How much did you drink when you start?
 

Hello,

I am in a depresion, it's too difficult to recover. Now, I'm sober since October but I don't feel better. I feel guilty.

I have been a Binge drinker since I was 13. Now I'm 25 and I feel it's very difficult to me to do a lot of thing if I compare with the other people of my age. I have no libido but my testosterone is good. I think that the problem I have a brain damage or irreversible damage, and I am very afraid.

I started to drink when I was 13, not every weekend but almost. I used to drink until to feel bad. And I drank mix high drinks: vodka, whiskey, liquors..

Is that normal? Is possible that affect me for life? Are there anybody who has drink like me and now feels better.

PD: Sorry if I make mistakes in English.. I'm Spanish

Drunks that sober up and stay sober
usually see great improvements in body, mind and soul.
But, we need to stay sober for a while to see the picture.
Good luck,
Bob

I understand your need for reassurance.

There are no guarantees of course, but I ended up drinking all day everyday for several years - if I can come out the other side happy and healthy I believe you can too IgresAlp :)

D

All I know for sure is once I get started drinking in short time I don't know how to stop

I can relate to starting drinking at a young age and I'm 28 now and relatively new to sobriety.

To be honest, my drinking escalated massively. Someone in AA told me that was a sign of addiction a couple of years ago and I shrugged their comment off, but it's true, i just didn't want to face up to how much I was drinking/using.

I had withdrawals that were pretty bad last time I sobered up (I've been sober for several months now) and the fear of it made me feel horrendous for about 4-5 days. On the 5th day I woke up and felt like I wanted a cup of coffee but didn't *need* coffee to get rid of the nausea I had when I was actively drinking.
After a week sober my anxiety really started to chill out and after a fortnight I'd put a lot of effort into keeping myself busy and studying addiction, which I think helped me a lot as I felt less alone and started feeling somewhat "normal".

Easily 30 days was the biggest thing for me. When I got 30 days I was like euphoric haha

it takes time to feel better. I hated my life when i got sober. I hated my life when i wasnt sober. so for a while there after i got sober it just sucked. It was not as good as everyone made it out to be by any means. It was only a TINY bit better each day. But in time it actually did get better it was just a painsteakingly slow process. But it was worth the struggle etc..

I felt rather defeated. I was damned if I do damned if i dont. I think i realized I couldnt win. I could not have my cake and eat it too. I had to learn how to live life sober if i wanted to be happy. I had to figure out how to accept that and move forward.

it takes time you'll get there.

Lots of good advice here Igres, glad you came back to seek help. Recovery is a physical and mental thing. It took me several months to start feeling better in some areas. I also found that I had underlying anxiety issues that I had never dealt with all my life so I'm dealing with those now too - quitting drinking in itself didn't solve that problem.

If you know your testosterone levels are normal I"m assuming that means you've seen a doctor? If not it's not a bad idea to get a checkup. Don't rule out psychological factors like depression and anxiety either, and remember that those issues are very treatable so seek help from a therapist if you feel the need.

I drank just like you. Got started at 13, was nearly dead at 22.

I stopped once for a few months when I was 21 after the court sent me to a mental hospital. Maybe four or five months I did not drink, and at the end of that I was so full of fear and anxiety that I could not function. I drank again.

The next time I was 22. My doctor had told me I would live no more than 6 months if I kept on. I had malnutrition, hallucinations, the works. I could barely function, actually I could not function.

I went to AA this time, and got involved in the program. That made the difference. Where sobriety was miserable before, now my life took on new meaning, and many opportunities came my way. I felt good, not crazy happy, but certain inside that I was on the right track. That was more than 36 years ago. It took only a few weeks for the changes to happen.

Drank like you too, until 30. My growth into feeling ok has been gradual over years of sobriety. For me it takes time, but it is worth it. Getting better even a half percent over six months is getting better. If I drink I go back to zero.
So it give it time and walk the path. Things do get better.