james186

I've had in the past substance problems that I've managed to conquer - I found them easier to stop because of the socially unacceptability of drug use, but replaced them with others. Other than alcohol I think I have (or have had) other problems - internet use/online shopping being a big one, and a previous food problem( i stopped taking drugs and put on about 70/80lbs. I'm dealing with these too, but stripping away all these coping mechanisms is making me feel nervous and exposed. I've been taking a good hard look at my life the last few days and realise it's way off track.

I'll be back later as I'm trying to limit my net use!

herradura

James,

In the same boat over here. Even in the same 70/80 lbs overweight. Kicked a sleeping pill habit, extremely difficult, but as you say pills are not socially acceptable, but much more convenient than booze.

Still like to be on the computer, not buying stuff anymore like I used to, but need a lot of information. Still also in the stage of getting my life sorted out.

I have thought about this a lot and I think in my case getting the booze beat will help with the food addiction. However I see so many parallels between the two. I often take a nap and get up and power down 1 to 3 thousand calories of food before I am even coherent. Not dunk or drinking, just sort of still sleeping/ feel drunk. Pretty crazy if you ask me. Will be good with food for a day or three and then BOOM in the fridge cooking stuff I don't even like and eating while I am cooking?

Eventually it will work out I hope, got a plan and it is getting better.

HeadLump

Oh, James, I understand! As well as alcohol, I've been addicted to silly things like sudoko. It was so bad at one time that I would do almost nothing else all day (and into the night) and I had the most ferocious headaches! I'm now addressing my biggest addiction of all - a very long standing food problem (bulimia). When I've conquered this, there'll be no stopping me!

Joe Nerv

Just putting down the drink and drugs doesn't heal us. It's a huge important step, yet it's only the tip of the iceberg, as you're experiencing for yourself. Are you doing anything else to quiet this monster? AA? Counseling? Another program?

Dee74

I think you'll find that dealing with the alcohol problem first will really help clear your mind and make you far more capable at dealing with the other stuff James.

That's how it worked for me..

How are you working it this time? do you have any support besides SR?

D

Soberwolf

Hi James hope it starts balancing out soon

Keep on keepin on

Anna

Dee is right about focusing on the alcohol addiction first. And, yes, lots of us tend to have addictive personalities. You will get through all of this, just take it slow and steady.

Raider

I am addicted to Carmex. I have them everywhere I sit. I buy them in 24 packs. I get them for Christmas. The family think it's a lip fetish....

Hawks

Nothing makes us feel good like alcohol does. Problem is, the 3,4,5 drink mark is the magic time, but we never just have 3,4,5 drinks. Alcoholic thinking tends towards "if I feel this good after 3 drinks, imagine how good I'm going to feel after 6".. And after 6 we have 9 and after 9 we have 12 and so on.

But we never get to feel better, we just get proper drunk, make dicks of ourselves and eventually pass out.

All the other stuff, the gym, the shopping, the food, the new job, porn, new girlfriend... It's all just a temporary fix but it doesn't last.

So back comes old faithful, booze.

It's a vicious cycle.

You can't treat an internal condition with external circumstances.... Money. Job, car etc etc.

There is this illusion that if we can manage well externally, it will equate to sobriety.

You gotta get well inside.

Thats why you sometimes will hear the phrase

"it's an inside job"