Has anyone out there used alcohol to self medicate? If you have stopped any advice.

well michelle all i can say is what i did. i went to a.a. i was shocked at how much aa and this program have in common its been 27 years scince i 've used alcohol or any other drug to medicate . so for me it works

I agree AA is a great safe haven, but you have to be willing to work the steps. Some are not ready to quit, but when you are, AA is the ticket. I have been in and out of AA for a lot of years. Session 5 mentions the effect of alcohol, and it is often used to calm anxiety. The problem with that, it brings the depression out and becomes a viscious circle. I am hoping that between session 5 and AA might be the ticket. AA and this program seem to compliment each other and have similar principles.

I was hitting it pretty hard for a while but the anxiety just got worse the next day and I would get heart palpitations and it just wasn't worth it. Over time, the alcohol is going to takes its toll on your body and your liver. You just have to make a choice and be strong in the choice you make. I do drink still but I will have like a couple of beers or something and even that sets off my anxiety. I prayed a lot for God to take my alcohol problem away and it worked. I got sick of feeling like crap all the time. Its really the best thing to do. You cannot really work on your problems if you don't quit alcohol. I don't take medication either. This is the first time in my life that I have actually just worked on my problems without trying to feel numb and forget about them. Good luck!

I've been hammering alcohol for many years to numb the pain of being used and abused, and to stop the panic/anxeity. I started drinking when I was 12yrs.old, thats when the anxeity/panic came in full force and still continues to this very day.From my experience the alcohol only works when your in a drinking session, and it dulls all emotions(feel good, but the next day your back at square one and have to run to it again. Like a wild dog chasing it's tail.It's not the ans. but it helps with deadly results.(long term,disease, etc)

Drinking was a huge escape for me for many years! Besides numbing the pain of life, I became outgoing and less lonely when drinking. Eventually, it would take more drinking for the same effect and then would feel like crap about it. I quit drinking completely for a couple of years and tried just working on myself. I may drink occassionally now but I hope and pray my days of self medicating to overcome my feelings are over. If it's something you want bad enough there is a lot of support here, AA, and church.
Good luck to all of you

Thank-you all. I think my issue is with my past I have told so many lies, let so many others down.When I think about the past I am mad. I have been to sooooo many doctors with so many differnt outcomes.I find comfort when I read here...I have hope others have made it out and I can as well. Some days I just can't believe all the wasted time I have always ran from one thing to another never really finishing anything I start....maybe it is time to stop running.....Thanks again for sharing....

Michelle, another program like AA is Celebrate Recovery.I started attending 9 weeks ago and haven't had a drink since . I had years of self medacating under my belt. Celebrate Recovery is Christ centered recovery program. Like this program and AA you have to work the steps. Drinking was killing me physically and mentally. I hope you get help because you cant do it alone. Dave L.

Ditto on AA. Sought through prayer and meditation. The letting go, permitting, accepting and all helped. Been sober from the alcohol part of it for around twenty years now. Still working on issues though, and I use 'theraflu' when I have a cold to help me sleep. I prayed and got an answer, found a higher power

THANK-YOU!!!!THANK-YOU!!!!!Celebrate Recovery will be something I will be looking into as well....I wish I could send you all ice cream grams....or flowers....I wish I would have used this when I bought it years ago...Best of luck to all.....Please check in with me once in a while.

"if you keep sitting and waiting soon someone will make choices for you or you will waste away in a dark place never brought out into the light"

Thank you. Hope you will check in with me, too

Michelle, if you go on line and google Celebrate Recovery, you can get the closest meating place neer you. Anonymity is a basic requirement, so you dont have to worry about that. Meetings are held in Church buildings and the people are all in the same boat, recovering. You will make great friends who know exactley how you feel. A great burden will be lifted from your heart. Yea I'm doing the two programs at the same time. Go for it now.It will change your life. Dave L.