polywog Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Hi All, if any of you have read or do read my threads, you'll understand that I'm going through a very tough break-up, 9yrLTR, losing my place to live with no permanent home yet. It's the toughest time I've ever had in my life. The problem is that for the past month I have started drinking daily (beer) to numb the pain. There have even been a few times when I had a beer in the morning, something I've never done before. I'm very, very ashamed of this. I'm scared because I am starting to crave drinking, for the first time in my life. And it's bringing my down physically, as I take medication for depression already (have for years now) and the alchohol just brings me down. I talked to my therapist about it yesterday and she understood why I was doing it (to numb the pain), and told me that I need to take better care of myself and stop. In the past when I've had rough times I never did this, in fact I never even touched a drop socially because I did not want any of the depression effects of alchohol. But this is different for some reason. Is it possible that I have become an alchoholic in a month? Or could this be a phase? I'm worried or I wouldn't be posting. Any advice or your own stories would really help me out right now. Thanks for reading. Link to post Share on other sites
outofdarkness Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Hi All, if any of you have read or do read my threads, you'll understand that I'm going through a very tough break-up, 9yrLTR, losing my place to live with no permanent home yet. It's the toughest time I've ever had in my life. The problem is that for the past month I have started drinking daily (beer) to numb the pain. There have even been a few times when I had a beer in the morning, something I've never done before. I'm very, very ashamed of this. I'm scared because I am starting to crave drinking, for the first time in my life. And it's bringing my down physically, as I take medication for depression already (have for years now) and the alchohol just brings me down. I talked to my therapist about it yesterday and she understood why I was doing it (to numb the pain), and told me that I need to take better care of myself and stop. In the past when I've had rough times I never did this, in fact I never even touched a drop socially because I did not want any of the depression effects of alchohol. But this is different for some reason. Is it possible that I have become an alchoholic in a month? Or could this be a phase? I'm worried or I wouldn't be posting. Any advice or your own stories would really help me out right now. Thanks for reading. First of all, NEVER mix alcohol w/ any sort of antidepressant. Alcohol is a depressant anyway, so this doubles the effect. As far as whether or not you have become an alcoholic in one months time, I don't know. I DO know that if you feel that you life has become unmanageable, in the words of AA, then yo most likely do have a problem. Drinking in the morning is not a good sign...Have you tried going w/out it for a few days to see how your body/mind takes it? Alcoholics can't because we have real physical withdrawals...We have to stay in the program and work the steps or we drink...You can never just be "cured". It's an ongoing thing. I also want to add that there are many people who start a program...A/A even if they "think" they might have a problem, just to head off any disasterous things happening...ie, dwi, etc...You don't have to be 100 percent sure to attend therapy for it or go to a meeting. Hope this has helped. Don't wait to long before addressing it either way... Link to post Share on other sites
Author polywog Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 First of all, NEVER mix alcohol w/ any sort of antidepressant. Alcohol is a depressant anyway, so this doubles the effect. As far as whether or not you have become an alcoholic in one months time, I don't know. I DO know that if you feel that you life has become unmanageable, in the words of AA, then yo most likely do have a problem. Drinking in the morning is not a good sign...Have you tried going w/out it for a few days to see how your body/mind takes it? Alcoholics can't because we have real physical withdrawals...We have to stay in the program and work the steps or we drink...You can never just be "cured". It's an ongoing thing. I also want to add that there are many people who start a program...A/A even if they "think" they might have a problem, just to head off any disasterous things happening...ie, dwi, etc...You don't have to be 100 percent sure to attend therapy for it or go to a meeting. Hope this has helped. Don't wait to long before addressing it either way... Thanks for the advice. I will try to go without it for the first time in a month and see what happens, and your suggestion to attend meetings to head off disaster is s good one. I have attended 12 step meetings before (Codapendents anonymous and alanon) so I know it works. I just wasn't sure because this drinking problem I've having now is new. Link to post Share on other sites
Touche Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 It's really not new. I am convinced that some of us are pre-disposed from birth to addiction. I would absolutely get help. It only gets worse if you don't. If you drink in the morning sometimes, your body will quickly start craving it every morning. And it will be that much harder to stop later on. Unfortunately, it's all or nothing for those of us who have addictive tendencies. Link to post Share on other sites
