If you suffer from depression, is it recommended to quit drinking for good?

Question

I suffer from depression and I have for years. I am an alcoholic, but in the last 5 months I have been keeping my drinking in check. I would like to not ever have a drink again, but I really do not know how to embrace sobriety to the fullest. I still find the need to have a few beers when I start feeling depression. It happens at night before bed time. I don't drink for the sake of just having a few beers, I drink to allieviate the depression a wee bit. My depression is not in the furthest depths of the abyss, but it's enough to be in a very dark world the moment my depression starts. I know drinking a few to ease the pain is not the answer, but I really don't know how to quit once and for all. I am 27 and this has been on and off for about 6 yrs. I want to evolve on a better plane, but my matter is a fork in the road.

Answer 1

Hi Friend,

I'm a sober alcoholic and I've dealt with depression my entire life. I can tell you right now that being sober will alleviate ALOT of your depression symptoms, but it's not going to happen immediately. It's going to take some time. My first piece of advice is to go to AA and talk to other sober people, even if you are hesitant about that program, it is helpful to be around people who know what you are going through.

Second, if you are an admitted alcoholic, there really is no way to keep your drinking in check as you say. It's going to get the better of you eventually. I tried to control my drinking for a long time, but once something went wrong in my life I always went off the deep end.

I also know that you mean about drinking to alleviate depression symptoms. People like us don't drink because it's social, we do it to change the way we are thinking and feeling. The only real answer is to cut booze out of the equation, you won't really be able to deal with your mental health until you do that.

I wasn't able to get any sober time until I got on antabuse (the drug that makes you sick if you drink booze). That might be something to look into if you are ready to stop. But I also go to AA on a regular basis. I met a lot of sober friends there, people I can call if I feel like I want to drink or do drugs to get relief.

You can do it man. I know its scary to imagine never drinking again (terrifying even). But just focus on getting through one day without drinking, and do that every day. Your going to suffer some at first, but if you keep at it, I promise you you'll start to feel better.

Hang in there,
Mike

If you think it might help, you can check out my blog on early sobriety: https://soberday.wordpress.com/