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    What have I become....

    Today is the lowest day in my life, all due to drinking. I've been a binge drinker for the last 15 years. It started off just once a week, but in the last 5 years it's increased to 2-3 a week. I've been unemployed the last 2 years which means some days I'll start at around noon and drink until I'm completely wasted by the evening.

    I'm in my late 30's and single. Single child with supportive parents. No history of alcoholism that I'm aware of in my family. I've had self esteem issues all my life with I think some depression.

    The last six months have been really hard. The feeling of being worthless is at times overwhelming. I call myself a loser out loud on a daily basis. I drink to numb the pain and to just forget. When I really tie one on I usually blackout. Recently though I'm become very aggressive while drunk.

    Last night I was at my gf's house. We were just going to hang out, make dinner and watch some movies. I brought over my booze and started drinking heavily. I hadn't eaten all day so the effect was that much stronger. At some point in the evening I started a fight with her and it got physical to the point where it left bruises on her arms. I don't remember any of it. I woke up on her couch to an empty house with her brother wailing at the door. I didn't answer and left shortly there after. Drove home (probably still drunk). I spoke with her today and did my best to apologize. She sort of accepted my apology (she's aware of some of my issues), but said she's scared now and doesn't want to see me in person. I told her I understood and would give her whatever space she needed.

    Today my anxiety is through the roof. Spent the day in bed just losing my mind. I can't believe I was that out of control. I knew I probably had a slight drinking problem but this is over the top. I've never done anything like this before. I'm truly scared, worried, and feel absolutely worthless.

    Most of my problems over the years were due to my drinking. Totaled two cars, lost friends, sleeping with the wrong people, and so many embarrassing moments I can't even count them. It's truly a miracle that I was never arrested, or killed myself or others. But it's gone to a new level now and I need to address this.

    Started looking for answers over the internet and stumble onto this site. Spent several hours reading over other peoples struggles, and I thought I would share my story in hopes to get some answers, support and ease this anxiety that's at times is unbearable. I'm having suicidal thoughts for the first time, but that really isn't an option because it would absolutely destroy my parents.

    I think my issues don't stop with just alcohol. I think I'm depressed as well. Being unemployed haven't helped either. I'm way in debt, and I don't see a way out.

    I'm vowing to stop drinking for a while until I straighten things out. I called and left a message with a local therapist and will hopefully get to see her monday. I don't think quitting drinking will be that difficult for now, but the sense of worthlessness is getting hard to deal with. I've always considered myself a good person deep down but now I'm not so sure.

    I'm really not sure what else to do, but I can't continue feeling like this for much longer. I'm such a loser.

    #2
    What have I become....

    Hi Lost. My heart is aching for you...there's so much sadness in your post - but, that is an all too familiar feeling in those first couple of days of no alcohol...regret, panic, anxiety, just a feeling like"ooooh, I can't even STAND myself...what the F - was I thinking?!?!?!" How can I keep doing this?

    Please ride it out....the worst of the anxiety is within the first couple of days (usually the first one) of going without alcohol. Once you get a couple days of being alcohol free, you will be proud of yourself and see things more clearly...just don't let that anxiety get the best of you right now. It'll tell you you're worthless and that you've already caused too much damage, but it's the anxiety talking...and it's a liar. You can turn it around...just take things slowly and wait to see things with a clear head....:heart:
    ~

    Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

    Sobriety date: Sept 26, 2011

    Comment


      #3
      What have I become....

      Thank you so much lolab for the reply. Knowing someone is out there thinking of me literally brought tears to my eyes. Usually I'd have gf for support but I've destroyed that so your reply is very much appreciated.

      I hope this anxious subsides soon. I've had them before after drinking but nothing like this.

      Comment


        #4
        What have I become....

        Lost1, I sure empathize with your sadness and frustration; it's clear that you've got a lot of stressors in your life. I hope you'll take some time to think through the situation some more. It's surely not "a slight drinking problem" when you can't remember physically assaulting someone you presumably care about. And that IS an assault, to the extent that you left bruises. Police in nearly every jurisdiction will arrest and charge for that, and courts take it very seriously. You're very fortunate that you're not in jail or bailed awaiting a court appearance.

        This is a true wake up call, friend. We all hope you listen and take responsibility for changing your life, despite the challenges that you're facing on so many fronts. You can do it. Read the threads here, check out the tool box, and make a plan. It might sound like a loop-tape, but it works. Step by step, a day at a time. But you must make a start.
        Resisting all Magical Thinking...one day at a time

        Comment


          #5
          What have I become....

