Calling British Alcoholics... a question
 

Hi,
a question, and for a change, a quick one..

I went to my Dr was refered for counselling, counsellor refered me to another more specific service, and an Alcohol Support Worker.

Question is this, have you ever been? Who are they? What can they do? Did it work for you?

ok, so thats lots of questions.. Sorry.

Thanks. X

Hi canterbell

I'm a UK based alcoholic, but afraid I've never been to an alcohol support worker so I can't answer your questions. Maybe someone else here can?

But if you've got a problem with alcohol and want some help / support, I can recommend AA. I've been attending for the last 5 months and I've found it to be invaluable.

Good luck.

Well, forgive me for chiming in here since I'm not British, but, it seems to me an alcohol support worker is maybe another name for a counselor with experience in alcohol therapy. Here in the states, we usually recommend someone with alcohol issues to see a therapist trained in alcoholism because, quite frankly, one not so trained can do more harm than good.

Oh no Suki,
i didnt mean for the question to be divisive please accecpt my apologies. Its just that y'know, the British system always seems different. I recognise it isnt, but we have that whole stiff upper lip thing going on...

just was trying to figure out if i needed to go or not,

xx

Hey Canter,

as far as I can make out from the situation here in Australia and Google....an alcohol support worker is something akin to a social worker, usually with a certificate diploma in the area of substance abuse.

why not give it a try at least? :)

D

Hi Canterbell,

No personal experience but according to a govt website this is what they do (its actually for people looking to go into a role) - seems to be a bit like a counsellor.

https://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/Plann...s/default.aspx

Hope helps

I was recommended to try the Seventy Four Foundation based in London. They are addiction specialists and I found my 12 week course with them extremely helpful last year. I plan to take another course with them soon.

Thought id give you an update...

today is my 21st sober day.
Spoke to the counselling service last Friday, and it seems that I cannot access any of the services I would like to, becuse I have admitted to over indulgence, and that I could see that I may on occassion self medicate. I have said that I genuinely do not believe I am an alcoholic, but I do have an unhealthy and very possibly, no probably damaging relationship. I fear that in a heartbeat I could absolutly loose control of my drinking. Which is why I am taking back control while I can.

so, I cant access the services cos I have asdmitted to poor relations with drink, and a drinker will not be receptive to psycological help. So I have to go to the. Alcohol worker first.

so..

I contact the Alcohol support Services, and... Wait for it.... I cant have any help from them, because I am not an alcoholic who is currently using. I have a little sober time, thus proving I can do it alone, and their resources are valuable and scarce and the criteria for accecptance is tight and unyeilding.

I give up.

I reached out, and was knocked back. I wont do it again.

Thought id give you an update...

today is my 21st sober day.
Spoke to the counselling service last Friday, and it seems that I cannot access any of the services I would like to, becuse I have admitted to over indulgence, and that I could see that I may on occassion self medicate. I have said that I genuinely do not believe I am an alcoholic, but I do have an unhealthy and very possibly, no probably damaging relationship. I fear that in a heartbeat I could absolutly loose control of my drinking. Which is why I am taking back control while I can.

so, I cant access the services cos I have asdmitted to poor relations with drink, and a drinker will not be receptive to psycological help. So I have to go to the. Alcohol worker first.

so..

I contact the Alcohol support Services, and... Wait for it.... I cant have any help from them, because I am not an alcoholic who is currently using. I have a little sober time, thus proving I can do it alone, and their resources are valuable and scarce and the criteria for accecptance is tight and unyeilding.

I give up.

I reached out, and was knocked back. I wont do it again.

That sucks, sorry to hear about your experiences.

For me personally, the medical services could never really offer much useful help anyway so I wouldn't see it as a great loss. There's still plenty of support available to you - here, AA, other program groups etc.

You aren't alone. Congrats on 21 days sober. That's an awesome achievement.

AA will and does work, if you put effort into it. It's a viable option!

Canterbell, 21 days sober! Congratulations, that's a great start. Try not to feel disheartened about getting knocked back, try to build on what you've already done for yourself. Like mentioned, join a group, or even just stick around SR in your free time.

just tossing out ideas here as I'm not British but:

Have you tried something like
or the addaction group, Canterbell?
http://www.addaction.org.uk/
D

hi i,m in london yes thay do the same job its just how the system works now there very good at what thay do and can put all kinds of support in place for you including 12step and drop in centers as well detox its just how the nhs spend there money now. there was a big cut in funding 7/8 years ago:wild

The health service here is in my opinion very good.
despite the fact I feel like they have on this occassion let me down.
I am still the emotional cripple I was before, maybe more so...?
But

All by myself, I am still sober, and sweet lord its been hard. Not the actual giving up, that was for the most part fairly easy, but he enforced cold, sober examination of my own pathetic, I did not sign up for that.

Nobody said that would be easy, but I am sure you never said it would be this hard.

:e136:

Getting sober was very hard for me - maybe the hardest thing I ever did - but being the drinker I was and living the life I did was pretty hard too :)

For those of use with other problems apart from our alcoholism - low self esteem, depression, other illnesses - the way can be even harder.

But I knew there were no answers back the way I came - so I kept the faith that staying sober was the way forward for me.

It proved to be true for me - I'm sure it will be true for you too canterbelle :)

D

I was referred to a counsellor some years ago, and to be frank it was a waste of time. The lady I saw basically told me alcohol was bad, and that I should stop drinking!

Personally I prefer AA, as the people there have suffered as I have, many have suffered far more. In most cases they are living proof that one can succeed, and they can empathise with you and provide you with advice that has worked for them.

I would suggest that you DO see the counsellor, as it cannot do you any harm and also shows that you are willing to seek help. You may well find it beneficial, too. However, if I was you I'd attend an AA meeting.

I've been sober for eight weeks today, and I attribute that mostly to AA.

Hi, I am in the UK and have a Alcohol Key Worker, same thing I think.

I went to my doctor and was referred to a local Substance Misuse Centre. There I had an assesment and was allocated a Key Worker.

I have just come out of a residential detox and am 14 Days Sober. My Key worker is fantastic,

It's a shame you dont have a Centre like I have here.

I will admit my struggle with alcohol has been ongoing for 13 years and have been to this centre on several occasions but this time round I seem to be getting somewhere.

The fact you have detoxed alone is incredibly brave. I really hope you keep it up and so sorry you have had such a lack of support. xxx

I just replied to your first post, without reading the full thread. Sorry.

Yes, introspection is not fun. However drinking just masks the problems we face, and only temporarily. Usually it makes things worse, too, at least it does with me - it has affected my love life, my work, relations with my parents, family and friends. I have made a clown of myself too often to mention. I am now trying to repair those damaged relationships and build new ones.

It has made me overweight, due to its calorific content and the fact I was too hungover/drunk to do any exercise. So now I have sobered up I am trying to remedy this by exercising.

I can only suggest that you confront your problems and seek to fix them. Easier said than done, but that's the best advice I can give without knowing your specific circumstances.

You know I am always thinking and praying for you to find peace. Big hugs


Love, Inda