Author polywog Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 It's really not new. I am convinced that some of us are pre-disposed from birth to addiction. I would absolutely get help. It only gets worse if you don't. If you drink in the morning sometimes, your body will quickly start craving it every morning. And it will be that much harder to stop later on. Unfortunately, it's all or nothing for those of us who have addictive tendencies. Hi Touche, Thanks for the input. My mother's family has loads of alchohol addiction problems, tho she doesn't drink and none of us kids has showed any tendency...well, 'til now! Me!! As a result of this knowledge about her family, we (my siblings and I) have always been hyper-aware of it possibly manifesting in ourselves. The thing is, except for smoking from time to time (and being hooked on that at various times) I've never showed any addictive tendencies before. It might be that this awful stress in my life is the cause of my wanting to numb out, but maybe it's the genes. In any case, it's enough to make me scared, and I want to out an end to it. This thread has helped me out. I love LS Link to post Share on other sites
Porn_Guy Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Is it possible that I have become an alchoholic in a month? Or could this be a phase? I'm worried or I wouldn't be posting. Any advice or your own stories would really help me out right now. Thanks for reading. highly unlikely you're an alchohoic after driniking a few beers per day. Its probably temporary but you never know. Dick VanDyke used to drink a fifth of hard booze every day when he was at the height of his fame. That would knock most people out. I would refer you to my good friend A_C because he knows more of this subject. My understanding from my father and my brother (both MDs) is that minimal alcohol consumption while taking anti-depressants is OK. But you should still talk with your DR. Link to post Share on other sites
Author polywog Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 highly unlikely you're an alchohoic after driniking a few beers per day. Its probably temporary but you never know. Dick VanDyke used to drink a fifth of hard booze every day when he was at the height of his fame. That would knock most people out. I would refer you to my good friend A_C because he knows more of this subject. My understanding from my father and my brother (both MDs) is that minimal alcohol consumption while taking anti-depressants is OK. But you should still talk with your DR. Hi alpha (oops- porno), I know that it's OK to do *minimal* alchohol consumption when taking meds, but my concern at the moment is that it's become something I crave . For a small woman such as I am, I do not think a few beers is OK. Plus at this stressful time in my life, anything that adds to depression just ain't good. I hope to hear from A_C, actually. Where are you, A_C? Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Hey PW... I just saw this thread... I think you and only you can really decide if you are an Alcoholic.. since it is a denial based disease then until someone believes they are one they really aren't. This is my 2 cents... You are going thru something life changing at the moment and you have learned to use Alcohol to comfort yourself and to numb the pain away. I think you are doing something that a lot of drinkers do.. but it doesn't mean that you are an Alcoholic.. but it does mean that you have a drinking problem. You need to fix the problem and you need to start by getting out of the situation and stress you are involved in right now.. then you hopefully will be able to pull your drinking back in line. You could benefit from going to a few AA meetings.. if only for the fellowship.. you might feel less likely to drown your sorrows and stay off the drinking as a coping mechanism stuff. You are smart in the fact that you are watching your drinking and I have always felt that: If you think you have a drinking problem then you do ! but I think you can rule out Alcoholic till you get thru this life changing event.. if you don't alter your drinking you WILL become an Alcoholic.. no doubt... Link to post Share on other sites
Author polywog Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 Hey Art, Thanks for replying! What you said about leaving the situation has been true! I have been way more active away from this home I've leaving, and have spent a few nights in my new temporary place. Tho I don't like the place, it is Away.... from the source of the pain. My energy level is up, my urge to numb out is almost gone, I do not have any urge to drink when I'm in the new place... only when I'm in the house I'm leaving. I have not attended a meeting yet. One of the problems in this small town is that anonymity is not taken seriously here at all in A/A. I hear things said in meetings from friends, and know who has said what:eek: . This scares me from going to meetings here, and I would need to drive a few towns away to feel "safe". When I went to CODA meetings anonymity was honored, but when I attended ALANON here some things I revealed in the meetings made it all the way to NYC and my exH... I just felt so burned and violated that it put me off a bit. So I'm a bit shy. Anyhow, we'll see. I super-appreciate your input! Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I have not attended a meeting yet. One of the problems in this small town is that anonymity is not taken seriously here at all in A/A. Try other meetings.. Sometimes they hold them at churches and have plenty to choose from. You might also try a neighboring city. You shouldn't be ashamed of going to a meeting and going to get help.. the people there are also in the same boat as you. Link to post Share on other sites
Author polywog Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 I live in a small isolated place, so yes, a few towns away (no real cities here for 3 hours!). So thanks again, Art... you're great! Link to post Share on other sites
outofdarkness Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 I live in a small isolated place, so yes, a few towns away (no real cities here for 3 hours!). So thanks again, Art... you're great! Yeah, I agree...I do know some aaers that have attended meetings in nearby cities/communities due to the concern of anonymity... Link to post Share on other sites
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