          Lost1

          You have come to a wonderful place the support here is amazing. I agree with RedJib, this is a wake up call for you.

          Please read the threads and post often.

          K
          Nov 1 2006 avg 100 - 120 drinks/week
          April 29 2011 TSM avg 70 - 80/wk
          wks* 1- 6: 256/1AF (avg 42.6/wk)
          wks* 7-12: 229/3AF (avg 38.1/wk)
          wks 13-18: 192/5AF (avg 32.0/wk)
          wks 19-24: 176/1AF (avg 29.3/wk)
          wks 25-30: 154/10AF (avg 25.6/wk)
          wks 31-36: 30/37AF (avg 5/wk )

          I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday.
          http://www.thesinclairmethod.net/community/

          Comment


            #6
            What have I become....

            You're absolutely right redjib. It's more then a "slight" problem and was a poor choice of words. The extent of that problem will become more clear with time spent away from alcohol.

            I'm absolutely besides myself for what I did. I've never done anything like that before. I am fortunate to not be in jail, but to be honest I'd be ok with it if I was. I deserve whatever I get. We'd been together for 3 years and was the only good thing in my life.

            My plan as of right now is to not drink and start seeing a therapist (hopefully Monday). My gf has been trying to get to go to one for a while now. I have serious issues besides drinking, and I need to get those addressed. This has been a lifelong struggle with self esteem but it has gotten progressively worse the last year and a half and I've always turned to the bottle when I get down.

            This pattern needs to stop as I'm unsure how much longer I can continue feeling/behaving like this.

            Comment


              #7
              What have I become....

              Dear Lost (and now Found?),

              I remember first posting on this site and finding myself in tears from all the support, affection, and help I found here. I post very (very!!) rarely, but wanted to make sure you know that here you will always find friendship, kind words, wisdom from those who have been through it too, and genuine happiness as you achieve your goals.

              :welcome:

              I'm starting the month of May with an AF (alcohol free) day. I'll worry about tomorrow when it comes, but join me and we can encourage each other.

              DancingGirl

              Comment


                #8
                What have I become....

                Hi Lost and :welcome: to MWO.

                First, I'm glad you found this place and if you've read some posts, you've already seen how much support is given here. Good for you on getting a therapist. You already recognize that you have problems with self-esteem so getting help with that will definitely be a step in the right direction. As for the depression, don't forget that your low-self esteem plus AL add up to depression and you may find that it starts to lessen as you build up some AL-free days and as you work through your problems with your therapist. I wish you the best of luck with both of them. Stay close by here and read and post. We're all in this together.

                Stirly
                For every 60 seconds that you are angry, you lose a minute of happiness.
                AF since 10/10/2015:yay:

                Comment


                  #9
                  What have I become....

                  Hi Lost. I'm so glad you found us here. I can relate to a LOT of what you posted about. I too was in denial about the extent of my alcohol dependence for many years. I have come to realize that alcoholism is progressive - things never get better or stay the same. They just keep getting worse until we find a way to stop. I too was very depressed and had suicidal thoughts (and a plan :egad by the time I was ready to finally stop the madness.

                  The good news is that if you find a way to stop drinking, you WILL be able to get to the bottom of other issues. And you might find, as I did, that a lot of my issues - especially with depression - were absolutely CAUSED by my drinking. ALcohol is a depressant. It gets of into a viscious cycle of depression, and then thinking alcohol will relieve the depression, but it doesn't - it just keeps causing more depression. I heard a psychiatrist speak last summer about depression. He treats both alcoholics and non-alcoholics. He said that he finds it impossible to treat depression optimally in anyone who is actively drinking - whether they drink normally on a regular basis, or alcholically. Alcohol CAUSES depression and just makes it impossible to treat.

                  If you are able to stop drinking for awhile and get past the early physical and mental adjustments with that, you will be able to work with your therapist and figure out what is AL related and what is underlying and needs work.

                  It probably won't be easy to stop drinking, but lots of us here have done it and you can too! I find things go best for me when I dont' worry about the future- just today. I like to make today the best it can be. And for me, that begins with a committment to stay alcohol free today.

                  Strength and hope to you,

                  DG
                  Sobriety Date = 5/22/08
                  Nicotine Free Date = 2/27/07


                  One day at a time.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    What have I become....

                    Hi lost welcome to mwo,cant add much more than has already been said, hope you give yourself a chance and I see you around the boards. :-)


                    :congratulatory: Clean & Sober since 13/01/2009 :congratulatory:

                    Until one is committed there is always hesitant thoughts.
                    I know enough to know that I don't know enough.

