Quitting the Juice

[sullyS1985]

In the past I have self medicated with alcohol to take the edge off and ease my anxiety around people and it worked quite well. The problem is that it was only temporary and I have realized after years of doing it that in the long run it makes my anxiety and depression much worse. I always end up waking up the next day remembering how stupid I acted while drunk and avoid the people I drank with because I think they are thinking horrible things about me due to how stupid I acted while drunk. The depression while hungover is horrible as well and in my experience, it turns me into a self loathing pessimist that is no fun to be around. I also just started talking Sertraline (Zoloft) and drinking nullifies the effects of the sertraline. I'm not really sure why I decided to post this but I hope it may be helpful to some that are in the same place as me. I also think any feedback would be great.

 

[Harleyq]

I'm glad you said this. I've made a few posts advising people to be careful about drinking because people with anxiety disorders have a much higher rate of becoming alcoholics, and like you said, in the long run it doesn't work anyways, but I don't drink so my words don't mean a damned thing, really. Yours, on the other hand, are much more influential.

It's also comforting to read about someone else who doesn't drink/quit drinking cause then I don't feel like a loser anymore, lol.

 

[dooby-duck]

I don't drink because I do fear becoming addicted to drink. If I found that drink eased my problems or took the edge off the anxiety I'm sure it would be a very steep slippery slope.

 

[sullyS1985]

Both your posts hit home, I have definitely used alcohol in an unhealthy, addictive manner due to my anxiety and i would advise to not even start because it is not worth it. Replacing the alcohol use with exercise seems like a healthier option for me and definitely has many more benefits than drinking.

 

[goldenapple]

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[Darker Than Black]

I thought this had something to do with sex when I saw the title lol

 

[goldenapple]

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[sullyS1985]

haha ya i dont know why i chose the word juice to describe booze i think i mean to say sauce, in retrospect i should have said sauce. As for whiskey and lemonade being tasty, i agree completely. I love whiskey when im drinking it but hate it when i wake up the next morning trying to remember what ridiculous drunken antics i got into and how big of an ass i made out of myself. I guess the key is knowing when enough is enough but my past has shown i cannot do it.

 

[goldenapple]

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[reslo]

good luck with your recovery!!
i have a tiny gambling problem (not quite the same, I know) but there's always a voice inside me that says i can quit when I'm down I can quit when I'm down I won't lose this time. I'll stop after x amount of dollars. But if that was true I wouldn't have come out with nothing the last time I was at the casino, and the time before that, and the truth is the more I lose, the more I need to makeup, which makes me more desparate/anxious/depressed and more inclined to gamble... So knowing that for whatever reason, when you're in contact with what makes you addicted, acting rationally goes out the window is a huge step!

 

[sullyS1985]

good luck with your recovery!!
i have a tiny gambling problem (not quite the same, I know) but there's always a voice inside me that says i can quit when I'm down I can quit when I'm down I won't lose this time. I'll stop after x amount of dollars. But if that was true I wouldn't have come out with nothing the last time I was at the casino, and the time before that, and the truth is the more I lose, the more I need to makeup, which makes me more desparate/anxious/depressed and more inclined to gamble... So knowing that for whatever reason, when you're in contact with what makes you addicted, acting rationally goes out the window is a huge step!

Yes it is a bit different but the same feelings are there, at least i think so. I experience that voice as well, the only difference is that I tell myself I will stop after X amount of drinks then I wake up hungover and feeling depressed/anxious and that definately leads to a viscious cycle. As for drinking when I wake up goldenapple, yes i have done that before but at some time a come down happens and it is horrible. Good luck with your gambling problem or with your gambling, whichever is preferable.