Looking for someone to connect with daily who is similar to my situation. I’ve used drugs and alcohol to cope with mental trauma since I was about 13 (now 28). I’m not trying to give up alcohol completely but want to have a healthy relationship with it and not drink every single day. I want to be able to know how to call it when I have had enough. I don’t experience intense physical withdrawals anymore but do still struggle deeply with mental withdrawals. I don’t believe in religion or a god but I am spiritual. AA wasn’t for me, and yes I gave it many chances. I support the use of psychedelics and marijuana as form of medicine and not for pure indulgence. I’m in therapy for PTSD and depression. If you feel you can relate to this post and my goals, I’d love to hear from you and connect.
That’s great! 
Just moderate for now, I just want to have control and not use it as a coping mechanism
I truly wish you well. I hope that you have infinitely more success with moderation that I ever could.
Hey M. You and I are very similar. There's some studies that women drink for different reasons and in different ways than men. Her-Best-Kept-Secret is a good book though it has been criticized for its criticism of AA. Like you, it didn't work for me, but I am struggling with bipolar so bipolar support groups help me more.
All the best!
I would say I agree with you on many points. One being that some people can moderate (I couldn’t). Another being that thc and psychedelics do have potential to help but only under regulated conditions. I can see why AA wasn’t for you. It works for me because AA is a fellowship that includes a suggested program. I go for the fellowship and support, I don’t have to agree with every aspect of their ‘suggested program of recovery’. AA has helped me a lot but I can work my own program and still be a part of the fellowship
I will be interested in discussing with you.
Hi, I've been an addict since 13 meth! Well I guess that gateway drug did come before...you know marijuana. Anyway I'm 33 turned this month. Also this month overdosed and died from fentanyl for the second time. I had to turn myself around I kicked with out maintenance,the opioids. That wasnt as hard as the mental depression from using meth since 13 because what happens is you get so used to using it everyday it burns out receptors in your brain and those receptors are what make you feel Joy and happy so if you've been using since you were 13 it should take just a little over a year for that to heal and start to get better again so you can start enjoying things or having fun. Now as far as the drinking goes I'm in the same place except I I would like to quit but it will kill me if I just quit cold turkey. I've been using DMT it really helps honest I have a cartridge in a vape I take about three hits every 5 days it'll take your mind to a place of wonder which will make you almost completely forget the depression.
Thank you, I appreciate that. I wish you the best of luck on your sober journey as well.
Thank you so much for the suggestion and I will definitely check it out! And same as you mental health support and therapy have helped me the most. AA just kept trying to pin me as someone who was an alcoholic and that’s it. I’ve come to learn dependency and addiction can be totally separate from each other.
I’m so happy you found something that works for you and we’re able to personalize to your specific needs! Thank you for your support and input.
Wonderful! I accepted your friend request.
I very much appreciate you sharing your story with me and I can say I am very happy you are still here. To come back from death twice must mean your time here isn’t meant to come to end. It would be great to connect more being I feel o share a lot of similarities with you.
The only requirement is a desire to stop drinking.
I really don’t believe that. You can have plenty of desire to stop and still struggle. It’s much more involved then simply having a desire, at least for me and I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that.
Sorry. The only requirement to be a member of AA is a desire to stop drinking.
Thank you for the clarification. I was going to make a comment referring that to AA but I didn’t want to come off as putting down the program because it has helped so many people and I wouldn’t want to disrespect anyone’s process
Exactly, sometimes that seems to be overlooked. I like to make sure people know it.
Right. You don’t have to do the steps. You don’t have to pray or find god. Heck you don’t even have to be successful. You’ve just gotta want it. The desire to quit opens the door. The rest are all suggestions.
One of the biggest reasons I used alcohol to cope was that I realized I was living in fear and didn't want to be victimized or taken for weak so I would always be on guard and worried. Doing this during all your waking life is too much to keep up along with relating to others and being productive and playful.
Once I realized this through attending AA meetings, getting a sponsor, and working the steps, I can now let go of the fear when it comes and the victim mindset and cast it to my higher power. This allows my energy and peace to settle in. It has helped in a big way to take away my need to cope by drinking in order to escape the defensive, fearful, and restless person I was in order to survive so I thought. Now I don't need to escape to cope. I just work the step I need for casting out the fear and anxiety when it comes and peace is restored.
Hi are you still around?