Hey everyone I just came across this website and I'm very happy to have found it! I will attempt to keep this short. I am a 43 year old woman, single, live alone, and suffered a brain injury 5 1/2 years ago. This resulted in a new found severe panic disorder, agoraphobia, and situation adjustment disorder, as well as the regular pressure headaches, vertigo, insomnia, etc.. that are par for the course. During this time, my doc prescribed me a TONNE of medication. It wasn't until my pharmacist informed of the addictive properties of the benzodiazepines that I was being prescribed, and learning that what I was going through was panic, I decided to get off all the medication cold turkey...I went crazy for a month after that. Okay, all that to get to the problem. The only thing that really helped with the headaches, sleep, and panic was wine. Although I had been a wine drinker prior to, I never consumed more than a bottle on any given night (except for some weekends), and would suffer crazy hangovers if I had a bottle on a work day. I was off of work for two years following the accident, and during that time my wine habit increased from less than a bottle to two bottles a day. It has now been approximately 3 1/2 years of two bottles per day, and I'd say about 10 years of daily drinking, on average consuming approximately 1/2 to 1 bottle. I am now back at work (3 years), I love my job, I no longer experience daily ongoing panic, and I am really happy about where I am in my life. The issue however, is that I am petrified of quitting cold turkey and the severity of the effects. I have been vigilent in cutting down, and I'm averaging about 1 1/2 bottles (although some days more) without any serious effects other than some night sweats on some days. I never crave a drink during the day, and usually start around 5pm. I have Diazepam, Clonazepam, and Ativan (all 5 years old) in my 'emergency kit' from the days of panic, but even then I wouldn't take them and opted for 5 hours of guided meditation to get me through the day until I could have some wine which would calm me right down. Sorry, I've ran a little long...basically what I am looking for is some help. I want to quit drinking! I'm scared, and after spending a month last year looking at detox and rehab facilities, I really can't afford to go. Is it possible to quit at home? Any help anyone can provide on this forum would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance
By the way, yes, I talked about this with my GP last year...I was really proud because I had decreased my consumption to 3/4 -1 bottle daily. She yelled at me, told me I was an alcoholic, said I shouldn't even bother trying to quit and she couldn't help me unless I went to rehab. I haven't seen her since....and honestly, after such a good run, I think I went home that day and drank more than 2 bottles. So, the GP is out.
Change gp I'm under a program with addiction and they monitor me and told me not to go cold turkey tried that ended up in hospital all night it has to be gradually
Pretty shocking behaviour for a GP! Not at all professional. For certain. Change GP, if possible. Check out C3 Foundation, ref Joanne will most likely reply to you since she assisted 700 drinkers so far! I stopped cold turkey, no medicines but do not recommend this! Robin
Hi I was wondering how much benzodiapepine you were taking and how you got off them .
ALCOHOIL
I am so pleased that you are giving up drinking. It is terrific news. The dr who said those things is out of order. A dr is supposed to support a patient not make them feel worse or unsupported. Try to put her out of your mind.
Have you considered Al Anon? I believe they do online sessions as well as regular meetings.
They have a 12 step programme I believe. Other than that you need to reduce your intake but safely. AL anon can advise you I am sure. I would also try a different dr despite your negative experience why let one dr put you off? You will definitely start to see an improvement in your health but need medical advice and support to help you in the initial stages.
Hi, disgraceful behaviour of your doctor. I would never consider cold turkey. I dropped from 2 bottles of wine a day to 2 units. I did it slowly over several months. I still do it now, but sometimes mess up. But now find it much easier to re-start back to my 2 units. I keep it in check by buying one of the small bottles of wine a day instead of large bottles. It has worked for me. My doc could not give me anything and referred me to Smart recovery which I did not go to. I wanted to do it alone. It can be done and you will get massive support on here. You are not alone so take heart.
