What Happens When Social Drinking Turns to Complete Insanity?

[SGT Bilko]

I've was sober for a month until tonight. I had a beer with an aquantance which is what normal people do all the time. Then it cascaded out of control to me telling everyone that they don't know what ive been through. Generally a little pitty party for me. I also left and got my handgun and cleared my house before settling in my office hulled up with the doors and windows bared. I hate ptsd.


How do you guys with alcohol induced insanity not drink in the social situations of college? HELP MEE

 

[her_indoors43]

g;day sgt,...not a good day huh.....hugs mate....you got some good chatmates online?? while your hulled up in your office ......instant messaging great way to.chat .unwind as well......and quicker way to get your mind away from any danger zone your in ....log on say g'day to someone...when you weed through the weirdo's there some awesome folk online to make friends an chat to.....meanwhile...you can always be the designated driver for the college drinkers...and drink water...get to see your friends arrive home safely by a sober driver.....

 

[patrick]

The only thing that has worked for me is to just not drink at all. I've never had any self control after the first drink. By your name, I assume you're a veteran. Bunkering up like you describe here is common for combat vets, but in the long haul, it will do you a lot more harm than good. PTSD is really serious stuff. I made the mistake of denying it for a long time, or at least not taking it seriously enough, and I'm paying for it now. Good luck to you, Sarge.

Pat

 

[CaptainR]

Sgt.,

Try being honest. Just say, "I don't drink anymore, but let's hang out, and I don't care if you drink. It doesn't bother me so go ahead." Then just enjoy the friendship and have a few sodas. I've never been pressured after just bowing out with a brief "I'm not up to drinking" type statement. And as far as being in situations with other drinkers, it seems to be an individual thing. I have to be hypervigilant. I can be around people drinking to excess, and I'm absolutely fine, as long as I don't begin to drink at all. If I begin to drink, and allow myself to have enough to even feel a slight twinge of warm comfort, I know it will spiral out of control, so being aware of that keeps me grounded in reality. Others just can't be around it at all without giving in to that temptation. It's something you're going to have to decide.

 

[CaptainR]

Sorry to split the posts, but I had to go back and re-read what you wrote before I commented about this part.

Guns and booze DO NOT mix. Period. End of story.

If you're grabbing it and holing up with it for protection against the demons that haunt you, the addition of alcohol into that equation is a recipe for tragedy in the form of hurting or killing an innocent person in a moment of bad judgement.

If you're holding it with thoughts of suicide, don't do that. Alcohol is fuel thrown on that fire, and you can't allow yourself to play that game.

I've been in those two spots. And just by luck, or the grace of God, or whatever, I've avoided both of those outcomes so far. But I recognize the dangers in those behaviors. If you're gonna drink, which it sounds like you shouldn't, get the gun out of that scenario. No arguments, no negotiation on the point. Whatever rationalization runs through your mind, it's wrong.

 

[Tinyflame]

I have to agree with CaptainR.
I'd get the guns out of the house.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Guns and PTSD don't mix well and neither does booze and PTSD......Put both of them together and your asking to die, or to kill someone else. It isn't worth it.

You need to stop drinking, and get rid of the guns.........NOW!!!!!

 

[missys_girl]

You really need to get rid of the gun, i realise its probably your safety blanket, but its probably also a trigger aswell.
I know if i had a gun this whole time, id be dead by now, id have shot myself, instead, i had a razor blade, not as deadly by far i realise, but i can tell you for a fact, had i had a gun, i would have shot myself a few times over when id been drinking...do yourself and your family a favour, lose the gun.

 

[Jet]

The first thing you need to do is get rid of the gun...NOW!! Even in a drunken stupor you can't shoot yourself or anyone else if you have no gun.

Next on the list is getting rid of the booze. Find a program that fits you and can help you learn the skills needed to leave it behind. You never have to worry about turning down (and what will happen if you don't) that 2nd, 4th or 10th drink if you never have the 1st.

You asked how people "with alcohol induced insanity" deal with not drinking during social situations...well, they deal with it by not drinking.

Tell your friends the truth...I don't drink...I can't drink...that sh*t makes me crazy...whatever. If they give you a hard time then they aren't the friends you want to have around anyway.

Blessings,
Jet

 

[midi]

I can have a 1/2 pint or pint of beer, and that is it. I stay away from hard liquor-fire water makes me crazy. I tell people and they either accept it or brush it off - those that brush it off or minimize it, they either have a drinking prob themselves or aren't my friends.

Weapons - hand them over to a trusting friend or get rid of them. You are aware of the prob, so be preventive before it's too late.

It takes a lot of guts to admit these things to others and I give you big credit for that! Hope you work it out...

 

[SGT Bilko]

The only thing that has worked for me is to just not drink at all. I've never had any self control after the first drink. By your name, I assume you're a veteran. Bunkering up like you describe here is common for combat vets, but in the long haul, it will do you a lot more harm than good. PTSD is really serious stuff. I made the mistake of denying it for a long time, or at least not taking it seriously enough, and I'm paying for it now. Good luck to you, Sarge.

Pat

Nailed it on the head. I'm off the sauce!

 

[SGT Bilko]

I lost the key to my guns that night! Rightfuly so. I love to hunt and have never drank while hunting because I'd like to think myself a true sportsman. So i can't get to them which is HUGE. its so hard for me to not have it. Even though I know i don't need it. Well i'm off the sauce and back on the wagon. I go to a VA councilor that speicalizes in alcohol. You guys have been pretty helpful.