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    #1

    Post what your therapist tells you

    I've found that my therapist, who I see once a week, is very good. He tells it like it is and has told me that I should no longer drink, which I have pretty much accepted.

    I don't have the time or money to seek additional opinions and I'm wondering if you guys and girls would want to post what your therapist or doc tells you. I believe in having as much information as possible. Perhaps this thread will be awesome, or it might fall flat. It's just an idea from a man who is finally thinking clearly on his 18 straight day without booze.

    -Andy
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    #2
    Post what your therapist tells you

    Hi Andy,
    My therapist didn't give me any advice or opinions about what I should do about my drinking for quite a while. I pretty much appreciated that because I knew he was letting me bring it up and talk about as I chose..I began going to him for various reasons, mostly to do with life transitions..I did tell him up front that I did want to discuss it with him. Finally my husband started joining me in some sessions for us to deal with some relationship stuff. I was complaining that my husband would bring home wine when he knew that I was trying to control my drinking. It was really hard to say no when he was drinking too. That is when he suggested that my husband and I both deal with the drinking issue together and as a relationship issue, and that he agreed that abstaining would be the most succesful thing that I could do if I wanted to control my drinking..and that I would most likely be succesful if my husband joined me with abstinence..he did and now it's been very easy to go 110 days now. My therapist and I both approached it from more of a spiritual perspective as he is a theological psychotherapist..we explored the underlying reasons that I would turn to alcohol, and that was helpful to me as well..it helped me to make a choice not to turn to it so that I could deal with the core issues behind my drinking. I, for one, have not found it helpful to dwell too much on the physical addiction aspect of alcohol abuse..I would binge drink when I drank, but have never had any problems going abs when I chose to. I could even manage moderation from time to time, but usually ended up bingeing at least a couple of times a month when I was drinking..and that wasn't ok with me.

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      #3
      Post what your therapist tells you

      My therapist said that the idea of moderation is a lie, but she is willing to work with me through my efforts with it if that is truly what my ultimate goal is. I've seen her for a few years on various issues so I was okay with her blunt way of speaking, but I'm a little leary about how this is all going to go.
      --
      "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
      -- Oliver Wendell Holmes

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        #4
        Post what your therapist tells you

        From Day One, I'm convinced that my therapist thought I was an alcoholic, but he let me try the moderation thing. Of course, that didn't work out all too well. We then went over my symptoms: black outs; not known when to stop; sometimes acting like a jerk when I'm drunk or embarrasing myself, etc, etc.

        I then hit rock bottom about a month ago and have been sober since. Ironically, rock bottom for me wasn't some crazy car accident or argument with my wife (Thanks God!), but rather it came after a four day binge that lead to a 24 hour panic/anxiety attack that three klonopins (like valium or xanax) couldn't stop.

        There's part of me know that think I could go back to drinking moderately, but he says I'll eventually fall into my old habits. I guess therapists are pretty consistent with their advice when it comes to speaking with people with drinking problems. Perhaps that's what I'm looking to confirm on this thread?

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          #5
          Post what your therapist tells you

          My therapist is nice.
          Gabby :flower:

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            #6
            Post what your therapist tells you

            I don't have a therapist but I often talk to a friend who was a rock bottom alcoholic and has been AF for 5 years now. (She has had a good therapist)
            She gives me lots of advice and I really value her input.

            On the subject of moderation her therapist told her
            "I have not met anyone with a serious drinking problem that has overcome it and been able to return to moderate drinking without eventually experiencing all the consequences and problems they had before, if not worse."

            Food for thought
            Changeling

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              #7
              Post what your therapist tells you

              Hi Andy,
              I don't have a therapist either. I talk to my cats and they never answer me back. Their eyes seem to say that I know the answers by myself, if I only dig deep enough and be honest enough to accept what I am finding.
              Sorry.
              L
              *Definition of Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result* Albert Einstein

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                #8
                Post what your therapist tells you

                I am also therapistless...And i get the feeling my doctor isnt intrested with my problem...I dont even think hes listening half the time.
                I don't care who you are...Your not walking on water while i'm fishing..
                One drink is too many... A thousand is never enough...Sober since July 2nd 2009

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                  #9
                  Post what your therapist tells you

                  I don't have one either.

                  But speaking of panic attacs.....I was wondering if anyone else get them to any degree. Mine are mild but I feel it has something to do with alcohol.
                  :h :h :h :h

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                    #10
                    Post what your therapist tells you

                    lorisunshine;91070 wrote: Hi Andy,
                    I don't have a therapist either. I talk to my cats and they never answer me back. Their eyes seem to say that I know the answers by myself, if I only dig deep enough and be honest enough to accept what I am finding.
                    Sorry.
                    L
                    Lori,

                    It sounds like you have some very wise cats!
                    --
                    "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
                    -- Oliver Wendell Holmes

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Post what your therapist tells you

                      Hey Andy - et al-

                      I think therapy can be very helpful but I don't currently have a therapist. It seems that they often lead you to make your own decisions about things though. So perhaps you have thought you've had a problem with alcohol and you think you should not moderate but completely abstain. I think often we already have the answers but we either don't believe ourselves or we don't like the answer. But it isn't easy to get to that part of ourselves that has the answer....that's where a good therapist comes in handy.

                      I went to a therapist about 7 years ago and she helped me see what role I was playing in my family ( peacemaker, negotiator..one who fixed everything etc) and although I kind of knew that, she gave me 'permission' to not play that role anymore. I finally felt I could relax - it wasn't my job anymore. Hope that makes sense.

                      I think I got off subject here... Therapy is good....helps us come to our own decisions-
                      I've had one panic attack and it lasted about 6 hours. It was horrible. I am so sympathetic to anyone who has them or has had one ever - very scary. I don't know about the affect alcohol had on it since I only had one. I started to have another but somehow talked myself out of it. Scared me so much!

                      My cats are great therapists - purring can do wonders when you feel down!

                      Lisa

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                        #12
                        Post what your therapist tells you

                        ...my new 'spiritual teacher' (through books and tapes), Eckart Tolle, talks about having lived with many zen masters...all being cats except one being a duck...the cats obviously have much to teach! :0) meow

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                          #13
                          Post what your therapist tells you

                          I think last week I had one long panic attack that stemmed from overindulging and no matter what I did (I have Klonopin too Andy) nothing seemed to work and drinking made it worse too. It finally when away when I got some decent rest and drank less. But now I am sick with some kind of cold (vomiting, sore throat and coughing which my daughter had last night and I woke up with) because it took such a toll on my body that I have just collapsed today! Or maybe she just brought it home from preschool.

                          I did go to a therapist/addiction specialist for a very short amount of time and then I had to take a leave of absence from work so I couldn't get into Manhattan at the time she was available. But she was a flake anyway and kept forgetting the appt's we even had. She actually sent me home once because she got everything all mixed up. Don't have a lot of input here. My psychiatrist may as well be a drug dealer, which is sort of the norm in Manhattan, but I think he is worse than most. He doesn't want to talk at all. So I'm not much help here sorry!
                          Sunny days, sweeping the, clouds away. On my way, to where the air is sweeeet!!! Can you tell me how to get, how to get to......LOL

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                            #14
                            Post what your therapist tells you

                            My therapist is nice.
                            But my best is the shower and my workouts. They get my best stuff.
                            Gabby :flower:

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Post what your therapist tells you

                              I am going down the alternative practitioner route.

                              My alternative practioner comes in the form of my little dog, Chester.

                              He's the most untainted, fair, uncorrupted "person" I know. Not to mention the best listener.

                              I don't know what he's thinking about hanging out with me.

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