I reached out for help today with local services. I’ve replaced addiction with addiction and this is the last vice to go. Since I was a teenager (thank you hormones) I found myself riddled with night time anxiety. It feels so chemical and nothing quells it except dopamine. I just got the NHS drinking app and am going to try it. I’ve read so much quit lit and joined loads of chat rooms before, but nothing clicked with me. I really want this to end. Any advice on how to get that dopamine would be appreciated! I work out already, but I’ve done that my whole life so it doesn’t really have a massive effect on my mood. I’m a single parent to an extremely mentally disabled child which doesn’t help, but I don’t think I can blame my actions on that because I’ve had this addictive personality since I was young. Thanks everyone.
Stuck in a drinking jet stream: I reached out for... - Drink Free
Stuck in a drinking jet stream
I was in a similar situation, especially when drinking was involved , it's like a big sugar rush , the constant craving of having that desire or sudden rush of energy, and having addictive lifestyles makes us hyper active, we can't settle our brains down, even trying to shut off at bedtime can be a mission, I sit up all hours and generally watch anything until I crawl into my bed, and even my brain is still running overtime even though my body is tired, yes even at 60+ I'm still not used to my brain and body working together, I've got a couple of previous issues that caused my head to run riot, but if you can stop the drinking this stops other emotional factors getting dragged into an unsettled way of life, best of luck!
I’m glad you’re in a good place although it sounds like nothing really settled the brain buzzing issue.
No unfortunately I've got tinnitus as well, but it's trying not to have to many issues in your brain that causes different emotions, and alcohol is a roller coaster, it can make you feel euphoric and then depression kicks in, , as well as feeling rough the following day, I struggle sometimes with my ptsd, and I've ended up with " Stockholm syndrome " I've got survivors guilt, and I think if I carried on drinking I'd be pushing up daisies, I can't watch to much news, and I wished that certain films give you prior warning if there's a ultimate act of people committing suicide, it's really screwed my head up, I've discussed my downfall on the liver Trust site on the forum, however I'm just over 13 years sober 😇
Hi, What immediately comes to mind is that there is an inextricable link between ADHD and addiction that particularly seems to be a problem for women. In our teenage years running around like a crazy thing is less cool. All that energy can turn into anxiety, combined with less impulse control and no off button we can be tempted to self medicate with alcohol and other substances. I am not diagnosed but when assisting my daughter with her ASD diagnosis I could see I would pass through the ADHD test with flying colours. There are medications however just knowing and researching helps. I am nearly a year sober. I am on anti depressants and HRT which helps me sleep. I do work out all the time as I always have but swapped to a place I like better. Its near to home,the pool is actually warm and I can get a great coffee after a workout it really helps, I can escape to the gym more easily. As you give up alcohol the brain looks for hits initially. I developed a bit of a milkshake/ cocoa habit. Dairy seems calming somehow. However it did change over the year. The brain rewires I went through a dull, flat stage then bored myself into new hobbies, more time in nature and developing my faith, my interests, hiking and history. I gain dopermine hits from much smaller things. I work in a very, very busy school environment which also helps. Lots of teachers, nurses etc have ADHD and thrive in a buzzing, busy environment. Not meaning to diagnose people it was just a game changer for me.
I don’t have ADHD, but I do appreciate the “getting dopamine hits from much smaller things”. Hopefully they will happen to me, too 🙂
Not sure if you have heard of Org called Alcoholics Anonymous. You may visit a local meeting where you live. Also you may read the book Alcoholics Anonymous at AA.org.
aa.org/sites/default/files/...
aa.org/sites/default/files/...
""If you have a drinking problem, we hope you may pause in reading one of the forty-two personal stories and think: "Yes that happened to me" or more important. "Yes, I have felt like that" or most important, "Yes, I believe this program can work for me too".
One of the best stories is the story of the co-founder Bill W. Here is the link to the story:aa.org/sites/default/files/...
I see you respond to every single post with this. I’m not interested.
