Posted by ramsea on May 14, 2006, at 0:44:49
In reply to Re: Seeking Help....Good Idea or Maybe Not., posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 11, 2006, at 10:03:41
Sadly, it is best to be a bit wary with some of these agencies. They can save lives but also get things wrong sometimes and can destroy lives too. I am referring to women with alcohol problems who come forward on their own for help and then get their children taken away. Sometimes that is necessary but I know of cases where it was just downright tragic and missplaced. In the UK that may happen but maybe not the US--just don't know.
ANyway, 20 years ago I thought I needed help with my drinking--it was actually most importantly untreated bipolar that needed attention but the GPs in my life were not seeing that just then--and my GP was fairly horrible to me about the drink and sent me to an agency. Someone in AA told me to NOT go to my first appt. because they had sent social workers round to her immediately and took her kids off her, and a long court battle and separations ensued---though eventually after much grief she got her kids back.
She suggested my drinking was of the kind that AA alone could help, and she was right. In fact, I didn't need AA---I just need to abstain from drinking most of the time because I have severe bipolar and it sets off cycling if I drink even a socially normal amount on any regular basis, or too much in one go (which "non-bipolar"s can do on occasion without terrible mood swings).
So my advice is to just not go to the appt. if you don't want to--it is your choice. You could write a very simple letter of cancel by phone and say very briefly, having consulted others you realize you don't require their assistance.
See how it feels alone. If you went to an AA meeting or some other self-help, non-authority type, just for the education for even a short time, that might help. Or read the lit. But keep your meds to yourself in AA. There are too many self-appointed blamers and drug-phobics who think even a severe depressive/bipolar is an addict if they take an AD or other med.
It's true some people abuse anything, but some people also properly and correctly, and with good reason, take a medicine for neuro-psychiatric reasons too. And occasionally many non-alcoholics or borderline alkies drink too much and have to stop doing so--and manage to do so. But if it isn't easy to do, and provides trouble, than a place like AA or rehab specific to alcohol, say, might help. Rehab is not as private as AA. It all depends on your level trouble.
get back if you can on how you get on. one more thing--a benzo withdrawal site suggested it might take up to 1-2 years to taper properly off a benzo. Do it too quickly and the person rebounds and often ends up even worse, so shave teeny amounts off the pill and go very slowly. try looking for benzo withdrawal info on the www.
Also, watch for depression sliding back in when you are off the alcohol. William Styron, who wrote the novel (film) Sophie's Choice and also the small auto-bio book "A Visible Darkness" (about his depression) first became aware he was seriously depressed after stopping his nightly fairly heavy drinking. He may have withdrawn without proper support and education, in any case, it shocked his system and revealed an underlying depression. I've heard of this with others too. Just something to be aware of.
It may be you have no problem with withdrawing, given enough time and no disabling shocks to your system. best wishes, ramsea
poster:ramsea
thread:641246
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060505/msgs/643735.html