Why oh WHY is giving up alcohol so hard? What is it about it that makes me just want to go back and back to it even though I KNOW it is bad for me? I can't answer that right now, I know the answers are in me I just have to find them.
This whole thing with my dad having cancer and my uncle dying has had an emotional impact on me and the only way of coping (that I know and have used for years) is to drink!
Everyone is in bed and I'm up alone. I don't want to go get my mum because she needs her sleep and she just worries about me. It was her birthday today too so I don't want to wreck it for her by being insecure. I guess I'm scared of being alone, alcohol is there like a friend, my good old friend, a bond I NEED to break! I need to quit smoking too...
It's just so hard, does anyone have any advice on how to combat anxiety???
Thanks,
Izzy X
Izzy, have you tried square breathing? Basically you breath in through your nose to a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, exhale to a count of 4 and just repeat. It is very relaxing.
I've heard meditation is also good, I have a few relaxation cd's that I listen to also when things are going wacko. Concentrating on your breathing, or relaxing your body part by part is a great way to drown out the committee in your head.
Don't drink, you will not enjoy it because of the guilt and will so regret it the next day.
Easier said than done.
Izzy, you are a miracle, you have done so well, find something to occupy your mind...to keep away from the alcohol....you know that it solves nothing and compounds everything.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs honey}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
I've heard meditation is also good, I have a few relaxation cd's that I listen to also when things are going wacko. Concentrating on your breathing, or relaxing your body part by part is a great way to drown out the committee in your head.
Don't drink, you will not enjoy it because of the guilt and will so regret it the next day.
Easier said than done.
Izzy, you are a miracle, you have done so well, find something to occupy your mind...to keep away from the alcohol....you know that it solves nothing and compounds everything.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs honey}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Hi Izzy. I know how difficult it is for you and to be stressed and want alcohol.. Please tell yourself that you are strong enough to pass it up tonight. Just for now. Don't think about tomorrow or next day. Just for now don't drink. I know its hard for you right now but drinking will only make things worse for you. You will probably feel guilty about it and as you already know alcohol will only make you feel more depressed. Play with your pets to try and combat some of your anxiety and do the breathing exercises like bumpsnomore had suggested. Listen to some soothing music and try and think as positive as you can. You may even watch a comedy program on TV anything to get your mind of drinking and lift your spirits. Know you are not alone Izzy and keep in mind that people do care about you and your situation. God bless and be safe ((((( ))))))))
Izzy,
First of all, I want to commend you for telling on yourself and being honest with all of us. I can totally relate to having an emotional relapse and the obsession of alcohol! I've had stressful days over the past few weeks but guess what (sounds trite but so true), if I can do it, so can you.
Hang in there, keep sharing, and just don't drink FOR TODAY.
Sending you good energy and prayers,
Zipper
First of all, I want to commend you for telling on yourself and being honest with all of us. I can totally relate to having an emotional relapse and the obsession of alcohol! I've had stressful days over the past few weeks but guess what (sounds trite but so true), if I can do it, so can you.
Hang in there, keep sharing, and just don't drink FOR TODAY.
Sending you good energy and prayers,
Zipper
Izzy, things are so so hard for you at the moment. Imagine, if you can get through this without drinking then you are just so incredibly amazing!!
Izzy,
ANYONE going through what you're gong through would be finding it incredibly tough. Acknowledge that fact and recognise and celebrate your capacity for handling what life can throw at us mere human beings.
One thing that works for me is knowledge. Know thine enemy. Anxiety is an animal reaction, a physiological reaction to the immediate stress of a perceived threat. The key word is perceived. There is a small part of the brain, named the amylgada, which reacts to perceived threats by initiating a primitive fight or flight response. The problem is, it is VERY primitive....it doesn't hang around and ask questions about whether the threat is REAL or not, it just wants to save our life.....so it floods us with adrenaline and we feel like running or fighting (a few months ago I once found myself leaping up off the sofa and wondered what the h***!?). The point is that in cases where we are feeling threatened by life changes or illness or whatever the flight or fight reaction is often worse than useless and we get flooded with anxiety for no good reason.
