using alcohol to cope with social situations

[lnlybnny]

whenever i have to go to a gathering with more than one person involved i feel like i need to get some alcohol before going

how does anyone expect me to go on in life like this? this is no way of living and i don't know and don't want to make any effort to go on

 

[waterworks]

This is why alcoholism is so easy to develop. I have struggled with social anxiety longer than I even knew what it was. I never understood why I was too afraid to go outside as a kid, why I stopped seeing friends and just stayed inside watching TV. I always thought I was just a coward, and hated myself.

When I got older, I started using alcohol to help me. I didn't become an alcoholic, but I had a psychological dependence. I viewed it as a lifeline. But the aftermath side effects were unbearable. Yet, I kept on. Until I started getting black out drunk. Long story short, I would just rather die than go through that.

I tried to find a better way, I started taking antidepressants. They came with their own list of bullshit side effect. The one thing that's remained constant is my messed up brain. I have basically no close friends, I hardly ever talk to anyone besides my sister and work colleagues. And I'm ready to die. I have been yapping, but what I'm trying to get at, is to tell you don't go down that road.

Alcohol is convenient, but it's just going to make your life so much worse. No matter how unbearable you think it is now, it can get much worse. The last thing you want, this to wake up one day and realize you're an alcoholic. In my opinion, I'd rather die than live that kind of a life.

 

[lamargue]

i abuse nicotine heavily and drink alcohol whenever possible at social functions. i feel defenseless socially without any of the two

 

[lnlybnny]

This is why alcoholism is so easy to develop. I have struggled with social anxiety longer than I even knew what it was. I never understood why I was too afraid to go outside as a kid, why I stopped seeing friends and just stayed inside watching TV. I always thought I was just a coward, and hated myself.

When I got older, I started using alcohol to help me. I didn't become an alcoholic, but I had a psychological dependence. I viewed it as a lifeline. But the aftermath side effects were unbearable. Yet, I kept on. Until I started getting black out drunk. Long story short, I would just rather die than go through that.

I tried to find a better way, I started taking antidepressants. They came with their own list of bullshit side effect. The one thing that's remained constant is my messed up brain. I have basically no close friends, I hardly ever talk to anyone besides my sister and work colleagues. And I'm ready to die. I have been yapping, but what I'm trying to get at, is to tell you don't go down that road.

Alcohol is convenient, but it's just going to make your life so much worse. No matter how unbearable you think it is now, it can get much worse. The last thing you want, this to wake up one day and realize you're an alcoholic. In my opinion, I'd rather die than live that kind of a life.

thank you for your reply! i really enjoy drinking alcohol since i was a teen. throughout the years i reckon it's been more and more unbearable to socialize, that's why I've been isolating for over 10 years. in the last couple of months i feel i HAVE to have drinks before socializing. i wish i didn't need to socialize from time to time

 

[Linda]

whenever i have to go to a gathering with more than one person involved i feel like i need to get some alcohol before going

how does anyone expect me to go on in life like this? this is no way of living and i don't know and don't want to make any effort to go on

That's OK, as a temporary way of dealing with your problem. But try to gradually cut down the amount of alcohol you need over time. (You will need to make a conscious effort to do that, because the natural tendency with alcohol is always for the amount to increase over time.) Hopefully, you will eventually be able to do without it altogether.

 

[moscowmuffin]

thank you for your reply! i really enjoy drinking alcohol since i was a teen. throughout the years i reckon it's been more and more unbearable to socialize, that's why I've been isolating for over 10 years. in the last couple of months i feel i HAVE to have drinks before socializing. i wish i didn't need to socialize from time to time

I really appreciated seeing this, makes me feel not alone in this. I'm right there with you on the need to socialize and have withdrawn a ton myself. I've also noticed that it just "helps" the time go by faster and get out of my own head a bit to try to fight again another day, but you're right, it's no real way of living

 

[lnlybnny]

That's OK, as a temporary way of dealing with your problem. But try to gradually cut down the amount of alcohol you need over time. (You will need to make a conscious effort to do that, because the natural tendency with alcohol is always for the amount to increase over time.) Hopefully, you will eventually be able to do without it altogether.

i try my best not to drink THAT much, it's been 2 weeks since i last drank, and the last time i drank was bc a social gathering too. on a ''normal'' routine i like to drink only on saturdays

 

[Ishihara99]

Alcohol does help some people to cope..however it's really easy to get addicted to the feeling. My grandpa started drinking when I was a kid and I remember seeing him getting worse and worse to the point that he lost himself in it. Temptation for relief is great...but so no worth it. I'm so proud of you that you haven't had any since 2 weeks ago, saying no to alcohol is really really hard. Some people say that having a fixed day for alcohol is fine and some people say it's borderline alcoholism as you subconsciously wait whole week for that one day. However I'm not an expert. As long there's moderation I think that's okay?