Ugh..

[Madison35]

Is it bad to use alcohol as a coping mechanism?

[hypercat54]

Alcohol is a depressant so while it might seem to help in the short term in the long term it makes your depression worse. Then you can end up with depression and alcoholism to beat as well x

[gogogirl]

Yes, I would say any substance would be harmful as a coping mechanism.

[Madison35]

I just don’t know what else to do. I’m hardheaded and it’s very hard for me to ask for help. I just wish I had someone willing to come to me. Am I being too codependent on someone that isn’t willing to help?

[HearYou in reply to Madison35]

If you are asking for help from the use of alcohol, I thought you already knew the answer to your question. Not certain about what you meant about being too codependent on someone not willing to help. Whether someone in your life that is not helping you drop alcohol, suggest you reach out to AA or NA. All you need to do is show up, and listen when need and share when you need to. If I have misunderstood, I regret that. Clarify what you need if I am reading you wrong. We're here. Around the world, 24 hours a day someone somewhere is reading posts and replying.

[porcupyne]

Absolutely alcohol will intensify your

Anxiety and people like us get addicted

Easily. Try some butter rum lifesavers

[porcupyne]

I’m here for you

[Madison35]

I don’t drink much but when I do I feel like I don’t wanna stop cause it makes me forget all my problems

[CatsHelpMe in reply to Madison35]

Alcohol won't solve your existing problems and will only create a new, bigger one. Is there anything you like to do, that makes you focus on something else so that you find some relief for your mind? Like gardening or crafts or watching a movie or volunteering?

You can always come here when you're overwhelmed, too. There are wonderful strangers willing to help, and that's great.

[Madison35 in reply to CatsHelpMe]

I used to draw or write but I gave that up, haven’t done it in years. Now I can’t seem to find anything to make me feel better. I feel lost. I feel like I need to do more with my life but I don’t know what. I’m not happy and I have no friends

[CatsHelpMe in reply to Madison35]

I'm sorry, I haven't read all your posts... Do you have a job? Some other activity where you get in touch with people? You don't need or have to worry about your whole life today. Just focus on making today the best possible day, according to your capabilities. Life is overwhelming when believe we have to fix everything today... I try to remember that too.

[Madison35 in reply to CatsHelpMe]

Yeah I work, full time. I try to think that my life isn’t that bad according to some people but other times I have a hard time remembering that and I start feeling like I should have more in my life , I have worked hard all my life, college degree and I have nothing or at least I feel like I don’t.

[CatsHelpMe in reply to Madison35]

It happens to me sometimes too... I have everything I dreamed of when I was growing up, yet sometimes I feel so much pain deep inside and can't tell anyone about it. It would worry my mom to death and the rest of the world would just think I'm crazy.

I work full time too, I have a hard time focusing so I stay very long hours and then I have not time for myself, at all. I never get to sleep more than 5 hours and after so many years it's taking a toll.

[Madison35]

Yeah I know what you mean. I thought that once my daughter turned 18 I can start taking care of myself but then I have a husband that spends money worse than a woman and I’m always the one that has to deal with fixing it. So I tend to take care of his problems and his needs and wants while I continue to not care for myself. There are things I want and need but I put on he backburner cause I know I’ll give in to what he wants and he doesn’t seem to listen when I have tried talking to him about things