Hi Jo,
I can definitely relate to your drinking, as can others here. Good on your for reaching out...you sound like you’re going through a lot...
You sound exhausted, overwhelmed and I feel a lot of frustration too. I think you’re probably onto something there about drinking to mask issues.
I feel sometimes when we are faced with difficult emotions and situations, we just want to dull those feelings for a while...so we turn to alcohol. It brings immediate relief, but then of course, alcohol is a depressant so we generally feel worse in the long run. But the lure of short term relief is strong...so it can become this vicious cycle...
Ultimately though, I think turning to alcohol sometimes just means we are hurting and feeling overwhelmed, and perhaps don’t have too many alternative coping strategies...not yet at least...
I like your idea of maybe seeing your GP again. I get your trepidation and think that’s fair enough. So maybe go head and see your GP, but I would suggest just being upfront and expressing that you would like help but don’t necessarily want to see a counsellor. There are alternatives like joining a support group, helplines, etc that you could ask your GP about. That’s only a gentle suggestion...
I hope you’re finding your way around the forums okay, and if you’re feeling up to it (zero pressure), it would be lovely to hear how things go...
Kind thoughts,
Pepper
