"Helped to reach my goal"

Since lockdown I've been drinking mostly everyday, picking up a super market beer deal on the home, starting that whilst cooking dinner and finishing the evening with a shot or two. Why not, I like it, I deserve it. I have always been a heavy social drinker, pretty much all my happy and sad memories involve alcohol. Those "few beers a night" are the equivalent of 3 bottles of Vodka a week, just a touch over the NHS guidance!

My GP suggested I get help cutting down and gave me the details of an organisation to contact, I can't recall their name. My weekly consumption was above their threshold so they referred me to One Recovery Bucks. The initial meeting was rapidly scheduled with Marios in the High Wycombe centre.

Marios is a good guy, says it how it is, lays it out for you. My mind and body had been slowly changing, forgetful, tired, anxious, irritable, poor sleep, tremors, digestive problems, which I had put down to aging. Not the case, Marios explained, in clear understandable detail, the physical and mental effects of alcohol, how it is causing these changes which are all symptoms of alcohol dependence .

Fair to say I left that meeting with my eyes wide open. Over the sequence of meetings, with the guidance of Marios, I established goals, understood triggers, worked on building avoidance and control technique and  I learnt how to talk to and listen to myself. Abstinence is not my goal, I enjoy a drink but I lacked control.

Three months on I am comfortably and consistently below the NHS guidelines. Thanks to the knowledge and new skills Marios fostered in me it's not too much of a struggle and if it is I know there are people waiting to help me. Most importantly the changes have been reversed and I feel so much better. Truth be told I am questioning if those few drinks a week are even worth it, maybe I'll cut it out completely, I feel like I can do that and more now. All this came from a single phone call. Thanks One Recovery Bucks and thanks Marios.