Originally Posted by gobbyjock

having a drink is seen as much more accepable and normal than shooting up heroin or cocaine.

Originally Posted by Lewis Lapthorn

According to Carr, it's society and the way we perceive alcohol (particularly in our childhood and adolescence) that is really the only problem.

Once the brainwashing has been removed, and you see alcohol for what it really is, it's incredibly easy to stop drinking.

My problem stemmed 15 years. There's nothing worse than knowing you're slowly killing yourself, but feeling powerless to do anything over it.

Originally Posted by iPom

Thanks for all these replies...feeling a bit better about this. My uncle was warned that if he had another GUI bleed, he'd die. He's already in the George Best state - thin as a rake and yellow eyes, in and out of hospital every month (yet brags about his liver function - who is he trying to convince?) so I honestly believe this is going to kill him and I will be flying home for a funeral in the next few months unless a miracle happens.

My Aunt tells me he is constantly pissed. She's been round to all the local shops to tell them not to serve him alcohol, but he's getting round this. She also tells me she never has alcohol in the house, but he goes out and buys it so she can't be bothered with this any more... she's actually got it in for him on occasions!!! :(
He is crying one minute, sobbing and lying on the floor tantruming like a child, then next he is vicious and vindictive, yelling and pointing the finger at her. She never knows what she's going to find and yet he's such a gentle sweet man when he's sober.

It's a mess all right.

Originally Posted by iPom

I've just had the most distressing email from my Aunt about her husband:

<It's been horrid with G drinking so much with so many admissions to hospital - one a month since January, all but one drink related....I'm at the end of my tolerance and actively considering getting out before too much anger and helplessness gets the better of me. G has really done little to access help for himself. Often he waits for others to come forward and put things in place for him rather than seek it out for himself. So despite him saying he wants to get better he himself has done nothing. I shoved the phone in his hand weeks ago and urged him to contact AA. He's been to one meeting and was too pissed to attend last Saturday. THe local drug and alcohol team can only do so much...and the rest is up to him...and the evidence now seems to indicate that he can't /won't manage it...and I really can't keep on dealing with his behaviour and the increased levels of my own distress. In my worst imaginings I hadn't reckoned on it being like this, otherwise I would not have married him. At the time and before we married he was getting stronger...but now it's ghastly and I feel so sorry for him but feel deeply helpless as he has to begin to help himself...All I know is that I have to be responsible for myself...and that means making a hard decision...>


Advice, help, anything. Feel utterly helpless here in Aus and so upset.

Originally Posted by Pollyana

My friend managed to even get hold of vodka while he was in the psych hospital drying out and being treated for depression. We never worked out how he got hold of the stuff but some days you knew he'd got it from somewhere.
The mood swings are so familiar too - M was the loveliest sweetest man ever, when he sobered up. When drunk, you just never knew which side of him you were going to see.

Originally Posted by iPom

I've just had the most distressing email from my Aunt about her husband:

<It's been horrid with G drinking so much with so many admissions to hospital - one a month since January, all but one drink related....I'm at the end of my tolerance and actively considering getting out before too much anger and helplessness gets the better of me. G has really done little to access help for himself. Often he waits for others to come forward and put things in place for him rather than seek it out for himself. So despite him saying he wants to get better he himself has done nothing. I shoved the phone in his hand weeks ago and urged him to contact AA. He's been to one meeting and was too pissed to attend last Saturday. THe local drug and alcohol team can only do so much...and the rest is up to him...and the evidence now seems to indicate that he can't /won't manage it...and I really can't keep on dealing with his behaviour and the increased levels of my own distress. In my worst imaginings I hadn't reckoned on it being like this, otherwise I would not have married him. At the time and before we married he was getting stronger...but now it's ghastly and I feel so sorry for him but feel deeply helpless as he has to begin to help himself...All I know is that I have to be responsible for myself...and that means making a hard decision...>


Advice, help, anything. Feel utterly helpless here in Aus and so upset.

Originally Posted by Lewis Lapthorn

Sis in law did something similar. The fam. came out to visit us for 4 weeks in W.A. She promised bruv that she wouldn't embarass him by hitting the bottle everyday (she's a long way down the alcoholism road and they're split up by the way).

We still don't know how she was doing it, but somehow she was managing to gradually get p!ssed everyday, without anyone seeing her swig a drop.

My only suspicion is that her main supply was a few large vodka bottles in her case. Mrs Lapthorn and I reckon she had some kind of figure hugging flask, and kept it strapped to her, and was then taking swigs at any opportunity - when in the toilet, bath, popping to the corner shop etc.

Originally Posted by gobbyjock

Alcoholics can be very sneaky at hiding their stash - I always remember when I was younger (about 13/14)searching round the house for my mums stash (she used to drink straight vodka or whisky) I would find it under mattresses, in the airing cupboard in between the towels, inside boots. I would tip it down the sink - though occasionally I would replace the vodka with water - that used to send her wild!! :D I hated living with an alcoholic and anyone who can live with one and still love them unconditionally is a much stronger and more caring person than me. You can only give so much and with an alcoholic it is never enough as it is always about them.