using alcohol to numb the lonelyness and isolation

[mrbissellsauna]

I'm 52, be 53 in 6-weeks, divorced 9-years. family broke-apart after mom passed in feb 2008. using alcohol to numb the pain of the lonliness and isolation. used to socialize at the pubs, but d.w.I. so severe in this state, quit going out all together on fri. and sat. nite. week day drinking under control=3-4 twelve oz. beers. work 4-10's so can drink all day on fri, sat, sun. if i wish. had to switch to wine on the week-ends due to amount drank, and severe gout flare-ups afterwards. monday's it hits me like a ton of bricks=severe anxiety all day at work, goose-bumps on my arms if anyone asks me a question. and the worst?=severe fear of my 2-dogs growing old and passing-away leaving me here tottally all alone.Not sure if I will survive this when it comes. feel I will just stay in bed, not eat at all, and will eventually die. Extreme low appetite on the week-ends. can barely force myself to eat one small meal. this got even worse after gall-bladder removal march 2010.virtually all my friends now moved out of state, except one. he has never drank. phone calls from friends slowly dropping-off as they make new friends in that state.thinking of quitting, but the lonlyness and isolation take me back to the excessive mode on the week-ends. wish i could replace the beer and wine with something else to numb the lonlyness.

[schizofriendia]

You need to get out there and make new friends.  I'm falling into the same boat where my friends are dropping off and I'm not taking new ones on board.  I also used to drink heavily to deal with my internal issues.  I don't now because my wife prevents me from doing so, but if she wasn't around, I would probably go straight back to drinking.

[tonyttll]

I hear you, i've had severe anxiety and ocd for 15 years. And i drank really heavy to deal with the anxiety,self confidence,feeling less then, fear of judgment, i have a long list of reasons why i want to feel numb too. You need to get sober, hopefully you can try a treatment center. If not go to AA meetings, get a sponser. People in AA are so supportive and its easy to meet people, and thats coming from someone that can barely handle eye contact with people at times. They won't judge you, and you can really heal yourself and restart your life. Life is about peace and happiness, and sir you can have that in your life. Take care

[nursegirl6572]

You need to seek help for your drinking problem right away.  While alcohol may ,ake you feel better in the moment, it actually exacerbates anxiety and depression something FIERCE after indulging.  That's why you're feeling SO badly when you're not drinking.  

Not to mention the physical damage that alcohol causes.  You need a full work up as well!

Seek some help, and soon!

[RainLover71]

Really sorry to hear about the sadness and lonliness in your life but you know that alcohol is not the answer at all.You have to start eating because you need to look after yourself.Get out and about and make new friends.Isolation can be an awful thing.If you ever want to talk there are many good people here at medhelp.