The General Mental Health Forum is now a Read Only Forum. As we had two large areas making it difficult for many to find, we decided to combine the Mental Health & the Recovery sections of the forum into Mental Health & Recovery as a whole. Physical Health still remains as it's own area within the entire Recovery area.
If you are having struggles, need support in a particular area that you aren't finding a specific recovery area forum, you may find the General Struggles forum a great place to post. Any any that is related to emotions, self-esteem, insomnia, anger, relationship dynamics due to mental health and recovery and other issues that don't fit better in another forum would be examples of topics that might go there.
If you have spiritual issues related to a mental health and recovery issue, please use the Recovery Related Spiritual Advice forum. This forum is designed to be like Christian Advice, only for recovery type of issues. Recovery being like a family in many ways, allows us to support one another together. May you be blessed today and each day.
Kristen.NewCreation and FreeinChrist
I drink b/c I'm bored. If I'm busy, I don't feel the urge to drink...if I'm just sitting around doing nothing...I get EXTREMEMLY bored and feel like having a glass of wine. Also, it may be a habit. In college, we always got together and watched the popular shows (Grey's, American Idol, America's Next Top Model), talk and have wine. Now, that I'm not in college, in some weird way, I still feel programmed to do that. I try to ignore it but it gets the best of me sometimes.
I agree with you...I feel as if I'm tap dancing w/ the devil. I'm trying not to let him win And, I think I do need a mentor but I don't know where to get one from. I guess I could go to an AA meeting but...I don't know about that; probably not.
Edit: Why can't I be one of those people who don't feel guilty when they drink? I don't even drink half as much as most of my friends but they could care less; they never feel guilty. I guess this is what happens when you're a Christian; God nags you until you give up the stuff He doesn't want you to partake in. Grrr.
OK. I'm officially admitting...I have a problem.
So yeah, I'm a loser. I feel really bad now.
Congratulations, for many people, this is the hardest part of recovery. I know it was for me.
So the questions I would like to ask are:
Have you decided you want what I have?
Are you willing to go to any length to get it?
We're with you, gal. We've all had to face up to what you've just had to. Give AA a call, and expect to be pleasantly surprised. God and a good AA home group are your biggest allies.
Keep us posted. Hourly, if need be. Sometimes just writing it out is a big help.
Yes, I want what you have and yes...I'm willing to go to any length...I think. Thing is, I don't drink when I'm not bored. Like now, I'm not working so I get super bored and my mind start saying I should drink. When I'm working...my mind never goes there. I'm never sitting around thinking I feel like drinking. But, someone said earlier, on this thread, that our mind tricks us...we like to blame it on being bored, wanting to have fun, etc.
Anyway, 'Yes' to both of your questions. So, what's the next step?
Well, I guess I can kind of agree to being powerless when I start drinking. But, by no means, do I think my life is unmanageable. That's why I'm a tad confused about alcoholism. People say it's not the amount of times you drink, it's the amount you drink when drink when you do drink (i.e. you can't stop). Like I said, I may drink 2 or 3 times a month...but if I do, most of the time, I end up drinking a lot...but not having a hangover. When I think of alcoholism, I think of people who drink almost everyday and it seems to take over their lives. But, I'm guessing I'm wrong...
Well, I guess I can kind of agree to being powerless when I start drinking. But, by no means do I think my life is unmanageable. That's why I'm a tad confused about alcoholism. People say it's not the amt of times you drink, it's the amount you drink when drink when you do drink (i.e. you can't stop). Like I said, I may drink 2 or 3 times a month...but if I do, most of the time, I end up drinking a lot...by not having a hangover. When I think of alcoholism I think of people who drink almost everyday and it seems to take over their lives. But, I'm guessing I'm wrong...
Well, I guess I can kind of agree to being powerless when I start drinking. But, by no means, do I think my life is unmanageable. That's why I'm a tad confused about alcoholism. People say it's not the amount of times you drink, it's the amount you drink when drink when you do drink (i.e. you can't stop). Like I said, I may drink 2 or 3 times a month...but if I do, most of the time, I end up drinking a lot...but not having a hangover.
When I think of alcoholism, I think of people who drink almost everyday and it seems to take over their lives.
Hello all!
I haven't been on CF in a while (my computer broke) so I just wanted to give you guys an update. All is well over here. I've been working on the reasons behind the reasons why I feel the need to drink, drink, drink. Its been really helpful and now I feel like I am going in the right direction. I'm still taking it day by day so we'll see...
I hope you guys are doing well. Thanks to everyone for responding to this thread!
No, I haven't been to an AA meeting. I was going to go but then I started becoming "self-aware", I guess, and I just never went. I feel like I don't have the urge to drink, hardcore, like I was when I was bored. I guess it's because I'm working now and I actually have something to do. Me + Boredom = Not Good. Like I said in my previous posts, I tend to only drink like that when I'm bored or depressed. Unemployment led to both...
I totally relate to the bored issue. My problem is that my drinking got so bad, it was any old reason under the sun that I drank over.
The neat thing about the 12 Steps of AA is that they helped me to become more thoroughly self-aware, because of the spiritual changes that take place while doing them. Even if you don't visit a meeting, the Steps are worth looking at. Check them out at the AA website.
Hugs,
Trish