How do I stop my SOCIAL drinking? HELP

CG822 · Post by **CG822** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:06 pm

I love to go out and have a good time with my friends, but the reality of it is that I drink to numb the mental pain.

I cannot do this anymore, it takes me 2 days to get back to a normal head. I feel that the day after I drink everything I knew was down the drain. I am not an alcoholic by any means...But I cannot help but to drink something when I am out with my friends. I want to really change myself. I just don't know how. If I stay home when everyone is out, I get so depressed and I cant rarely sit at home. The more I sit at home the more I drive my anxiety through the roof.

I feel like "ok, ill go out and hang with my friends, have a few drinks to take the edge off, Ill be ok tomorrow"

But Im just covering it up and hiding. I do this to myself, as well all do this to ourselves.

I remember not ever having anxiety at all and I can play it back in my head how Ive given it to myself. It really makes me angry and sad. I just want to get better and not cover it up.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:33 pm

Being an alcoholic is when you cannot control the drinkig and that sounds like you. Many alcoholics have anxiety and depression and are trying to cover up their pain. Maybe you should sit in some AA meetings and ask for advice from the veterans. The program will help you deal with your feelings so that you won't need alcohol to hide behind, but in the meantime......(AA) It may help.

Take care.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:37 pm

I thought an alcoholic was where you had to have it everyday and you craved it and couldnt control it? I do not feel that way at all. But maybe Im wrong..

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:44 pm

u dontdon't have to have it everyday. Some alcoholics only drink on the weekends. My boyfriend is an alcoholic and he doesn't drink everyday but he drinks when he gets stressed out, feels bad, having a good time etc... But not everyday. there are so many reasons alcoholics drink. They are not all the same that's why so many people think they are not alcoholics although drinking causes them problems.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:45 pm

Thank u! I don't know what my next step should be? Im already trying to get my anxiety and depression under control. I go back to therapy next week so hopefully she can help with that too.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:46 pm

I have a sister that's an alcoholic and my father was an alcoholic..

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:52 pm

just sit In on a meeting. Talk to an alcoholic. you may not be one but you need to find out if you have a drinking problem. Go online or call information to find one in your area.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:53 pm

Honey, you may not be an alcoholic, but you are definitely headed down that road and it can happen before you know whay hit you! the fact that you are drinking to ease your pain is the reason I say this. and the fact that when you go out with your friends you always end up having a few drinks and you feel more confused and muddled mentally tells me your drinking is more than social. Believe me, I know of which I speak because years ago I was doing exactly what you are doing now. If anything my drinking caused me to be more depressed and i finally realized drinking wasn't helping me AT ALL and these people I was drinking with weren't really friends at all, just people I drank with. Finally at the suggestion of a therapist I read a book called Chalk Talks ON Alcohol by Father Joseph Martin . what I read scared me to death ! I realized I was well on my way to becoming an alcoholic or maybe I was one already. I haven't had a drink since and that was 27 years ago. I still suffer anxiety and depression and am doing the program but thank God I read that book. I think it probably saved my life. I was predisposed toward alcoholism anyway since it is rampant in my family anyway. please find another way to ease your anxiety before you have an addiction problem to further complicate your life and cause you more pain than you can imagine. I think the book I mentioned should still be available on Amazon and I urge you to read it. Take care and I'm keeping you in my prayers. God bless!

Gale

Nanapup · Post by **Nanapup** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:25 pm

Thank u so much Gale! I think I am in denial because I really don't want to think I am one. BUT--It does run in my moms side of the family, all her brothers and her mother and father. I drank on Wed. and right now, I totally do NOT want a drink. Thats what makes me think I don't have a problem. maybe i am arguing everyones points because I am afraid to admit it. I dont know!

Lizzzz · Post by **Lizzzz** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:14 pm

I BELIEVE we can stop many things if we really need to or want to. especially things we can control like what we eat and drink. I am fortunate I guess that alcohol has always made me ill..just 2 drinks can make me so sick that I seldom ever drink anything but a soda or water when I am out. I have a great time and don't have to worry about making bad choices that come from over drinking. I really pray and hope that you will take a good hard look at your social drinking and see that it is not good in any way for you and I aggree about sitting in on some AA meeting before it's too late. You deserve to live a great life and I have never met a drinker who has that!!

God Bless and make you stronger than the drinking.