Do U think I have alcohol problem?

Question

I drink rather often, like one beer a day (exclusively beer), but never get drunk. I have been doing this for 4 years, and it never affected any aspect of my life. However, alc. makes me depressed, even though that is the reason I consume it in a first place: anxiety and boredom. Every time I feel this way I have a slight urge to calm my nerves with a beer. I tried antidepressants, but I decided that it even worse, even though during the time I was taking Xanax I didn't feel the need to take Alc.
Any recomendations how I can cope with boredom/anxiety w/out taking antidepressants/alc, and how can I feel the joy of living like before???

I exercise almost every day.

I exercise almost every day.

Answer 1

Reaching for a beer is the quickest way to relieve the anxiety you are feeling, then you feel depressed, so what is worse? You need to talk to a professional, therapist, to be able to vent and figure out why you are having issues. In the mean time, I find walking, even if it is cold outside, relieves stress. Also, exercising diminishes tension, anxiety and gets the endorphins raised in your system. Try it, what other alternative do you have? This is the time of year when stress is at its highest, so try to take some sort of action with the above suggestions. Good Luck!

Answer 2

First of all....I take an antidepressant and it helps me out alot. Xanax just calms the nerves....I don't think it is an antidepressant. Also, I think you can become addicted to Xanax. Antidepressant are taken every day which will keep you at an even keel. Don't drink because alcohol is a depressant and will make your condition worse. Talk to your doctor and have him prescribe you something else. Just because you drink one beer a day...it does not make you an alcoholic. If you felt that you had to have it then I would be concerned. You stated...you do it out of boredom. Also...have you tried counseling? That could also help. Good Luck!

Answer 3

You are using alcohol as a coping skill to deal with emotional problems. That can lead to more problems. Never use alcohol with any antidepressant or antianxiety drug. Very negative results. Which is your most troublesome problem: depression, anxiety or boredom? Cut out the alchohol and concentrate on one of these problems at a time. First, the best resolution is to see a Dr. about this. In the meantime, For boredom/anxiety you need to be more involved in activities to keep you busy. You could work, volunteer, take classes, whatever your interests are. Bottom line, change the drinking to taking a senior citizen a meal or a welcome visit. You'd be surprised how that can cure your problems.

Answer 4

Quite frankly, don't think life is always very fair to some people....some have an easier time with anxiety than others.... And as well, think the reason for living is to be happy. This is not to say one should stay bombed 24/7, nor go on binges nor become irresponsible, nor endanger other while driving etc., etc..... However, a nice beer is a delight to relax with, and watch the sunset.... And I see no problem with a Xanax when you wish to take the edge off of your anxiety. ...say the day did not go well.... I'm also not one for busywork and wasting my time doing things I don't like to do, just to stay busy.... If I am not creative, or happy, doing my job well, or with friends, or my loved ones, or engaged in things I really like, or I am so edgy that I cannot do the things I really like, then a tranq. is an appropriate measure.

(This country has soooo many people in jail for possession of what it regards as illegal drugs --- for loooog prison sentences for the possession of a few ounces of marijuana --- that we let out murderers, sex offenders etc., because we gave those people 20 years, so a murderer gets out in 7. The History Channel just did a piece on this.,,If they re-run it, watch it.... This country is so phobic on the moderate use of chemicals to ease daily anxiety.... but that's another issue....)

So, to answer your question: If your alcoholic intake, and your tranq. intake is as you have described, then no , I wouldn't say you have either an alcohol or a drug problem.

Cheers,

Answer 5

Please do not substitute alcohol or drugs for boredom or anxiety. This will lead to other more extreme problems. I know this because I just today lost a very dear cousin from alcohol. She started drinking because of boredom, and drank Vodka then took Tylenol and her liver shut down. She died today after being in a coma for 5 days.
If you are bored, get OUT and find something that interests you. Or call a good friend and talk about what might be bothering you, but PLEASE don't turn to drinking.

Answer 6

These are questions that are better left to a qualified medical practitioner in my opinion. I have read that for many people, that stop taking the antidepressant too quickly once they experience some side effects. These are things only a dr. can answer I believe.

Answer 7

Yes you do have a drinking problem. The main reason people get bored is laziness, they expect to be entertained rather than using their minds to conjure up entertainment. This usually comes with too many hours of television/computer/video games. ONe way to "feel the joy of living" is to actually LIVE. Get up off your butt and DO something challenging.

Answer 8

If you are going to a counselor then I would talk to them about it. If you aren't going to a counselor then ask the doctor that gave you the script for the meds. If you can't talk to either of them then just stay on yahoo and type away. Good luck and I hope all works out for you.

Answer 9

in simple terms the reality that she's so youthful and her strategies isn't totally progressed. the project is=people who began ingesting youthful tend to apply alcohol extra often as adults and are lots extra probably to grow to be alcoholic. i began ingesting on the comparable age.....yah i'm an alcoholic.

Answer 10

I HAVE SOME OF THE SAME PROMBLES AS YOU BUT I CALMED MY NEVERS WITH FOOD TILL I GAINED ALOT OF WEIGHT I HAVE LOST ALMOST 100 LBS IN THE LAS 4 YRS ITS BEEN SLOW I HAVE FOUND WHEN I EAT DUE TO EMTIONS OR NERVES I START READING A BOOD THE BIBLE EVEN A COOK BOOK AS LONG AS I DO IT LONG ENOUGHT TO GET PAST THE DESIRE I FIND EXERCISE HELP BUT WASNT THE WHOLE ANSWER BASICALLY WE HAVE TO LEARN TO DIE TO OUR SELF AND STOP TRYYING TO FIND A EASY FIX TO OUR FILLINGS I HAVE FOUND ITS OK TO HAVE A LIL DEPRESSION AS LONG AS I DONT LET IT TAKE OVER I TOOK PROZAC FOR 4 YRS AND IT JUST MADE ME FILL NUMB IF YOU THINK YOU NEED SOMETHING TO FILL BETTER TALKE TO YOUR DR AND SEE IF THEY CAN GIVE YOU SOMETHING THAT ISNT HABIT FORMING OR REAL STRONG GOOD LUCK REMEMBER ITS NOTHING WRONG WITH TAKING MEDS AS LONG AS YOU DONT ABUSE IT AND FOR THE ACHL YOU BE CARE FUL EVER ONE I KNOW WHO HAS A DRINKING PROMBLE STARTED WITH JUST ONE DRINK!!