"So grateful"

So I realised I needed help with my drinking. I had been drinking a bottle of the strongest wine I could find every night for 2 years or more to help me sleep but my body got used to it so I started adding a glass of gin or two to aid me sleep. It had no effect on me the next day, but I would not drive until I knew the alcohol had left my system. I realised I needed to stop, and read online about a drug which is supposed to help with withdrawal and help suppress the cravings. I approached my GP for the drug but he wouldn’t prescribe it. He messaged me asking if I had been in contact with Telford Stars, I had not heard of them but decided to get in touch with them.

They suggested I went along to group therapy sessions for six weeks which I did. While in those sessions there was always a staff member and volunteers present who would share their stories and were very positive. I kept saying things like ‘I can’t do this’, ‘I like the way it tastes’ and ‘It helps me sleep’. I never wanted a drink in the day and even if I went into a pub during the daytime I could and would drink pop but come 6 o’clock – well there you go, wine time.

Over the period of the six weeks, I was given methods like add spritzer to the wine, drink later in the evening and other tips and tricks. This really helped me, and I even managed to go some nights without a drink at all.

After the initial six weeks group therapy I continued with one-to-one session with one of the managers Jazz, she started me on a reduction programme. So one night I would have 5 glasses of wine instead of my usual 6, the following night I would have 4 glasses instead of 5 and so on. The following week I would reduce again.

In the meantime, Jazz tried to get my GP to prescribe me the drug I had read about, which he did – for one month, but due to my age (65) he refused to prescribe any more. So Jazz had a real fight on her hands but because she and I felt that I had done so well she persevered to get me the prescription.

It took three weeks of going back and forth with the GP. At this time and I don’t know if it had anything to do with the outcome or not, I also contacted the Patient Experience Liaison team here in Telford, who said they would look into the age restrictions surrounding prescribing the drug.

So now I have a prescription for a year to help me for which I am grateful.

I am determined never to drink again. The group sessions really helped. Jazz is such a big part of my journey, I don’t think I would be where I am now without her. Basically, I am so grateful, thankful and in awe of Telford Stars.

I am now in a great place, my head is in the right space because of what they have done for me.

Thank you.