily life anxiety, but nothing compared to what it was like while drinking.
Look in your local telephone book for things like family services, drug and alcohol programs etc. You may be surprised at what you find. And once you can get on the phone with someone, they usually will have other contacts they are willing to give you. Theres help out there, you just have to start at square one, and you'll eventually find it. Keep us posted on what you find. Heck, the info you find just may help someone else!

LexieCat

You DO need to "throw in the towel" and "just give up". When you do that, you've actually taken AA's first step--admitting you are powerless over alcohol and that your life has become unmanageable.

You MUST find a doctor to help with the detox. If you've had DT's previously, you will have them again, and they can quite literally kill you. Your liver problem can quite literally kill you if you DON'T stop.

I'm in the U.S., but follow what others have suggested for detox in Canada. In fact, do some googling for detox in your Province.

The next thing I'm going to suggest is that you pick up the phone and call the number for AA. Explain your problem. More than likely someone will be able to come out and talk to you and take you to a meeting.

As DayTrader said, sometimes the worse off you are when you come into recovery, the better you succeed, because you want it so badly. If you are ready to start to feel better, it's time to take a couple of small actions that will get the ball rolling. There is a TON of hope for you--you just have to be willing to accept the help and follow directions.