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Posted , 8 users are following.
I’m sorry not really sure I’m on the right site, I joined earlier and read a few posts and I’ll be honest I didn’t understand a few words that were mentioned but I’ve been drinking for around 3 years. This past year at least half a litre of vodka almost every night. I drink because I’m depressed, to forget, feel numb, to sleep! Now I realise it’s really bad for my health but I’m not even sure I want to stop? Only that recently I’ve been suffering chest pains and worried that maybe I’ve done damage ?
0 likes, 53 replies
Joanna-SMUKLtd dondons
Posted
Hi Dondons,
Because there wasn't much information to go on from your post, and I noticed that you have been a member of the Patient forums for some time, I had a quick look through your other posts on other topics, to try and get a bit more background information. The more information we have, the more we can try and point you in the right direction.
Firstly, I assume that because of your depression, you are on medication? Alcohol stops medications like anti-depressants working properly, and if your medications aren't working properly because you are drinking so much, then it is a downward circle.
None of us here are medical professionals, we can't tell you whether you have damaged your health or not, or what those chest pains might be. So the best advice that I personally can give you is to go back to your doctor, tell him/her exactly what you have written here and then you can be assessed to a) see if you have done any damage to your health (though if you have, much of it is likely to be repairable if you get help now) and b) see what can be done to help you in your goal of reducing or stopping your drinking IF that is what you decide you want to do. It is certainly what you should do if you are on medication for depression, but until you decide you really do want to stop or cut down considerably then there isn't much in the way of treatment that will help you.
Your mental health situation from your most recent posts on other areas of this forum would tend to indicate to me (as an alcohol abuse counsellor) that if you are finding that you are struggling to stop or reduce your drinking then this is not something that you should tackle alone. Just the fact that you say that you are aware it is bad for your health but then also say that you are not sure you want to stop is a big red flag that tells me the support you would get from a forum like this may not be sufficient on its own. This is a support group and as such we can offer suggestions of what worked for us, but unless you put in the required effort and work into your own drinking, you are unlikely to get the same results.
Once you have decided that you really do want to reduce or completely stop will be the moment that you are most likely to get benefit from a support system like this forum, in conjuction with proper medical help alongside it.
I wish you well and hope that you do get yourself checked out, and then take it from there.
dondons
Posted
Joanna-SMUKLtd dondons
Posted
No offense at all, dondon. Don't worry about that.
The best person for you to turn to is your doctor so that he or she can see if you have caused any damage and then help you move forwards.
Drink might seem to you to be the answer, but it really isn't.
dondons Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
There're reasons I can’t go to my doctor. I’m sorry that I probably have the wrong forum. I tried to find the right one but there were so many options and I didn’t know which to choose. Thank
You for replying to me though xx
Joanna-SMUKLtd dondons
Posted
No matter which forum you are on, no one will be able to answer your question of has your drinking damaged you.... that is a job for a doctor. No matter which forum, no one can 'diagnose' you over the internet or tell you if your chest pain is connected to the drinking or something else.
If you have chest pain then you need to see a doctor to get it checked out, no matter whether it is caused by the drinking or not.
I am sorry you can't go to your doctor, you can ask to see a different doctor instead, or go to a walk-in NHS clinic and ask to see a doctor there.
Excessive drinking is dangerous. Chest pain can be dangerous. Please don't wait to have yourself checked out by a doctor, any doctor.
dondons Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
Joanna-SMUKLtd dondons
Posted
Robin2015 dondons
Posted
You should not apologise. We are all here to help. Joanna is brilliant and always kind, thoughtful and professional. You should try and see some medical person concerning your chest pains. There is not much we can do over the internet. You are in the right forum... We would still like to help you😁 regards Robin
vickylou dondons
Posted
Your name seemed very familiar, so like Joanna I looked through some of your past posts.
You are obviously aware that drinking with antidepressants is a waste of time with alcohol itself being a depressant.
You are on the right forum, but first you need to get yourself checked out medically. No-one can make a diagnosis on here.
You need to decide if you want to either stop drinking completely, or controlled drinking. There are medications available for both and you’ll get loads of help and support on here.
Keep posting, it does help
dondons vickylou
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Robin2015 dondons
Posted
Do not worry too much and go step by step next week😀
dondons Robin2015
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Robin2015 dondons
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See a doctor or specialist and get a result and then take the next steep. Next step is perhaps less drinking but on medication. Further step to check the results and see how much you improved. I was trying to explain not to get stressed or worried but to take one day at a time. I hope you undserstandc 😁
dondons Robin2015
Posted
laura08496 dondons
Posted
dondons, i know how you feel. i used to drink a lot. i was in therapy, on medication for depression and anxiety, and drinking to stop the horrible thoughts. pretty much the same as you, i was terrified to stop drinking because i thought my life would certainly be worse. the alcohol was helping me deal with my misery and i honestly didn't think i could live without it. but...it was messing up my life in other ways. i was having some health concerns and was not horribly successful in therapy because i was never sober. so i decided to stop drinking every day. it was kind of scary and stressful in the beginning, i didn't think i could do it. but i managed somehow, and i'm doing better. i'm giving my therapy and meds a chance to work properly. you can do it too. you took a wonderful step reaching out on this forum. don't apologize for asking questions. keep looking for solutions, you're on the right track.