Personalities

[BV101]

This is a really useful thread comrades. I used to think I was a bit of a twat over this. But what I seem to be doing is like what you lot have done. Trouble is, I don't know at what point the drink is there to blot out the unpleasantness, or has the unpleasantness become an excuse to get battered?
I really am going to give it a go wrt: staying off the beer if I can. I'd be really interested to know what you all do fill that space in and what you use a coping mechanism instead?

 

[Jimmy1]

Alan, tonight I really could have smashed down a heap, but I know it will only end with me resenting myself the next day. There is not really any coping strategy other than patting yourself on the back the next day and saying 'f*ck me, I managed to do it'.
Personally though, I just don't buy it. Otherwise it would be drunk.

 

[Wagon]

I've gone long periods without. I substitute a drink for a drink. When I worked in bars, I'd drink tonic and grapefruit juice. Now a days i drink tea. Make it cold or hot. I guess that's where the term "tea toddler" may come from. For me the process of making it and how healthy it feels seems to perform some sort of trick.

But then the problem, which happens from time to time. The ball of anxiety, pain or whatever it is that rests just above the stomach, gets bigger and bigger. Demands attention or something. I get fed up. Then I drink heavily and take about week to recover. I drink alone these days. I started getting recognized at the places I go to catch a bite. Nothing worse than being drunk and alone (on purpose) and then another drunk wants to talk to you. Dangerous situation.

Hang in there Alan.

Wagon

 

[abnvet]

I had a difficult time for some time with alcohol. It was too easy to grab some and drink with the guy as I ran away from my problems. Then came the divorce and I was stationed in Panama when this happened. Shit, in Panama alcohol was cheaper than soda. I became a weekend drunk as when I wasn't working, I was drinking. Things came to a boil after the divorce and I realized that relationships with other women were worthless without alcohol. Met my wife today and thing is, I still drink but not anywhere as much as before. I have her to thank for this and that I'm coming to terms with my problems.

 

[Sarg]

Same story here. Got to the point I drank every day. I'd get home from work, I had found the level of alcohol that would "take me away" and yet not so much it interfered with work the next day. When my career went bye-bye I was doing 12 beers and 1/3rd bottle Jack. Did that for four freakin' years after the wife died. Lost, gone!

Weirdest deal in the world, as my aeunurism grew, it started giving me painful heartburn every time I drank the Jack, so eventually I stopped that. Then the beer did, started cutting back. I would have never, ever thought I could get down to two, or less, beers a day. For me, it's a miricle. But it came at a cost. I've lost so much muscle mass and weight, I'm a shadow of what I was. And I'm sickly.

Like the man says, "one foot in front of the other".

Sarg

 

[Sarg]

Oh, but I should have added more to the above. I have, thanks to many of you learned some very good things about myself, what the hell is going on with my wildassed mood swings.....I'm told the liver converts alcohol to sugar, well, with what I was drinking, I was producing a lot of sugar. Since my drinking was cut back, no sugar. I started to pound sugary food. O.K., the sugar got me "Up" but then I would crash = deep depression. Do more sugar = high anxiety. Bouncing like a rubber ball.

Cutting back on sugar isn't that easy, but I need to find some "fast food", no not Wendy's, like I can just pull it out of the fridge and is good for me. Jimmy, I confess that I don't enjoy cooking like you do, so I got some fresh fruit to start and suggestions would be great.

Next, I think my terrible snoring might be contributing to my problem sleeping so next week gonna look into a "Nose and throat" Dr. In another thread, I think it was you, Deb, said your husband went through work on his nose and throat, so maybe that's might be what I need.

So, you folks have been very helpful to me this week, thank you all very much!!!! Have a great weekend!

Sarg