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Discussion

Scared to Seek Help

Hi all,

I'm a nursing student with a drinking problem. I feel I am at the point when outside help from a therapist may benefit me. However, I am scared because I do not know if a therapist would report my issues with alcohol to the BON. I know that therapists are only supposed to report things that post a danger to the patient or others, but I'm unsure if this would qualify as a potential danger to others, being in the medical field. I do not want to get reported and have to work with an encumbered license right from the start.

I'm thinking about going to a SMART recovery meeting instead of an actual therapist, as the one on one has never worked well for me. But that itself poses new fears of possibly seeing someone I know, or again, someone at the SMART meeting reporting me to the BON. I know that I could just not tell them that I am in nursing school, but would really prefer to be able to incorporate that aspect of myself into the discussion, because it plays a big role in who I am.

Thanks for any insight or advice you can offer!

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    • Featured Replies

    I wish I had sought help outside of peer assistance. Go to AA. Go to smart meeting. Just get some help Don't tell them you are a nurse.

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    Don't tell anybody you are a nurse in therapy or counseling. This site is full of stories and I've seen many examples of nurses being reported to the BON for seeking help. Truthfully all's I've seen with the professionals in treatment is a rehashing of 12 step mantras. Avoid the middleman and go straight to AA. I loathe 12 step meetings but they do help some. I wish I could advise you about SMART recovery but I'm forced to do 12 step meetings and they won't accept attendance at SMART recovery. Good Luck to You!!!

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    • Columnist

    I know how hard it was for you to type this post and imagine you feel as if in a pit and can't climb out. Above anything, you deserve to seek help for yourself and to live joyfully each day. You do not owe anyone an explanation or details of your disease and would not share in nursing school at this time. For me, AA meetings are more effective than counseling/therapy. It's difficult for therapist to understand if they have never been in active addiction or alcoholism. I hope this helps... you can read a consequence of my drinking- click on my name, go to blog and article Confronting Jane- From Perspective of an Alcoholic Nurse.

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    • Author

    Thank you for your help. I will take what I've heard here and go to a meeting but not mention that I am in nursing school. I hope you all are going well with your own recoveries.

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    Mag

    Thank you for your sentiments but I'm not in recovery. Recovery is a personal choice and nurse monitoring is not. I'm in a nurse monitoring program. The minute I'm done with this travesty I'm pouring myself a drink. God Bless & Good Luck!!!

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    Hi, Support is Vital- and all you really need is just one individual that you feel you can trust , an individual that you can do activities with and talk to without the need for the liquid medication alcohol(someone else looking to seriously overcome the same disease, that's why a AA suggest getting a sponsor, member of a church, )- you will then become familiar with experiences of where drinking WILL lead you, then you become more and more educated or aware every day while you detox from alcohol dependence but it definitely is a day at a time. Figuring out what YOUR TRIGGERS are, Why are you medicating yourself with this drug in the first place and it's a day-to-day self therapy. It's not luck it's a blessing you became aware of this. Take care of yourself first.

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    Don't disclose that you are a nurse and cast your net wider to include AA as there are not as many SMART meetings but remember we share in a general way. People believe what they see on TV shows and seem to think nurses with an alcohol problem all dip their ink in the company drug supply, that and they also believe we have uncontrolled access to controlled drugs. I was a waitress when I got sober. Not only that but I lived in quite a small town so everyone knew, they knew when I was in college and when I became a nurse.

    But sobriety was nearly 30 years ago and everyone I knew in AA also knew my polysubstance involved substances which kept me awake to drink more, not opiates (think 1980s intranasal powders...)

    And I do not recall the BON asking about past history of drinking, as I had never been arrested this was my business only. I had been sober for a few years back then.

    Don't let your worries stand in the way of recovery. Without recovery it will be much worse if you end up under BON microscope. Best of luck!

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    First, good for you! You have a problem, realize you have a problem and you are willing to seek help. Second, for the sake of your future career as a nurse please do not disclose this to anybody outside of your personal support system. Absolutely nobody that could potentially use this information against you should know. Some people would gleefully turn you in to whatever agencies they feel should know about your problem. Some out of spite, some out of a misguided attempt to do the right thing. In this case I would say get all the help you need to get sober and stay sober but keep in mind the "anonymous" part of AA can and should be kept anonymous.

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    On 9/28/2018 at 1:38 PM, SpankedInPittsburgh said:

    Mag

    Thank you for your sentiments but I'm not in recovery. Recovery is a personal choice and nurse monitoring is not. I'm in a nurse monitoring program. The minute I'm done with this travesty I'm pouring myself a drink. God Bless & Good Luck!!!

    I have to apologize... I clicked the “ laugh” emoji- NOT to mock you or your ordeal , but the Frank way you said what you planned to do once you finished the program, it struck me SO FUNNY.???‍♀️.I kinda needed this laugh tonight ! Thank you!

    Hope you are well! Good luck in everything... and God Bless!

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