Big HUG for not taking a drink. 15 months is a long time.

I am glad you didnt have a drin k...that would be hard for me. I cant put myself in slippery places to hard for me but I am only 6 months. I have had a hard time finding people in recovery that live by me to, and I only have a few of my old friends that have the respect not to drink in front of me. again I am very proud of you.

it is extremely difficult to not self-medicate when you have a duel diagnosis. i know. panic disorder especially is a real delemma. do you have a support group of any kind? either mental health or aa? in this country we have duel diagnosis groups but i'm not sure about in england. i do know i cannot be around other people who are drinking/drugging these days. i would suggest getting on the internet to do some research or calling your local aa intergroup. the aa intergroup will have some good suggestions for you. d.

Firstly, well done for doing 15 months. That is so good.

I used to have panic attacks - my first big one was about 10 or so years ago and I had no idea what it was. It took ages before someone mentioned the words panic attack in fact and I went to counselling. However I was still drinking heavily.

For me anxiety and depression and alcohol are like triplets, and it's only be stopping drinking I can get rid of the other two (on the whole).

Sometimes after suffering from panic attacks we can become over sensitive to stress. We think we are tilting over to panic but it's just normal, every day shitty stress which everyone has with work or whatever. Has you panic episodes been different since you quit the booze?

Reading your post again it seems you are doing pretty well! It's a bit difficult to get the tone without punctuation ;-)

Hi Marie, You should be so very proud of your self to be with others that drink and not drink your self. I myself stay away from those who do drink and drug.Its been 14 months for me and I really dont have the desire to take a drink but I just dont enjoy being around people who do.
And who are they to say that you will drink again? Not too suportive are they? Keep up the great work. One Day at a time if need be.....

thank you all yes its hard but we can get there am thinking of going back to aa but i cannot go out on my own as i take attack hope you have a great weekend peace and love to all

i am happy u going well gal congratulations :O)0 i suffer anxiety attacks too my masserur today said they are medicine for anxiety attacks maybe we need to ask our drs hon:O))

'but how long does it take to get better?'

There is a lot more to sobriety than simply not drinking. If you are an alcoholic, you will almost certainly pick up a drink again in spite of your determination not to.

This for me, is about quality of life. When I stopped drinking without working the 12 step recovery programme, I just got worse and worse. There is simply no guarantee that I could stay sober. I felt like shit without alcohol and I envied people who could drink normally (and sometimes even those that couldn't! LOL)

I worked through the 12 steps and haven;t needed/wanted a drink since then. I have recovered and that means that I am 'better' as alcohol is no longer an issue in my life, so long as I keep in fit spiritual condition. It doesn't mean that I am cured!

Well done you don't need it life is better without it just for today. Take care.

mj

The Big Book does not state that we are ALWAYS defenceless against the first drink.

Page 24:
We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink. The almost certain consequences that follow taking even a glass of beer do not crowd into the mind to deter us. If these thoughts occur, they are hazy and readily supplanted with the old threadbare idea that this time we shall handle ourselves like other people. There is a complete failure of the kind of defense that keeps one from putting his hand on a hot stove.

Page 43:

Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher Power.

Despite all this I know I am doomed to drink again unless I live my life along spiritual lines and rely on a Power greater than myself.

My way never worked and still wouldn't - I have proof of this.

If I am spiritually fit I have no fear or desire for alcohol today.