Alcohol Hell

LegacyUser

Hi,
After a few years of trying to battle binge drinking on my own I have finally decided to get some professional help. I have misssed dozens of days work due to this and sufered many blackouts. What is the best way to go about this, through my GP? Are there outpatient services available & what is the cost. I have a VHI plan which may cover these.
What way would I be fixed in work, would the GP give you sick leave?

All advice appreciated.

Wibbs

Your GP is probably a good start. He or she may now a program you could follow. Personally I would suggest AA. There have been threads here from people with similar problems and they seem to find them very good. They're the experts in this.

How Strange

I don't know about vhi or public options but regarding your job would you consider telling your employers?

I've known people who have gone to a director/boss and told them that they had an alcohol or prescription drug addiction and found them to be very sympathetic. But it depends on the company you are in.

Regarding sick pay, there is usually no obligation on a company to pay even certified sick leave. They usually pay for short term illness i.e. out of work for a few days but anymore than two weeks and they may stop your pay. Have a look at your contract as it will stipulate their policy in that and there may be something that refers specifically to your position.

ricey

Hey bro.

You might have seen my post on heroin, well im a alcoholic too and know what its like when drink is messing up your life!!

If you want to stop do it one day at a time, dont think about 2m and just keep it in the day or in the min if you have too

as wibbs said AA is also something i would say you should go to right away! Its cool i LOVE going to AA meetings and helping out n stuff, go to one or two and you'l know what i mean by saying your in the right place in a AA room if you want to stop drinking.
Best of luck k.

PM OR IM Me anytime for a chat if you like k.

brokensoul

Lush2008 wrote: »

Hi,
After a few years of trying to battle binge drinking on my own I have finally decided to get some professional help. I have misssed dozens of days work due to this and sufered many blackouts. What is the best way to go about this, through my GP? Are there outpatient services available & what is the cost. I have a VHI plan which may cover these.
What way would I be fixed in work, would the GP give you sick leave?

All advice appreciated.

Hi,

First of all my heart goes out to you at this difficult time and well done to you on taking the very very diffficult step of admitting you need help. An awful lot of people never get to that stage so you should be fierce proud of yourself right now.

In terms of options, there are a number of treatment centres around the country. They can be expensive, but some health care plans do cover them. Your employer is under no obligation to pay you while you are off sick. However, he cannot fire you for being an alcoholic. It is considered a disease. I would advise that you tell him that you need some time off, if he seems trustworthy, then tell him why.

In the short term i would advise that you go to a gp. You will most likely go through withdrawal from alcohol and the gp should be able to give you something for a few days to help. I would also advise you to go to an aa meeting and see how you find it. I have no idea where you are based, but PM me and if you are anywhere in the same area as me i will meet you and bring you to one. If not, i will get you places and times for meetings in your loccal area. Believe me, we are everywhere ;-)

A treatment centre will not take you unless you are dried out, also some have significant waiting lists. Is there a family member you could stay with for awhile? Someone who could be supportive.

I didnt go the treatment centre route. I went to an aa meeting every day for the first three months though, sometimes 2 meetings a day. Try and surround yourself with positive people, you need them right now and you will meet them in aa. I also went to an addiction counsellor and continue to go to them.

Also, be good to yourself, whether that i getting a new haircut or eating a tub of ice cream. You deserve it.

Remember that you have a serious, life threatening, fatal disease. But it is a disease that can be managed if you stay away from alcohol.

Just for today, dont pick up a drink.

Best of luck.

JuliusCaesar

brokensoul wrote: »

A treatment centre will not take you unless you are dried out, also some have significant waiting lists.

Some treatment centres will do a detox programme. You don't say if you're looking for a detox or a recovery programme. Your GP will help you with either.

How Strange

Lush2008 wrote: »

Hi,
After a few years of trying to battle binge drinking on my own I have finally decided to get some professional help. I have misssed dozens of days work due to this and sufered many blackouts. What is the best way to go about this, through my GP? Are there outpatient services available & what is the cost. I have a VHI plan which may cover these.
What way would I be fixed in work, would the GP give you sick leave?

All advice appreciated.

I got some blurb from VHI today and it said that Plan B covers up to 91 days for treatment for substance abuse. I'm sure your GP will be able to tell you which ones are covered.

LegacyUser

How Strange wrote: »

I got some blurb from VHI today and it said that Plan B covers up to 91 days for treatment for substance abuse. I'm sure your GP will be able to tell you which ones are covered.

Hi,
Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure that I need a detox prgramme, I would say a recovery programme as I wouldnt say I am physically addicted. I have emailed work to say I have some things going on. Last week I went on binge for 4 days slept rough in the freezing temperatures, lost phone wallet etc, emailed work in a panic that I had some things going on etc I sort of regret telling as much as I did. I am going to go to my GP tomorrow to see what he advises. To be honest I do not know what to say to him. My main concern is that over the last 6 months almost every time I drink I get out of and blackout and my behaviour is becoming quite erratic and aggressive and when hungover I have had strange thoughts such as picturing my own funeral etc. Hopefully GP might refer me to some sort of counsellor and tell me to take time out. FYI I am based in the Dublin region.

brokensoul

lush08 wrote: »

Hi,
Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure that I need a detox prgramme, I would say a recovery programme as I wouldnt say I am physically addicted. I have emailed work to say I have some things going on. Last week I went on binge for 4 days slept rough in the freezing temperatures, lost phone wallet etc, emailed work in a panic that I had some things going on etc I sort of regret telling as much as I did. I am going to go to my GP tomorrow to see what he advises. To be honest I do not know what to say to him. My main concern is that over the last 6 months almost every time I drink I get out of and blackout and my behaviour is becoming quite erratic and aggressive and when hungover I have had strange thoughts such as picturing my own funeral etc. Hopefully GP might refer me to some sort of counsellor and tell me to take time out. FYI I am based in the Dublin region.

