Stress Center Peer Support

Hi Free,
I can relate to your dad because I too used to have my own issues with drinking and ssri's. This is a terrible combination and your father needs help.
I went to A.A. and found it to be great. I quit drinking and learned how to control my inner anger. A.A. teaches you to be more considerate of those around you.
I don't know how much influence you have with your dad but I can tell you that A.A. would do him a world of good.
Perhaps he could also participate in this Stress program as well to deal with the anxiety and depression issues.
I can speak from my own experience that my life since quitting drinking and doing the sessions in this Stress program has improved considerably.
The combination of Paxil and drinking is extremely deadly and gets worse and worse and worse progressively. The funny thing is that while in the middle of this fatal progression one is not really aware of how bad they are getting.
A.A. gives the person a wake up call and introduces them to other people in the same situation who have a desire to "right their ship".
Do your father a seriously big favour and suggest that he at least go to a meeting in your area and offer to go with him if he is shy or hesitant.

Hi, Tallboy,

Thanks for sharing your experience with me!

I would love to be able to get my dad to go to AA and to quit drinking, but alas I cannot. When he was talking about retiring, I told him that I was fine with it as long as he didn't drink all day, every day. He said he wouldn't, but guess what! That's what he does. He knows he has a problem, has stated before that he was going to quit drinking so much, but it never sticks. He has said that he has to drink to live with me and my mom. I know that this isn't really true, but it's hurtful nonetheless.He knows he has a problem, but he refuses to do anything about it because of his denial, which most of the time tells him he doesn't have a problem. How confusing! He's 62, and he doesn't expect to live a whole lot longer, and honestly, neither do any of us because of the way he is treating his body. But I have to remind myself that it's his life, his choice, and I can't make him get help. Insisting on it will only make things worse for the both of us. The only thing that I can hope for is that he will see how much the program and therapy is helping me, and he will want to get help in order to find the same joy that I expect to gain.

I am glad that you made the decision to get sober. What a life changing experience! Congratulations!

Genie