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To be truthful, I actually don't have any friends that I hang out with on a consistent basis. I haven't had any for several years now. So yes, I almost always drink alone. While it is a good way for me to truly relax at night, I guess I'm going to have to detox myself from this stuff and figure out a new way to relax, because it sounds like it's just not going to work out. I'm the most sensitive person in the world (and have moderate social anxiety) so whenever someone says something even slightly insulting to me during the day, I go crazy in my head for the rest of the day and I end up drinking that night. Otherwise I won't be able to relax and sleep.
Anyway, I think I need to quit. I like what someone else said: stop drinking for a month and see how that works out.
If you need to drink as a mood stabilizer there is a problem. Who diagnosed you with social anxiety? Have you seen an MD or is this something you heard on TV because the term is used a lot on TV in drug ads trying to promote various drugs.
I drink because I just don't have a life. I don't have friends. I live far away from my family. I'm either at my apartment or at work. Other then the usual errands, I don't go out. I'm afraid of people. I don't know how to be social. I don't get people around my age. I always end up getting along with people who are older. I feel like I'm a baby in some ways inside and in other ways an old soul inside.
I see what you're saying though. I can see it getting even worse as I grow older. I just think that for a sensitive human being like me, it's just not going to work out.
You drink because you don't have a life? No, drinking takes away your life....for years and years my husband worked and did little else, but, come home and pass out drunk on the bed every single night and **** himself. We couldn't speak at night because he was passed out. On the drive home from work I knew if I broke down I couldn't call him since he was drunk. There would be no after work plans since he would be drunk. There was also the possibilty he could become agitated and cause a rage and a fight as drunks tend to do. You just never know. The day after my father died instead of comforting me my husband got drunk called me a ******* ***** and claimed I ruined his life. He also was going to knock my block off, but, that was nothing new. NOW THAT IS WHAT I WOULD CALL NO LIFE. Thankfully my husband and his friend are now sober one year and hopefully they will stay that way, but, who knows when and if the hurt will ever go away.
If you need to drink as a mood stabilizer there is a problem. Who diagnosed you with social anxiety? Have you seen an MD or is this something you heard on TV because the term is used a lot on TV in drug ads trying to promote various drugs.
I diagnosed myself. I read on SA forums and I'm just so sure of it.
And night #1 is finished. I'm drinking decaf coffee.
Since you don't seem to mind excercise why not do a run or take a brisk walk in the evening when you're tense and anxious to clear your mind and calm down.
Look up counted breathing also. It's damn near impossible to think of anything else when you're doing breathing excercises........think of the effectiveness of 'counting to ten' ....same idea but extended.
Day #2 done. Decaf coffee again. This is the real start of the test for me as I would probably be drinking otherwise.
If you think and/or feel that this is an issue, you are very wise to "nip it in the bud".
I had a friend, years ago, who drank way too much .... just beer but lots of it.
Everyone said that she wouldn't stop drinking until she "hit bottom".
She didn't want that and made the decision to quit.
At the time she was 30 yrs. old.
She just stopped.
It's 20 years later and she hasn't had a drink since ... not a drop.
The mind set to take is that it just isn't an option.
With that approach you're not struggling with it, thinking about it, fighting it, etc..
It just isn't an option.
Alcoholism runs in my friends family and she saw the trajectory of her life and didn't want to go down that road.
If you see that your potential future involves drinking too much or alcoholism, you are very fortunate to have that awareness and change the course of your life at a relatively young age.
You will be saving yourself (and others) from a lot of pain and anguish.
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