Going to see my GP today about Alcohol problem

lynx2051

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For this past two months I've been having a few problems with alcohol, I was never a big drinker before but then I started buying bottles of cider, then wine and then drinking a bottle of vodka nearly every night. So today I've booked an appointment with my GP to try and get help. The reason I drink is because I've always had zero confidence, and no longer have any goals in life. I just crave alcohol all the time.

I am only 18 and by Dad had this problem up until he was in his thirties. I'd never witnessed him drunk as I was too young at the time (I no longer see him, but not due to alcohol). My mum is just glad that I have decided to do something about this before it's too late.

What will my GP say do you think? Please I would just like to know, thank you.
 
Hi lynx, I am so glad you're seeking help now, before your drinking gets any more out of control.

I too have had to take the plunge and see my GP about my drinking problem. In fact, I've had to admit it and discuss it with several doctors. It's really daunting and very confronting. BUT you have to keep in mind that you are doing this for a reason, and that is because you don't want to be a slave to alcohol anymore.

Hopefully if you have a good doctor, they will be professional, i.e. matter-of-fact but sympathetic at the same time. One thing is for certain, they will NOT judge you, make fun of you, get angry at you, or anything like that. It is their job to give you medical care when you ask for it, so that is what they will do.

As for what they will suggest, it is highly variable. I have had different GPs do different things: one sent me to a psychiatrist, one prescribed me anti-depressants, one suggested I go in to inpatient rehab for 3 months. It really depends on the individual doctor, but more importantly, whatever you decide to do is your decision.

Good luck man, you're doing the right thing. Let us know how it goes at the doctor <3
 
Great post n3o.

Overall I think a referral to a psychiatrist would be the best way to try to confront this problem. There are always options though, if one option doesn't work you can always try another.

Best of luck.
 
He did a questionnaire with me and the score was pretty high. He said he'll put me in contact with a specalist who should be in contact shortly, I took all of last week off college and have to go in today. Aghh I need a good excuse for not being in the past week and I don't wanna tell my tutor because I don't like him very much.
 
Good for you man, taking that first step with your doctor is (in my experience) the hardest part <3

Could you just tell your tutor that you had some family problems, or something like that? How much will they need to know for you to not get in trouble for missing a week of class?
 
Still had no contact from the doctor, I've been in a bad mood and am seeking any pleasure possible, I smoked a bit of weed but it did no help, took a tiny amount of Phenazepam but still no help. I just crave that alcohol buzz all the time, also it doesn't help when I am working in retail next to all those bottles...... It's pretty hard. :\
 
Still had no contact from the doctor, I've been in a bad mood and am seeking any pleasure possible, I smoked a bit of weed but it did no help, took a tiny amount of Phenazepam but still no help. I just crave that alcohol buzz all the time, also it doesn't help when I am working in retail next to all those bottles...... It's pretty hard. :\

I am very sorry to hear it's hard for you to be working close to it; I hope that you can eventually taper off of something like diazepam, or maybe another medication, so that you can slowly step away from the compulsion to use ethanol.

But hey, you have a job! That is still a good thing. Try to look at the bright side, even if you are sad at the moment. This has been the hardest thing for me to do recently - especially in intense pain.

I would also look into therapy, in case there is a reason why you are drinking that is serious enough to need addressing. I don't know if there is for you or not, but I know that I had issues that needed addressing after I quit using heroin, that is something I know to be a fact.
 
Thank you for your help, I am going to make another appointment with my GP tomorrow, I haven't drank all week but then I had a bottle of wine last night thinking I could just keep it to a once a week thing. But the cravings are there so much more than anything, even more than tobacco which I gave up last month, I just feel angry all the time and need SOMETHING but I don't know what that means, whether that's a dopamine or a GABA rush!!!! Or maybe I just need a hobby!
 
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