I'm a teacher and an alcoholic...
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: U.S.
Posts: 327
I'm a teacher and an alcoholic...
Hi everyone... My name is George and I'm an alcoholic.
I'm a teacher and started seeing a therapist about a year ago for anxiety and depression. My therapist and I have been talking a lot lately about my triggers and found that I have a pattern of binge drinking when school is not in session. I tend to drink away the boredom between semesters and alcohol has been a coping mechanism for dealing with the terrible anxiety I feel in the days leading up to the beginning of each semester.
So, this summer, I quit drinking a month before the start of school. So far, so good. Not drinking has had its share of ups and downs, but overall, I do feel a lot less anxiety and am looking forward to the start of the school year. Classes begin on Monday.
Just wanted to say "hi"... new to the forum... sober since Aug. 9, 2013
thanks
I'm a teacher and started seeing a therapist about a year ago for anxiety and depression. My therapist and I have been talking a lot lately about my triggers and found that I have a pattern of binge drinking when school is not in session. I tend to drink away the boredom between semesters and alcohol has been a coping mechanism for dealing with the terrible anxiety I feel in the days leading up to the beginning of each semester.
So, this summer, I quit drinking a month before the start of school. So far, so good. Not drinking has had its share of ups and downs, but overall, I do feel a lot less anxiety and am looking forward to the start of the school year. Classes begin on Monday.
Just wanted to say "hi"... new to the forum... sober since Aug. 9, 2013
thanks
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 737
Hi George and welcome 
You have my deepest admiration for being a teacher. I did a year of teacher training a few years ago and the amount of preparation for each lesson was unreal! I was only with 6 year olds as the mere thought of being in a room with a pile of teenagers was horrible lol x
You have my deepest admiration for being a teacher. I did a year of teacher training a few years ago and the amount of preparation for each lesson was unreal! I was only with 6 year olds as the mere thought of being in a room with a pile of teenagers was horrible lol x
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: C.C. Ma.
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Welcome George. I have no idea what your anxieties are or how you treat them. Congratulations on stopping drinking as it does seem to reduce our fears if we look at them instead of escaping them drinking. There is much comforting advice in these forums. I got my training in flesh meetings at AA. Good luck.
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Welcome, George!
Good for you for recognizing the addiction pattern and talking to a therapist. It's ironic that many of us use alcohol to deal with anxiety, only to find that drinking makes it worse.
Good for you for recognizing the addiction pattern and talking to a therapist. It's ironic that many of us use alcohol to deal with anxiety, only to find that drinking makes it worse.
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: UK (England)
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Welcome George. Great going on recognizing your drinking was a problem and taking positive steps to correct this. I no longer have anxiety since i stopped drinking. It was the best decision i ever made. Lots of great support here, best of luck for the school year.
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It's coming up on day 20 of sobriety. The craving for alcohol isn't as intense, but sometimes, SMACK, there it is. The trigger. The alcohol voice says "it would be nice to have a drink"... tonight's craving trigger happened almost immediately after a speaking presentation. Speaking to a large group is kinda like a "high"; an adrenaline rush. And when it's over, it's like, "okay, how about a drink? Let's keep that high". Not too surprising actors/performers are prone to substance abuse, I guess....
On the brighter side, the emotional anxieties have subsided tremendously over the past 20 days. It's going well. One day at a time.
On the brighter side, the emotional anxieties have subsided tremendously over the past 20 days. It's going well. One day at a time.
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: RI
Posts: 86
Hi George,
I'm a teacher as well....20 1st graders are about to descend on me for our first day. I'm happy to be doing it sober.
Congratulations on your 20 days, that's a fantastic accomplishment. If you ever want to chat with a fellow teacher, I'm all ears. Let's make this a sober school year!!!!
I'm a teacher as well....20 1st graders are about to descend on me for our first day. I'm happy to be doing it sober.
Congratulations on your 20 days, that's a fantastic accomplishment. If you ever want to chat with a fellow teacher, I'm all ears. Let's make this a sober school year!!!!
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It's 24 days of sobriety. Getting through this weekend alcohol-free was kind of a big deal for me because it was the end of the first week of school and traditionally drinking alcohol was something I would do during the long holiday Labor Day weekend. I was fine Friday night - went to a cook-out where alcohol was available but I abstained without much trouble at all.. Saturday and Sunday was a bit more challenging, though. The cravings would come and go... I'm doing the "urge-surfing ride the crave tips" which seem to be helping a lot. Just hanging in there. Labor Day weekend is almost over. Looking forward to waking up tomorrow without a hangover. :-)
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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Hi George. 20 days? 
good for you!!! I am new here as well. Also, a teacher. I'm here because we are just off summer break and, like you, I use our breaks as an excuse for a free for all. No need to get up early and be prepared for 2 solid months? That meant that I spent not one summer night sober. I'm on day 8 now. Like someone else said, lets make this a sober school year!
good for you!!! I am new here as well. Also, a teacher. I'm here because we are just off summer break and, like you, I use our breaks as an excuse for a free for all. No need to get up early and be prepared for 2 solid months? That meant that I spent not one summer night sober. I'm on day 8 now. Like someone else said, lets make this a sober school year!
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