DONUT

I have posted a few threads since I had a meltdown on the 21st May and was admitted into a pysche unit. I stopped drinking three months ago. I didn't realise that I was an alcoholic and depressed and had been self medicating with alcohol for many decades. Without the alcohol, things deteriorated until the wheels finally came off. The result is that i have ended up in a very dark place and I am plagued by suicidal thoughts. I have the AA, a crisis team, therapy (CBT) and meds- i am trying to hold onto my weight and force myself to exercise-- i am doing most things I think but i am losing ground. I just wanted to share this as I had never thought of the depression - alcoholism link but it makes sense- the following may be useful for SR members who may be in a similar situation ... Depression and Alcoholism: Five Tips for Recovery | Psych Central
I just need to share these thoughts with SR - sometimes it keeps my head above water
David

zjw

Hang in there. I never thought i was that depressed either. I thought anxiety was my main culprit. the 2 go hand in hand but are uniquely different. Each positive step truely does make life a little better. This coming from someone who said oh whats the use many of times. Sometimes all you can do is breathe or go for a walk or take a deep breath but thats the only positive thing your able to force yourself to do. It gets better.

tomsteve

pleeeeasedont give up 5 seconds before the miracle happens!

thoughts and prayers your way this morning( dont forget to pray,too!)

Bluebird1927

Don't give up David, you've done the right thing posting on here. Even if no one replies it's great to vent, I was down last night big time, posted in my blog and it took a weight off.

Keep fighting the fight mate!

CarolD

David...
Thanks for shareing that link and your expereinces...
My history is different from yours...but perhaps you wil find it useful.

The final 5 years I drank I was depressed...then diagnosed with situational depression.
My doctor said to quit drinking and he suggested AA for help with quitting.

I was not thrilled...but my sanity was shakey...so off I went
.

Rather quickly my depression began to lift...by the end of 2 months of AA recovery .
.it had vanished. Has not returned for 23 years
regardless of all the ups and downs of life.

Hope you too will soon find your way into a purpose and joy filled life....

aeo1313

I haven't checked out the link yet, but I will. I have struggled with depression my entire life- even as a child- way before I ever drank. Depression is a scary beast. I loved CBT and found it really did help. You are not alone in this struggle.

2granddaughters

And the prayers I say while walking to an AA meeting seem to be the ones that come to fruition first.

DONUT, keep attending your meetings regularly, this too shall pass.

I attended meetings daily in the first year or two of sobriety. If you knew they were giving free beer at the pub from 7-9pm you would certainly find a way to get to it... do the same to get your free daily dose of sobriety, sanity, serenity.

All the best.

Bob R

Justfor1

My depression issues got worse also when I quit drinking the first time. I went into my first major depression & hospitilization at 19. Years before I started drinking & drugging.

Will2011

Is medicating depression with drink any differnent to an alcoholic without depression? Is it the same disease?

winslynn

I believe it says in the 12&12 that the three states of the alcoholic are anxiety,depression,and excitement.Quite true from what I have seen over the years.
Alcoholism is a dark stain on the mind that lessens when we drink,stop drinking and things get darker and darker.It is the compensating actions of AA that make the alcoholism tolerable.

Will2011

So by default alcoholics at least have depressive episodes causing them to seek 'excitement' through drink? Also same goes for numbing anxiety?

Because that sums me up entirely.