I was the same, it did nothing for me, and in fact the pressure turned me back on the drink after just one meeting,I've got my own brain and thoughts, and that's why I thought there's no point in carrying on, I had counselling for my issues as well as good medical advice, the DT'S are horrible and extremely dangerous, without medical intervention abd in the older days libriuem was prescribed, and now ended up with neuropathy, nerve damage in my feet and lower legs, extremely painful, and it never goes away, once again I wish you well.
Thank you. I’m sorry you went through all that. I don’t drink enough to have withdrawals, but I have horrible GERD from NSAIDS and the drinking makes it 500000x worse the next day. I’ve reached out to a place that’s all about neuroplasticity and rewiring the brain. Going to give them a go.
I hope you get all the help required, I know it's not easy, and different methods suit people in alternative ways, it's just trying to find what suits your needs, thanks for the reply and good luck 👍
Hello Lolo. You said something in your message that hit home. I absolutely have an addictive personality. Over a 30 year period I'd been addicted to everything from drugs, to cigarettes, as well as exercise and food issues. And then there was my best friend Alcohol. The one thing I could not quit. The one thing that I never expected would cost me everything, but it did. If you really want to quit, I would be more than happy to share things that helped me. 9 years sober in May
Yeah, def. Always interested to hear other people’s stories. I don’t really see substitutions as helpful, because I feel like the entire behaviour and routine needs to change. Plus, my stomach can’t tolerate most things except decaf coffee and flat room temp water haha.
Congratulations on your sober journey, well done 👏
Congratulations on deciding to take better care of yourself and defeat this demon.
As far as your question about dopamine here is my two cents worth.
I have ADHD and the bodies of people with ADHD make less dopamine than humans need.
So I'm always looking for aways to get extra dopamine.
You mentioned that you exercise and have done so regularly so you don't notice any kind of a burst of dopamine when you do so.
I would think that the exercising is helping you to have more dopamine than you otherwise would and that that is probably helpful.
That being said I would respectfully suggest refraining from cutting back on your exercising.
Other ways to get dopamine are every time we accomplish something no matter how small we think it is is to give ourselves big credit and really make a mental note or even use an app or a piece of paper or enlist somebody to be a cheerleader to us and doing so actually causes our body to make some dopamine.
I actually have a habit tracking app that I use which is very helpful.
I also have a person in my life to whom I send emails regularly with the subject 'Checking In'.
In the body of the email I list every smaller step of major projects that I have managed to accomplish.
In and of itself making and sending the email gives me a hit of dopamine.
When my friend is able to have the time and energy to email me back congratulations of some sort that gives me more dopamine.
Another way to get dopamine is anytime we feel like we can't do something if we force ourselves to do it anyway that causes the body to make some dopamine and perhaps norepinephrine as well.
Forcing ourselves to do things we feel like we can't do is sometimes referred to as 'undoing depression' or 'opposite-to-emotion'.
It actually causes the same positive physiological changes that antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication effect in the body.
I hope that you find my ideas to consider helpful and useful.
There is also an organization that assists people with dealing with harmful habits, addictions and maladaptive behaviors of all shapes and sizes.
It does not require that we leave our brains at the door.
It is secular and science-based.
SMART Recovery
They have in person and ZOOM meetings which are confidential.
They have a workbook with a plethora of useful skills, coping mechanisms, and tools.
They have a free app for mobile phones.
They do not require that one goes to their meetings for the rest of their lives.
They have no issues if somebody is seeing a therapist or a psychiatrist or going to another organization or taking medication or anything like that.
I 💯 feel you on this as I am in the same boat and also want to quit but find it hard as I am an impulsive adhd’r
Go back to when you were 12 years old. There was no alcohol, no cravings for booze. Gradually, oh so subtly, societal and peer pressure crawls into your brain. There wasn't any "don't do that" message AT ALL. I quit 2 1/2 years ago - simply, I didn't want something to have a hold on me. Substitute NA drinks. When I quit a friend had given me a pint of whiskey as a holiday gift - I literally doled it out by the teaspoon/day. It was a bridge to sobriety.
When I was 12 that’s when the anxiety started and I developed an eating disorder. Replaced that with drugs and alcohol at 20 then quit the drugs at 23. Alcohol is the last vice! I have read about this teaspoon method on Reddit before. Might be a good shout!
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