Hi, I started drinking when I was 13 years old. I'll be 32 next month.
I've struggled with alcohol pretty much my whole life. I would quit drinking on and off. Most of the time it was off. Things slowly got better as I got older. I have also suffered from depression and anxiety since I was a teen.
I stopped drinking completely for a year. I was tired of the hang overs and idiotic behavior. In that time I focused on doing other things that made me happy. I also decided to finally get treatment for my Social Anxiety problem.
I went to a Psychiatrist and was put on medication. I tried several different medications over a course of two years. The last medicine I was on was Zoloft.
Shortly after I began these meds, I started drinking again. At first it wasn't a problem, but of course it soon became one again as it always does. I almost lost my husband because I could not stop drinking. I used to just drink on the weekends (him and myself), but I started drinking during the week in the daytime. He was not pleased by this and told me over and over again that if I didn't stop we'd have to get divorced. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't stop.
Then I heard that some people that take Anti-Depressants can develop addictions to alcohol and gambling. I thought maybe this was why I was having such a hard time.
About 2 months ago I stopped taking all medications. I've also stopped drinking again. It wasn't easy so I decided to take up a new hobby to help keep me busy.
I bought a fish tank and it keeps me pretty busy. When I'm not out buying things for the tank, I'm reading about the aquarium hobby. I have books and I also joined sveral online community forums.
My point is that if you can find something to replace alcohol it will make things alot easier and perhaps increase your chances of quitting.
The aquarium hobby is just one example. You have to find something that is going to keep your interest and is enjoyable. And most importantly BUSY. Maybe try to learn a second language, or anything else that you've always thought about doing but never have.
Take up reading. Not only do I have a new hobby, but I buy lots of books to educate myself on the subject. It's fun because I'm reading about something I enjoy. I'm planning to buy some more books about other things that interest me.
Use the time that you would normally spend drinking to enrich your life instead. After a while you won't have time for drinking anymore, because your life will be filled with new and interesting things that you'd rather be doing.
I hope that this will inspire someone. It took me awhile to figure out, but it's what works for me.
I'm on anti-depressants . That's interesting what you say about taking anti-depressants and drinking . My opinion about that is if one starts to drink alcohol and abuse it and is on anti-depressants is just coincidence . I'm a recovering alcoholic and had issues and I turned to drinking . I don't feel that me being on anti-depressants caused me to start abusing alcohol . I'll look into anti-depressants and drinking . Thanks
I'm sure not everyone who takes anti-depressants has this happen. Just like alcohol, Anti-Depressants effect everyone differently. For me they magnified my already existing problem with alcohol. You're not even supposed to drink when you're on them. Being on these pills and drinking felt 10 times better than just alcohol alone. I guess that's why it was even harder for me to stop.
Hi all,
I usually post on the family board, but this interested me. My husband's doctor told him (my husband's an alcoholic and crack addict) that the antidepressants he prescribed would do no good with my husband drinking as they would "cancel eachother out." Since alcohol is a depressant, in other words, he would never feel the (full) effects of the antidepressants. When he was still drinking he would complain that the pills didn't help. Now that he is clean, he sees how much they do.
Maybe they lifted you up so much they put you into a false sense of security, hence you started drinking again? Just a thought.
I usually post on the family board, but this interested me. My husband's doctor told him (my husband's an alcoholic and crack addict) that the antidepressants he prescribed would do no good with my husband drinking as they would "cancel eachother out." Since alcohol is a depressant, in other words, he would never feel the (full) effects of the antidepressants. When he was still drinking he would complain that the pills didn't help. Now that he is clean, he sees how much they do.
Maybe they lifted you up so much they put you into a false sense of security, hence you started drinking again? Just a thought.
That is good advice about a hobby. I've heard that already but needed to be reminded. Thanks.
Cailyn
Cailyn
Personally for me I love travelling and roller coasters and go all over the country. That's my main hobby. Then again if I didn't spend all my life savings on booze I would have had more money for those things. Hopefully this year I will!
So yeah, hobbies are a good thing, or even learning new hobbies.
Actually for the past 3 years or so the roller coaster thing was the ONLY time I wasn't drunk. I think I may have been inebriated a few times but never it never "enhanced" it. When I am on a roller coaster the last thing I am thinking about is booze.
I thought about getting back into (playing) music as I haven't touched that in years during my "rut".
The fish tank hobby sounds interesting. I am sure it keeps you very busy!
Anything is better than sitting around drinking and feelings sorry for yourself. That's how I was.
So yeah, hobbies are a good thing, or even learning new hobbies.
Actually for the past 3 years or so the roller coaster thing was the ONLY time I wasn't drunk. I think I may have been inebriated a few times but never it never "enhanced" it. When I am on a roller coaster the last thing I am thinking about is booze.
I thought about getting back into (playing) music as I haven't touched that in years during my "rut".
The fish tank hobby sounds interesting. I am sure it keeps you very busy!
Anything is better than sitting around drinking and feelings sorry for yourself. That's how I was.
