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ADDICTION AND ANXIETY

michael1410
Community Member
I've always I guess had a predisposition to addiction no matter how hard I try to not let different substances take over my life I always seem to succumb to their clutches. It started with marijuana innocently enough smoking a few times, then slowly before I knew it getting taken over by it and my life becoming all about where was my next hit coming from. When I quit smoking cold Turkey I never knew it would be so easy but also affect me so much, I was unable to leave the house unable to be in large crowds and my depression hit an all time low. After seeing a psychologist for a year or so, I slowly began to be able to get out more but my problems never went away if anything my anxiety was the worst it had ever Been. I think I started drinking innocently enough the same as the marijuana never thinking this will get out of hand or become a huge problem, how wrong I was. Before I knew it I was drinking everyday and slowly but surely I began to drink more and more, I suppose drinking is different because it's socially acceptable. Unfortunately I eventually got to the point where I was drinking copious amounts of alcohol daily usually to the point of being physically ill then feeling better and continuing to drink some more. It became pretty obvious that I was drinking for the numbing effect to help me deal with and forget about my anxiety and depression along with any problems that were around at the time. In reality it doesn't help at all your problems are there when you sober up and sometimes, depending on the amount drunk joined by new ones just for something different. I knew I had a problem for a long time but I guess I didn't wanna face it, it Was too easy just to continue drinking and deal with the problems later.my anxiety was getting to the point where I was worrying about everything all the time even worrying about worrying.
3 Replies 3

geoff
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni
hello Michael, thanks for posting your comment even if it's been something you have been wanting to do in the past, but decided not to, for various reasons of your own, but it's pretty brave by doing this, so thanks.
Addiction of any type becomes controlling whether that's not your intention unfortunately it makes you feel as though you to 'want to' all the time, that's why it's called being addicted, and I was no different suffering from depression, eventually it was one reason why my wife divorced me.
If you have predisposition to addiction then your doctor will have to know, because if and when you are given any medication that could form an addiction to, they will be wary of this and after awhile discontinue the medication.
Sometimes people who have this can also have OCD, I'm not suggesting that here, but it's a possibility, but the danger here is that when you are tired of the alcohol it's possible you will try and find another source that is also an addiction, that's our biggest worry.
You are right none of these will make any bad thoughts just go away, they are always there with you unless you decide to get help, so if you can remove these thoughts then these addictions aren't necessary, easy said than done, because no addiction is easy to stop, but they certainly can.
At this point I would suggest you go and talk with your doctor, they can prescribe some specific medication that will erase any desire to drink or smoke weed, it stops you wanting to, but it will only work if that's exactly what you want to do, and please don't forget to tell them of your predisposition to being addicted.
I really hope to hear back from you, there must be a million questions you want to ask. Geoff.

Hey Geoff thanks for your reply I appreciate it. I reached the character limit so I couldn't finish my story but long story short I now have my addiction under control but my anxiety is still really bad. I had tms for my depression earlier this year and that really helped but I still struggle with my anxiety every day but I'm better at dealing with it. Now I can have a drink and not go overboard I dont have that wanting feeling so that's good. I just understand how hard it was for me to get to this point after 15 years struggling with anxiety and depression and a fair bit of that with substance abuse. I just wanna show people that they can do It two I relapsed once but second time around I beat it. I've got a really good psychiatrist who's helping me slowly but surely so that's good, but like you said I do suffer with a little ocd but thats controllable with medication all in all I'm in a better place than I was a year ago.I realise it's something I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life but I'm ok with that my anxiety is strangely comforting. Once again thanks for your time Geoff I just hope this shows others that it's able to be beaten.

thanks Michael, you have a determination and will to do well, that's all you need. Geoff.