Tiggy Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I'm helping a freind with an alcohol problem at the moment (no I'm not joining her for a glass or 3 ) does anyone know if AA helps at all, she is very upset and is not sure if she should go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Has she had any advice before attending AA? Has she seen her doctor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I have only heard good things,but your friend must want to be helped & mush have acknowledged an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 I've known her for a long time and her drinking has just gotten worse recently, I think that she should see her GP but she doesn't want to, she is a lovely person & it has just gotten out of control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I had a friend with an alcohol problem and they found the book "Beat the Booze" by Edmund Tirbutt and Helen Tirbutt really helpful. It also has a chapter for Family and Friends which I read to be supportive. Amazon url attached (other book retailers are available ): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beat-Booze-Comprehensive-Combating-Problems/dp/1905641427 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 thanks Debs I'll take a look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I think her first port of call is definitely her GP and then attending AA will be part of the recovery process. She's already made the first, most difficult step, asking for help. My best wishes to her. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 A friend of mine has recently admitted to having problems with alcohol. I think it's more frequent binge drinking rather than being an alcoholic but she didn't want to go to her GP either as she was worried about it being on her medical records. I don't think that the AA would insist that you are under a GP for the problem as the whole point of AA is the anonymity it affords people. Best wishes to your friend and well done you for standing by her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I have attended AA but not as a client they are brilliant and if this is what your friend wants to do she needs to be in control, she has taken her first steps and needs all the support she can get. I dont know the format these days to the meetings but I was so impressed I visited quite a few times and everyone was from all walks of life(docs etc etc) When I went it was up to individuals how involved they wanted to be, some folks just listened and others told their story. The groups are really well run and perhaps once she decides she may want to see her GP when she is ready. Its very easy to tell other people what to do, so you are doing the right thing as she has been brave to face up to her drinking. AA are excellent Good luck indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 AA are very good. They certainly helped my family with a problem many years ago. They have seperate groups for families as well. Alternatively, there may be an alcohol team in the local community mental health team. I know the one here in Leicester accepts self referrals. Well done for helping Tiggy xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 She should go, there's no committment, she could leave half way through if she didn't feel it was appropriate for her but they are very very good. Equally good, if she has family who are aware of the problem, Al-Anon. I went a few times last year and it really showed me another side to alcohol problems. And she needn't think they'll all be shuffling wrecks reaching for the whiskey bottle at 7am, there will be allsorts there, most of them still managing to maintain a "normal" life to all intents and purposes. No one will judge her, no one will force her to "take their advice" or do as they say, you can take from the meetings what you need at the start, then they can show her the way to start addressing the problem in a way she can hopefully maintain for life Really really lots and lots of luck to her, tel her it's worth it. There's nothing written anywhere that says life should be easy, but it can be a happy life, and it's best viewed sober so you can treasure every minute, good and bad. BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 My sister went to her local alcohol clinic where they assessed her dependency. She found it very helpful at first . . pity she didn't act on their advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pullusleggus Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Please bear in mind - if she is a seriously heavy drinker and drinking first thing in the morning, spirits etc. stopping suddenly could be dangerous (DTs). She should seek medical advice if she gets very shaky in the mornings unless she has a hair of the dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 thanks everyone, we went to a local group last night, she's not messing about is she it looks like regular binge drinking, she has a full time job & does not drink in the day. It seems she got a wake up call at the weekend, a group of freinds went out & she felt fine then suddenly at the end of the night becam literally legless. The warning signs that she had had enough was lost, very scary stuff, freinds had to carry her home & she collapsed face first on the front lawn. Apparently she has had blackouts recently has been chatting & doing all sorts and cannot remember a thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Well done her for making that huge step See my post re 'Friend paid me with a cheque that bounced'. I wish this 'friend' would reach this point. I can't bear to watch the devastation being caused to her or her children. Well done you too for supporting her and helping to get her to this crucial point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Well done you! I lost a friend to liver disease a year or so ago, and it was heartbreaking - more so, because she hadn't been the person that I knew and loved for years before she eventually died. It's so easy to slip into patterns of dangerous drinking, and your friend sounds like she got just the wake-up call she needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Buy her some chickens & tell her to get on this forum. We are all the support she could ever wish for! I feel very sorry for your friend. But what a brave person she is going to the meeting! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted July 9, 2009 Author Share Posted July 9, 2009 so far she hasn't had a drink since Sunday, its a huge achievement, she was drinking regularly a bottle of wine a night on her own, she spends many nights alone with her children grown up & husband busy with work, even in the evenings he spends so much time at his computor she hardly ever sees him. She often wakes up the next morning still on the sofa & gets ready for work without ever getting to bed. the two of them seem to have just gotten into a pattern, he has work (and drink I may add) and she works but has little else. She didn't always drink like this it would be great to get her back the way she was she had such a zest for life and has now lost her spark, I'm wondering if she is depressed. Maybe I'll have a chat to her soon about going to see her Dr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
