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Bluelighter
I think this is a very positive step, great news.
it should be a lot easier to do this with your GP on your side and working with you.

Anyone else here have BiPolar? If so, what effect does WD have on your mindset? I ask because my first addiction came of opiates being the best mood stabiliser on the market, they allow me to sleep more than 2 hours a night unlike mania, but give me just enough energy to avoid the lethargy of depression.
I've been med-free, in the Psychiatric sense, for about 2 years now.Dangerous road to go down, is self-medication. Maybe you know that already.
As 'good' a mood stabiliser as opiates may seem (and I'll admit they do keep you comfortable and 'level' in a sense), are you aware that they're also fantastic at inducing hypomania/mania? That may have something to do with why you prefer them to other mood stabilisers!
They really don't help in the medium-to-long term though, and from what I can gather you're obviously in a state that sounds similar to hypomania. Bear in mind that a crash is usually the next step in this cycle, and you really don't want to crash when you're already weakened by getting clean and (especially) heavy drinking. If at all possible, try to let your body have some kind of respite before long.
Good luck - I'm bipolar too (in case you didn't guess from the above) so I know nothing is simple.
Are you currently taking a prescribed mood stabiliser or other medication, may I ask?
I've been med-free, in the Psychiatric sense, for about 2 years now.
Hypomania is fucking fun! Sure, I'll probably end up in full blown, insomnia and delusion filled, mania in a few days but I really fucking love Hypomania. It makes it all worth it.
Good decision, MDB.
Gutsy too. Much respect to you, and best of luck with everything. Honestly, I'm proud of you.
I think this time I might try a 0.1 bupe step. Yeah its a bit woosy, but last time i found the step from 0.2 to 0 absolutely fucking brutal. Maybe with a 0.1 step placed inbetween it might soften the final blow slightly. I dunno. I can but hope. Otherwise Im just putting myself through 2 horrible steps, when i might as well just do 1 brutal step.