When I started at university, I hadn’t drank much yet in high school. The university I went to was technically a religious institution but it was super low-key, basically a normal college, just that it had a chapel and some funding from the church of England.
Anyway, during the opening week of school, the chaplain gave a short, relatively nonreligious speech to the students. He mentioned at one point an acronym: SALT - Sad Angry Lonely Tired. If you feel like you are any of those things you probably shouldn’t drink. And I really liked that acronym so I have mostly adhered to it ever since. I think it’s a good rule of thumb to avoid the worst aspects of alcohol use. So I personally never drink if I’m feeling depressed. Even if I think it would make me feel better, I simply don’t allow myself to do it.
This might have changed my brain chemistry just a bit. Thanks, stranger.
Glad to have helped. It’s a good rule of thumb and at this point it’s not even conscious for me. It’s just muscle memory for me that if I’m feeling any of those things I don’t drink. I avoid drinking alone unless I’m doing something fun, I never drink if I’m dealing with personal shit, etc.
Basically if I don’t already have something fun going on, I don’t drink. My mindset is that drinking should complement something fun that’s already happening, not that it should be a source of fun on its own.
I did it all the week. I did it since decades.
Now I understand that alcohol is making me depressed with suicidal thoughts (+ all the other bad things it does).
So I’m trying to !stopdrinking@lemmy.world, failed this month but ready to start my 30 days challenge again.
Alcohol really does not help with depression or problems, it’s actually the exact opposite as all drugs do.
Let’s make a pact, when we feel down and want to drink, don’t and just go for a walk outside. We can do it.
You didn’t fail, because you’re getting back on the proverbial horse. Setbacks aren’t failures, the only failure is to stop trying.
After a while walking outside does nothing to you, it actually depressed me more being alone while I see other people dating
If you just want to commiserate:
I’m starting the day with a double Bloody Mary. The only thing I have on my schedule is replacing a toilet and my back is trash and I’m just not sure I can do it today and I’m scared to start. Been out of work for 5 months and between applications and interviews it’s about the only thing that keeps me from thinking about my world burning down around me. My only solo hobbies are video games and woodworking (badly), and there are no games I want to play right now and standing on cement working with my tools will wreck my back further.
But the worst thing is besides my wife and teens, I don’t have anyone to hang out with or talk to. If I did I would probably not be drinking. I don’t actually enjoy being drunk all that much. I don’t have a problem yet, but if this keeps up I probably will.
Anyway, enough of that shit. If it helps, share what’s going on. I’ll listen. Beats thinking about what a shit show my own life is.