Help me think of negative consequences please?

[Anotherday]

Part of my continued drinking has dealt with the fact I never get hangovers. I never get headaches, I never vomit, I just feel normal the next day. I really wish I would get sick. I can drink a lot and really not go through anything physical.

Now, on the psychological side, I do get depressed and anxious, but then maybe I'd be depressed and anxious AF too. It does have calories I don't need.

I want to HATE alcohol, but I don't. I just hate me and that will be there sober or drunk, right?

Anyone want to add to my list of bad things due to drinking? Somehow, I need to internalize the damage done. I know it does damage over time and I shouldn't push the limit, but truth is I feel worse over the smoking than the drinking and I keep smoking.

[KatieB]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

Hi AnotherDay,
There are so many negatives to drinking.. the fact you don't get hangovers is a sign maybe that you have high tolerance, or you are spreading your drinks out over a longer period of time? It does not mean it is not doing you any harm.. the liver works pretty well and getting rid of AL - but the more you make it work, the more chance you have of getting some form of liver damage, and other health probs.. smoking is just as bad as drinking - both have heaps of negative health impacts.. which you won't know about until you are in your 50's or 60's.. I smoke too, but i'm trying to cut down.. i've only been smoking just over a year, but I do find myself smoking a lot more when I drink..
I am trying to remain AF.. you will find that most of the reasons people give for quitting drinking is nothing to do with hangovers at all - that is on the list, but not on the top.. most negatives ARE the psychological impacts you mention - the anxiety, depression.. then there is the financial, the legal (if caught with a DUI), and social factors.. there are too many to mention.. just take a look at the thread 'negatives to drinking', there's heaps more issues with AL that have been mentioned by other member's posts..
At the end of the day, its up to you if you want to quit or moderate.. no one else but you can decide what you want to do about AL in your life,
but coming on here is a great step.. it has helped me so much; you will lots of understanding and support in a non-judgemental environment,
K
Sorry - just to add - if you 'hate' yourself (I have myself too many times in the past) - I suggest you see a counsellor of some sort to deal with those issues - AL will just compound the hatred, anxiety and depression in the end, and make things worse (as AL is a depressant) - you cannot begin to even deal with these issues whilst drinking AL.. i know, ive been there.. it took me years to fully come out of denial and realise this..

[Wally22]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

Alcohol is a heavy risk factor for cancer, particularly gynecological cancers. Along with the day to day damage to the body there is the damage which you mention to the psyche. When I was in my twenties I could drink copious amounts with little to no aftereffects. Usually I woke up with the giggles. I was rather proud of my ability to hold my liquor.
However over the years the abuse has taken it's toll. I am now recovering from uterine cancer.
I don't know which comes first the depression or the alcohol abuse. I suspect they walk hand in hand. I don't know how old you are, but the sooner you stop the better for you and your body.
If you are concerned, then you are right to be concerned. Join the Newbies nest or one of the other threads and get to know some of the warm supportive people who have the same concerns and are willing to help in whatever way they can.
Welcome.

[eight days a week]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

Hey Anotherday

I can give you plenty of negatives, just like Katie and wally.

Out of interest, how old are you roughly, and how long has your drinking been out of control? That will help me to tailor my advice to you.

In the meantime, all the best

eight

[Anotherday]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

eight days a week;816389 wrote: Hey Anotherday

I can give you plenty of negatives, just like Katie and wally.

Out of interest, how old are you roughly, and how long has your drinking been out of control? That will help me to tailor my advice to you.

In the meantime, all the best

eight

I am 50 and my drinking has been out of control for 36 years, roughly. I know, very bad and I should have it together by now, but I don't. And I only drink red wine, so it's anti-aging. I look good for my age, mostly due to genetics. My mom is 88 and looks great. Still, I cannot push it, I know.

[Lavande]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

Hi Anotherday,

Welcome to MWO, this is a good place & you wouldn't be here if you didn't think you have a problem!
Have you tried to stop drinking, even for just a day or two? What happens when you do?

We all have personal issues to work on when we stop drinking. Believe me, it's a lot easier to attack a problem when you are not self medicating with AL.

If you haven't already, download & read the MWO book from the Healthstore. It is full of info about the program. Maybe it will help you decide how to approach your drinking situation.

Wishing you the best!

Lav

[the bellinator]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

I have two words.........YOUR LIVER. You may not feel the effects of your drinking via the hangover, etc., but your liver is working overtime to balance your body. You only have ONE liver. 'Nuff said.

Love to you!

[DeeBee]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

What about the emotional damage you could be causing to those around you?
Children, spouse, parents, friends, co-workers etc ... we think we are hiding it from them when in fact we aren't EVERYONE we are in contact with gets affected by our drinking.

[Anotherday]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

DeeBee;816447 wrote: What about the emotional damage you could be causing to those around you?
Children, spouse, parents, friends, co-workers etc ... we think we are hiding it from them when in fact we aren't EVERYONE we are in contact with gets affected by our drinking.

You are right. I like to think my drinking affects no one, but the truth is others are concerned about it. I know I am killing myself.

