This is a struggle I'm in
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 16
This is a struggle I'm in
Hi All
My first post. I had to go away on a school residential with my son two years ago and was so worried I couldn't make the three nights without alcohol after not remembering any clear nights without drinking for the previous 20+ years. I made it ok and so began a journey to cut down, moderate, control it. Iv'e made some headways but the trouble I now have is my anxiety when drinking too much has blossomed - its as if once started down the road to solve the problem there is no going back, my fret wont let me! Im on a journey unresolved and not happy.
My first post. I had to go away on a school residential with my son two years ago and was so worried I couldn't make the three nights without alcohol after not remembering any clear nights without drinking for the previous 20+ years. I made it ok and so began a journey to cut down, moderate, control it. Iv'e made some headways but the trouble I now have is my anxiety when drinking too much has blossomed - its as if once started down the road to solve the problem there is no going back, my fret wont let me! Im on a journey unresolved and not happy.
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,516
Welcome!
So, I think you're saying you want to continue drinking moderately, but you feel anxious when you do drink? Do you feel anxious because you don't think you'll be able to stop?
So, I think you're saying you want to continue drinking moderately, but you feel anxious when you do drink? Do you feel anxious because you don't think you'll be able to stop?
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,784
Welcome to the family. 
My anxiety pretty much went away after I'd been sober for a while. The after-drinking anxiety was awful. Best thing for me to do was to stop drinking entirely.
My anxiety pretty much went away after I'd been sober for a while. The after-drinking anxiety was awful. Best thing for me to do was to stop drinking entirely. Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 2,872
I hope you're on the road to sobriety. It's a great place to be.
I know after I quit, my anxiety lessoned a lot. Especially from the days after drinking.
Best to you and I hope you stick around here. There's a lot of great support.
I know after I quit, my anxiety lessoned a lot. Especially from the days after drinking.
Best to you and I hope you stick around here. There's a lot of great support.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Gainesville, Fl
Posts: 435
I had bad anxiety for 10 years and used booze to control it most days. Then I discovered that the first time I got sober, after 3 or 4 weeks.....zero anxiety. None at all.
I've heard the story time and again. It's the booze causing your anxiety. Look into the science of it. The booze turns to sugar and spikes your insulin levels until you feed it more booze. And so the cycle continues.
I've heard the story time and again. It's the booze causing your anxiety. Look into the science of it. The booze turns to sugar and spikes your insulin levels until you feed it more booze. And so the cycle continues.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5,095
I think once an addict begins to see their addiction, it is exposed. And drinking with impunity is never really a possibility again. I had a guy tell me in AA a long time ago "AA may not keep you sober, but it will ruin your drinking". So correct. But I remained ambivalent for a long time. Trying to keep making drinking work for me like it once did. Had to finally accept that I can't drink no matter what. And the anxiety goes away. Well at least the kind that is caused by drinking.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,645
Originally Posted by abgator 
I had bad anxiety for 10 years and used booze to control it most days. Then I discovered that the first time I got sober, after 3 or 4 weeks.....zero anxiety. None at all.
I've heard the story time and again. It's the booze causing your anxiety. Look into the science of it. The booze turns to sugar and spikes your insulin levels until you feed it more booze. And so the cycle continues.
I've heard the story time and again. It's the booze causing your anxiety. Look into the science of it. The booze turns to sugar and spikes your insulin levels until you feed it more booze. And so the cycle continues.
The **** is poison for anything it touches.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Gainesville, Fl
Posts: 435
Originally Posted by ThatWasTheOldMe
It messes with your blood sugar, but it also mimics the inhibitory neurotransmitters in your brain. So your brain responds by releasing more excitatory neurotransmitters and when the alcohol leaves, what's left is the excitatory neurotransmitters. This causes the shakiness, jumpiness, anxiety, and general irritability of withdrawal.
The **** is poison for anything it touches.
The **** is poison for anything it touches.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 16
Appreciate your comments guys thanks.
That's it Entropy1964 "My drinking has been ruined" - until I find a sober/drinking balance I'm happy with or have to give up completely because I cant find the balance.
I had 31/2 months sober last year(Lurking on Sober Recovery gave me strengh!) but always intended to drink again and try moderation. Its not going great. I know this site is predominantly for going permenantly sober so I think I was hasty in speaking up, I don't know what to say, I think I need to try moderation some more with added discipline and see how it goes...........
That's it Entropy1964 "My drinking has been ruined" - until I find a sober/drinking balance I'm happy with or have to give up completely because I cant find the balance.
I had 31/2 months sober last year(Lurking on Sober Recovery gave me strengh!) but always intended to drink again and try moderation. Its not going great. I know this site is predominantly for going permenantly sober so I think I was hasty in speaking up, I don't know what to say, I think I need to try moderation some more with added discipline and see how it goes...........
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: northern michigan. not the U.P.
Posts: 15,281
Originally Posted by Oleaceae
... I think I need to try moderation some more with added discipline and see how it goes...........
that dam moderation took too much energy for me to do.
remember the thread title?
if ya decide to try moderation again, we'll be here if/when it doesnt work.
good thread among many on moderation:
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...nta-claus.html (Moderation is the addict's Santa Claus...)
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,447
Hi and welcome Oleaceae
Over time my drinking made my anxiety worse...I not only had the anxieties I started with but I'd get anxious for my 'medicine'.
I tried to find the spot where I could drink just enough to control my anxiety....never found it.
It's much easier for me just not to drink. My anxiety has never been so low, or more manageable
D
Over time my drinking made my anxiety worse...I not only had the anxieties I started with but I'd get anxious for my 'medicine'.
I tried to find the spot where I could drink just enough to control my anxiety....never found it.
It's much easier for me just not to drink. My anxiety has never been so low, or more manageable
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 16
Hi Dee
Many thanks for your message. I think you are the guru on this site. 87 UK units the week I began posting, 23 units last week. So I was within my limit of 26 units I set myself to moderate for the next three months.
Thanks for the link on moderation, it was amusing! I hope many of you dont find it within yourselves to roll your eyes and believe this is not the space. I will be here later I predict if moderation doesn't work out for me and I will need your help. What's waking up with numb hands at night about? Could be the alcohol? Thinking about it and more leads to my anxiety....At 51 it's time to get this sorted.
Many thanks for your message. I think you are the guru on this site. 87 UK units the week I began posting, 23 units last week. So I was within my limit of 26 units I set myself to moderate for the next three months.
Thanks for the link on moderation, it was amusing! I hope many of you dont find it within yourselves to roll your eyes and believe this is not the space. I will be here later I predict if moderation doesn't work out for me and I will need your help. What's waking up with numb hands at night about? Could be the alcohol? Thinking about it and more leads to my anxiety....At 51 it's time to get this sorted.
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