Drinking habits

[Guest]

After seeing various articles of how people drink to alleviate their social anxiety, I wondered what the general drinking trends are of people on this board.


For me, I've always felt so conscious about drinking - I've never wanted to be drunk as I don't like being out of control (which is a burden sometimes) - I've never really been tempted to drink large amounts which is difficult because of the binge drinking society I live in (England).


I enjoy a drink now and again and the most I've ever had in one go is 7/8 pints of lager.


This is an example of how anxious I can get - I worry that people will automatically assume that I drink (heavily) as a temporary solution to these problems and that that's what I've been doing over the last 3 years amongst other things.

 

[Guest]

Yeah I drink pretty frequently. The messed up thing about it is that when I drink... I can talk to anybody. It makes me realize if I could just get rid of this DAMN anxiety how wonderful life would be.

 

[JCP]

Drinking is a way to get rid of the anxiety, but for me at least, the haze it causes is too much. But, it depends on the situation.. A shot as you walk out the door does wonders sometimes..

 

[Alex]

I think it depends on you as a person, some people can reach for the bottle or can as a crutch or know that it eases anxiety and use it to help calm them down. The problem is that there are effects, especially drinking on an empty stomach or at strange times of the day.


I like a social drink, but I know it can also calm me down, but I try not to rely on it. Self control is important, and naturally you shouldn't mix alcohol with medication.

 

[pwarbi]

Speaking from experience, drinking alcohol to get rid of social anxiety does work in the short term, but it can leave long lasting consequences that are sometimes impossible to get over. I myself used to be a heavy drinker, and that only started as I went through depression and my anxiety was at it's worst, and I felt like I couldn't meet or speak to anybody unless I'd had a drink. I used to be a totally different person after a few beers and I was more self confident and it was as if my anxiety disappeared more and more with every drink I had.


After drinking practically on a daily basis though, you get to the point where you feel like you can't function without having a drink, and not only do you start drinking to boost your self confidence so you can interact with people, you feel like you need a drink just to be able to step out of the house, and you start the slippery slope to alcoholism. Some people are lucky like I was and I could see what was happening and managed to stop myself from going don that route, and now I only drink every now and again, but it's VERY easy to start to rely on alcohol, and a lot of people won't know they are addicted, until they actually already are and it's too late.

 

[nytegeek]

Using alcohol to medicate any mental health issue is a bad idea. Using it for depression or any type of anxiety is just asking for trouble. It will complicate things in the long run and should be avoided. If you feel the need to drink to cope with something you probably shouldn't be drinking at all and should seek some professional help instead. There is no shame in seeking help and you will be better off for it.

 

[Guest]

I started this topic not only to get an insight but to see how much as a group we depend on alcohol.


Me, I hardly drink at all to be honest. Whenever I was feeling depressed, I would have a bottle of beer from the fridge but when I'm out and about, I'll have one or two but that's it.


Despite my condition, I'm quite a level-headed person and realise that drugs and drink won't do anything beneficial for me, so I've stayed clear of them.


Having said that, I dare say there are many of the people on this board who find their condition unbearable and feel like it's a good option as there's no doubt that it eases social interaction.

 

[Guest]

Depends on the situation..


I don't like drinking.. but the freedom I get to act like an ahole with no extreme regard for anyone's opinion is wonderful..


****, I have 6-7 shots in me right now.. damn it..

 

[joshposh]

I use to drink a lot in a social setting because of social anxiety. I didn't know how to talk or behave in front of strangers so I would drink to tear down the "shame" walls. It's a real shame to tell you the truth. I think most of us here have used alcohol as a coping mechanism. The sad part is that once we get alcohol in our system we act like fools and totally off base of the person we really are.


The only way around this is to try and go to a social gathering where you don't have a drink and just have a good time anyways. Hard is it may seem, that is the only way to get a grip on social anxiety and the first step to eliminating it.

 

[rz3300]

Well unfortunately I cannot use the method of drinking to loosen up or settle down anymore. It is a long and sad story, but suffice it to say I ruined that chance and almost died in the process. I can see why others use it, though, and I was in a similar boat. I still am, I just have to resort to other things. The fact is is that it is a release, though, and an escape, so as long as you need that you might find yourself resorting to alcohol. The key is to find a healthier escape or release, but of course that is easier said than done.

 

[amy88]

In my late teens/early 20's when I think my social anxiety was really coming to the forefront and I didn't know how to manage it, I would drink a lot. I guess it gave me that sense of "liquid courage" like I could talk to people, I would make conversation with anyone and everyone - but it was usually rambling, nonsensical stuff...


These days, I don't really drink. Maybe a wine or two a week with a meal. One glass and that's enough for me. I just don't like that feeling of not being in control of a situation so I don't put myself in those circumstances any more.

 

[DDNatureLover]

It's funny that this is one of the first times I've seen/heard this topic discussed with relation to anxiety. It took me a long time to realize that the drinking I did in my youth was related to my anxiety. I was around a lot of people who drank, and it was the thing to do back then, so even underage drinking wasn't that unusual. I feel that I could have easily slipped into alcoholism, but I decided I didn't like the partying lifestyle, and wanted more out of life. I got involved with other things, working and going to school full time, and found that I didn't miss the drinking. I rarely drink these days, but I do occasionally have one or two glasses of whatever I'm interested in having, although it tends to really sedate me these days, rather than giving me energy the way it did when I was younger.

 

[Guest]

I've started binge drinking lately, mainly as a response to my social anxiety. It's stupid as I know it's bad but I keep doing it.

 

[shcoo]

Drinking has not helped my anxiety or been a good coping mechanism. I've tried drinking but I either feel nothing at all or feel extremely ill. I never get a pleasant "buzz." Because of this, I've decided alcohol is a waste of money for me personally and I turned to drugs instead. It can be hard in social settings though when people try to pressure me to drink and don't understand that I will feel ill or throw up from even just two drinks.

 

[Laneorexorcist]

I get it, I have seen a lot of drunk people in my life and there aretimes where I'm drinking and I'm really trying to not look like them, because I don't want to look "weak" somehow... But I really like drinking, lol. And when I'm having a hard time and I just want to drink, I call a really close friend and we both get drunk and talk about things, and I don't feel the need to take care of what is going to think about me, because I'm with that person and I really trust them, and it's mutual. So, I take care of myself when I'm drinking around people that I don't really know.

 

[misskatiej]

I used alcohol to help get over my anxiety, especially in my days of clubs and bars. After a few drinks I had the confidence to talk to whoever I wanted and even dance if I felt like it, without caring what anyone thought. The problem was when things got serious in my life I continued using alcohol to help soothe them. Being depressed and turning to alcohol to help numb the pain only prolonged the healing process. Before I knew it I was drinking 1 to 3 drinks a day, sometimes more. I had the urge to get tipsy, if I had to the work the next day, or full out drunk if I had no obligations the next day, each and every night.


Luckily I got the help I needed to deal with that rough patch in my life and used to enjoy a glass or two of wine once a week or so before getting pregnant a few months ago.