Hi Dotty, Librium is good for one thing only with alcoholics - to take the edge off severe physical withdrawal in a decreasing small dose over a week. You will have a hard time getting it prescribed for emotional problems and what are you left with when the medicine runs out?

I have had alcoholic on my medical records for 24 years and it has never affected me. It might affect your insurance premiums though if you are looking for life insurance.

Then again, maybe I have just not been in a position where it has had a significant impact. Interesting subject though.

sweety, being teary is exactly the time to go. that is when we are most receptive to change. librium is good for detox but i suggest going to an a.a. sanctioned detox--they're free--where you can get sober with others who are struggling. be careful also with the benzo's--librium--because we tend to get cross addicted--i did--and that would mean more problems for you. good luck! d.

Well, I didn't need librium last time, but it took a few days before I could sleep properly. I guess I'm looking for a start point - something to say 'right, this is it, time to detox'.

Alcohol makes me so isolated. I'm even weird about answering the phone - I normally just don't want to speak to anybody even if it's a good friend.

The thing about seeing the doctor - my biggest worry is about my daughter - I mean that is should come out I'm an alcoholic and is used against me, possilby by my partner. That is an awful thing to think and maybe not fair on him :-(

I am aware of your little one so it would be good all round to go to AA and start recovery, something I would think that would be well received by social services (if indeed you have any contact with them) and the like.

Remember alcoholism is a disease and your discussions with your doctor are confidential, any details of your alcoholism would only be revealed if you were under investigation for some crime like benefit fraud and the like. I hasten to add that this is an assumption.

My own circumstances as a mother are way too personal to post on here but I can tell you my son was not taken away from me because my doctor knew I was an alcoholic. The same goes for my personal friends (who are mainly parents) in AA.

I'm sorry that my knowledge is so limited on this but are there any other Mums in England who can help Dotty?

I started a teaching course about 3 years ago, couldnt finish it due to ill health. Dont know if it is the same everywhere but I had to fill in medical reports and due to my history had to go for a medical with a doctor so they could check up whether i was fit for teaching.

Oh yes - and another thing - you will not get into treatment free of charge unless you are in trouble with the police and likely to be sent to jail.

One thing that your doctor may offer you is counselling - usually EBT counselling.

Don't consider alcohol services if you think you are a real alky - they advocate sensible drinking which is great for the heavy drinkers but not for us.

If you can afford treatment, great. I would say, having been through treatment myself, that I was taught nothing more than I learned in AA but at least you get the chance to detox safely (if you are really bad like I was) and have a break away from your daily concerns to just focus on yourself.

Go to your doctor, go to your friends, go any where that might give even a touch of help. If you seek help not one single person will judge you, and if they do "F" them. Asking for help is a lot more stellar than hiding in your frusatration. You will be surprised in how much just asking will start to relieve you. btw, your medical records are protected (yes, you do have to disclose all info for insurance) but HIPAA and the AMA protect your rights to privacy about your medical issues. Do you know if you call in sick to work all you have to say is that you're sick. You do not have to say why. I have had many background checks for my insurance license and have never had a problem, and I have tons on my medical histroy for rehabs and hospital stays. On the Librium note are you just replacing one drug for another? I do know it helps with detoxing but won't fix what is gnawing at you. I'm glad you brought up your worries though and a good cry helps get a lot of the crap feeling off of your chest. Stay strong on day #26.

Thanks for all your support. I don't think I will go down the Libium route as my withdrawal is more mental than physical I think - at least it is not so bad once I get over the panicky/sleep problem.

I'm going to try doing a detox from Thursday, May 1st. I know this sounds like I'm just buying myself a couple days more drinking (!!) but setting a deadline worked last time.

I started to drink shortly after my first rehab, and I remember how quickly I was trapped again and how depsondant I was!
I almost died, waiting to get the courage to face detoxing again and more to the point of facing the unknown of sober life.
I did it though and you can too!
I thought I was hiding my drinking too, at that time, which was a delusion!!!
Our drinking just tells on itself!
Please try Dotty, you are just a healthy human waiting to take root and bloom!
Don't let the world miss the bouquet of you!

Hi Dotty, I can truly identify with the isolation. When I was at my worst, just the ring of the phone would escalate my heart rate and I would literally head for the covers, until I got the cold sweats. The only thing that would help at that point was more vodka, straight out of the bottle. I would get serious panic attacks just thinking about where to buy my alcohol-not going to the same place too frequently. When I finally decided to get help, a doctor gave me Klonopin(same family, I believe, as Librium). It helped me personally, especially with the extreme anxiety associated w/alcohol withdrawal. It helped me get to AA, but my need to get better made me stay. My doctor also prescribed Campral. I do not know if it worked, or it was my desire to be sane again, but it has been an enlightening year and a half of sobriety. You are not alone, and thank you for posting Dotty. Thank you for also reminding me that I, too, am not alone.

Also, I am not taking either Klonopin or Campral anymore.

They use to give librium to alcoholic's that were at the throws of seizures.I don't know a dr who would prescribe them today.You aren't truly sober unless you are off everyting, pills, booze, pot, everything.

i was on librium for a long time i went my doctor said i wanted to give up but then started drinking on them witch made me worst then he give me valim which i was drinking with them then i just had to stop i was shaking all over i said nomore i stopped drinking went back on librrium just be care they put you on the right dose i wasnt i could of died i was on a small dose for three months and had to get myself off them but just please dont drink or do the thinks i done it make s you worst off but go see your doc and ask him am from the uk and everyone has there ups and downs you will get though this i did am praying for you iv been off the drink for a year i dont go to aa i just come on here hope this helps you if you need a chat am here