At first I wanted to go into a speech about what you're doing is not actually helping you. But I realized that what I say isn't going to matter and you're not going to stop on my account. I do feel for you. The happiness you believe you feel is only a mirage. It's not real, as much as you want it to be. Your solution is merely a bandaid. It only covers the wound, doesn't help it to heal and it's temporary. In the end you're adding to the damage and it will be irreparable. Alright I think that was more speechy than I had planned. Honestly, I don't want to tell you what to do, or what not to do. I just want to say that I'm here if you ever want to talk, or need somebody to listen. I don't see you as an idiot. I see you as a beautiful man who is lost and suffering and is frantically searching for a way home. I hope you find your happiness and peace one day, but not at the bottom of a bottle. ((Hug))

Roxie

Please talk to your doctors about this. I think I understand what you are saying about being more social when drunk, but on the other side prolonged consumption of alcohol has a very negative effect on the body.

Gentle hugs

Oh my, you may think this is helping right now, but in the long run you will see you are only running from your problems and issues. Its called self-medicating. I hope you stop.

Who says there is something wrong with you? So what if your shy, You need to get to the botton of the problem why you think your unimportant in life. Not only does alchol kill your brain cells it does other damage to your body. Unless you've seen someone who is an alcholic it is hard to understand. Please rething your thoughts on drinking.

well i messed up my liver a while ago too, from a suicide attempt, so i only drink to a point where i can take it, not to puke, lol you dont want to throw up blood every night, i did once and no more that freaks me out alittle bit. I think i have to drink to have the things in life i want.

OK, I am going to say it, YOU NEED TREATMENT for alcohol. You are self medicating your depression and that is not good, especially when you have live damage and have to worry about puking up blood.

You are replacing one problem with another one.

Yeah : ( It helps me cope. But then you start doing it when no need and it's a creeper of an addiction. You'll be laughing on the other side of your face in a few years time lol. Antidepressants and or therapy is best

If drinking really made you happy then you wouldn't feel suicidal when you sober up. And if your happiness was real you wouldn't be posting about it here at a depression support group. So the bottom line is, why don't you get real with yourself and stop telling yourself that being drunk is making you happy. If you were really happy then you wouldn't be asking for feedback about the issue. I agree that you need to get some real help and stop deluding yourself in to thinking that alcohol is some kind of solution to your problems.

I began suffering from anxiety and depression about 7 weeks ago. Alcohol was never an issue in my life. The first week was absolute torture. A friend came over to try and 'cheer me up' (Don't we all wish it were that easy..lol) and brought a few beers. I had them not thinking twice about it. WOW They took the anxiety away and I felt relatively normal again.....happy, social, functional, no stress. It was great! My friend left thinking he had 'cured' me and that was that. Until.......my next anxiety attack. I remembered the beer and ran over to the gas station to grab a 3 pack. I had a 24oz beer for every panic attack. 2 weeks later and roughly $150, I realized I was having 7-8 attacks per day. That's a lot of beer daily. I noticed I wasn't showering, eating (I had lost about 20lbs at this point because the beer made me full), or answering phone calls or the door. Ironically, I was using it to calm anxiety but when I realized I was out of beer it created an anxiety attack when there wouldn't have been one. I told my doctor and he gave me the appropriate meds and I bought them but still came home and had beer instead of the meds. It got to the point VERY quickly when I wasn't sober AT ALL during the day. It began affecting my sleep habits (which lack of sleep DOES NOT help the depression). I started forgetting things.....important things....like paying bills, etc. My friend who is a recovering alcoholic took me to an AA meeting and even though my problem was only, by this point, about 5-6 weeks old, I got a lot out of it. I'm not going to lie to you. I went last week and I still had beer yesterday. The difference is, I am trying to stop. I feel better when I'm not under the influence if even still depressed it's not as bad. The anxiety is barely there anymore and I'm not taking the meds still. The change is simply from lack of alcohol in me. I'm still depressed and need to do my therapy and such but I can see how much better off I am without using alcohol as a therapy. I had some good and deep cries, which helped. Faith in God and faith in myself on some deep level helps too however small. I KNOW what you're going through and what you're thinking. I hope you hear my story and relate enough to at least give a shot to cutting down a lot if not stopping all together. At least until this phase of your life passes. I will be praying for you.

I drink everyday. I very rarely get drunk though. However like effinellfire said, it is very easy to start drinking just a little earlier one day...then a little earlier a couple days later...next thing you know you're having beer breakfast every day. It's an addictive drug. I have to watch myself all the time so I don't slip down the slope.

If i was 21 id be right there with you lol. I drink when i can. Its the only way i can sleep! and it lets me speak and say the horrible things i want to lol.

hmmm I dont think alcohol helps me, i feel like it could even make u more depressed sometimes but it all depends. Sometimes it can make u feel relaxed and worry free until u wake up the next day. I hate being hung over. I find it interesting that u say the complete opposite lol. I dont think drinking is the answer to ur problems or for anyone else for that matter. if u ever wanna talk message me :-)

Does it really?

Alcohol and/or Drugs are never the answer. For about 3-4 years I used all kinds of drugs and I used to drink all the time to the point that i had an inflammation on my liver. It felt good at the time, exactly how you described it but as time went on it made me more depressed. I know you want the sad feelings to go away but that is not the way to do it. The best way is to deal with it head on with therapy & surrounding yourself with good people that will support you.
What if you hurt yourself or hurt someone else from drinking and driving? Then what would you do? If you are questioning your actions there is a part of you that knows that it is wrong. Listen to yourself and stop before it's too late.

I completly agree with Roxie 25 and Kellysue1.. They both make a lot of sense. Maybe read their posts a couple of times.