Hi again,

I can understand exactly what you are talkig about. The last year of my drinking was exactly as you described. I couldnt trust myself to take any drink cos if i took one then i woudl continue, regardless of time, location or committments.

I remember one occasion having to go to an early house to stop the shakes before going to meet someone for breakfast, the shame of something like that is awful.

I would urge you to see a gp as soon as possible. Suicidal thoughts are common in people in our situation but that does not mean that they are not very serious.

Again, if you want to talk feel free to PM.

Richie860504

Hi,

I am only starting to sort out my drinking now after years of madness. I started going to see an alcohol counsellor and a psyciatrist. Was trying to give it up for about two years on my own, never worked, led to lying to people who cared about me and also numerous suicide attempts. I'll be going to a few AA meetings this weekend in the city centre if you want join me?

Also regarding work, In my case was out straight with the management, Recieved an unbelievable amount of support from them, they accomodated for time off to attend meetings, if you don't think you need to go into a hospital, don't. But from my own experience I wouldn't take a couple of weeks off work, cos this just leads to boredom at home and then a couple of drinks(Back to square one). I have a number for a Counselling service that is free. If you want to discuss pm me or leave a message.

LegacyUser

Richie860504 wrote: »

Hi,

I am only starting to sort out my drinking now after years of madness. I started going to see an alcohol counsellor and a psyciatrist. Was trying to give it up for about two years on my own, never worked, led to lying to people who cared about me and also numerous suicide attempts. I'll be going to a few AA meetings this weekend in the city centre if you want join me?

Also regarding work, In my case was out straight with the management, Recieved an unbelievable amount of support from them, they accomodated for time off to attend meetings, if you don't think you need to go into a hospital, don't. But from my own experience I wouldn't take a couple of weeks off work, cos this just leads to boredom at home and then a couple of drinks(Back to square one). I have a number for a Counselling service that is free. If you want to discuss pm me or leave a message.

Thanks for all the replies guys. I have just been to my GP and he has referred to an Alcohol Counsellor. He advised to take next week off work. I contacted work and they were very understanding and said to take my time and get sorted. At the moment their appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

thebiggestjim

There is always light at the end of the tunnel mate and people who will listen. Let this be the start of your new life and take it one day at a time.

ParkRunner

Does anyone know if there is an AA meeting for young people in Dublin? Have called in sick again today because I was out all hours last night

TequilaMockingBird

http://www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie/Directory/default.asp?searchWords=&itemId=22&orderBy=&offset=&map=&ViewCat_13=Dublin&ViewCat_14=View+All

Best of luck.

ricey

Ya bro get to a AA meeting and if you can go to one everynight until you feel
you are ok and wont want a drink, but keep going back to meetings i do at
least four a week if im clean :P its the only way.

Few meetings, Few chances
No meetings, No chance.

pablo21

I've been around alcoholism all my life but I never felt the pain of it as much as this week when I buried a friend at 46 years of age who's life had been destroyed by alcohol. Its a horrible disease. The priest delivered an amazing sermon where he descibed the effect alcohol had on your life and he explained it in great detail and understanding because he announced from the altar that he was an alcoholic himself. He described the pain of needing drink to get from one day to the next, the loss of self respect because of this need and the horrible isolation alcoholics endure as the disease gets hold of them. Despite all my years around this disease I must admit I never fully understood it, or understood how I've isolated or distanced family members and friends who suffer from this disease in exactly the way he described! But what do you do? How do you know what to do for people? I'm ashamed to admit I hadnt spent near enough time with the man we buried the other day. In ways I lost respect for this brilliant man who had a beautiful family, hugely successful business and was extremely intelligent and creative. He was always the life of the party and a wonderful father and husband. A man who took care of everyone around him. How could he not resist the urge to drink all the time?? It's very hard to get your head around. In his final years and months he spent his time alone but for some family.
I must apologise for this rant/wandering, but I suppose if you can glean anything from it then take these few points on board.
Its a deadly disease, the very nature of it takes away your ability to fight it.
Get help now! Dont let it take control of your life. If you think you may need help then you do. Dont waste time.
Surround yourself with people who will support and understand this disease.

Every step you take in the right direction will give you back the control of your life that alcohol takes away from you so recognise this and reward yourself for it. Soon you will long for this control more than anything else.
I wish you the very best and i hope the reality I dealt with this week may offer you something in your fight against this horrible disease.
Good luck.

ricey

i hope you get on ok bro, keep in contact k.

LegacyUser

Hi,
OP Here.
Work have requested that I go to the Rutland Centre for an assessment at their expense. Has anyone been through this and if so what is involved?

LegacyUser

I'm not sure but it may be along the lines of those online tests, check them out and see.

Richie860504

Try the Rutland Centre Website. Tried putting the link up but didn't work.

Read this it's sounds like the job really want to help you.

Good Luck

brokensoul

Lush0308 wrote: »

Hi,
OP Here.
Work have requested that I go to the Rutland Centre for an assessment at their expense. Has anyone been through this and if so what is involved?

Rutland centre are fantastic. Iv had friends deal with them and have heard nothing but positive.

If work are willing to cover the costs then grap it with both hands!

Good luck

JDLK

No advice but just wanted to say best of luck