Alcohol & Personality Changes

Hi @Sahara

Don't worry, it has been an incredibly busy time for me too, totally understand.

Very glad to hear you managed to get some holidays in, I did too!

Unfortunately, I drank every day between Christmas Eve and Australia Day.
I am glad your cravings have dropped, that's really good progress.

The work stress has settled down now thankfully, I made a few changes to my lifestyle which will give me a much better balance. The only other trigger that I really had was just due to the time of year, December-January is never a good time for me unfortunately.

@Nikolai, I am with you, I don't like Christmas, either.

Luckily, my visitors left on Boxing Day and from then on in I had some peace and didn't care too much wheather I drank or not. At the moment there is around two thirds of a nice bottle of wine in the fridge and it is calling me!

I drank a bit yesterday because my hubby and I went to a free concert in the park and we had left-over wine from a dinner party, anyway. Couldn't waste it!! I was quite sober by the time I went to bed and I drank a lot of water. That has made all the difference to me.... I had the energy to go cycling this morning and everything.

Please read my post to @pip, above if you feel like it - that explains a few things.

I hope you are having a good day.

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@Nikolai wrote:
@Sahara

I have had moments exactly like that, where I know that drinking is not the healthy choice for dealing with things, but would drink an excessive amount to pass out and keep myself safe. Not necessarily to dull the emotional pain but just to be able to completely shut off and go to sleep.

I am glad you shared that, I have never felt comfortable sharing that side of it.

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I am so glad I have someone who understands this @Nikolai.

I think it is great that you all are managing .. well or to some extent ..your alcohol habits. Congratulations. With the early exposure and encouragement to heavy drinking it is extra difficult.

I have a slightly different point of view. I have posted about my substance use issues.

Recently when I have been socialising with a range of people in MH field .. alcohol was REPEATEDLY brought up by 3 psychiatrists as the great elixir and normal way to de-stress. I found it a little hipocritical. Yes those people were moderate in their consumption, but they were generally VERY HIGH CONSUMPTION people in real estate, technology and overseas trips .. just MHO.

I have developed the approach of mild social drinker .. to fit in with celebratory moments .. to personally relax .. to make the point that it is a part of our society .. and that extreme views or use can be problematic ..

My mum blamed all the family issues on alcohol and that wasnt true. It was just a way at not looking at the effects of social, sexual, historical or parenting issues. My brother was not a heavy drinker

Since Christmas .. I have drunk one bottle of wine at home .. over a few days .. to ENJOY .. and explicitly model for son .. thats its ok to partake .. a little. I had one glass of red while away on holiday ..

c'e la vie ..

Hi @Appleblossom,

That's interesting that your Mum blamed everything on alcohol..... I would say that substance abuse is usually a symptom of a deeper problem. It's not drinking to access that is causing the trouble (although this does cause plenty of troubles...!) It's the underlying problems that a person has that causes them to drink.

If you could treat the problems, then the need to drink excessively would diminish, in many cases.

Oh well, with me it's anxiety that is the probelm. Also frequent feeling of rejection that are distressing and difficult to face.

How are you doing, @Nikolai?

Hello @Nikolai and @Sahara I have been reading your thoughts about alcohol and the effects it has on your lives. I can relate to some things eg. self-medicating and response to MI or how your feeling.

I like alcohol. I like different whiskeys, a few types of beer and some liquors.

I used alcohol to help me sleep and drown out voices I hear. I am szchioaffective bipolar disorder.

My last druken stupor I tried to hurt myself. I do not remember a thing. It was 6 years ago now.

It is all different now of course. I have a apenoa machine which helps me sleep tho is not sexy lol I am on stronger medications for hearing voices.

My urge for alcohol has reduced heaps. A 4-pack of pre-mixed lasts me a week. I do not buy a bottle of spirits as I will drink it all.

I like alcohol. I enjoy the taste. But I am a dumbass if I drink too much.