my theripst, and psychogolist, have strongly suggested that i address my alcohol use ... among other things .... and some days i think i have a problem , others i dont, ive greatly reduced my intake and what not as well. But ive been having troubles finding a med that works for med for adhd, seeing how ive abused all the stimuate drugs im told my last resort is getting a liver test , stop drinking and try stratera.
i dont want to stop drinking ,,, i like too,,, ill cut down,,,but i dont have any desire to quit completly. So my psychologist told me she wont even see me again until i make a decsion, and i dont reallly know what to do ... to quit or not to quit ... so i have finally after much argument descided to attened an AA meeting tomorrow ... im not too fond of this but i suppose ill check it out
My big concern though is running into someone i know, like someone in my family or close to my family or something. Ive been struggleing with alcohol and drug problems for years now, but somehow ive kept it to myself and not in my familys knowledge.
I want to keep it this way too, i dont ever want them to know what ive been going thoruigh and that im having a problem.
Is this something i can really work on and totally keep my family out of it?? I really am concerned with keeping this totally private.
I dont know if ill actually attend meetings or just check this one out,,, but i need to figure something out considering my only option for adhd meds is stratera now ,,, im feeling confused and depressed and all sorts of feelings i dont think i have a problem ,,, i think i do ,, i think i dont ,,, i dont wanna completly stop drinking but i want to get my adhd symptoms under control... ijust dunno what to do

Better yet i do know what i need to do but i dont want to

my theripst, and psychogolist, have strongly suggested that i address my alcohol use ... among other things .... and some days i think i have a problem , others i dont, ive greatly reduced my intake and what not as well. But ive been having troubles finding a med that works for med for adhd, seeing how ive abused all the stimuate drugs im told my last resort is getting a liver test , stop drinking and try stratera.
i dont want to stop drinking ,,, i like too,,, ill cut down,,,but i dont have any desire to quit completly. So my psychologist told me she wont even see me again until i make a decsion, and i dont reallly know what to do ... to quit or not to quit ... so i have finally after much argument descided to attened an AA meeting tomorrow ... im not too fond of this but i suppose ill check it out
My big concern though is running into someone i know, like someone in my family or close to my family or something. Ive been struggleing with alcohol and drug problems for years now, but somehow ive kept it to myself and not in my familys knowledge.
I want to keep it this way too, i dont ever want them to know what ive been going thoruigh and that im having a problem.
Is this something i can really work on and totally keep my family out of it?? I really am concerned with keeping this totally private.
I dont know if ill actually attend meetings or just check this one out,,, but i need to figure something out considering my only option for adhd meds is stratera now ,,, im feeling confused and depressed and all sorts of feelings i dont think i have a problem ,,, i think i do ,, i think i dont ,,, i dont wanna completly stop drinking but i want to get my adhd symptoms under control... ijust dunno what to do

Better yet i do know what i need to do but i dont want to

I guess I have a few questions that might help ....

Does anyone in your family have issues with the same substances you do ... be it alcohol or something else? If they don't - they could provide you with a place that doesn't have those things available ... and you could some family time in to boot.

Is there an AA meeting you can go to that is outside your living area? (say you like in a big city ... there are usually smaller towns close by that might have a support center there) This would cut down on the likely hood of you coming in contact with people you know. Ask the counselor there ... see what they can come with to help.

I know that it is going to be hard for you ... *hugs*
But I am wishing you the best of luck.

Please keep me posted ... I want to hear how your AA meeting went!

- Ane

um i think that others in my family are/. have been in AA .. my cuzin just started actually,,, i jsut dont want any of them to know about me,,, i know some of my familys had an alcohol pronblem .. noone really talks about it though..

and thanks i will keep you updated ... tomorrows the meeting and i hope its not churchly as i preceive

YupYup,

Are you sure your family doesn't know already and they just haven't said anything to you?

My boyfriend went to an AA meeting and he is the LAST person in the world to admit he might have an alcohol issue. (He went against his will--he had a DUI with a BAC of .2 and it was mandated by the courts). When he started going I noticed a big change in him...He seemed kinda...sobered....for lack of better words. He was still drinking, but you could see the wheels turning. He spoke very highly of it when he was there, and tho he never admitted to having an alcohol problem, he seemed to have a strong commitment to their values. He seemed more at peace with himself during that month than I've ever seen him...*honestly*

