Alcoholism Support Group

Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.

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First time posting

akintoo30
akintoo30
Hey. So I found this site and figured I would give it a try. I have been a binge drinker for probably 10 years or so. Lately it has been every 2 or three days, sometimes 5. Every time I do I get black out drunk...Usually alone at home playing games with friends online. Normally end up being horribly obnoxious. The biggest issue is that every year or so I have bouts of extreme anxiety and all out panic attacks. I've been checked out by a doctor and my blood work was all good but I just started drinking again even while I was still having panic attacks. They stopped about 2 months ago roughly but pop up after a binge. It's getting really old and I've told myself I need to stop. My family knows full well what a piece of shit I can be when I am drunk but they don't really know how to help. Lost at least 4 jobs because of my drinking. I can't function the next day after binging and just call in. I am doing it again with my new job and I know I'm not going to have my mom around to help me out every time I lose a job. Just a big circle that keeps going down. Alright, I'm done for now. Take it easy.
Community Leaderbobinmaine
bobinmaine
Welcome to the group, you came to the right place!

I was wondering if you told your doctor about how much you are drinking and about the panic attacks because it sounds like you might be self medicating those attacks with the drinking. If that's the case then you need to be treated for those with either counseling and/or medication. IMHO.

I went through a hospital detox followed by a 3 week IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) followed by 3 months of relapse prevention group counseling. That was 7 years ago. Today I maintain my sobriety with AA meetings.

I am sober today by the Grace of God and the 12 steps and fellowship of Alcoholics anonymous and I have never been happier!

God Bless!
thailandrose
thailandrose
Hi, I am trying to quit too. AA is helpful or CR (Celebrate Recovery) at your local church. Try to get a sponsor soon too. Hang in there! We can do this.
jeffneedshelp
jeffneedshelp
Akintoo, welcome.

This is a good place to get help and be with like-minded people.

I was a very bad binge drinker. I'm 18 months sober, and not looking back. I am grateful for AA, and the miracle of the program.

Post your questions here to get help.
paulokes
paulokes
Hey welcome

Anxiety and panic attacks yep. There were always worse for me in the morning I couldn't make it work. Sometimes i couldn't make it in because of the anxiety and sometimes the full on anxiety was because I couldnt face calling to say I couldn't make it in - go figure :)

Either was drink is not a great solution for fried nerves if you know what I mean.

Welcome, good luck and let us know how your efforts to stay dtopped go. Many folks here who have walked the path before.

P
paulokes
paulokes
^ oopsy...either "way" drink is not a great solution for fried nerves. Fat fingers and a small keyboard :)

P
akintoo30
akintoo30
Thanks for responding. I normally want to drink when I am feeling really good, sometimes it makes it easier to socialize. Always seems to make me lonely as hell and that is when I start letting out all the anger. Right now it has been about two days but Monday or Tuesday I will break down. I will convince myself I can drink a 6 pack and still make it to work. Doesn't seem like much but I can't sleep when I drink. Or I'll go out and get another 6. I know exactly how it all goes down, I can't seem to convince myself otherwise. Regarding meds, I've tried all sorts. SSRIs cause anxiety in me and I didn't have panic attacks like I started having until I tried one particular SSRI. So meds are out of the question. I only take my ativan i was prescribed rarely. Thought about AA but I don't do things like that. I would prefer a non 12 step thing. I think I read about a few locally but I just don't do it.....we will see.
PJ54
PJ54
Hello Akintoo30,

A few months ago I had a broken tooth that was causing a lot of pain. I thought about going to the dentist but I dont like needles, scrappers, drills and grinders in my mouth, along with listening to a lecture about not brushing my teeth properly so I avoided going. Then, when the pain got bad enough I went to the dentist. Seven years ago I was drinking non-stop and had lost all hope for the future. I thought about AA but didnt do things like that so I struggled on. When the pain got bad enough I went to an AA meeting and have not taken a drink since.

What you do is your business but thats what I did and up until tonight, it has worked.
paulokes
paulokes
Hey. So there's a thought right there..."I will break down tuesday or wednesday". Did you see? That thought pattern is familiar to all of us.

Try just not drinking today. Wake up tomorrow and if you feel lime it, do the same thing again. Some of us have many days put together like that. Not as simple or as stupid as it sounds :)

P
randomgirll
randomgirll
I too am a binge drinker. I have struggled for years, been on that hamster wheel of drinking, feeling great, black out, feel like the lowest piece of crap on earth for a day or two, then back to drinking and feeling good for a few hours, and depressed for a day or two. vicious cycle. I am on day 4 of not drinking, and I am also worried about the next few days of being able to get through it sober. All of my friends still drink, and while they are super supportive, they are supportive from afar, I have not seen or heard from them in 4 days, except for the occassional how are you text. Its hard. I am new here too, so maybe we can lean on eachother.

I have not done AA meetings yet, but thinking about it. I have found there are online AA meetings and chat rooms that are a nice babystep to getting your feet wet so to speak. It helps me because I too suffer from anxiety, and its going to be a challenge for me to walk into a meeting on my own, in person.
1is2many
1is2many
Wow I remember those panic attacks. I still get them just now I can mitigate them, I know it seems impossible but it is a possibility to get away from the booze Go find a bunch of other alcoholics and learn the reasons why and tricks to stay sober.
1-2
akintoo30
akintoo30
I get what you are saying about the tooth ache. I do have a few friends here in town. Most don't drink anywhere near as much as I do or at all. Would probably help to get others points of view who have gone through this. I might work up to that. For now this will do. Luckily I got food poisoning Saturday night so today should be easy to get through :). I guess in the next day or two we will see what happens....
Zachary18
Zachary18
Welcome Akintoo30,

Three alternatives, and there are others, that take a different approach than the 12 steps are:

SMART recovery: http://www.smartrecovery.org/

Secular Organizations for Sobriety: http://www.sossobriety.org/home.html

And for women, Women for Sobriety: http://www.womenforsobriety.org/beta2/

All 3 have face to face meetings, not as widespread as AA, but have a strong online presence. There are other ways to get help and all are valid and can be used effectively in any combination.

Personally, I did AA for awhile and branched out...
lyric82
lyric82
Sounds exactly like me. I'm a high functioning addict, so I haven't gotten in trouble at work...yet. I also have panic attacks and depression, especially the morning after. Sometimes I think the hangover itself causes me to have panic attacks. I've had issues with anxiety and depression since before I started abusing. Knowing how crappy I'm going to feel the next day, that I won't get anything done and just lay in bed doesn't stop me from getting in those few hours of feeling good. It's so not worth it, but I do it anyway. I hate it.
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