Does anyone else use alcohol to blunt the ability to think?

[DexWeedAndMe]

Hello all!

So, I've finally come to terms with the fact that I'm an alcoholic. What can I say? I just love it. Despite realizing how absolutely terrible it is, and all the problems that it causes in the world, I love it. Nothing causes me euphoria quite like it. I've been around the block in terms of substance use, pretty much done all there is to do, but nothing gets me off like alcohol. With that being said, I realized something last night, while drunk. I was with a few of my friends, and I smoked some pot to begin the night. I used to love pot, now it makes me anxious. Well, after that was all said and done, I was really inside my head. Everything I wanted to say was thought out inside my head before saying it. Rather than just saying things, I over-analyzed it and generally spent much of the high sitting around and being completely non-conversational, because I was stuck in my head. Wasn't paying attention to what was going on around me, just thinking.

Now, I naturally am a very anxious person. I've been told by people I'm close to (whom are much older and wiser than I) that it's because I'm really intelligent (I hate saying that. It makes me feel conceited. But I am, in fact, an intelligent person, and I can admit this) and therfore I think too much. I tend to over-analyze things, and just generally think too much about everything, which leads to anxiety. My biggest issue with it, however, comes in social situations. I have a lot of friends, and am by no means an outcast, but I'm terrible in new social situations, because, rather than just acting and saying things, I sit there and overthink about what I'm going to say. Some people seem to just be so natural when it comes to wittily responding to things and the art of conversation in general. That is one thing that I will forever wish I was good at, but sadly, it's just not my forte.

This is where alcohol comes into the picture. Whenever I drink, the desire/ability to think just shuts off. Any filter I have is removed, and I love it. I don't think about the things I say or do, I just do them. Naturally, this has caused some potentially bad situations in the past, because there are some times where one feels a potentially bad situation to be a good one, and doesn't take the time to think about it and realize it's not a good idea. But for the most part, I find it really comforting to have the ability to think being shut off. I had never given it any thought before, ironically, but this epiphany just dawned on me out of the blue today. I am an alcoholic because I think too much, and alcohol dulls my ability to think, and that is what it is that I love about it. So I was just posting to find out if there are any other people who might be able to relate to me in this aspect? Also, if anyone has any generally helpful advice about more healthy ways to deal with this, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to hearing it. Thank you all for your time. Peace and love to all,

-DWM.

 

[Burnt Offerings]

A LOT of people can relate to you on this one, myself included. I used to love how alcohol turned everything into a giant chaotic blur.

 

[TheLostBoys]

I use to when I was in college & several years afterwards but I rather not kill anyone driving drunk & I use to get the biggest headaches the following morning so I quit 11 years ago.

 

[neurotic]

yeah i believe that's what most people enjoy about alcohol, and disinhibition. getting drunk just forgetting about everything, that's pretty common.

i myself love the alcohol body buzz but also enjoy the stupidity it gives me, just hate the hangovers

 

[Alex000]

Well, though I don't drink frequently, when I do drink that would, basically, be the reason why. So, I can sympathize, at least with the feeling.

 

[The Doc.]

This is the exact reason people drink alcohol is it not?
O would say that's quite common.

 

[The.Ghost]

It's one reason.

I've noticed this trend with inebriating drugs in general. I have work to do but I really don't want to do it, so I take something that blocks my ability to get it done. Then I use being dumb as an excuse to not do anything productive, because I honestly can't. I take a solid drink, and a few minutes later I call off working on stuff as I feel my brain cutting out on me. For the effort of taking that drink, I'm rewarded with a few hours of lazy relaxation. It's definitely a bad way to go about it, but habits die hard.

Of the drugs I've tried, ethanol does this best. You can't work, but you don't care so much. Weed gets second place in my book because it's effects are not so insidiously subtle.

 

[pmoseman]

When I drink now I worry if what I said made sense or seemed too aggressive, but I have asked people about it and everything seems to be my own insecurity with losing inhibitions. It can go too far, where my personal safety is at risk but that is if I drink too much, like a cup of alcohol.

I guess I wouldn't consider it thinking less, perhaps just feeling more alive, but I suppose it is the same thing. The end result is being more sociable, maybe even feeling uncomfortable with doing nothing; which is why I don't see it as thinking less, I just do more, which replaces thinking.

The answer is that you have a feeling from social situations, like my feeling after I have been ;drinking, that something is wrong. But if you were to ask me about it, I would say I feel horrible in social situations and want to crawl into the ceiling or creep outside and be alone. But that it is just a feeling, perhaps you have bored people to death and talk too much, so you worry, and when you are less concerned with how people are reacting to you and concentrate more on how you feel, you just act like a normal drunk person, who is intelligent... omg! Let's talk.

I think the healthy way to handle these feelings is to ask more questions when you talk to people. Slip in a compliment if you can honestly think of one, and make sure your audience understands what the fuck you are talking about by asking them what think, etc. A few simple rules to improve your sociability. You will have to talk less and will have more interesting conversations.

When you drink you just think you are doing better, but not really better than you could sober.

Find someone who looks socially awkward and talk to them this way. Hope this helps.

 

[neurotic]

Shit just now i realized for healthier ways to deal with social anxiety. Cognitive behavioural therapy dude! It did wonders for me.

Its not about shitting off your thinking, its about changing the way you do it. I could go on and on talking about CBT and social anxiety here, i was absurdly shy and now though im not completely free from it i sincerely believe im less anxious than the average person. But im in my cellphone and its hard to type. Do a google search and learn all you can about anxiety and overcoming it. Also, feel free to PM me as id love to help and discuss some ideas

Peace!