As a recovering alcoholic, married to a recovering alcoholic, also the daughter of alcoholics I don’t believe that alcoholism/addiction can be cured alone. We all need help especially with issues relating to denial.

Growing up surrounded by alcoholics and drug addicts meant that my teenage years were plagued with unmanageability and chaos. The abnormal became the normal and drinking, drug taking and violence was an everyday occurrence.

Once I became a mother myself something within me changed and I had a moment of clarity. I knew I wanted a better childhood for my children than I had myself. This new way of thinking for me was only the start. I tried to stop drinking by myself only managing a few days until I thought maybe just a few drinks at the weekend would be fine. Once the weekend came and the drinks began then I could not stop again I had set off the craving which then began the whole vicious cycle again. I had a few more failed attempts at doing it alone and began to lose hope.

My father and my husband had been working a 12 step programme so I decided I should try it also. Life slowly became less unmanageable and a lot more serene. With the help of other recovering alcoholics I managed to abstain from alcohol and have done so for nearly six years now. I am positive that I would not have been able to do this by myself as my own and my family’s failed attempts in the past to do it alone is all the proof I needed.

I continue to look to other alcoholics for support and guidance as again I have seen other alcoholics who think they no longer need help and can do it alone have relapsed and very quickly sank back into a life of unmanageability.

My life has turned around since I found recovery. I am now working with an addiction agency, undergoing a degree at my local University and leading a happy life. I am encouraged when my friends now tell me that it gets better ….

I am impressed with the work of Addictions UK and wish them well in their work.

I cannot express how important it is to find an agency that can do home detox for alcohol safely and that has treatment attached to it. For years I have had loads of medication – but never linked with treatment. Addictions UK provided me with a doctor and nursing care quickly and efficiently and sorted out treatment the next day.

In the addictions UK web page AUK printed the following:

The Benefits of our Home-based Detox

• Prompt: Our appointed doctor can normally visit you within two working days at a time that suits you both. In some parts of the UK it may take a day or two more to fit in your appointment.
• Healthy: The doctor will examine you and, whenever appropriate, will prescribe medicines to help your body adjust to being without alcohol or drugs. This treatment avoids the sudden changes which can bring on seizures or fits and will help you avoid the discomfort and anxiety of “cold turkey” reactions. Your system will steadily re-balance as the medication is gradually reduced but, at the start, you will be given a strong sedative and something to help you sleep.
• Convenient: Unlike signing in for treatment in a clinic which isolates you from your normal pattern of life; home-based treatment allows you to carry on with many of your regular activities.
• Affordable: The cost of residential treatment is obviously much higher than living at home through your detox. Even if you require additional support at home, the expense will be less than similar treatment services as a resident.
• Discreet: You may worry about the possible effect on your career by going away for treatment; you may fear what might happen to your family or social life. Being treated in your home ensures confidentiality. It may not be necessary even to inform your GP.
• Supported: Following the initial prescribing consultation, you will receive visits from a nurse. Our 24/7 helpline will deal with any urgent questions you may have and with any complications you need to report. You will also need help from a skilled therapist to help you remain free from addiction. Our programme includes the first month of ongoing support treatment which you will need to help you avoid addiction in future.
• On-going: We have a range of coaching services which can also continue to support you and, where appropriate, your family and friends, including through our 24/7 helpline.

After Home-based Detox

Detox is not a cure! It is the start of a progress toward continuing recovery, focussed on avoiding the first drink or drug use which brings renewed addiction. With that aim we offer:

• Daily Home-based Recovery Therapy using the telephone or other customised arrangements that can be reduced in frequency as recovery progresses.
• Weekly Relapse Prevention and Extended Care through customised one-to-one sessions (the frequency may be increased).

This is all good stuff! I recommend it to others in my position.

Testimonial #1
Since my mum started using AUK she has stopped drinking and it has made a massive difference to her, now she is less tired all the time and she has been much less irritable. I think Addictions UK is great because now I have my mum back.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Testimonial #2
The first time I phoned Addictions UK, I was hung over, frightened, lonely and desperate. I had known for a long time that my alcohol addiction was out of control, but I’d always drank it away, convincing myself I could deal with it on my own and letting dreadful fear continue to bubble under the surface. I had tried getting help a few times over the years, but my feeling of shame about my addiction lead me to isolating myself again and going straight back to drinking.

When I found AUK and the strength to call them, it was a small relief in itself. I spoke to someone who

I am someone who, after years of active alcoholism, can now see myself recovering, and, after a struggle, enjoying the process. Having first found that I can survive without alcohol, I am now starting to engage with life – work, social, and the world in general – without suffering the debilitating stresses for which I always felt drink to be the only cure.

My problem, my illness, goes back a long way. It was there when I was at school and university, but became increasingly obvious to me and those around me after I began work (as a solicitor in commercial private practice). I knew that I wasn’t behaving conventionally: at first drinking – often alone – every lunchtime, then first thing in the morning, eventually hiding bottles at home and sneaking them into work in my briefcase. I would wake up, not every day but often enough, with little or no memory of the night before and see looks of at best amusement, but more often hurt or anger, contempt or pity, at home and in the office.

