I Need Help: UK Resources of Help & Support

I need help...

These three little words are so small yet so powerful. They have the ability to provide a turning point or a place to start.

Due to the nature of addiction and of recovery, we all need help and support when things get tough.

We have therefore created this document to help you locate the source of support and help you require. Hopefully, this will save you from searching and connect you with the right help and support quickly and efficiently.

More often than not, talking things through with someone trained to help you can help to defuse feelings of desperation. You don't have to deal with an emotional crisis on your own.

Dealing with a mental health crisis in the UK

Being in recovery from addiction does not make anyone immune from mental health illness. Whilst our wellness hub focuses on increasing mental, physical and spiritual well-being, sometimes there is a need for immediate support and help.

The following organisations can help you or a loved one if you are feeling desperate or hopeless and need a safe place to talk:

• Samaritans on 116 123 for 24-hour confidential emotional support
• CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5 pm-midnight)
• Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19
• Veterans UK helpline. Freephone (UK only) 0808 1914 2 18, or e-mail veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk.
• Hub of Hope: Free local addiction and mental health services near you, self-referral.
• Immediate rehab admission and addiction treatment: Call:03300945970 for a free assessment and to discuss your options with an addiction professional

If you're feeling suicidal or have the urge to self-harm please dial 999 and ask for the police or ambulance service. You can also visit your local A&E department. Don't hesitate in asking for help.

Need help with an alcohol problem?

If you need help with an alcohol problem, we have a wealth of resources within our platform. You can connect with like-minded others, here within Recoverlution. You can also attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or SMART Recovery meetings.

If you want to speak one-to-one with someone immediately about getting help for alcohol, please call the National Alcoholics Anonymous helpline free on 0800 9177 650.

Help for a drug problem

If you need help with a problem with any mood or mind-altering substance such as cocaine, prescription drugs, ketamine, alcohol or opiates, Cocaine Anonymous meetings can be accessed directly through Recoverlution.

You can also connect with Cocaine Anonymous by calling 0800 612 0225 to speak with a member. Their telephone line is open from 10:00 to 22:00, 7 days a week.

You can leave a message 24/7, and they will call you back as soon as they can.

Similarly, you can contact Narcotics Anonymous at 0300 999 1212

Help for a gambling problem

Not all addictions manifest in substance use. Having a problem with gambling, sex or shopping can be every bit as painful. If you are struggling with gambling, you don't need to do it alone, call Gamcare free on 0808 8020 133 or Anonymind for free counselling services

For victims of domestic violence in need of help:

If you feel you are at immediate risk, always call 999. Police operators are trained to help recognise the signs of a person in need who may not be able to talk. They will ask you some questions which you can acknowledge by coughing or pressing buttons on your phone. They will also listen out for background noise.

You can also call the Domestic Abuse Helpline for free and confidential advice, 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247.

If you need help as you think you may be an abuser:

The Respect Phoneline  is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are abusing their partners and families. It is open Monday to Friday 9 am to 8 pm. The helpline also takes calls from partners or ex-partners, friends and relatives who are concerned about perpetrators.

A webchat service is available Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 am to 11 am and from 3 pm to 4 pm.

Telephone: 0808 802 4040

Coping with thoughts of addiction relapse

It is natural to have thoughts of substance use whilst in recovery from addiction. A fleeting thought is not a problem. However, when a thought of relapse snowballs into a thought process, this is when it can become a real risk.

If you feel you are at risk of addiction relapse it is important to reach out and ask for help. Contemplating a relapse is usually a symptom of something deeper going on within. This is when talking things through with a trusted friend or a sponsor can be really helpful.

Relapse in recovery does sadly happen, yet it can be prevented providing you take action when you catch yourself contemplating it.

The simple fact that you are looking for ways of coping with thoughts of relapse, shows that you don't want it to happen. We would therefore suggest that as well as speaking to someone you trust that you also read out article on the stages of addiction relapse. This article includes helpful tips to intervene before the actual physical act occurs.

Get help from support groups

Mutual aid support groups can offer a comforting place to land when you are feeling alone and out of sorts. Connection with like-minded others is so important during addiction recovery and has been proven to work in preventing relapse.

If you have been trying to get clean and sober alone and find yourself struggling, joining a support group can make a world of difference.

Within Recoverlution, we place a great emphasis on connection as we understand just how important this is to a person trying to recover from addiction.

Whether you are struggling with alcohol, cocaine, prescription pills, narcotics, sex or compulsive gambling, help and support are available at any time you need it.

All you have to do is connect and ask.

Getting the help you need

If you or a loved one are struggling emotionally or with addiction we urge you to connect with the right people and talk things through. There is nothing that cannot be overcome with help and support. Please connect with our Hub of Hope for information on your local mental health services

Had we, at Recoverlution, not asked for help when we ourselves needed it, we wouldn't be in recovery, nor would we have stayed in recovery. We all need help and support from time to time.

Getting help is as simple as picking up the phone, going to a meeting or connecting with others. Please don't ever feel you have to suffer in silence.