Social Anxiety Forums

PHD86 · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 Post subject: Drinking habits

After seeing various articles of how people drink to alleviate their social anxiety, I wondered what the general drinking trends are of people on this board.

For me, I've always felt so conscious about drinking - I've never wanted to be drunk as I don't like being out of control (which is a burden sometimes) - I've never really been tempted to drink large amounts which is difficult because of the binge drinking society we live in in this country (scotland).

I enjoy a drink now and again and the most I've ever had in one go is 7/8 pints of lager.

This is an example of how anxious I can get - I worry that people will automatically asume that I drink (heavily) as a temporary solution to these problems and that that's what I've been doing over the last 3 years amongst other things.

DS · Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 Post subject:

Drinking is a way to get rid of the anxiety, but for me at least, the haze it causes is too much. But, it depends on the situation.. A shot as you walk out the door does wonders sometimes..

Ben41 · Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 Post subject:

i drink a lot, sometimes too much. i used to drink only at parties, now i drink alone a lot, and drink pretty heavily at parties.
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anxietyst0p · Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 Post subject:

Yeah I drink pretty frequently. The messed up thing about it is that when I drink... I can talk to anybody. It makes me realize if I could just get rid of this DAMN anxiety how wonderful life would be.

stepinwolf · Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 Post subject: Drinkin

During college years, I would get "tore up" on beer or vodka. It did seem to allow me to "loosen up" a bit. I do remember on several occasions people telling me that I looked a bit stressed out while at parties/bars.
Now I tend to drink about a 6 pack o beer per night to curb any axiety. It has become an issue and I am trying to cut back on it. I have found that when I crack the first cool one, not much gets done from that point on. I just kinda veg. until bedtime.

PHD86 · Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 Post subject:

I started this topic not only to get an insight but to see how much as a group we depend on alcohol.

Me, I hardly drink at all to be honest. Whenever I was feeling depressed, I would have a bottle of beer from the fridge but when I'm out and about at say the football, I'll have one or two but that's it.

Despite my condition, I'm quite a level-headed person and realise that drugs and drink won't do anything beneficial for me, so I've stayed clear of them.

Having said that, I dare say there are many of the people on this board who find their condition unbearable and feel like it's a good option as there's no doubt that it eases social interaction.

DS · Posted: Fri June 15, 2007 Post subject:

Depends on the situation..

I don't like drinking.. but the freedom I get to act like an ahole with no extreme regard for anyones opinion is wonderful..

Shit, I have 6-7 shots in me right now.. damnit..

CDC · Posted: Thu July 19, 2007 Post subject:

I've started binge drinking lately, mainly as a response to SA. It's stupid as I know it's bad but I keep doing it.

CLONES · Posted: Mon September 17, 2007 Post subject:

I just drink socially. And over due it, socially to. But drinking alone is kinda retarted for me.

capt morgan · Posted: Tue October 09, 2007 Post subject:

i drank alot in college it was the only way i could relax in social situation...if i did not drink i felt like a caged animal and everyone was starring at me...all i wanted to do was run away...this trend caused me plenty of problems...mostly in the dating area...it took me a long time to relize that when i was with someone i was always drunk and the person i was with also loved to drink...so drinking was like a third wheel in the relationship...and well like you all know relationship based on drinking does not work....i finially now have stopped that...and now i am with someone who we sometimes have a drink here and there but not all the time...its weird i get all flustered sometimes cause i used drinking to make me relax and feel comfortable that without the cruch i sometimes act like a bumbling idoit but luckly my bf is very understanding and jokes about it with me...

livingnsilence · Posted: Sun February 03, 2008 Post subject:

I drink only if other people are drinking, mainly at parties. I would drink other times but I don't want people thinking I'm an alcoholic and plus I don't like a lot of the side effects of alcohol (ie. hangovers, blacking out, having to pee like every five miniutes and not being able to drive). I have to drink enough to make me tipsy before I start to notice it helping my anxiety. But I will warn you that even drinking may cause extream anxiety the days after you drink sometimes because when your anxiety is gone you might do things you consider embarassing even though the other people don't care you might spend days really worring about it when the alcohol is gone. This happens all the time to me, especially when I blackout, but I still feel it's worth it because it is the only way for a temporary break from both depression and anxiety, so it's the only way I can have fun.

sabbath92001 · Posted: Sat February 16, 2008 Post subject:

Pretty much the only time I drink anymore is at concerts, and then only a couple of beers.

grasshopper · Posted: Mon March 17, 2008 Post subject:

For those americans on the board... you take your drinking habits too seriously and are very self righteous when it comes to proclaiming that you "barely drink", good for you! many cultures consider alcohol a kind of food that is part of their diet, its when you start to think of it as "a drug" that's affecting your brain, making you "high" et cetera that makes you feel guilty and you begin to think that you have a problem. What is the big deal? You're too serious, lighten up, you will think your way into "alcohol addiction"

smith9999 · Posted: Fri March 21, 2008 Post subject:

nola · Posted: Tue April 22, 2008 Post subject:

hi i feel like most of you that try to stop your SA by binge drinking to forget about everything. Let me say that from my experience this is not the best thing to do, i gained a alcohol addiction and the last few months of my life have been a blur being drunk every night, i finally managed to get help and the doctor put me on a drug called antabuse, problem is because of all my anxiety medication it caused many side effects but the doctor said its best i continue treatment. Im glad its all over now but its always bad to mask 1 problem with another.