footscrazy
Bluelight Crew
^ Excellent words Vaya.
I can relate to a lot of what you've written Weldon. Pretty much without fail I do something terribly stupid every time I drink. I can't stop after a few drinks. For me, it's so much more comfortable to not start at all, rather than stop after two or three. I think Vaya hits on something very significant with his insight that an inability to deal with anger can be the driving force behind picking up a drink. I think you've indicated that at some level frustration has driven your drinking - frustration with work and with your relationship - but perhaps there's also an avoidance of recognising that, or dealing with it while you're sober. In losing your job you've achieved (what seems like now) a desired result, but in a roundabout way, and you've avoided actually making the decision yourself - that your job was too crappy, you were sick of being fake, and calling up and quitting yourself.
Regarding drinking responsibly, I'm sure someone has done it after having a problem with alcohol, but I don't think it's common. Is it worth risking finding out if you can drink responsibly? The consequences if it turns out you can't could be fairly high.
Whether or not you want to go down this track, there are some medications which can make stopping drinking easier, by reducing cravings. Naltrexone is one I've tried in the past, and I'm currently on baclofen. I find baclofen helpful - it does reduce cravings, as well as reduce some of the physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. It's not a cure, and I still want to drink and have to work hard not to - but it is just a crutch to help you get through. Going on any medication will involve weighing up the pros and cons of going on them, as they have their side effects as well. I don't know where you are in Aus either, but in Melbourne there is a program for drinkers called Catalyst, at Moreland Hall (called Regen now). I haven't done it myself, but I've heard fantastic things about it. Even something like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with a psychologist could really benefit you, and not just with the drinking, but your other frustrations. I've been so surprised by how effective something like that can be.
All the best with everything.
I can relate to a lot of what you've written Weldon. Pretty much without fail I do something terribly stupid every time I drink. I can't stop after a few drinks. For me, it's so much more comfortable to not start at all, rather than stop after two or three. I think Vaya hits on something very significant with his insight that an inability to deal with anger can be the driving force behind picking up a drink. I think you've indicated that at some level frustration has driven your drinking - frustration with work and with your relationship - but perhaps there's also an avoidance of recognising that, or dealing with it while you're sober. In losing your job you've achieved (what seems like now) a desired result, but in a roundabout way, and you've avoided actually making the decision yourself - that your job was too crappy, you were sick of being fake, and calling up and quitting yourself.
Regarding drinking responsibly, I'm sure someone has done it after having a problem with alcohol, but I don't think it's common. Is it worth risking finding out if you can drink responsibly? The consequences if it turns out you can't could be fairly high.
Whether or not you want to go down this track, there are some medications which can make stopping drinking easier, by reducing cravings. Naltrexone is one I've tried in the past, and I'm currently on baclofen. I find baclofen helpful - it does reduce cravings, as well as reduce some of the physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. It's not a cure, and I still want to drink and have to work hard not to - but it is just a crutch to help you get through. Going on any medication will involve weighing up the pros and cons of going on them, as they have their side effects as well. I don't know where you are in Aus either, but in Melbourne there is a program for drinkers called Catalyst, at Moreland Hall (called Regen now). I haven't done it myself, but I've heard fantastic things about it. Even something like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with a psychologist could really benefit you, and not just with the drinking, but your other frustrations. I've been so surprised by how effective something like that can be.
All the best with everything.