One way to combat it is to recognise that anxiety is ONLY A FEELING....there really isn't a sabre toothed tiger at your door (if there is, grab its tail and hold on, you'll be worth a fortune).....it's just that a primitive part of your brain is responding to rising levels of concern in your modern mind....and possibly to some vaguely familiar triggers in your environment....that's why some people get phobias about spiders or whatever...a spider might have been in sight when they were genuinely frightened about something.
Anyway, that's just background in case it helps. The important point to remember is that in THIS case, your anxiety is JUST A FEELING that makes you feel your life is at risk when in fact you are perfectly safe, albeit with some difficult issues in and around your life.
If it persists when there are NO obvious disturbances in your life it might be your unconscious trying to communicate something to your conscious mind. I know some counsellors use a technique of encouraging clients to welcome the anxiety, be fascinated by it, recognise it as only a FEELING, not an objective, actual threat, and cherish it as a feeling trying to communicate something to you....feelings are our friends, even the ones we've been taught/learned/decided to fear and deny.......
Feelings are our compass and have important things to tell us, and in harness with our conscious mind and intellect can take us to wonderful places. Until we learn to work with them they can be a bloody pain!
I'm taking baby steps with all this Izzy and your posts and your example have been of immense help to me since I came here. I am deeply grateful.
Please keep yourself safe and well.
btw, have you noticed how "alone" you are in this thread? No-one with your heart and shining soul will ever be alone.
ANYONE going through what you're gong through would be finding it incredibly tough. Acknowledge that fact and recognise and celebrate your capacity for handling what life can throw at us mere human beings.
One thing that works for me is knowledge. Know thine enemy. Anxiety is an animal reaction, a physiological reaction to the immediate stress of a perceived threat. The key word is perceived. There is a small part of the brain, named the amylgada, which reacts to perceived threats by initiating a primitive fight or flight response. The problem is, it is VERY primitive....it doesn't hang around and ask questions about whether the threat is REAL or not, it just wants to save our life.....so it floods us with adrenaline and we feel like running or fighting (a few months ago I once found myself leaping up off the sofa and wondered what the h***!?). The point is that in cases where we are feeling threatened by life changes or illness or whatever the flight or fight reaction is often worse than useless and we get flooded with anxiety for no good reason.
One way to combat it is to recognise that anxiety is ONLY A FEELING....there really isn't a sabre toothed tiger at your door (if there is, grab its tail and hold on, you'll be worth a fortune).....it's just that a primitive part of your brain is responding to rising levels of concern in your modern mind....and possibly to some vaguely familiar triggers in your environment....that's why some people get phobias about spiders or whatever...a spider might have been in sight when they were genuinely frightened about something.
Anyway, that's just background in case it helps. The important point to remember is that in THIS case, your anxiety is JUST A FEELING that makes you feel your life is at risk when in fact you are perfectly safe, albeit with some difficult issues in and around your life.
If it persists when there are NO obvious disturbances in your life it might be your unconscious trying to communicate something to your conscious mind. I know some counsellors use a technique of encouraging clients to welcome the anxiety, be fascinated by it, recognise it as only a FEELING, not an objective, actual threat, and cherish it as a feeling trying to communicate something to you....feelings are our friends, even the ones we've been taught/learned/decided to fear and deny.......
Feelings are our compass and have important things to tell us, and in harness with our conscious mind and intellect can take us to wonderful places. Until we learn to work with them they can be a bloody pain!
I'm taking baby steps with all this Izzy and your posts and your example have been of immense help to me since I came here. I am deeply grateful.
Please keep yourself safe and well.
btw, have you noticed how "alone" you are in this thread? No-one with your heart and shining soul will ever be alone.