Regarding the Benzo's, I was on Ativan for just over a month. My doc. told me to take it whenever I felt I needed it. As I thought it was for blood pressure I was taking 2, 2mg tablets/day, and wine. I was on it for just over a month. When the pharmacist gave me the clonazepam and explained to me what these pills were, I took one, realized that I could certainly get hooked and stopped taking everything then and there. I went crazy for a month, and actually went to the hospital with a packed bag to be admitted...and they sent me home. I don't think I was on it for long enough to go through the really scary withdrawals, but had I followed the doctors orders and taken my prescribed 2 50mg Clonazepams and Ativan whenever I felt necessary per day, I certainly would have landed myself in multiple addictions. Thank goodness for a knowledgeable pharmacist who cares for his patients, unlike the doctors.
I have heard of Al Anon, but I thought they were for family members? I went to a few AA meetings in the States this summer, I enjoyed them, but I don't think it is for me. There was a lot of focus on the negative aspects, and not a lot of focus on how to move on and make things better.
You said you tapered down over some months, did you do it by one glass a day? Or a quarter of a bottle at a time? Do you find you are able to go some days abstinent now that you are at 2 units? Withdrawal symptoms?
Sinclair method is very good sinc e I have read all the positive feedback here for 3 years. Did not take it myself but did read about the results. Best of luck to both of you. Robin
Whilst I’ve not used TSM, but from what I’ve read and from listening to people who have, it’s not quite that simple. “Just take the pill that’s all you have to do. No willpower involved”. I think there’s a bit more to it than that.
Excuse the pun, but the term “mindfulness” comes to mind. My understanding is you have to work with it, not just swallow a pill and you’re cured. Only my opinion, but that statement could give someone the wrong impression.
I had tablets didn't work because they didn't take away the craving for alcohol I truly believe rehab is the only option but having said that been there now 8 yes on thought I could handle it no such thing x
Hi I think that there is a lot more involved than just swallowing a pill . I have not been there to this extent but gave up alcohol albeit not an alcoholic drinking due to blood clots and taking warfarin . My niece aged 29 passed thru alcohol liver disease.
Hi I think it varies and depends on the individual. Wanting to abstain is half the battle. \It can be achieved thru a variety of methods but basically it is about will power and for some support and positive thinking that alcohol is bad for the body. It is a toxin and it does not make sense to poison oneself and pay the price literally in the process. Alcohol I dressed up in fancy bottles etc and coloured to make it look attractive . At the end of the day it is ethanol a toxic substance.
I used to drink a litre of red wine daily and then I decided no more. Got Naltroxene and kept on drinking the normal way. From the beginning it worked. Initially, I had only half a bottle, then I went to 3/4 again then a full bottle. I got disappointed in myself, but then I read it up some more and it is completely normal too drink more for a while and it takes some months to de-addict you. Just keep on taking the pill. Last night I had only half a bottle.
It took years to addict us, so the brain also needs some time now to de-addict. Just don't give up hope. It does work as long as you take the pill. It does feel at times that it does not take the cravings away, but it will. Just be patient.
Hi Mel, when I first did it - I dropped 50% in one go for a few days and it was too much. I felt weir and a bit disorientated - I even got lost near my home after I had walked to have a session with a Kinesiologist - she only lives 10 mins walk from me but I kept going down the wrong roads!!!!!!! And I have lived here for 40 years !!!!
So I upped it and then reduced by 2 units every couple of days - this was so much better and I took it slowly over some months until I was down to 2 units of wine from Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday I still had a bottle each night in order to sleep, otherwise it is 7 days with just a couple of hours sleep a night. But I really enjoy only having the 2 units and not feeling disgusted in the morning that I have failed again that I want to take it into the weekend also. I have been doing Saturday also on 2 units and leaving just Sunday with a bottle that I sip from my Sunday lunch until evening. Then I sleep for a good few hours (sheer bliss). I would like to bring Sunday to 2 units as well as it does give me a real kick to know my body is not swimming with alcohol every single day and that the food I am eating is actually doing me good because it is not being ripped apart from dam alcohol . I did not think I could do it but have with the encouragement of these guys on here.
I have to be honest though and say I have not had any abstinent days as I am really nervous to have zilch alcohol in my body as I have drank for sooooo many years daily. But that is what I am aiming at.
How did we get to 2 bottles of wine a day? Uggh - but I am winning and with baby adjustment gradually, so as not to shock your system, it is more than possible.
