[Palmolive]

Hi

Thank you for reaching out to us here at Teenhelp!

I am an alcoholic and have been for maybe four or five years now. And things got really bad until I made myself physically unwell with alcohol poisoning and I ended up on a psychiatric ward twice for detox.I can honestly say stopping drinking when I was drinking so heavily was one of the hardest things I have ever done but it's been so worth it.

Do you feel you know what has triggered you to begin drinking? I don't know if there is anything but if there is something and you would like to talk about please know that we are always here for you and are always here to listen. We won't judge you or think bad of you for any reason at all. We just care and want to try our best to help and support you through this.

Its good you have a friend who is aware of the issue and is trying to help. That is really positive. And as positive as it is, I am also wondering whether you coulld try and get professional help with with too. Maybe see your GP/Doctor and have a conversation about the drinking and see where you can go from there. I know where I live there and teams and services who support people going through drug and alcohol addictions and I have been in these services and they have helped so it might be worth thinking about. I also attend AA meetings which gives me a space to vent about what is bothering me or to share good and happy things and news but also gives me a chance to listen to others, to support them with my experience and actually, many of them inspire me which helps motivate me. I have had lapses and I am now just over a month alcohol free but I have gone several months and so can you.

Two things I want to share from you which help which can be found in AA books.

The first one being the serenity prayer. I am not religious but it helps me and this is something where you can use a higher power (doesn't have to be god!) and say as you do or do not understand. But it goes like this.

"God, grant me the serenity, to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."

Something is else this too. It is called just for today:

"JUST FOR TODAY
Just for today I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do something for 12 hours that would appal me if I felt I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

JUST FOR TODAY
Just for today I will be happy. Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my luck as it comes, and fit myself to it.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will strengthen my mind.
I will study I will learn something useful.
I will not be a mental loafer.
I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will exercise my soul in three ways, I will do someone a good turn, and NOT get found out. If anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I dont want to do just for exercise
I will not show anyone my feelings are hurt, they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will be agreeable, I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, talk low, act courteously, criticise not one bit, not find fault with anything, and not try to improve or regulate anybody except myself.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will have a program. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests, hurry and indecision.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will have a quiet half hour all by myself and relax. During this half hour sometime, I will try and get a better perspective of my life.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me."

These are not something I have written but are from sources of AA.

I find these helpful and I hope you find some hope in them. Giving up the drink can be really hard but it is possible too. I know people who have died from alcoholism and it is such a progressive disease. please talk to people, including us for help and support.

Just remember you are not alone. Many people love and care about you and will be willing to help and it's okay for you to let them in.

Always here.

Hope and wishes.
Jessie