Do you remember why you started drinking?

[bird]

I was thinking it started as a social thing for me. I was always very shy and afraid to talk to people, but when I drank....well, you know. Anyway I am not so shy these days and don't like to drink in social situations. I do my drinking at home where nobody can see me. So my reason for drinking no longer exists. I must remember that. Bird

[Waves 2]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

I think it starts as social drinking and escalates-like most addictions. It creeps up on you until suddenly one day you wake up to realise you have a problem.

At least thats what happened to me. but the escalation of stress definitely helped the escalation of consumption levels.

[tea]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

Nop, don't remember why, don't think it was a particular reason but I do believe I was always an all or nothing kind of person, with regards to alcohol I never had a prob until my mid to late thirties - but - both parents were problem drinkers but that is a completely different thread eh. Don't think there was a particular reason just started drinking too much and apparently it was the same age/time as both my parents did too!! nothing as strange as folks!

L xx

[IAD]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

I drink to forget.............What am I trying to forget? I don't know, I forgot! IAD

[tea]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

LOL - IAD you nut case!

L

[imatree]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

I don't remember.. must have blacked out that first time...

Actually, to be social. I too was extremely shy.
Now, looking back, I realize that I was never a social drinker. Once I started at 18 I was full on.

[Pisces]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

I know exaclty why,

To numb the pain and kill off my feelings,

Worked really well mostly, I guess thats why it's hard to say goodbye.

Love Jas xx

[ScoobyDoo]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

This is what gets me... I am not a shy person, and feel comfortable in my own skin and around others in social situations. I can only conclude that it must have been to dampen my emotions. I think I'm quite an emotionally charged person generally, so maybe that's why I drank.

I think the social situation was just an excuse to drink because everyone else was drinking.

funnily enough, since being AF, I am crying like a baby over such simple things eg Mick performed physio on my back yesterday morning. Normally, I would never cry from physical pain but it was hurting and I just started sobbing into the towel from the pain but I think in hindsight it was a release of emotions that I previously dealt with by quashing via a bottle.

Can any of the more outgoing personalities relate to what I'm saying?

Scoobs

[Cashregister]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

Cause all my friends did - our definition of fun was pissed.

Then later self-medication (only learned this in arrears!) for bipolar manic episodes (anything to calm me down).

Oh the joys of Aussie teenage society - drink in one hand, ciggy in the other, then a good chunder on the beach at 3am (often a team chunder!)- those were the days! Probably didn't get hangovers cause barfed all the alcohol straight back up!!!

Cashy!!

[YoungAtHeart]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

I started drinking as a teen and drank heavily on Fridays and Saturdays. There was a lot of depressing sh*t going on in my family at the time. Fortunately, my "switch" didn't get tripped, and when things settled down, I settled down too. I was able to drink socially for many years.

When I was married my (now ex-) husband and I shared a bottle of wine several nights a week--we both loved good food and wine.

My drinking problem began when my daughter was young, and I realized that despite all of hubby's assurances, I was really going to be solely responsible for taking care of her. He worked long hours and travelled a fair amount, but even on vacation, he clearly though he deserved a break more than I did. I was angry about that. In 1990, he went into business for himself and became even more self-absorbed. We fought a great deal over how he spent the capital that we had. He essentially bankrupted us. I was very emotionally alone. My drinking escalated dramatically, and I continued to drink heavily through our divorce and raising my daughter by myself.

Probably TMI above, but I think my biggest trigger for drinking has been feeling very alone and/or feeling very depressed. At some point during those years, my "switch" got stuck in the "on" position, and I wasn't able to cut down, even when things got better. I turned into a problem drinker and couldn't go back to social drinking again.

[CAPRICORN1]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

i started out coping with emotions and abuse with other addictive behavior. anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating till i was sixteen, then the beer and whateverelse we could smuggle from different places...then came pot, coke, etc...back to bulimia...now drink...with a couple of gambling, sex and shopping addictions in between...whew!!!

what it comes down to is knowing why you do what you do...i think i know and its not because it feels good...just a thought...

[adagirl]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

My parents always let us kids have sips of their drinks growing up, for as long as I can remember. I was probably only 5 when I had my first sip. Then, I was 14 when I had my first 'social' drink (as in, w/my peers). It was fun and I quickly discovered drinking was something I was 'good at'. I fell right into the party girl role quite easily, made lots of new drinking friends, always had parties to go to on the weekend. Lots of reinforcement to drink more and more. Somehow I always managed to get good grades and do well at work anyway. There never seemed to be a downside until recently. Now, I just can't handle it the way I used to.

[rachel28]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

jus saw this thread, interesting, i got extremly drunk 13 b day, i loved it, id always been trouble, the black sheep i guess, now i had a good excuse, i was drunk, i was not really answerable as i cud not remember, thinks seemed funnier, i was not so miserable, as i was drunk, school seemed more enjoyable ,drunk, it became normal to have a drink in me, every 1 else had a reason for me bein a mess up, the drink not me, it s easier to cope with always bein told you r wrong if u got something to blame it on, it s not me its the drink, well 15 yrs on, im just starting to deal with it bein me thats wrong, wrong for hiding behind a beer all this time, it s time to change, xx

[Guest]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

My drinking `career` began perfectly innocently. I began drinking along with all my friends when we were legally `allowed` to drink here in UK- 18. It did start out very much as a social thing, but gradually moved away from the social aspect over the years to me using alcohol as a form of escapism from problems in the grown-up world, and I also found the booze helped me to manage anxiety to a certain extent.

Horrid how something that begins so innocently can turn so sour.............

Starlight Impress

[Change]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

Loneliness, boredom, lack of self-confidence. There, i've said it.