Anxiety & Alcohol

[Blagger Boy]

Hey,

Is there anyone here who has experience of abusing alcohol to help cope with anxiety in social situations?

Although i've never reached the dependent stage (thank ****) i have certainly abused over the years to help me deal with people. Whenever there was some event to attend or whatever, i would always getting myself drunk to help cope with it.

I don't know why but these days i need to drink when seeing anyone socially. It's very rare i can do an activity without it.

I didn't really wanna mention this 'cause it seems to turn everyone off but it would be nice to chat with someone who has done the same, partcularly if they've changed from doing that.

[inCOGnito]

What are you afraid to face by drinking before socialising?

[Blagger Boy]

What are you afraid to face by drinking before socialising?

This is the thing i'm struggling to understand.

It might down to the fear of having to have a conversation with someone and put thought into it. If i'm boozy or whatever it doesn't really bother. When you're drunk you don't really give a shit.

I have this fear that i'm a boring person and now that so many people are used to me being drunk i can't function socially without alcohol most the time.

I dunno...

[inCOGnito]

This is the thing i'm struggling to understand.

It might down to the fear of having to have a conversation with someone and put thought into it. If i'm boozy or whatever it doesn't really bother. When you're drunk you don't really give a shit.

I have this fear that i'm a boring person and now that so many people are used to me being drunk i can't function socially without alcohol most the time.

I dunno...

Looks like you have insight into it. You can go deeper by going into the social situation without drinking and monitoring your own thoughts and feelings.

Fear usually boils down to loss of self or character. So in this case your afraid of discovering that you're boring, uninteresting, or won't be liked. So alcohol is a remedy to make a 'better' 'more social' version of you.

But is it true?

[Oosh]

I had this pretty bad. For me it was inhibitions and self consciousness, fear of embarrassment. Alcohol is very good at turning those specific things off meaning you can be yourself more/be uninhibited, not really care so find it difficult to feel embarrassed anymore.

Maybe the "im boring" hang up you have is due to the inhibited you when youre sober in company.

Inhibitions basically prevent you from being yourself so makes sense to feel youre boring to others.

I stopped drinking. Then i grew to hate being around drunk people who displayed the above.
Its much healthier to be sober around others and see yourself having a good time because youre all there and having a laugh and enjoying different aspects of it.

Expose yourself to it sober, see/feel those things and prefer it.

Or not...

you wouldnt be the first person to need a drink to loosen up and enjoy themselves.

It depends if you see it as a problem or not.

In my experience it didnt get easier it got harder.
If you use alcohol to face people eventually youll NEED alcohol to face people.

[Humly]

For many people alcohol gives them confidence and you are not the first to drink before socialising but it can end up being too much of a habit. Its an easy road to go down with drinking and I have on many a night had a drink to try and relax. I dont know why you would see yourself as boring. You probably are not and would you rather be seen as a drunken idiot or just an ordinary bloke. Try going without and see what happens.

[Fishmanpa]

IMO and medical data (ADAA for one) to back it up, alcohol and anxiety don't mix. Just stating what is obvious and shown to be accurate in post after post here. Regardless of the reasons, it can be and is detrimental to someone suffering with anxiety issues, and a definite no-no if taking meds.

Positive thoughts