Alcohol

[Deleted member 13190]

I credit my doctor and therapist with saving my life. 12 steps not for me they don't treat the reason why you drink in the first place. Stay strong and know you always have the choice to get back up and try again and again and again if necessary!

I agree with the 12 step program. I self-medicated with alcohol for awhile. If I was feeling good I had no problems but when I was down and drank it ended badly. 2 DUI's later I'm done and realize I can't handle it. Finally working on all the issues beneath it. That's the route cause and wish I would have done it years ago.

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[Deleted member 12723]

Hi-
I became a alcoholic so I am now 3 years sober. Ilike it I'm not doing insain things anymore. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[AngelaMarie]

Alcohol is a window to feelings for me that I normally won't allow myself to feel. I can become very aggressive or cry a lot. I understand the guilty feeling. For me I feel guilty if I don't keep control all the time.

 

[heidi]

Alcohol offered me immediate relief. It's probably the first thing we add to our medicine cabinet and the first thing we need to get rid off.

 

[goingonhope]

Quitting was probably the best thing I could have done.

Good job, Mad Hatter. This here link explains how in doing so you've done yourself quite the service and regardless of how much, little or whether or not you use to drink regularly and/or in moderation.


Brain Damage Starts With The First Drink

[DLMURL="http://www.prideprevention.org/docs/BRAIN%20DAMAGE%20STARTS%20WITH%20THE%20FIRST%20DRINK%20in%20the%20news.pdf"]http://www.prideprevention.org/docs/BRAIN DAMAGE STARTS WITH THE FIRST DRINK in the news.pdf[/DLMURL]
A report of the Research by Dr. Melvin H. Knisely, Professor of Anatomy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I hate alcohol. Half a beer will cause me to wake up in the middle of the night in a state of panic, screaming. Really, not fun.

I am an oddity it seems as alcohol is the preferred social lubricant in circles around here. Small town, not much to do, you know the drill. I have a hard time finding friends who can have a good time WITHOUT a drink. Really, I think its sad that people are so incredibly boring that they can't make their own fun. I'm not bashing the social drinkers who don't always have alcohol in their hands, rather I'm referring to those who must drink to have a good time.

And, my mother was an alcoholic when I was a child. She denies it to this day. My sister wasn't around at the time, so she will buy my mom wine. My aunt (dad's sister) says its just a matter of time before reality sets in for my sister.

And, my grandmother was an alcoholic. My dad was swimming in liquor in utero. He was born with issues that are likely caused by her drinking, although none very serious, thank God.

But what I don't get are the wine snobs. Yes, those who go to drinking festivals, have basements full of wine, blah blah blah. I know a guy like that. I view him as an alcoholic in the making. Only I don't think he realizes it yet. It just seems like the socially acceptable way to drink like a fish, and look your nose down at anyone else who doesn't. And don't get me started on those some-e-cards which extoll the power of wine! Ugh, I could go on, but I think you get my point that I hate alcohol.

Fortunately my dad and brother don't touch the stuff. They have both seen the light so to speak. My aunts as well (the ones with the alcoholic mother). I have other family members which seem to be sliding down the slippery slope to alcoholism.

I'm reminded of that Ben Harper song which goes "I can't afford to lose what you easily throw away". That pretty much sums up how I feel about alcohol. I would KILL to have a mind that wasn't all effed up all the time, but so many who have a sane and rational mind apparently get bored with it and need to drink.

Anyway, just my thoughts. Thanks for letting me ramble...

 

[Shellbell]

My 'alcohol issues' have only recently become evident since going on medication and being unable to drink alcohol at all. I crave alcohol badly.

I drank a lot all through my 20's due to doing a lot of partying and requiring alcohol to 'be' with men. I also drank to stop the pain, it was quick relief.

I married an alcoholic who was abusive when drunk. But he was drinking a bottle of vodka a night, I didn't need that, so I wasn't an alcoholic right....

In my 30's, I settled down and had kids, so stopped partying and only drank on weekends - a bottle of wine on Fridays and Saturdays, and thought I was fine, still needed the alcohol to relax and 'be' with my husband, but thought that's okay. No problem with that....

Now I can't drink at all. And I hate it. I never believed I was alcohol dependent, but I have to admit that I am and my team of mental health professional have all identified this and say it's a big deal.

Man I want a drink right now!

 

[Britt.f7]

When my mom died, I started drinking a bottle of wine a night. Admitted it to my cardiologist and he asked me if I meant one of those airplane sizes. Answer is no. He told me that while one glass of red wine, and only certain types, may be good for the heart anything more then that is toxic. It took me awhile to wean myself off it but I did.

Right now I'm back to drinking it but it is maybe one to two very small glasses. I have some really small ones. It is not every night and, sometimes, I feel bad about it. I know if I drink too much I will have what I call a depressive hangover. It really isn't good to feel suicidal the day after.

I come from a family who has always abused alcohol. It is rare to have a gathering at my father's where no one is drinking. I take it back, there is always someone drinking. When I had my kids parties when they were little, I didn't offer alcohol. Some people got bent out of shape. My way of thinking was that was too bad because it was a kids party not an adult party.

It isn't easy. For awhile I was drinking before going to my dad's events. I didn't drink there but I did make sure I had enough to get through the event. That was not too long ago. Now I don't do it, but I wish I would at times.

Good for those who have managed without it. You should be very proud of yourselves.

 

[fedup49]

Alcohol was my way of coping (or not) for the last 30 years. I'm 43 now and a recovering alcoholic. I have to take Antabuse every day cause if I didnt I would still drink. Coping with PTSD is hard enough on its own, let alone throwing alcohol into the mix.

 

[Anna]

Yes. My night cap is slowly spiralling out of control. I need to get a grip. It has got to the point where I am drinking 1/4 bottle of vodka every evening.

I have an unsupportive partner who just calls me crazy which doesn't help. I quite often envy the people here who have supporters as I don't have anyone.

I need to get myself into therapy again for sure. I don't want to end up having serious issues with alcohol, it is stupid.

I feel very isolated and alone at the moment. Not something I would wish on anyone.

 

[Gamereign555]

I haven't had alcohol in a while now. The effects take a toll on the body and promote avoidance behavior. Understanding what must be done, and what you truly desire for yourself in a healthy way is going to be put in the background for those feel good moments, because beer is easier.

Most of our damaged ways of acting and reacting are prone to avoidance and addiction, part of recovering from PTSD to maintain a more comfortable life is about knowing that, and deciding to do the right thing instead which is the healthy thing. Re write your brain, by choosing something else that is healthy but rewarding also. .. It is hard though, I spent my entire life avoiding by not trying and instead choosing video games and pot.

If you spend too much time escaping into adventures in your head, your brain will get used to it and see going out into public as dangerous, all good decisions and bad ones etch themselves a little deeper into our heads, it is possible to turn yourself into obsessive compulsive, and phobic just by how you spend your time...after awhile you forget that you are choosing to run from reality.

I am very opinionated here but that is because I am a long time addict in addition to having PTSD. It is very easy for me to slip. I have to make sure that even healthy addictions I develop are to my benefit and not too obsessive.... another way to hide from reality.

Some people can drink.... I sure cannot.

 

[Anna]

Done well past few days. Drank only beer. 1 pint only! No spirits for the past 2 days! I am doing well! Got to keep it up. Need to stop drinking so much. I am breaking the bad habit.