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7052683 tn?1392938795

Sobriety and Depression!

Hi Guy's,

Yikes this last post got so many replies I could not keep up, so here is my story and it might answer some questions.

I am a recovering alcoholic of 27 years!!!!.........but to all who have quit even for 1 month a Big Congratulations!. You are all to be commended. Alcohol is the hardest thing to give up when you are addicted----so BRAVO!!!!!

Once I stopped drinking I felt awful and tiredness was just part of it. Through reading I came to find out that we sometimes become alcoholics because we are self -medicating for another mental imbalance --like  (for me) Depression. When you stop you have withdrawal symptoms , yes, but they sometimes are related to the need for medication to resolve the serotonin imbalance in your brain.

For me I worked with an addiction couselor and she advised me to see the doctor about anti-depressants. WOW what a difference. I truly believe Depression was my major problem, did not understand it, and used alcohol to make the feelings go away.

SOOOOOOOO!

#1--there is a good chance you're tiredness is related to the depression alcohol is no longer suppressing Please visit a doctor. Be honest and seek the answers . Also try and read EVERYTHING related to Alcoholism, it is amazing the things you will learn. As some have mentioned it is a "Grieving process"

#2--For any of those posters thinking they can re-join the party life--FORGET IT. Did you ever think the reason that party vacation does not sound so good now is because you are not a drunk anymore. I was an avid "Disco Queen" LOL, well it was the 80's after all. I had to leave that life behind me and all the people associated with it.
You must realize you need to take all triggers to drink out of your life to maintain your sobriety in the beginning. So say goodbye to those , Parties and trips and all your drinking buddies. Your buddies won't miss you one bit--they will still be drunk without you.

#3-No one should do this alone. Turn to AA, your doctor, a counselor--someone you can be accountable to and support you. Believe me it is important.

#4--I admire each and everyone of you who have maintained sobriety for however long it has been. No one can understand the strength and courage it takes to give this piece of hell up, but another Alcoholic.The hard part is maintaining it. That means no alcohol even "Once in a while" It will begin the Alcoholic cycle all over.

Oh...and the nite sweats during the week---your body needing alcohol---withdrawal symptoms.

My prayers, best wishes and hopes to all on your journey. Stop here often and keep us posted and we will try and give you the support you will need to accomplish this. But in the end it is YOU who has to do the work. You have to WANT to stay sober because you are just fed up with what it takes from you.

......and forgive me if I seem like a jerk in answering some of the posts. Been there done that and no use in not being honest and to the point.

Sincerely,
CM
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
I always say i'm grateful for my dual addiction.......a fav was a LOT of Valium!the withdrawal from that atop the alcohol LITERALLY brought me to my knees many a time!So i really woke up and smelled the coffee...which i didn't drink until I got sober.....plus many attempts at controlled ha!drinking/using which always ended in failure.I never had a OFF switch......to alcohol, pot,benzos,cocaine...anything mood altering NEVER!and I never will! I know and accept what I'm allergic too!:)Well I did my usual on new years eve.....fell asleep at 11.....and the dogs woke me up @ 12:15 2014 to go out and pee!
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7052683 tn?1392938795
Really sorry to hear you were only 14 when you started.Life should not have to be that difficult for one so young. Breaks my heart when I hear that.  I am so happy to hear you were smarter than me and got sober around the time it escalated for me.

I wish there were a way to save the young ones like you, but would we have listened at that age---not so much. It is what it is --Hell- and all we can do is be grateful we were among the ones able to get out.I am 62, and I do not know if I would have had the stregnth to get sober that young--you had to give up a hell of a lot more than me....and in your prime. ....Bravo!!!

So now I know why you moderate this thread on alcoholism--Grateful to have someone like you out there for guidance and support

HAPPY NEW YEAR! IBIZAN. (don't drink and drive) sorry I couldn't resist.
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
LOL!:)i got sober/clean @ age 28......started my career early at age 14......been there done that minus a needle.....hate needles.....i recall inhaling heroin @ age 17 and LOVING it! i said to meself we should not touch that again...so glad i never did!now at age 58 i'm content with a clear unfettered mind...and thats all alcohol/drugs do...clutter...muck it all up!yes we had fun....but we crossed the line...and using to live and feel normal is not normal!
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7052683 tn?1392938795
Hey Girlfriend!!!

So nice to have someone who shares those memories with me. I have to say, I had a blast--I think?--drunk is never good for the old brain cells...but that was my time to party, got sober around 35 years old, guess i needed to wait for Disco to be Done, ya think!

Love livin sober!!!


Great to know ya,
CM
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
I LMBO!former disco queen!me 2 in the 70's...from the glitter era to disco to the big hair of the 80's!great posts!i agree w/all u've said and have been there a lot in the past and
done all that!yep-all the X partying buds don't give us a second thought!their too loaded!i like the sober/clean life better!
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7052683 tn?1392938795
Great story! Had to laugh. Boy the stories we could all tell, huh?
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7052683 tn?1392938795
OK! Feel like an idiot! Thought YOU were a women and YOU were having the Baby--ugh!

Just disregard all references to You being the one pregnant.
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
HI Haterofgerd,

I share Gerd with you. Pain in the butt. Do you take medication for it? i can tell you this Alcohol=the worst possible thing for this condition. Stop drinking ==Gerd go away.

......and there are thousands of others out there just like you. You will never be alone in this. There are websites devoted just to alcoholics. Might want to check some out for more support.

You can stop drinking--now would be a good time because you have a baby in your womb. American Indians are largely alcoholics and their children suffer for it with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. You cannot drink while pregnant. Everything you put into your body goes into you baby. Please try to quit now for your baby's sake.

Life is a wonderful thing without alcohol. If I could quit anyone can.
Wishing you and your baby all the best life has to offer. It starts once you let go of the alcohol.

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Avatar universal
I think The Doctor's Opinion in the big book says it all: "...the action of alcohol on these chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy; that the phenomenon of craving is limited to this class and never occurs in the average temperate drinker." -Dr. Robert Silkworth, Alcoholics Anonymous 1936

My wife can have a glass of wine or two and enjoy NewYears Eve in her own way. But I must enjoy all of life in my own way, alcohol free. If I take a drink my allergy kicks in and I'll immediately start to break out in bars. My big awakening was when I awoke out of a blackout in the mid-1970's driving with one eye shut because I was seeing 4 roads. All I remembered was that I had been to an open-bar retirement party. Sitting next to me was a lovely woman who was just as drunk as I, but she wasn't my wife and the mother of my one year old daughter. God was seeing to it that I didn't kill us or anyone else that night. He had a better life in store for me. Life is SO much simpler now, living drug and alcohol free. I can now comprehend the word serenity and I have found peace.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for that, its inspiring to know that there are people out there going through similar things. I drink alcohol for depression and because it's really the only time gerd isn't acting up and I can eat anything like a regular person. Of course after wards my gerd is back with a vengeance. I'm only 24. Have a baby on the way in 2 months and Im really trying to recover from this. I've also dived into depression overthe e weight I've gained from binge drinking.
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