self medicating with ALCOHOL

hi everyone. I've been self medicating my anxiety with alcohol to try and ease symptoms for sometime now and it's developed into full blown alcoholism. I know In the long run it makes anxiety worse but I'd just like to get some of your experiences or opinions on this. (Dr won't give me anxiety meds besides SSRIS due to alcohol problem)

I definitely know how that feels. Been drinking heavily since the holidays and my mom's passing. Self medicating with booze is a terrible mistake. Ruins your health, mood and wallet. I would give you an aternative method if I had one.

yeah it really does, already got liver damage and I'm only 21, plus fed of being depressed and having no money all the time

I used to drink heavily but have managed to cut down so that I only drink a little when the anxiety and whatnot kicks in. It helps, a lot. But I don't think trust myself to keep it at a healthy level. If I knew other ways to help my anxiety I wouldn't be drinking.

I can so relate to this.

Alcohol gives an illusion of relief. The next day hangover is murder for me. Paranoid thoughts, shaking, worry, guilt, anger, etc.

I finally went to AA and have been sober for several years now. I am still an anxious person, my body reacts with panic and fear towards certain scenarios so I got a tri-cylclic anxiolytic/anti-depressant that I use as needed. Doing much better overall.

Now I only drink enough to get a buzz, not enough to give me a hangover. It definitely helps in the short term. Definitely unhealthy in the long term though, and I don't suggest drinking as a solution because it can (and most likely will) get out of hand very quickly.

Good for you Chulture, but sounds like Lostboy is in it deep. I was pissing the bed after drinking all night and then doing it all over again the next day. I had fat in my liver in my twenties. Liver damage at 21, Lostboy, that's heavy. My only regret about getting sober? That I didn't do it earlier, like when I was your age and I knew it back then already. It doesn't really get better. You've got to stop, even if for a couple of months. Go to a group, get some help, it won't hurt you, promise. Take care.

violet8 wrote:Good for you Chulture, but sounds like Lostboy is in it deep. I was pissing the bed after drinking all night and then doing it all over again the next day. I had fat in my liver in my twenties. Liver damage at 21, Lostboy, that's heavy. My only regret about getting sober? That I didn't do it earlier, like when I was your age and I knew it back then already. It doesn't really get better. You've got to stop, even if for a couple of months. Go to a group, get some help, it won't hurt you, promise. Take care.

Thanks Violet, I know I need to get clean, its just such a struggle though. Thanks for your words of support. Take care too

Have you tried any alternative methods to calm yourself down? Exercise really helps me keep things under control. I'm not talking about half assed exercising like a walk around the block, something that really makes you expend all that pent up energy/anxiety you have (sprints, weight training, etc.)