Hello CountryHousebond, welcome to the site and can I join Jazz and Petal in offering our support.
We are really sorry you are suffering from depression, as you've mentioned, and there never seems to be any relief so there is a temptation for people to try different drugs and/or alcohol to numb these feelings, the trouble is the next morning it's back to square one, the depression still dominates and certainly takes control, especially when you are intoxicated, you feel worse.
I've used alcohol as a coping mechanism but it only led to more problems within my marriage, but I thought it would only help me, I was wrong, but it's not easy to realise this, it's the same as lighting up another smoke, non of these addictions can possibly remove nor control any type of depression it's way too strong.
So there are 2 problems here finally realising that help is needed for our depression as well as stopping these addictions so where do you start to begin with, and people differ from what is said.
Some people need help to stop their addiction first, then they are able to understand their depression better and are able to discuss the situation better with a counsellor, rather than trying to discuss the problem when affected by an addiction and may not remember what had been discussed the previous session.
This is something you need to decide on if the counsellor will allow you into a session while affected.
There is much more to say and really hope you can get back to us.
Geoff.
