Emotionally Numb

Hey @Buddha85, thanks for sharing your experiences with the community!

It sounds like you have taken the hardest step in recovery which is to acknowledge that we need support and reach out. It's amazing that you are taking your alcohol use as a sign and doing something about it.

Reaching out to your GP is a great start and GPs are often to support that stays with us the longest throughout our journey. They can refer you to other services and link you in with resources too.

I encourage you to continue to share your journey here with the community and I am sure they will have some insights to share.

Thanks again

Take care

RiverSeal

@Buddha85
you have already crossed the biggest step, gp will most likely refer you to counseling and mention 12step programme and AA is helpful for some and certainly helps a lot of people myself i got in touch with ldh local district health wsdlh for my area at the timeand that provides expert help, advice and guidance from d&a focused proffesionals through medicare.

health funds may put you through a private hospital detox which is obviously a much nicerprocess if the option exists.

prescription meds arent really much a part of it and if they sugest the pill that will make you sick if you drink please know by sick they mean call an ambulance ive heard its horrible from people that have thought wonder how sick i will get and yeah be very sure your able to not drink before going there.

dont be hard on your expectations and even should yoyu drink its ok man, its part of trying to remove something from your day to day thats on every billboard rugby game and beside every coles or woolies.

if beer was your go to try soda water as it feels the same to drink on the throat and it took me over a year to get sober sober but i was drinking a minimum of 15 stubbies a day and a box plus on saturday sunday as i substituted a substance habit with alcohol becaquse it is acceptable even though i believe more harmful in my individualo case.

not trying to make it about me just wanted give you an idea where what im saying comes from.

be proud of yourself even when or if you drink

@REDLINEZ750
Thanks for the in-depth reply my friend, much appreciated. Yeah I was drinking beer and about the same as you if not slightly more so I’ll give the soda water idea a try.

Im not with private health so I don’t think the detox would be an option, but thanks for the heads up on the tablet option. I was thinking of trying it as I’d used medication to quit smoking years ago (have since taken it back up) and it seemed to work but no way do I want to have to be rushed to hospital if I want to have a drink at a wedding or a friends milestone birthday etc

Im seeing the gp tomorrow so I’ll keep you posted

cheers

@Buddha85 your most wellcome and yeah please keep me in the loop as mucghn as tour comfortable to, im happy to share my lived experiance and i dont shock easy so dont be concervned about any judgements being cast.

local district health provide funded detox options also with 5 day out patient option where i went so its still an option and to have trust in psychologist is important but not a given so if you get a bad fit first off dont be dis illusioned they know it happens and arent offended by requesting another

Thanks @REDLINEZ750

I went and saw my gp, she was very concerned concerned with the amount I have been drinking and for how long it’s been going on. She sent me for a blood test and urine sample, she also sent me for an ultrasound to check my kidneys and prostate. When I go back for the results she said we will draw up a mental health plan together and she will put me in touch with a psychologist. I don’t really have the money for it so will hopefully find one that does a Medicare rebate or something as most of the ones in my area that I have researched don’t bulk bill. I go back to her in a few days for the results so will let you know.

ps. Apart from 2 mid strength beers on Father’s Day I haven’t had a drink since the 3rd!

@Buddha85 thats a solid effort on fathers day, no easy feat i know

Dr just being thorough i wouldnt be alarmed by the barrage of tests, we are all different but all my organs were fine after years of daily drinking against all statistics id would think yours be ok also or you would know within yourself.

any shakes or cold sweats? its important to know sometimes the body can shock withdrawing from alcohol siezures are possible first few weeks but on day 6 sounds like your all over it

theres a number in some catergory that measures how much alcohol your body can break down and how rapidly i cant actually remember what the code was but say my metabolism was a 50 my alcohol intake was more than double so think its liver took a beating but seems ok and cholestrol high surprisingly, hope you get good results!

mental health plan means 10 visits to psychologist on medicare, was 10 and during covid was 20,

if gp is in a medical centreb most likely refer you in house but your not locked into it, if psychologist isnt gpood fit then you have the right to find another and your local area should have drug & alcohol clinicians that have a better understanding of your path ahead and in my experiance are the way to go and they should have funding for you aside from health care plan, id suggest talking to thier intake about thier services if you had time and caoacity without it being a stressor...

good to hear your doing well mate

therres also a 24hr/7day phone line ADIS that puts you onto psychologists that might have a more targeted list of who to see and availability etc

pretty wicked non judgemental bunch on a computer at SANE too aha

ADIS would direct you to straight to your local health also depending on your state and city

hope its helpful, thanks for update

@REDLINEZ750

Nah no cold sweats or anything mate just insomnia, when you are used to being 10-15 (sometimes 20) stubbies deep every night and passing out to having next to nothing it’s a shock you know all too well my friend! Yeah mate she is from my local med centre and I’ve only been to her sporadically over the last few years for sickie notes and painkillers (not the heavy kind) and antibiotics etc but she seemed very eager to help me out and kept saying I’m glad you did this “Buddha” and I know how hard it is to take the first step etc. Her mantra was that how you are feeling might be because of a medical prob (kidney probs, liver probs prostate probs etc) She sent me for the tests to rule those out and after that she wants to work on the ol noggin. I have read it a hundred times before but never realised alcohol is a depressant and can change your brain chemistry to not feel your day to day emotions. I’ve never felt depressed on it, just pissed and content for the afternoon/night and ready to attack the next day hungover as f*ck!!!!

Thanks Red you have been a godsend in my time of need, if you are ever in the mid blue mountains in NSW then you can always hit me up and I’ll take you out for a soda water or two, my treat

@Buddha85

sounds like you got the right gp, no judgement and concern are good tells and can make all the difference at thie start of things like this.

awesome your finding genuine support, plenty of gps will start with lectures on information not asked for disguised as education instead of encouragement.

have you got anyone in your circles that know where your at who dont partake in the old liquid amber?

peer support is another strong assett to hold us up at times when peer pressure can test our metal.

have you got a set goal for yourself? complete abstinance or try controlling it?

if thats already posted i apologise its not a lack of interest that has holes in my memory they have been well established from life lived .

i hope your giving yourself due credit buddha your making good progress and taking all the right steps is my take and thanks for keeping me up to date im more than happy to answer any questions you might have, hope to hear more mate

TW: mentions alcohol and drugs

I have one or two acquaintances from work but other than that it’s only the other dads and mums at sport days and even like I said in my earlier post it’s a f*cking punish even having to turn up to my kids sport days (which I should want to) let alone speaking to the rest of the parents who are there. I have no want or reason to go to see that so I’d send the missus off with the kids in the morning while was hungover, jump back into bed for an hr or so and then wake up at 10:30 and get stuck in again! And so the cycle continues for the next 10 years. 50000 beers later and $30000 down the drain

hey @Buddha85 just popping in to let you know i've added a trigger warning/spoiler tag to your recent post - this just helps vulnerable members stay safe while reading posts with potentially triggering themes.

also @REDLINEZ750, above response for you 😊