[kitten2012]

I've been finding that my moods are so great lately. The last few months, I've had almost no outbursts or those periods of time where I'm just twitchy with stressful energy and frustration, anger, all of that ...you know, stuff. You should have seen me a year and a half ago - un-medicated, no psychiatrist and just terrifying.

I mostly haven't had help with my moods through my life, but I have been on anti-depressants a few times in the last 20 years. Most of the things I've figured out through repeatedly making the same mistakes and just generally making a big ***** out of myself and then trying new strategies. I'm getting pretty good. The only downside is that I've been drinking a lot and being a little rebellious. I don't want to make any major quick changes and risk messing up my moods again, but I feel like being blackout drunk on a semi-regular basis is not a great future-planning technique.

So, any ideas on how to tone down my self-medication a little without messing up my new cool moods? I'm not on the verge of being a non-drinking, sensible-eating, monogamous, stay-at-home woman, but maybe between that and the overly fun version of me?

[shezbut]

Hi kitten 2012,

In what ways have you been rebellious? Have you ever been able to drink "just a few", or has it always been drinking to blackouts? Do you mix drinks, or stick to one type? Like: beer, wine, mixed drinks ~ or is it a combo of whatever sounds good in that moment? Do you have family members with alcoholism?

Sorry about all of the Q's...I just want to make sure I'm giving applicable advice to your personal situation. Some people can stick to just a few drinks, and are able to stop there. It doesn't sound as though you're able (or willing) to do that though. And that's where things become tricky. Because in those circumstances, abstinence is the necessity.

I do know alcoholics (who have other family members with alcoholism), and there's no way that they can just drink 2 or 3. Instead, they become obliterated, and they're paying the price as we speak! One guy just lost his DL for 2 years, due to twice the legal limit for the second time which puts his very good job in major jeopardy. A girl I know finally got her license back. She has lost 2 of her cars to the state, and paid a lot in fees. Hopefully, the two I mentioned will finally overcome their overcome their alcoholism, as it has had major impacts in several areas of their lives.

Maybe you can try drinking more lightly at weekend events, try to take it more slowly. Don't slam drinks down, one after the other. Get involved with games like: softball, croquet, horseshoes, basketball, volleyball, etc. And remember to add some water and food to these events to lower your blood alcohol level a bit, preventing dehydration and slowing possible blackouts.

Best wishes to you! try not to take your self-medicating too far.

[kitten2012]

Well, I have been drinking water...sometimes. I do drink quite a bit but haven't always. I get a little out of control sometimes, like lately. And I smoke a lot of weed. I'm also promiscuous and prone to spending money when I shouldn't and can't afford to - and all of those things feed each other. Today is the first day in a week or two that I haven't drank or smoked. To be fair, it's not 5pm yet and I have plans later.

Normally, I can have just a couple of beers. I can even have mixed drinks or wine (when I'm feeling classy) without going overboard. I don't think there any alcoholics in my family and I don't feel diseased about it. I think I am just kind of a party girl at heart and need to come up with some standard or something to keep me from going full boar. Like, just because I can get drunk and stoned does not mean that I should, but I forget that part so often.

The downsides I'm seeing now is that I also eat too much when I drink and smoke so I'm putting on weight and my attention span...what attention span? I also tend to say inappropriate things when I'm drinking, as we all do. And I get lazy and messy. So yeah, balance - how does one go about getting that? Do well-adjusted people have it? If I stop drinking and smoking abruptly, will I get all tense and agitated and mean and spiteful? I sort of feel like I will.