Bipolar + depression + alcohol = A life lived in a constant state of fear and self-loathing.
No bipolar here, but a healthy dose of depression and anxiety. I can tell you from personal experience that drinking:
- Screwed up the effectiveness of my medication;
- Increased my anxiety and panic;
- Put my self esteem in the crapper;
- Alienated those close to me; and
- Lowered my motivation to do other things that contribute to my health and well-being.
30 days ago, I realized I had to make a decision between drinking and better mental and physical health. And for me, personally, there is a clear choice to be made. I have to do one, or the other. No halfway measures one way or the other was going to cut it.
So I stopped drinking and began an aggressive program of recovery, including one-on-one therapy , medication adjustment, regular exercise, better nutrition, improvement in grooming and personal hygeine, relaxation and deep breathing practice, and a conscious effort to spend more quality time with my loved ones.
Am I "cured"? No, not by a long shot. I have a very long road ahead of me to truly make lasting, meaningful changes in my life. But I can tell you, without a doubt, that my world looks better, day by day.
I hope your husband is able to achieve the peace and stability he deserves. I am 100% convinced that he will not find it in a bottle.