I will read the book here and see what happens. I've read posts that refer to TSM and I don't know anything about that. Is it the Naltrexone based therapy? I've taken Nal and it made me sick. The kind of sick I wish drinking would make me so I would stop.

It's so easy to say, oh one more day won't hurt. But they all add up. The most I've been able to go without drinking was 45 days last fall. I just ended up getting these obsessive thoughts over death so I drank again. I don't seem to improve when I stop drinking in terms of my mental health so I go back to drinking. I must stop the madness and quit completely. I wish I could moderate but it always ends up being two bottles of wine which is not moderate. I just don't know how to get out of my current situation so I drink over it.

Even though I'd like to drink today (it's 3 a.m. where I am) I have no wine. They don't sell it at this hour of the day. Plus I have another commitment in the a.m. My goal will be to not drink today at least until after I go to this dual diagnosis group at night. Actually my goal will be to not drink at all but that seems a rather tall order given my history.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts.

[Guest]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

Hi Another,

Don't think about "Never Again." Think about today. I have heard about one day at a time for a long time but didn't get it. I always said "one more day won't hurt."

But ODAT (one day at a time) works. No commitments for a week, a month, a year. Just one day.

My cravings have been a little bad tonight so I got down to one hour at a time. I made it through witching hour, through dinner, through son's bedtime. Now it's my time (hubby is away) and I fancy a cup of tea.

Keep talking, Anotherday.

Spam xxx

[spuddleduck]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

another day. dont want to scare you (well maybe i do for your sake). i used to be envious of drinkers who didnt get hangovers. in the last 2 years two of these people have died in their 50's from AL related issues (also one in his 40's). i think their bodies just said enough is enough. they hadnt had the warning signs of damage that most of us get so they continued drinking oblivious to the damage they were causing. please think carefully about this. i for one am certainly not envious of them any more. AL has many different ways of getting to us and we can have many different ways of helping ourselves. hope you make the right choices for you xx

[Anotherday]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

spuddleduck;816529 wrote: another day. dont want to scare you (well maybe i do for your sake). i used to be envious of drinkers who didnt get hangovers. in the last 2 years two of these people have died in their 50's from AL related issues (also one in his 40's). i think their bodies just said enough is enough. they hadnt had the warning signs of damage that most of us get so they continued drinking oblivious to the damage they were causing. please think carefully about this. i for one am certainly not envious of them any more. AL has many different ways of getting to us and we can have many different ways of helping ourselves. hope you make the right choices for you xx

Spuddleduck, you have succeeded in scaring me! Thanks! I need to be scared. I do know that many people do die in their fifties. Even though I feel fine today, it doesn't mean I am fine and I know this. Curious, were there no warning signs at all? Didn't they at least end up in the hospital once before they died, giving them a chance to get better? Ok, stupid questions I know. I've been told a year ago that if I don't stop now (then) I was going to end up with LT health problems. Then I go for a physical in December and all is well. I know I have to stop. I want to stop. I just cannot figure out how to do life without it.

[KatieB]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

Anotherday;
This site will help you find other ways to deal with life without AL - you have definately come to the right place!!
I mentioned before about seeing a counsellor - I really think that along with this site, seeing a professional counsellor face to face will help you with any other issues you have. I'm seeing one, and I don't know where I would be without him. I used to self harm and ended up in hospital several times a year after attempts on my life, or Al related depression issues.. since seeing counsellors I have improved enourmously and have not been in hospital related to these issues in 15 months!
There is a whole world and life out there for you, without AL - your life will improve so much, I assure you..
We are here for you,
K xx

[Anotherday]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

KatieB;816555 wrote: Anotherday;
This site will help you find other ways to deal with life without AL - you have definately come to the right place!!
I mentioned before about seeing a counsellor - I really think that along with this site, seeing a professional counsellor face to face will help you with any other issues you have. I'm seeing one, and I don't know where I would be without him. I used to self harm and ended up in hospital several times a year after attempts on my life, or Al related depression issues.. since seeing counsellors I have improved enourmously and have not been in hospital related to these issues in 15 months!
There is a whole world and life out there for you, without AL - your life will improve so much, I assure you..
We are here for you,
K xx

Thanks, KatieB. I have just started seeing an addictions counselor and have seen him twice. I am going to continue to see him as I think I have FINALLY found a decent therapist who can help me. I just hope it's not too late. I really do know my time is short if I don't find a way to stop this stuff (drinking and smoking). I've known of two women who died in their early 50s because of this.

I am so happy for you that you've made such improvement. Do you take any special medication or supplements?

[KatieB]

Help me think of negative consequences please?

Hi anotherday and thank you..
No, i'm not taking any meds or supplements.. I am just seeing my counsellor and coming on here.. with the right motivation, you can change your habits.. my son was a huge motivator for me to change (he's now 22 months).. I just really wanted to get better for his sake, as I came close to losing him due to AL (child protection were involved as I had post natal depression and drinking AL to deal with this and had an abusive husband, who I've now left).. i've now not had any AL for 9 days, and last time I "binged" was almost a month ago (though I had also cut down drinking a fair bit over the past year).. I also smoke.. and am considering hypnotherapy for that..
We can make these positive changes to our lives! you just need the motivation and tools to do it..
K xx