Do you remember why you started drinking?

[paguy]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

I was introduced to the 'celebrity' of drinking when I was 21 when I had my first romantic relationship. I got involved with someone who was very successful, had lots of money, and apparently was also an alcoholic (which I did not realize at the time). I was enamored by the good life, vacationing here and there and always having martinis with lunch and dinner. I thought it was really cool and sophisticated and I was happy to be enjoying the 'good life'.

After 10 years, the relationship finally ended but my dependence on alcohol did not. I am basically a very shy person, with very little self-confidence and poor self image (I grew up in the early 1960's and realized I was gay when I was about 16 years old. Back in the 60's it was not cool to be gay. On the contrary, it was a miserable existence, ledading a 'double life', hiding my true self from my family and friends).

Needless to say, over the years, alcohol became my friend - it made me feel safe and I could be who I wanted to be.

Now I realize all of that was a bunch of crap! I am in my mid-fifties, have become quite successful on my own, and have so much to live for!! I am determined to finally get rid of the huge elephant in the room..

Sorry for rambling but thanks for listening.

John

[rachel28]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

knowing an loving yourself is the key to this im sure, sounds like u r nearly there, good on ya, kick that ole elephant out, lots a love to u, an well done,

[Guest]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

Being 25, first man I dated after my divorce, he was older wealthy,I saw a side of life I had never seen before. I looked up to him he had a drinking problem. Just trying to fit into his world with his friends. Then ss the physical abuse came so did the painful memories from my childhood, after that just drank to numb. Always to escape
Mar

[MDBiker]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

For me it was a challenge to be able to buy alcohol for parties when I was younger. I was raised in a dry county (no alcohol sales anywhere in county) so we had to drive 30 miles to get to a liquor/beer store. I could buy beer when I was 14, but the had to know how old I was. The excitement of buying beer and liquor for a party was huge.

bear

[Pisces]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

Just wanted to add.

I first got drunk at 13, and got stoned for the first time that day too, I remember the day, was jigging school, (or wagging it...) and we all went to a girls place, she was around 15, a bit older than us, her name was Marina, a place where we all knew she was getting abused, bashed by her dad, it was her rebellion on him, and turned out that we had alot in common, as did the 8 or so kids that turned up too, we went on to jig together through alot of out teenage years, drinking, smoking pot, and trying out lsd and trips.

But we felt safe together, we were all pretty fucked up with our home life, sad thing is years later I got onto schoolfriends online, and met up with one of the gang, to find out a couple of the girls had committed suicide, one had died from a melanoma, and 2 of the 3 boys had ended up in gaol.

Happy families, lol. Yay to the western subs of Sydney! lol

At least I'm here, alive...

Ps, I was smoking ciggies at nine- ten years old ????

Love Jas xxx, yes I was a bad seed, lol

[bear73]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

i think for me I had little drinks with parents from abotu 4, to teach me how to drink sensibly - how that would work when they don't I've no idea.
after that at age 15 at aaa party to give me cofndience as I was shy and didn't like myself.
Funny now, I prefer socialising in the day. I don't need a drink then.

I think I associate evening chat with being glam and sophisiticated and a bit sexy adn I don't feel that - dya time is less pressure I think. Always been a bit scared of socialising in the evening but has been what I've done for years.

[hart]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

It's so ironic, growing up with an alcoholic mother I, of course, swore I would never drink. She was bipolar, as I am. I quit taking my pills and had a manic episode and wasn't drinking. Found out I probably have been drinking to "even" out my bipolarism. But the drinking has started effecting my life more than the bipolarism has.....as I can take an rx for it. I use it to surpress some emotions I don't want to express, and it feels good. But I'm in my forties and I can't handle it like in my twenties and thirties....

[gracie29]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

Question-do y'all feel like this therapy has helped? :new:

[Waves 2]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

Gracie,
This site and this programme has definitely helped me but I don't do Topa-just Kudzu.

Welcome to the site.
Love Waves

[Accountable for Me]

Do you remember why you started drinking?

I drank because it was the thing to do on a Friday/Saturday night and then rolled out to the night clubs to dance the night away. This was in my late 20's. In my early 30's I was lonely. I bought a bottle of wine one night for something to do. Well that something to do was pretty darn fun. How cool it was to get drunk by myself. From there it went from a nightly high, to a nightly need.

I am 35 now and done with the drinking.

I had a physical done including blood work, x-rays, and a heart scan on Thursday night (I was having bad anxiety last week which lead to a full blown panic attack - I thought I was having a heart attack) I thought the few years of binge/chronic drinking almost daily finally had caught up with me although, I haven't had more than an handful of drinks since December. I received a clean bill of health. Thank God. This gives me the will to continue on with being AF.

It is amazing how something so fun could lead to a life time of pain.