Notices

Alcohol = No Pleasure

Old 01-07-2015, 12:29 PM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 93
Alcohol = No Pleasure

In the beginning of my drinking career I derived a tremendous sense of physical pleasure from alcohol. Almost immediately after taking that first sip I would feel all of my anxiety melt away, and an almost euphoric feeling would come over me.

However, as the years passed that feeling began to fade. Before long, I stopped receiving ANY physical or emotional pleasure from alcohol. In fact, almost as soon as I started drinking I would feel overcome with dread and anxiety.

Yet, I continued to drink.

It's like I was chasing a non-existent high. I suppose what I was doing was chasing the MEMORY of a high.

Did anybody else go through this?
NightNDay is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 12:32 PM
  # 2 (permalink)  
11.30.14
 
SarahB60's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: California
Posts: 401
Yes. Anxiety was the primary driver for my drinking. It became a vicious circle for me towards the end.
SarahB60 is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 12:35 PM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Do your best
 
Soberwolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 67,047
Yes
Soberwolf is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 12:35 PM
  # 4 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 34
So accurately worded. " Chasing the MEMORY of a high"

I am facing this now and on Day 2 - feel nervous, but feel great too.

And I would feel exactly the same way. Dread and fear would come on after a few drinks, and then the next day would be even more dreadful. Constantly thinking about should I have drunk tonight? Will I drink tomorrow? What will this do to my health? Will i get up middle of the night?
desion is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 12:37 PM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Member
 
PurpleKnight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
Been there and got the T-shirt!!

The pleasure for me also gave way to increased anxiety, control over my life, needing a drink rather than wanting a drink!!
PurpleKnight is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 12:37 PM
  # 6 (permalink)  
Canine Welfare Advocate
 
doggonecarl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,961
In the end, my drinking was like using aloe vera to sooth a burn. I drank to sooth the frayed nerves of my addiction.

Pleasure? Relief? I'm not sure I could separate the two in the end.
doggonecarl is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 12:37 PM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Member
 
Spacegoat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,666
Same here, I 100% agree with your title. No pleasure.

Maybe there was a time once when it was novel experience. A long time ago...

I absolutely do not associate it with pleasure in the least
Spacegoat is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 12:40 PM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 34
So accurately worded. " Chasing the MEMORY of a high"

I am facing this now and on Day 2 - feel nervous, but feel great too.

And I would feel exactly the same way. Dread and fear would come on after a few drinks, and then the next day would be even more dreadful. Constantly thinking about should I have drunk tonight? Will I drink tomorrow? What will this do to my health? Will i get up middle of the night?
desion is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 12:46 PM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Member
 
Arbor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: New England
Posts: 3,805
Absolutely. I think that's the natural progression of alcoholism. The more we abused it the deeper in the hole we got. No one started out wanting to be alcoholic. It just naturally progressed quietly on us and bit us in the rear unexpectedly.
Arbor is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 12:52 PM
  # 10 (permalink)  
Forum Leader
 
ScottFromWI's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Yep, absolutely. Towards then end I simply drank to keep from having heart palpitations and panic attacks. Problem was, it eventually got to the point where even the alcohol wouldn't stop the anxiety anymore.
ScottFromWI is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 12:55 PM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Member
 
Jupiters's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,449
Originally Posted by NightNDay View Post
I suppose what I was doing was chasing the MEMORY of a high.

Did anybody else go through this?
Love it.
and hell yeah.

I felt the anxiety immediately when I had a few drinks after a 6.5mth period of soberiety. I felt it within the first few sips, yet still had a couple glasses. Then stopped b/c I couldn't handle the gross feeling that was literally washing over me. *shudder*
Jupiters is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 12:59 PM
  # 12 (permalink)  
Member
 
SoberLeigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 120,775
Alcohol had lost its charm, its glamor, its pleasure, its relief long before the end of my drinking career. Yes - chasing the Memory.
SoberLeigh is online now  
Old 01-07-2015, 01:19 PM
  # 13 (permalink)  
Member
 
OliveDog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Upstate, NY
Posts: 367
No question. And, I knew I was drinking for immediate relief rather than any pleasure. Stopping at that stage really is like jumping off a speeding train. But, eventually, I just had to jump and am still waiting for the tumble and the dust to settle.
OliveDog is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 01:59 PM
  # 14 (permalink)  
Member
 
EyesOfAStranger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 598
I also completely agree with you, though opiates are my personal demon rather than alcohol. Chasing the dragon as they say.

Originally Posted by doggonecarl View Post
In the end, my drinking was like using aloe vera to sooth a burn. I drank to sooth the frayed nerves of my addiction.

Pleasure? Relief? I'm not sure I could separate the two in the end.
doggonecarl - this analogy is so dead on it's amazing. Could not say it better.
EyesOfAStranger is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 02:27 PM
  # 15 (permalink)  
Member
 
SDH73's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Boston, Mass
Posts: 1,004
There's a thread somewhere around here that has a link to an animated short called "nuggets". Beautifully done, illustrates the progression from high to chasing the memory of the high perfectly. Check it out if you haven't seen it yet.
SDH73 is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 02:30 PM
  # 16 (permalink)  
...holds the key
 
brynn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 7,065
Yes! Pretty sad when you get right down to it.
brynn is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 02:32 PM
  # 17 (permalink)  
Sober Soldier
 
mns1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 1,911
I never felt what I would call dread and anxiety but it definitely got to a point for me where I was feeling anything but pleasure. More like self-pity, thinking to myself, "Man look at me. This is pathetic."
mns1 is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 02:40 PM
  # 18 (permalink)  
leb
Member
 
leb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 114
Hi there, Yea I absolutely remember the first time I tasted alcohol when I was 15. It was like a magical potion which energised but relaxed me. I'm 57 now and had been still drinking and looking for that feeling. Instead all I was doing was making a big fool of myself. Then I'd feel nervous. depressed and anxious afterwards.

I am determined to feel confident and relaxed without the delusions that alcohol brings.
Good Luck, Stay strong
leb is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 02:40 PM
  # 19 (permalink)  
Member
 
Wastinglife's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Toronto
Posts: 3,195
You nailed it. The warm fuzzy feeling of the first few drinks was what I was always chasing. That feeling began to escape me as my drinking progressed over the years. Eventually I was using alcohol basically to relieve anxiety and depression
Wastinglife is offline  
Old 01-07-2015, 02:46 PM
  # 20 (permalink)  
Member
 
Zebra1275's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 14,836
Yes, the thrill is gone. Long gone.
Zebra1275 is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:02 PM.