I began drinking about a year and a half ago, mostly to cope with Anxiety/Panic disorder that has reared it's ugly head again since I had my second child and ended up unexpectedly 1,000 miles from home in a city that's way to big for this small town girl. I was too afraid to venture out and drive, so I just stayed home and drink. I am a SAHM, and I only drink at night after my husband gets home, but I drink quite a bit. My drink of choice is whiskey. I seem to be mostly functional. My house doesn't look that great, but I've never been a good housekeeper.

Lately, though I've noticed that the drinking is actually beginning to make my anxiety worse during the day, and that I have begun to neglect my personal appearance. Those warning signs are enough for me to want to be DONE.

The thing is, last time we visited home for Christmas, we were there for 2 weeks and I didn't drink at all! It's because I was able to keep busy and social. I'm a very social person, and our current situation isn't good for me to be able to socialize.

Where I'm living now, I am the kind of drinker that can go a day or two between binges, but sometimes will drink 4 or 5 evenings in a row. It depends on how my day goes and how stressed out and anxious I feel when my husband gets home.

The question is, how do I get through those days when I'm having anxiety and my stress level is through the roof, and all I want to do is dull it with the bottle? I have Klonopin on hand, but I have been instructed to take it very sparingly (these military doctors watch your intake like a hawk) and I fear if I start using it on a more daily basis to cope with the anxiety, they will stop refilling. The doctor who originally prescribed it is no longer here.

Sometimes it just seems quicker, easier, and more effective to have some shots than to take my medicine. The medicine makes me sleepy and useless. The shots make me more productive sometimes.

Do you have any advice? I know I'm skating on thin ice here, and I don't want this to get any worse. Can you offer some more constructive ways to treat my stress and anxiety? I tried counseling, but I was dumped over the phone, via receptionist after my 2nd meeting because I was the newest client and she was too full. This was after dredging up several issues. So I'm having some animosity towards counselors now. Well, sorry think is so long but I just had to get this off my chest.

Can you offer some more constructive ways to treat my stress and anxiety?

I was coming here for another reason, but your post caught me so I'll offer this:

Do you really want to be a drunk parent? Being a drunk/alcholoic is not fun. You may figure this is not so bad, but in actuality it is your own cry for help. Go get some help. Don't be angry at the bad counselors, just go out and find another one.

Meanwhile, Take a walk, go to the mall and walk around a bit. Get out of the house even to a place where it doesn't matter if you know anyone or not. Don't sit home and wallow in your misery without at least trying to get some help or help yourself. Drinking is not a good substitute to reduce anxiety. It has it's own set of problems that you won't appreciate later.

Once you get drunk enough you'll forget things, your attitude will change over time and your parenting skills will become deficient. If your meds are not doing the trick, then self medicating is not really a good idea.

hope this helps.

in AA I've come across loads of people like yourself who have a bunch of reasons why they are suffering from the Anxiety etc; but they are on the verge of realising it is all down to the drink; whether they get they is entity a personal thing, but I hope that you're one of those who will shortly see this. You have a drink problem, not an anxiety problem!!!!

I used to suffer from an obsession on when I could get my next drink, so I didn't drunk every day or get drunk every time; it was the mental obsession that was driving me mad! I think this is something all Alcoholics share in common.

Best Wishes

Blaster

Hi there, it's great that you can see the warning signs and have the desire to cut down. Hopefully you will find it easier than you think. If anxiety is the root of it, but drugs aren't working/you can't take them, perhaps you could start using cognitive therapy or even trying to do it yourself! For example, you could try rationalising your fears and asking yourself some questions eg. 'is this really going to harm me?' 'why is this workload too much for me? how can i manage my time better?' 'will worrying actually make these things better - how can i improve the situaton,' etc - address the issues that make you anxious and why they make you feel the need to drink. Drinking will certainly not make the problems go away and you have already seen that it makes the worry worse.
Good luck! x