Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
I've officially admitted I have a problem...I'm an alcoholic. That's the first step right? Admitting there is a problem. Well not only is it causing financial distress, it's put me into the deepest depression imaginable.
All I want to do is stay holed up at home and drink alone. It's recently affected my job. Over the past few months I've called in sick to work with every excuse in the book. The longest I went was 2 months, now I can barely go a week without phoning in one day. I've run out of sick days so this is a problem because now I'm taking less pay. I've been having chest pains and I'm milking it for all its worth. After several tests my Dr has found out nothing is wrong with my heart. My coworkers don't know that yet, but how do I tell them it turned out to be nothing when I was using these pains as an excuse to be sick?
I've avoided my friends, putting off anything to do with anyone except my family and husband.....sort of. The only person who knows my drinking problem is my husband who has a problem too. That's kind of how my drinking got started. I don't blame him though, I make my own choices. He's out of town all the time for work and I'm so lonely yet I push everyone away.
I hate what I've become.
I hate myself
All I want to do is stay holed up at home and drink alone. It's recently affected my job. Over the past few months I've called in sick to work with every excuse in the book. The longest I went was 2 months, now I can barely go a week without phoning in one day. I've run out of sick days so this is a problem because now I'm taking less pay. I've been having chest pains and I'm milking it for all its worth. After several tests my Dr has found out nothing is wrong with my heart. My coworkers don't know that yet, but how do I tell them it turned out to be nothing when I was using these pains as an excuse to be sick?
I've avoided my friends, putting off anything to do with anyone except my family and husband.....sort of. The only person who knows my drinking problem is my husband who has a problem too. That's kind of how my drinking got started. I don't blame him though, I make my own choices. He's out of town all the time for work and I'm so lonely yet I push everyone away.
I hate what I've become.
I hate myself
Personally, I was in denial for a long time. Not about my drinking, it was hard for me to ignore that when that is what my life revolved around, but about the damage it was causing me, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Funny that it took me so long to admit to the damage after watching my sister die a horrible death from alcoholism.
You are seeing how it is affecting your health and your job and your relationships. Don't take that lightly. It can and will get much worse if you keep drinking.
i quit on my own. I checked out AA and that would not have helped me. If you need a support group. go for it, but you can be successful without it. (It's about the same success rate.)
I did not tell my doctor how much I was drinking. That was my personal decision to keep the word "alcoholic" off my medical records. You need to do what works for you, but make sure that if you quit on your own you pay attention to how you feel. Look up alcoholic DTs and get immediate medical attention if you need it.
Headache, body ache and feeling crappy are pretty normal the first week. Drink lots of water and Gatorade, and take good care of yourself.
Glad you found us!
Once I stopped cold turkey, I felt like I was back in control again.
You will, too!
And I could be prescribed something that I don't need. My Dr. was concerned about my blood pressure for a period of time and was going to put me on medicine for BP. But I said....I think it is high because it happens when I come here..I am away from drinking and it is detox...He did take a step back....and I offered to come in after a period of sobriety to check again...we did...and I didn't have high bp..
So I could have been medicated improperly..and instead..we deal with whatever condition I am in..sober, detoxing or drunk (in the office)...when we meet. I trust my Dr...Its really important to trust your health professional..they need to know what is truly going on with you in order to help you in the best way.
They are in the profession to help...they have that personality and compassion or they wouldn't be there.....and if you get a bad feeling with a DR..CHANGE..until you find one that is compassionate. There is no shame in being sick....just remember you are sick and requesting help...THE DOCTORS love that people are tyring to GET BETTER.
Congratulations on taking that FIRST step. Admit you have a problem. That is wonderful. Truly.
Now, the work begins. It starts with staying sober long enough to be able to think and reason clearly. I know you believe you are thinking clearly, but trust me, it takes quite a while before you REALLY are clear headed. Everyone is different, of course.
I have been clean since Ash Wednesday. I must say that my perceptions of myself are much different than when I was only sober for a day or two.
Now . . . get honest. Honest with yourself. Honest with your doctor. Honest with your Husband. Honest with your family. Honest with your co-workers. That is the REALLY tough stuff. Being honest HERE is actually easy. Of course, it will be better when you can say "I used to drink xyz amount" when you are no longer doing it.
Sorry for the long post. I wish you well. I see a lot of myself in you. I want to be as helpful as possible.
You are worried that people will be "ashamed" of you when you tell them. I know what you are saying . . . You will not tell your Mom the extent of your drinking, because you know she will judge you. I can FEEL that. I am the same way. I "minimize" my drinking to my Mom, because I don't want to let her down. In the end, the only person I am letting down is myself. Of course, my Mom doesn't live nearby, so I can tell her anything I want. But one day, I will have to come clean. But first, I have gotten sober, so when I share with her it will be like "oh, yeah, I used to drink way too much, but I'm taking much better care of myself now."
Hope that helps . . .
Thank you all so much for your honest, and heartfelt responses. You all have very valid points, and very helpful advice. I'm making a Drs appt and I am going to be honest especially since I have some weird stuff going on with my body right now.
The shame will go away....telling my friends and family will be hard and I think when I'm further along with my recovery I may be able to come clean. Today is day 2 and I had a pretty bad headache all morning and a few hours into my shift at work I suddenly felt very lightheaded and nauseous but I took an advil and kept on going and felt better. This is tough as while I'm doing this I'm also battling overeating and being overweight. Changing my eating habits and quitting drinking is tough, but I know I will feel better for it.
I can't wait until I have a much clearer head and can stop feeling so depressed. I'm taking an antidepressant and have for over 10 years, longer than I've been drinking. I don't even know if I still need it or if it's working because I'm so messed up with drinking.
I look forward to feeling better and completely free from all this pain
If you get sober, I think you'll find that the meds finally work... or that you may not even need them.