I think AA works once you're there, but you can certainly psych yourself out before you ever attend the first meeting...the reason why?
1) Cuz before you go, it seems like there are going to be a bunch of people there who don't have anything to offer you...You think, I'm just gonna go and people are gonna preach at me and it doesn't matter because I really DO need alcohol...it would be hell without it...or you might think you don't have a problem. (I am the former--when I was going thru my divorce (last year, when I was 21!!!!!!!!) I knew I needed alcohol, but I didn't want to give it up for ****!)
2) Then you go there, and you're thinking this stuff in your head, and then someone stands up and says it outloud and ur like...whoa...
3) You go there, and you talk to people--people of ALL different backgrounds. We never realize it, but somewhere deep down, we categorize the type of person that goes to AA...we tell ourselves we are NOT LIKE THAT, so WE DONT NEED IT.
4) Then we get there and one of the speakers says something, and we KNOW it's true, but we don't admit it...
5) Then we talk to someone else on the sidelines--maybe it's their first time too, maybe not, and that person says something we were NOT expecting...and it floors us...

THAT is what makes us go back...it perplexes us, makes us wonder, makes us want to know more...It's different every time (the thing someone says that you don't expect), but it's always there. That's the point of AA...we tend to think we are the only ones in our world, but we don't realize that there are tons and tons of people out there who have a thing or two to teach us about ourselves... :)

yupyup,you are going to die --YOU ARE GOING TO DIE !!!

you can lie to everyone and have your secrets and.....

you are going to DIE it's that simple ...put down self will ,drop the rock that is the misery that you are trying to escape from and we might ,might be able to help you or it might be TOO LATE

people with problems and pain are real and healthy -hiding and getting drunk and stoned is the exressway to the GRAVE

call the AA hotline ,tell them you have a serious drinking problem and that you are scared very scared they WILL help ,I promise ,15 yr.s ago my name was yupyup

so i have finally after much argument descided to attened an AA meeting tomorrow ... im not too fond of this but i suppose ill check it out
My big concern though is running into someone i know, like someone in my family or close to my family or something. to
Funny thing about that, if you see someone you know at an AA (or NA meeting), they'll probably be happy to see you. Cause they're there for some of the same reasons you're there. It's kind of an inside joke -- especially when it makes perfect sense that the person you know is in a meeting).

Remember to grab a meeting list. There are a lot of AA meetings that you might like, or that are near (or far :o) from your home.

If you announce that you're a newcomer, people will talk to you after the meeting. Ask them to circle meetings they like in the meeting list.

Do choose a meeting that is for newcomers, or that is general in nature. A step-study or big book meeting may not be the greatest thing for someone checking things out.

The great thing about AA, NA and the other A's, is that they provide instant support, and are always available. And they don't chase after you if you want to back away.

Good luck with it.

yupyup,you are going to die --YOU ARE GOING TO DIE !!!

you can lie to everyone and have your secrets and.....

you are going to DIE it's that simple ...put down self will ,drop the rock that is the misery that you are trying to escape from and we might ,might be able to help you or it might be TOO LATE

people with problems and pain are real and healthy -hiding and getting drunk and stoned is the exressway to the GRAVE

----------------------------------------
We are all going to die. Maybe you can help him and maybe you can't, but don't think that you're so important that you can keep him from dying. Maybe he needs help and maybe he doesn't. But he certainly doesn't need a judgemental person like you telling him he will die if he doesn't listen. Alot of people live long lives with addictions and he may too. If he has a problem, there may be a point when he realizes it. And if he seeks help, there will be plenty of people there to support him. If he doesn't, oh well, he'll die. But guess what, he will anyway. Whether he seeks help or not. We all die. If he needs help, he'll find it. There is no need to pressure/ scare him with your beliefs.

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TheRik

I see this is your first post, welcome. Are you a current user? Tell us about your successes and failures. I could not help but noticing your strong feelings about what our contributor said. Venting out is good, but realize you are imposing you own beliefs yourself.

I personally prefer a long life without addictions than a long one with additcions - quality is important as is not hurting other people.

Gee ,I'm of the firm belief that if I can scare him into attending AA or NA and get him to stop the abuse long enough he will have the tools to start living ,get medicated or not ,but to at least be clean to talk to his therepist.
Please notice that this board is about ADD and does not endorse living clean ,in fact I've noticed that we support whatever helps you with your particular symtoms ,legal or illeagle ,quality life is whats paramount .
Alcohol ,which I do have a history with ,is legal and fun for many taken in moderation ,abuse is something different .
He/she is talking about liver tests ,you can die from chirosis whithout any pain at all from your liver .
Anyway ,if you think your life is good and are happy ,supporting yourself ,you know good stuff ,TheRik,why are you pulling up 3 month old posts ,about alcohol abuse ,
I'm ENTP Meyersbriggs ,love a good debate/argument
wanna share ?