| Covid and alcohol 16:41 - Feb 25 with 3792 views | noggin |
Anyone else, like me, realised recently, that their alcohol intake has become problematic? I had a horrible experience a couple of days ago, that I won't go into detail about. Anyway, yesterday, I finally admitted that I have a problem and made an appointment with my GP. I was honest with him and told him how much I was drinking (maybe not as much as some might think but problematic all the same)
The first thing he did was write an email to the local rehab clinic, to get me in, as an out-patient. He then informed me that he was removing my right to drive, with immediate effect, until he or the specialist is satisfied that I am safe on the road. He then informed me that I was not allowed to work, again until they were happy that I was fit to return. Apparently, he is legally obliged to do this when someone admits to having a problem with drink or drugs. I actually feel a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders and am determined that today is my last drink, ever. (Don't judge me, I have some beers in the fridge and they will be my last. Please wish me luck and any advice is welcome. |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 16:44 - Feb 25 with 2479 views | GlasgowBlue |
Very brave post noggers. Well done for facing up to the problem and taking steps to deal with it. Best of luck for the future and I hope things work out. |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 16:46 - Feb 25 with 2466 views | Darth_Koont |
Glad you shared that, mate. Well done for taking a brave step.
And great that you’re getting the support you need in real life too. Post on here or send me a PM whenever you want to unburden some more. |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 16:53 - Feb 25 with 2428 views | Fixed_It |
Sounds like you're taking control of the situation before it takes control of you. Well done - and good luck! |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 16:55 - Feb 25 with 2408 views | Ryorry |
All the best for you, well done for posting it.
Must say I'm a bit shocked by GP being legally required to stop you from driving & working (can understand the latter as, iirc, you're a paramedic, but surely not all "problem drinkers" will be driving at the times they're inebriated?). I hope that doesn't put some people off going to their GP. Are you still in Norway, or back in the UK? |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 16:56 - Feb 25 with 2386 views | noggin |
| Covid and alcohol on 16:53 - Feb 25 by Fixed_It |
Sounds like you're taking control of the situation before it takes control of you. Well done - and good luck! |
If I'm honest, it's had control of me since the first time I had a drink, nearly 40 years ago. | |
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| Covid and alcohol on 16:59 - Feb 25 with 2362 views | noggin |
| Covid and alcohol on 16:55 - Feb 25 by Ryorry |
All the best for you, well done for posting it.
Must say I'm a bit shocked by GP being legally required to stop you from driving & working (can understand the latter as, iirc, you're a paramedic, but surely not all "problem drinkers" will be driving at the times they're inebriated?). I hope that doesn't put some people off going to their GP. Are you still in Norway, or back in the UK? |
Still in Norway. He hasn't taken my license from me, which he could have, but has temporarily banned me until he's satisfied I'm safe to drive. I must clarify, I was sober when I saw him. | |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:00 - Feb 25 with 2342 views | noggin |
| Covid and alcohol on 16:46 - Feb 25 by Darth_Koont |
Glad you shared that, mate. Well done for taking a brave step.
And great that you’re getting the support you need in real life too. Post on here or send me a PM whenever you want to unburden some more. |
Cheers Darth, appreciate the kind words. | |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:00 - Feb 25 with 2337 views | usm |
Well done mate and best of luck. Sharing and talking about it is the start - a very important start. |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:00 - Feb 25 with 2337 views | MattinLondon |
Very brave post.
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but if you feel that you have an alcohol problem shouldn’t you simply put those beers down the sinkhole?
I had a mate who admitted that he had a problem but that ‘those beers’ would be his last. A couple years on he finally stopped drinking but with huge damage done to his body. |  | | |
| Covid and alcohol on 17:01 - Feb 25 with 2333 views | WeWereZombies |
| Covid and alcohol on 16:55 - Feb 25 by Ryorry |
All the best for you, well done for posting it.
Must say I'm a bit shocked by GP being legally required to stop you from driving & working (can understand the latter as, iirc, you're a paramedic, but surely not all "problem drinkers" will be driving at the times they're inebriated?). I hope that doesn't put some people off going to their GP. Are you still in Norway, or back in the UK? |
When I had my bad fall a couple of years ago the specialist arrived at my bedside with the forms for the DVLA for me to fill out and a stern look, I knew I had to do it (because if I hadn't and had then been involved in a vehicle accident again the insurance would have been invalidated and the police would have thrown the book at me), but I think my GP thought I was a bit of a dick for letting the DVLA know and getting my licence revoked for ten months. |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:02 - Feb 25 with 2308 views | Fixed_It |
| Covid and alcohol on 16:56 - Feb 25 by noggin |
If I'm honest, it's had control of me since the first time I had a drink, nearly 40 years ago. |
Yeah - but sounds like you're back in the driving seat now. Admitting it, and doing something about it. And posting about it on here Good man! | |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:04 - Feb 25 with 2294 views | Ryorry |
| Covid and alcohol on 17:01 - Feb 25 by WeWereZombies |
When I had my bad fall a couple of years ago the specialist arrived at my bedside with the forms for the DVLA for me to fill out and a stern look, I knew I had to do it (because if I hadn't and had then been involved in a vehicle accident again the insurance would have been invalidated and the police would have thrown the book at me), but I think my GP thought I was a bit of a dick for letting the DVLA know and getting my licence revoked for ten months. |
"my GP thought I was a bit of a dick for letting the DVLA know"
Wow. You're right tho, if there's any question, it's not worth a longer ban - and peace of mind is an underestimated thing ... | |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:05 - Feb 25 with 2250 views | footers |
Much love, brother nogs.
