Im wondering if others drink, and if so.

1. how often

2. how much?

be honest.... I wont judge you or anything...

Many of us have a fear of alcohol since it makes us feel out of control.

I recently started (enjoying) drinking a glass of wine 2-3 days a week with my dinner since starting the program.

Recently I confessed to my family, while out to dinner, that the wine I was drinking was the first wine in public in 15 or so years. I had a phobia that since some person somewhere out there was allergic to wine and went into anaphelectic shock that it might happen to me, too.

I have come a long way.

I have many relatives that drink as self medication to panic. This is not uncommon.

Unfortunately, many people don't get help since they want to split hairs and say they've never had a panic attack- - -but they have anxiety attacks. There is no difference they just like the sound of it better so they don't get help they just drink.


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Always Hopeful, Betsy H.
Marietta, GA (East Cobb)

I have maybe 2 beers a week. Used to be much much more, I'd binge drink on the week-ends, but I had my first panic attack the day after during a nasty hangover. My whole family self-medicates their anxiety with alchohol, except my brother, we both pretty much gave it up. Because we barely drink, it's changed the family dynamics considerably.

Hi.It got so bad for me that I was drinkin a case of beer a day.

Dear Audie,

I too self medicated for a time- Would you be comfortable sharing how you came to the realization that this wasn't working? How did you stop?

Carolyn, MWC

I know you meant the question to someone else, but I'll share how I came to the realization. For years and years all my friends said I could drink them under the table, and it was true. My tolerance for alchohol was way up there. And I drank hard liquor. About a year and a half ago, I noticed that what used to relax me (alchohol) wasn't working anymore. It took me lots more drinks to feel the tiny bit relaxed and in a good mood. My hangovers the next day were getting to the point like death would've been better. I was totally incapacitated. Now I did this once or twice a week for years. My father drinks everyday, did since I was a baby and still does, so I really never thought I had a problem, since I only did it a couple times a week. All my friends were bar regulars so that and my father was my frame of reference. Until I met two new friends who barely drank and I saw that I was really the odd person out. They were healthy and happy and had hobbies and interests and it didn't revolve around alchohol. That was a true eye opener for me. It took me about 6 more months to really cut back. It wasn't easy though. When I cut down to one or two drinks a week, my anxiety surfaced BIG TIME! And I was miserable at first. But somehow I KNEW that this is the right path that I MUST take if I was going to do this without MEDICATION! And alchohol is medication in my book. I was going to go through this clean and try to get as healthy as I could possibly be. The healthiest I have ever been in my whole LIFE! Now, I did "mourn" the loss of my alchohol and the bar friends, believe it or not. But with the help of a great therapist I left that all behind. It was not easy but so worth it. Alchohol is a double-edged sword. You feel good at the time, but you pay big time later. I really believe it caused alot of my anxiety and wore me down. So I started exploring new interests and meeting people who did not drink a six-pack in one sitting. I had to find something else to give me pleasure. What has happened since? I just don't have the desire for alchohol anymore like I used to. My blood pressure is now normal for the first time in 15 years! I've lost weight, I can walk 45 minutes and I can think more clearly. I have great friends now who really care about me and not just that I'll sit next to them at a bar stool. You know I thought all the fun was over there... at the bar, and that I was missing out! How UNTRUE! I used to think that I'd be miserable staying in on a Friday night at my friends house playing with her kids. Now I love it. That's real life, in the moment. I have to say Lucinda's book also really helped me see this. I am still on the recovery road with anxiety, but over the past year I have seen great progress and am feeling so much better about myself. Just wanted to share.

[This message has been edited by JBean64 (edited 05-18-2001).]

[This message has been edited by JBean64 (edited 05-18-2001).]

Hi! to be perfectyly honest, today is the first day that I haven't had my "daily beers" in a LONG time. I can't sleep and feel very anxious. I know I need to quit, and I'm trying. I feel anxious that I'll have terrible withdrawls. I'm going to a briss tomorrow where I'll only know two people-ome of them being my mother. I'm out of money, but don't want to ask my Mom to loan me money to buy beer. I am afraid that I'll freak out and would feel more comfortable if I had a couple of beers before I had to walk in there. What to do?

Hi,My anxiety got to the point where if I didnt drink It would get worse even if I tried to stop.So the worse my anxiety got the more I had to drink to keep that peace of mind that I had while staying intoxicated.I was siiting in my car on Christmas Eve on my favorite drinking spot where no one could bother me.I stayed there all night and climbed out of the car to watch the sun rise on Christmas morning.and there I started to bash myself,"Is this it?So this is how my life is goin to turn out?Why me God?All I asked for was to be happy.I aint never hurt or killed anyone God.Why me?"After feeling sorry for my self,I went home and staggered in the door I sat down on the couch and passed out.After waking up my Anxiety kicked into high gear and then I started to realize that I had to quit because I couldnt stay drunk forever.

Hey audi
Was it hard to quit? Did you stop completely? What did you do to help you? This my second day without a beer for breakfast. I feel very anxious. Any suggestions? Thaks Ing

Hi,yes it was hard and it still is.It's kinda fun the way I 've stopped I've got a friend at the same time who told me I needed to quit drinkin and I told him that he needed to quit smokin so we both made a bet I would quit drinkin and he would quit smokin
the first one to give in would lose and owe the other a steak dinner.Now me being the steak lover I agreed and til this day my buddy owes approximately 3 steak dinners.Not a one of us lied to each other about it we were honest if one of us gave in and he did it three times and I'm still goin'