I began a twelve step programme with Addictions UK. I have daily sessions with my worker and have a 24 hour helpline I can use when I need. I have spent many years using drugs and alcohol and had come to the point of losing everything. My life was in a mess and all the promises I had made were wearing thin. I knew I had to make a change. The programme has not been easy but with the help of my family and Addictions UK I made good progress. I now have regular contact with my young daughter and have got myself a full time job. In the five months I have been drug and alcohol free life has become worth living. Addictions UK have given me a new chance of living a normal fulfilling life.

Thank you

My life coach was always there or would ring me back. I have lived a violent life and the coach understood this. My coach understood where I was coming from and helped me to make sense of it all. I am clean now. For ten months I had been clean nearly all the time but relapsed. It made me aware of how much I needed the programme. I am working now and I have faced up to my responsibilities. It is a lifeline for me and many others. I have never worked much before recovery or being able to hold down a job for long.

I have been in Borstal or Prison for most of my adult life till I got recovery. My mam and dad were addicts and alcoholics. I was subject to their illness from a young age and this lead me to foster homes and kids homes borstal and then to prison. I knew no better for a long time and repeated the mistakes that they had made. I had endless excuses why I used drugs and could see little possibility of a life outside what I knew. The 12 Steps have taught me that I don’t have to repeat the mistakes of my parents and though I loved them I did not want my kids to follow in my footsteps. They have helped me to cope with my past and deal with the present and look forward to a future!

Home Treatment afforded me an opportunity to address my problems. I cannot safely use alcohol at present. I learnt that from the four drinking sessions (during the treatment period) very well. I could continue with my business and programme. I can see the advantages of working with recovering addicts and alcoholics though I would also have been able to accept a competent worker with wider skills if I was presented with such a person. The ability to empathise is only part of the treatment process. I was able to identify with some recovering alcoholics sharing of their previous histories. The treatment programme was recommended by a friend. I thought that I would give it a go. It worked for me. I have been sober for the whole time with the exception of four days. I had one bad drinking session for a day and three other minor sessions. My tolerance to alcohol is now far less than before, which worries me. It is definitely worth continuing – I have enjoyed success in that it has cut my drinking down to just four days in twenty-six weeks. Alcohol is less attractive to me and it does not have the same effect. My father is an alcoholic and my wife nags me. My friends supported me and my Life Coach also supports me – which has been fantastic.

I now recognize alcoholism as an illness – the Addictions UK Treatment Programme has given me the longest period of sobriety I have experienced for ten years.

I have had an alcohol problem for sixteen years total; for seven years it was a very big problem. I started taking drugs at fifteen. I liked doing it very much – I got in with the wrong crowd. My family life was happy. My drug of choice was heroin but I used excessive amounts of alcohol as well. Stealing became a habit. I was good at it. It funded my habit. When I was arrested that freaked me out. The arrest referral team was supportive. Four months later I went into treatment. I relapsed for eighteen months. My partner helped bring me to recovery. This phone treatment has been really helpful. I am back in recovery and it is two years now! The therapy has given me a foundation for recovery.

Alcoholics in recovery understand problems, which is very reassuring. I really wanted to look at some of the issues of the Twelve Steps in depth including more reading and more in depth discussion. I was really hungry for this information and support. My coach is a recovering alcoholic too. I got a greater understanding of the steps from the DVDs and they worked very well with the Big Book. It is so important

I am a housebound and I have had a major alcohol problem for years. I do not think that Treatment Centres work – well not for me. I have been in several. They are too structured and regimented and “control” was a big issue in those types of centres for me. My background makes me want to challenge such structures and programmes. I believe that they are doomed to failure. Authority was an issue for me and I was pleased to have been able to practice the programme from my own home. The telephone treatment for me was wonderful – it fitted into my particular circumstances and environment.

It is very important. Recovering addicts have the skills and knowledge required because of their experiential learning. The facilitator knows exactly what he is talking about having been through the problems of addictions. Trained Doctors and Social workers who are not recovering addicts have no knowledge other than theory, they have no life experience and they have not got the tee shirt. Physical illness caused me to have a “wake-up” call. Continued drinking was causing massive problems. My life was threatened by a massive stroke that has left me disabled with mobility problems speech problems and various other symptoms. I am sober now and have been for over two years.

I used the services of Addictions UK to rid me of the need for alcohol in my daily life. I would not use other available provision as it did not provide anonymity and because also I was ashamed.

Here was a woman who had everything, love, security well educated but plenty of time on my hands (having worked hard all of my life) and the funds to indulge in my habit. What else could I need you may ask.

I will tell you, peace of mind.

It was a vicious circle no real worries and nothing to fill the void that comes with having time on your hands so drink became my best pal. I had a long way to go to realise this would be my downfall and I nearly lost everything I hold dear, the love and respect of my family. Addictions UK sorted out my racing brain syndrome and because I know that I still have their ongoing support I lead a very productive life.

Since being sober I have a new lifestyle, different business and with the support and love of all around me. Thanks to Addictions UK