Good to meet you, Tealover.
Well done for joining the community.
Depression is not an easy condition to live with. Being a depressant, alcohol can only make it worse. Just like in the long term, it makes everything else more difficult too. Kudos to you for acknowledging this issue.
I once self-medicated heavily with substance abuse and though I was never addicted to booze, I did drink too much at some stage. We often have the false belief that it helps us cope with reality. It doesn't. All it does is allow us a temporary escape from it. Addiction messes body, mind and spirit, takes away our freedom of choice and ends up affecting all areas of life negatively. It is also hurtful to those around us. But you know all this, having acknowledged it as a problem yourself. It is a brave first step towards reclaiming control.
There's no need to battle alone as there are orgs to help you get through this (like AA for example).
Learning to manage mental conditions involves all areas of your life. Taking care of yourself must happen on all fronts.
Navigating the forums will help you find the support and encouragement needed by all of us on the road to recovery. Every new community member brings a unique combination of personal experience and responses which contributes to the benefit of the whole.
Welcome on board.
