Hello from the Mental Illness Capital of the World

[DoubleC]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a 39 year old male in Salt Lake City with Autisitic Twin Boys that are 9 and a 12 year old daughter. I have had a lot of anxiety issues that started to get really bad in high school, which is about the point I started drinking and smoking pot. The last nine years with the boys have been extremely difficult for my entire family. This in addition to a high stress consulting job has manifested itself into a drinking problem.

It's confusing for me, because I keep myself physically fit, perform at a high level at work take good care of my kids. However, I've tried to stop having my 3 to 5 drinks per night several times and haven't been able to. Paul said on one of the episodes that he realzed he was an alcaholic when he tried to stop and could not.

Drinking has been such a huge part of my life for so long that stopping scares the shit out of me. All my friends and family along with my wife's family are all heavy drinkers, so everyone would notice and I would feel like such a failure if I was unable to control my drinking. I have a lot of excuses why I drink too much with the stress in my life, but I'm kind of a health nut and worry what drinking is doing to my body. I just can't imagine that stopping would make my life better when it is really one of the only things my wife and I enjoy doing together. We are not able to get out much with the boys since one of them's autism is relatively severe.

If anyone has advice on telling when you crossed the line from heavy drinker to alcaholic and also maybe some ways that quitting drinking has improved their life.

Thanks

[manuel_moe_g]

Hello DoubleC. Yes, Paul has been in recovery for many years for alcoholism. I wish I knew how to help you - my father is an alcoholic, but for some reason that disease skipped me. Please take care, and stay around the forum and let us know how you decided to proceed. All the best, take care!

[Paul Gilmartin]

Double C,

First, welcome to the forum! We're glad you're here.

I highly recommend checking out a 12 step meeting if you can't stop drinking. I'm not aware of any other solution if you truly can't stop drinking. The cool thing about the 12 steps is that they work on more than just your drinking. They help to calm and clarify the rest of your life.

Hope that helps!

Big Hug,

Paul

[DelicateSounds]

Hello, Double C.
Fellow MentalPod friend and Salt Lake City co-habitator. If you'd like someone to talk with, I'm here. I may not know much about alcoholism, but I listen well. Good luck with all you do.