Hello, SR
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 11
Hello, SR
Hello, everyone!
I've been a long-time visitor to the forums but this is my first time posting. Over the past couple of years I've been a lurker of sorts, reading the stories of those who have struggled in the hopes that I'd find other people who have suffered like me. Many times your words have been of great comfort and solace.
Long story short...my troubles over the past 15 years or so (I'm in my early 30s, male) have come from two sources: 1) mental illness and affective disorders, starting in mid-adolescence; and 2) alcohol abuse, starting mildly in my college years and progressively getting worse over time.
I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety at 16, clinical depression at 18, and social anxiety at 24. To put the cherry on top, a good portion of my behavior throughout that time fits very nicely into the nine diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder, or BPD.
I discovered alcohol in college. What started as a social activity eventually became an instrument for self-medication of my mental and emotional state.
I had an emotionally tumultuous childhood that laid the foundation for all of this. It's taken a lot of counseling, as well as falling down and getting back up many times, to climb out of the hole.
I recently started the recovery process. I'm in it not only for me, but for my wife and my kids as well. They deserve the father and husband that I know I can be.
I look forward to sharing in the joys and the struggles, the happiness and heartache.
Thank you all
I've been a long-time visitor to the forums but this is my first time posting. Over the past couple of years I've been a lurker of sorts, reading the stories of those who have struggled in the hopes that I'd find other people who have suffered like me. Many times your words have been of great comfort and solace.
Long story short...my troubles over the past 15 years or so (I'm in my early 30s, male) have come from two sources: 1) mental illness and affective disorders, starting in mid-adolescence; and 2) alcohol abuse, starting mildly in my college years and progressively getting worse over time.
I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety at 16, clinical depression at 18, and social anxiety at 24. To put the cherry on top, a good portion of my behavior throughout that time fits very nicely into the nine diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder, or BPD.
I discovered alcohol in college. What started as a social activity eventually became an instrument for self-medication of my mental and emotional state.
I had an emotionally tumultuous childhood that laid the foundation for all of this. It's taken a lot of counseling, as well as falling down and getting back up many times, to climb out of the hole.
I recently started the recovery process. I'm in it not only for me, but for my wife and my kids as well. They deserve the father and husband that I know I can be.
I look forward to sharing in the joys and the struggles, the happiness and heartache.
Thank you all
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,313
Welcome wildcat 
we're very glad to have you
do check out our March support thread too:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...2014-a-13.html
D
we're very glad to have you
do check out our March support thread too:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...2014-a-13.html
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 11
Thanks, everyone, for your kind and welcoming messages.
Mathmajor, your comment made me laugh. I agree 100%. In a drunken haze, I'm supposedly such an insightful, intelligent, creative guy with a 'dark side'. In the light of day the next morning, I always realize that guy is nothing more than a moody, bingeing, nonsensical mess.
AAnoob - I attended one AA meeting during a previous attempt at recovery in early 2013. I didn't go back because I realized that I needed a massive amount of cognitive behavioral therapy to address the mental stuff (the root) before I took on the alcohol consumption (the symptom). Not opposed to making another run at it though!
Take care, everyone
Mathmajor, your comment made me laugh. I agree 100%. In a drunken haze, I'm supposedly such an insightful, intelligent, creative guy with a 'dark side'. In the light of day the next morning, I always realize that guy is nothing more than a moody, bingeing, nonsensical mess.
AAnoob - I attended one AA meeting during a previous attempt at recovery in early 2013. I didn't go back because I realized that I needed a massive amount of cognitive behavioral therapy to address the mental stuff (the root) before I took on the alcohol consumption (the symptom). Not opposed to making another run at it though!
Take care, everyone
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