                    This signature has been typed in front of a live studio audience.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      What have I become....

                      Thank you so much everyone for the kind words. I've spent the last day and a half in bed with what seems like my only friend in the world, my cat (and now you guys). The anxiety has somewhat subsided, but I'm still feeling the physical effects of being AF. A bit of the shakes and the sweats when I do something even remotely physical. I haven't slept more then 3 hours at a time and haven't eaten at all in 2 days. Just drinking lots of water and taking my vitamins. Smoking like a train though.

                      A lot of this time I've spent reading what must be 1000's of threads in this forum. You guys are truly a great bunch of people and I only wish I had found this place sooner. I haven't cried this much since I was a child.

                      From what I can gather (like some of you have mentioned) is that my depression was caused by my consumption of AL. It's a vicious cycle. It's gotten especially bad since I've lost my job.

                      I have a tremendous amount of guilt for what I did. I spoke to my gf last last night for a few hours and told her everything. She was aware of some of my issues but was unaware to the extent of how much it was affecting me. I do a great job of hiding my feelings from everyone out of the sheer embarrassment of what I'm going through.

                      At the moment I have zero urge to drink but I think that will come on day 4-5. The extent of that want to drink I'm unsure but when I think back I can't remember the last time I've gone a week without AL. It's been years if not a decades.

                      Today I feel like just spending another day in bed just reading and thinking about things. I need to get some food in me at some point, but I have no appetite at all. I really hope to get in tomorrow and see this therapist. I'm actually excited to go down that path and tackle some issues I should have dealt with a LONG time ago.

                      Thanks again everyone for being so supportive and non-judgmental. I will continue to post as it helps me tremendously :h

                      Comment


                        #12
                        What have I become....

                        Hi Lost.

                        Depression and alcohol go hand and hand. It has taken me 3 tries to try and beat this addiction. I am now about 8 months free of alcohol (feeling awesome by the way).

                        I can tell you from experience that I am sure I was suffering from alcohol related depression. It took me 4-5 months of being free from alcohol for the depression to finally be gone.

                        There is a great group on the "monthly abstinence" page that does daily check ins. You should visit there and maybe commit to signing in daily for a month.

                        Good luck.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          What have I become....

                          Hi Lost1,
                          You`re not a loser at all, but as your username suggests, you are indeed `lost` at this point in time. Put simply, your alcohol consumption crept up on you over the years, as it did us all.......we have all reached the point where alcohol completely takes over our lives and we feel powerless to overcome its `pull`.

                          However, we cannot explain away violent behaviour by saying it only happened because we were under the influence........I don`t mean to sound harsh, but being blitzed drunk is no excuse for violence, not even once. Those who show any violent tendencies when drunk, simply should not drink. It was a few bruises on your girlfriend THIS TIME. Promise yourself that there will never be such a recurrence by vowing not to drink again.......ever.

                          Easy said, I know, to advise you never to drink again. I also know, from personal experience just how hard it is to quit drinking for good, especially in the early days, but you can indeed achieve and maintain total abstinence, just as many once `hopeless cases` have done here before you.

                          I fully appreciate that so many of us do/did drink to excess to overcome our pain, but the sad fact is, abusing alcohol only adds to our pain. It`s good that you`re seeking therapy. We all have to work on ourselves and stop regarding booze as the magic wand it clearly isn`t.

                          I appreciate the honesty of your post.......it can`t have been particularly easy for you to type so frankly.

                          I wish you all the best and that you find your path to sobriety.

                          Star x
                          Formerly known as Starlight Impress.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            What have I become....

                            Hi Lost,

                            Sounds like you have a great and understanding gf.
                            So all is not lost.
                            But its so important that you stick this out and stay AF for the next while.

                            You will be surprised how quickly your life will improve.
                            This is when its even more important to stay AF.
                            Get through this and things will seem so much clearer.
                            Take it one day at a time, work hard on staying sober, and keep close to this site, post ,read,post......whatever it takes.

                            You have a chance to get your life back on track.
                            Best of luck with it.

                            Damo in Dublin
                            Still trying !!!
                            AF 25th June2014

                            Comment


                              #15
                              What have I become....

                              I hear what you're saying Starlight. My violent behavior has really shocked me. I'm not a violent person in general. I've been in one fight my entire life and that was back in grade school. I'm always the one to stop fights or talk people down when things get heated, drunk or sober. But as you said once is one to many.

                              I'm truly devastated with what I did, and speaking about it here though anonymously was still very difficult to admit.

                              I'm so ashamed

                              Comment

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