Our Own Secret Army

Within the last 24 hours I have been contacted by so many people giving me encouragement that I am doing the right thing with this site.

Off the top of my head, I said to one particularly honest writer that we were becoming our own secret army.

After I had written it, I realised the absolute strength and righteousness of purpose that those words bring. In fact, I said the same to her.

We really ARE our own secret army.

How great is that?

An unsung, underground, resistance against the above ground marauding drunken army.

Works for me.

Sign up, why don't you.

Like any army, there's safety in numbers.

xx

You're never too old to learn .. I hope

It's a short thought today.

As I approach 50 (currently 48 1/2), it never ceases to amaze me how little I've learned throughout my life.

I've accumulated degrees, and prizes, and plaudits. Been on TV and radio lots of times. Made a couple of fortunes. Lost them again. Even written a book or two.

But, in real terms, I don't feel like my life has really begun yet. In fact, if you're listening God, I'd like to start again. Now that I seem to be able to stay just about alcohol free, I can clearly see that I've wasted the important bits.

My life has always been like me trying to get somewhere that was always just over the next hill. And alcohol most definitely fuelled that folly. I never stopped to see how great it was where I was. By the time I worked it out, I was already over the hill.

"Over the hill"

How well I understand those three little but unbelievably scary words now.

I hope that I've got time left to learn from them.

Just a little thought for today.

Maybe I'm getting somewhere

I missed yesterday. Out and about doing other more (financially) productive things and visiting my sister. This site has taken up far to much of my time, but I love it!

And it seems that the site might finally be palpably helping people. I have had a couple of examples in the last 24 hours that some of you are being helped by this folly of mine.

I guess some would call me arrogant or naive to think that I could possibly help people with this site. But I don't think that I am. After all, I've a quarter of a century's worth of experience in helping people with obesity. If you did but know it, the conditions aren't as dissimilar as you might think. What I brought to one, I can bring to another.

So, on the whole, I feel pretty upbeat today. I'm sure it will all come crashing down again before too long. But for now, I'm going to enjoy this little bit of sunshine on a cold winter's day. The dogs are going to get another long walk in beautiful countryside, and I'm going to treat myself to a bit of lunch in my local pub. By the way, no cider or anything else since Wednesday night's disaster. And none today either.

Lastly, as ever thanks to MA, and also today to D - I told you not to do it, but thanks anyway!!

Ciderman Returns - the not so super superhero

Had a really bad day yesterday. Everything just seemed to go wrong. Worst of all, due to postal problems here, I had run out Baclofen. It finally came this morning.

Last night, I just lost it, and dived into a bit of a cider binge. I hated myself whilst I was doing it, and really wish I hadn't.

I cannot remember the last time I did anything like that. It would have been the last time I ran out. Couple of months ago at least. I've got a shocking hangover. I just cannot take drink anymore.

Anyway, it has acted as aversion therapy. God I feel rough!!

And thank God for Baclofen. I've had my 50mg morning dose and am feeling much better already.

Never run out of Baclofen, or else you might turn back into Ciderman.

Alcoholism - a disease or just a weak will?

First of all, a huge thank you to Mary Anne for posting such a positive comment about the site. I really appreciate it. As I keep saying, the more you put into this site, the more both you and your fellow sufferers will get out.

So, what do you think? Is alcoholism a disease?

I think so, but I also think that the implications of that statement could allow some people to wallow in self pity, and think that it is up to someone else to sort it out for them.

I argue elsewhere on the www.baclofen4alcoholism.com site why I believe alcoholism to be a chronic, progressive, potentially fatal disease. Along the same lines as asthma or diabetes.

However, with both of these conditions, the patients themselves have a very significant responsibility to help their management or treatment run smoothly.

Exactly the same pertains to alcoholism.

We all know that.

The issue is that the medical authorities,the government, and the public do not, on the whole, seem to see it that way. They seem to think that it is just a bunch of sad old drunks, who have no will power and deserve absolutely nothing in the way of help.

Even more cynically, the government actively promote a toxic alcohol environment, where alcohol is the norm. Much more of that another day.

Until our problem is recognised for what it is, we are never going to get the help and support we truly need.

Please let me know what you think.

Don't forget, all you have to do is join Blogger. It takes about one minute, and is free, and then you can post comments to me all you like!

Don't you hate computers? - you probably dont!

I've had another really crap day trying to sort out computers, and e-mail addresses, and web manager pages, and domain hosting sites and all manner of other lots of nonsense that I did not know even existed until I decided to set up the web site

www.baclofen4alcoholism.com

I've not done a single constructive thing other than mess about trying to tie knots in fresh air.

I have absolutely no idea if anyone is really being helped by this site. I'm a really busy guy with lots of other things to do, but this site just feels right to me. Maybe I'm naive; a dreamer.

All I can say in absolute honesty is that the site I have built myself totally from scratch (and now had to totally rebuild myself at considerable expense) would most definitely have helped me when I was considering starting Baclofen. In fact, it would have been a God Send.

I genuinely believe in the good that it can do.

Anyway,

You must all take care of yourselves and each other. We ARE a community of sorts. Not many people understand us like we do.

We must form a syncytium. Yes, I am naive. But there is power in numbers.

What say you?

Welcome to the new daily update

Hi there

Welcome to this first of the new daily posts that I am calling 'Thought for the day', and I shall put on whenever there is something new to say about either my own progress or the use of baclofen in general.

I t will allow me to vent my spleen about anything and everything to do with our condition and the treatment it either does or does not receive.

Hope you enjoy them!