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Don't know where to begin

DevilsNew Contributor08 July 2017, 10:47 pm AEST

Don't know where to begin

I drink. I used to drink to for fun irregulary. Every now and then. 4 years ago work changed and I started to drink to forget what happened. Took some time off. Was prescribed medication. 18 months ago things started to improve, new job, new lease on life however I convience everyone that I didn't need to drink anymore to forget that I choose to drink for fun.

With that came its issues. At its worse I can easily put away 70 standard drinks in 5 days When I am not working. When working it would be closer to 50 standard drinks in 5 days. If I start early enough I can "wake up" and get myself to work...

Honestly I am lost

3 replies

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In response to: Don't know where to begin

KurraSenior Contributor09 July 2017, 9:05 am AEST

Re: Don't know where to begin

@Devils

Alcohol is the devil for you! The amount that you're drinking indicates that alcohol is controlling you. Please seek help as soon as possible to prevent liver and brain damage. More than 4 standard drinks per day can and probably will cause both.
I've seen this happen with a family member. Please don't let it happen to you.
Contacting Alcoholics Anonymous and your GP would be a good starting point. Good Luck with it all. Hugzzz 🎶

In response to: Don't know where to begin

KurraSenior Contributor09 July 2017, 9:38 am AEST

Re: Don't know where to begin

Hi @Devils
Further to my message above I'm tagging @utopia as she has personal experiences with alcohol.
Hope your day is OK. 🎶

In response to: Don't know where to begin

utopiaSenior Contributor09 July 2017, 10:24 am AEST

Re: Don't know where to begin

Hi @Devils. Thanks @Kurra.
Yes I'm one of those people that drink to feel numb. I use it to not think about things that are painful.
I too had problems with changes at work. So I started drinking more - at home - on my own.
Then I had an incident at work that led to my Mental health issues (ptsd, depression and anxiety). That's when I really increased my drinking.
I gave up alcohol for 3 months last year. Then I thought it would be okay to just have a social drink with friends. I managed that for a few months. But then the pain of feeling became too much and I started drinking again. On my own. My first drink in the morning would be a bourbon. My last drink at night would be a bourbon.
Today I'm 64 days sober. Not easy. But doable.
Alcohol is such a tempting drug. It helps numb you. It helps you forget for a while. It makes you feel like you are the life of the party. But it causes you so much guilt.
It messes with our mental illness. It's a depressant. And it can stop our medications from working.
Please talk to your gp. If you have private health cover - get a referral to a private psych hospital / clinic - where they also deal with drug and alcohol abuse. That's what I did recently. That's how I'm now off the booze.
AA meetings are good. I'm going to my local meeting in country Victoria. If you live in a major city - you could go straight from work to an AA meeting - before you go home - and start your ritual drinking all over again.
It is definitely possible to kick this habit. One minute at a time. One day at a time.
So please reach out to your gp. They will help you get the help you need.
And please keep posting here and letting us know how you are doing.
Wishing you all the very best.

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