On PM if you ever need it. |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:07 - Feb 25 with 2236 views | ghostofescobar |
Well done. My guess is you may have just taken the biggest step. Best of luck with it. You'll have ups and downs, but hopefully the gaps between downs get longer and longer. |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:10 - Feb 25 with 2199 views | Wallingford_Boy |
Mate that is a hugely brave first step.
I have a friend in a similar place but he is too scared to make that step. We chat on Zoom every week and he is struggling, its bloody tough!
I also have some issues, have decided to give up alcohol for six weeks, see how I feel. One week in, no problems. (I know that is nothing compared to what you are dealing with, but kind of appreciate where you are coming from).
Good luck and like others have said, feel free to drop me a PM to chat. |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:17 - Feb 25 with 2158 views | Churchman |
Well done for posting this and good luck. Facing up to stuff is always the hardest part.
I wish I could offer you some advice, but like many people I drink more than I should and always have done tbh. The trouble is I really enjoy it. I am drinking actually less than I did before C19, because it’s very much a social thing for me, just as smoking was - I gave that up when I was saving money for my first flat.
I suppose being aware of how much one is actually drinking and in my case where, is for me is a first step and reducing over time? Everyone has different ways of dealing with things and there are no right and wrongs. |  | | |
| Covid and alcohol on 17:17 - Feb 25 with 2153 views | bluelagos |
Best of luck. Don't think there's any doubt that the hardest and bravest part of dealing with any addition is admitting you have a problem.
Fingers crossed you get on top of it. |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:19 - Feb 25 with 2142 views | Bad_Boy_Mark |
What a brave post, and well done for taking the first, and most difficult step.
Good luck on your journey, stay strong and take it one day at a time!
On a separate note, I am a delivery driver for a very well known supermarket, and it is absolutely clear that people have been ordering far greater quantities of alcohol during the lockdown / pandemic, than prior to this time... |  | | |
| Covid and alcohol on 17:23 - Feb 25 with 2116 views | StokieBlue |
A very brave post and one that I am sure will help you over the longer term. All the best and I am sure we are all here for you if needed.
SB |  | | |
| Covid and alcohol on 17:23 - Feb 25 with 2115 views | giant_stow |
Blimey, thats quite a post mr.
I'm shocked at the power the doc has over there, but that's by the by - enjoy your last drink tonight and all the best with the mission.
No advice, except be kind to yourself by not judging yourself. |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:23 - Feb 25 with 2107 views | Wacko |
Good for you.
I've heard that the finality of the terms "last beer" and "never drinking" can be understandably daunting for people with drinking problems. So advice I've heard is to always keep in mind what you're gaining from doing this, not (just) what you're losing. Even trivial things like putting something that's tasty/healthy in the same place where the beers usually were can have a positive psychological affect.
(I'm not speaking from experience, plus I understand everyone has their own way of dealing with things) |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:24 - Feb 25 with 2106 views | Steve_M |
Good on you for admitting it to yourself noggin, and even more so for being prepared to be open about it here. An important first step and probably the hardest.
Good luck, not that you need telling but TWTD remains an enormously supportive environment so keep us informed with your progress. |  |
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| Covid and alcohol on 17:25 - Feb 25 with 2108 views | StokieBlue |
| Covid and alcohol on 17:19 - Feb 25 by Bad_Boy_Mark |
What a brave post, and well done for taking the first, and most difficult step.
Good luck on your journey, stay strong and take it one day at a time!
On a separate note, I am a delivery driver for a very well known supermarket, and it is absolutely clear that people have been ordering far greater quantities of alcohol during the lockdown / pandemic, than prior to this time... |
This was actually covered in More or Less on Radio 4 last week. Looking at the absolute volume of sales of alcohol in the UK it's actually down 10% on previous years. This is because less (well none) is being consumed in pubs so people are buying it to have at home instead.
I am sure behind doors in peoples homes that some individuals are obviously drinking far more than they usually would though.
SB | | | |
| Covid and alcohol on 18:10 - Feb 25 with 1970 views | BlueAlex |
Whilst total referrals to my psychology practice have reduced over the last year, alcohol addiction related referrals have increased.
You've taken the hardest step with what you've done already.
The support you'll be offered works. I see it work all the time.
You've got hard work ahead but it'll be worth it. Completely.
All the very best to you. |  | | |
| Covid and alcohol on 18:13 - Feb 25 with 1931 views | J2BLUE |
Good luck mate. |  |
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