Social Anxiety & Alcohol

[Johnie]

With the Christmas party season here, how do SAs feel about drinking?

It seems to me that the whole (99%) of socializing revolves around alcohol, and it's becoming even more the thing as time goes by.

Most people say that drinking lowers their inhibitions and makes them more sociable, but with me it seems to have the opposite effect. My SA seems to fight against the effects of becoming drunk, and it makes me even more dizzy and very, very much more remote than when I'm sober. I seem to retreat into a shell.

Sometimes when this happens, other people try to CHEER ME UP by plying me with EVEN MORE DRINKS. How misled can they be?

Even if I go all the way with drinking, to the point when I throw up, I do not go thru' a period when I enjoy it. I just feel compelled to leave the scene long before then, even if it means hiding in the men's room or talking all the way home.
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I have a family background regarding drink. My paternal grandfather was a serious drinker who was always in fights, being thrown out of pubs and coming home to beat up the missus and the kids. It followed from this that my father was very anti-drink; to the point of it being an obsession.

Like me, my parents never had friends or a social life, so I was just not introduced into socializing, parties, drinking, etc.
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Years ago I remember being invited to a "stag" night, before my sister got married. They felt obliged to ask me, and I felt I could not refuse. The only guy I knew in the group way my sister's boyfriend; and even him not much.

We went around to a local nightclub, about 15 of us, and we sat around a table right under the loudspeakers. The noise was so loud that the table was shaking and there were waves on the beers, and it was as hot as hell. Then we took the usual turns taking the tray to the bar to refill with beers; there was no way I could slow the pace much.

The other lads were going to and from the dance floor but I remained in my seat as usual. After an hour and a half with maybe 9 or 10 pints of beer I went to the toilet, and threw up. The bouncers gave me a mop and made me clean up the mess on the floor. Then I just sneaked off home, which was only 10 minutes walk away.

This episode in a way damaged me a bit, in the head. It left a permanent impression on me that I never really got over. Enjoyment? I would rather stick red-hot knives into my eyes!
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In following years I managed to avoid any real drinking, tho' I would have a pint or two once a week when the lads went out from work at Friday lunchtime. They also held a night out at the end of each month when they went out on the booze, but I didn't go. I tried to suggest once that if they did something different occasionally, rather then go drinking, then I would go with them. Went down like a lead balloon!

Every year the company would have a Christmas Dinner, on the last afternoon before we closed down for the break. By this time I was one of the gaffers, so I felt I could not refuse.

In the early years I would try to keep up with all the boys, drinking in the bar before the meal, bottles of wine with the meal, a whisky or brandy to finish then back to the bar for a few more lagers. Then a bus would pick us all up, and a lot of the lads would go on into town to start over. I would go home at this point. I hated this, it just seemed that everyone else was having a good time save me.

After a few years of this I started to ease back on the drinking, and just eat as much as I felt like and leave the rest. (Eating in public is also a problem with me). This I found tolerable, just keeping a low profile. I also found that I preferred high concentration drinks (like whiskey) rather than beer or lager, which tended to bloat me up with liquid.
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I live in the NE of England, where it seems that drinking is the only thing, almost a machismo obligation. It seems than not drinking is not an option, if you want anything of a social life. Is it possible to change other people's attitudes to accommodate your own preferences? When the people you want to change are not even your friends (because I don't have any), and don't want to change themselves?

Johnie.

 

[Nital]

drinking definitely works for me. When I'm drunk i can definitely talk to girls more easily (or at least they are drunk too so they don't care), the problem is that most alcohol tastes so fucking bad that i can't stand it. I can never finish a whole beer, it is the most vile disgusting taste ever. and being sick from alcohol and sleeping next to the toilet so you can wake up to vomit every hour isnt fun either.

 

[Dill]

The one thing I like about alcohol is that when I take it I start to be myself. With no anxiety.
So what I do is take a couple of beers and start socializing so when the effect wears off then I can act myself without alcohol.

It works for me.

 

[edit]

maybe you should start or look for a "straight edge" group out there.
i dunno, but i've never had a drink in my life and its because of the same situation of watching the pops drunk, abusive , stupid, taking the money for the food or rent to get drunk, i've lost respect for my pops, he is a jealous child who all he wants in life is money.

 

[ricky]

Yer, it does help me relax alot of the times and just have fun, but i cant stand the taste of beer and spirits make me sick really easily 8O so its hard 4 me to wanna drink really coz sumtimes i can make myself feel worse with drinkin.

 

[Demise]

i hate drinking also the taste of it sux and the buzz sux to, u should maybe get some benzos from india there anti anxiety med which would prolly help u enjoy ur self better jus take the odd one for a hard social situation, tho there not a good mix with booze can cause seizures but some people love them together heh, i stick with the chemicals me hehe there lot of fun, e's, speed, cocaine. they all have bad aftereffects tho like increased anxiety. i really wish natural drugs were avalibale like good quality weed and opium, there good social drugs with no hangover. only thing bout opium is its suppose to be very addictive. but least its not toxic like booze.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, i like drinking, but prob too much as well. I find its when I have the most fun, you can show people who u r for once. Maybe if u had a drink before you went out you would be more relaxed by the time you were at the party or whatever, and it would be more fun. Or maybe some people just don't react well to alcohol :?

 

[Johnie]

i hate drinking also the taste of it sux and the buzz sux to, u should maybe get some benzos from india there anti anxiety med which would prolly help u enjoy ur self better jus take the odd one for a hard social situation, tho there not a good mix with booze can cause seizures but some people love them together heh, i stick with the chemicals me hehe there lot of fun, e's, speed, cocaine. they all have bad aftereffects tho like increased anxiety. i really wish natural drugs were avalibale like good quality weed and opium, there good social drugs with no hangover. only thing bout opium is its suppose to be very addictive. but least its not toxic like booze.

I've been reading an item in "Scientific American" magazine, that claims that marijuana is really a wonder drug. It could be used for treatment for pain, anxiety, eating disorders, phobias and other conditions.

It would need some research by drug companies to get the best results - but this isn't being done on account that its a grade one illegal substance.

Johnie

 

[Nital]

I've been reading an item in "Scientific American" magazine, that claims that marijuana is really a wonder drug. It could be used for treatment for pain, anxiety, eating disorders, phobias and other conditions.

I agree that marijuana can be a useful drug, but personally i can't say that it helps with anxiety at all really. I've smoked weed with different people on a few occasions, and while it was cool in the sense that it was a uniting activity, it never really made me feel less awkward or more able to socialise. In fact it sorta makes me more self consious, especially around people who are sober because its easy to see how completely retarded people who smoke weed can be.

 

[Johnie]

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg18424760.800

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000DC514-254B-1C68-B882809EC588ED9F&sc=I100322

scientific american seem to have mixed opinions....
http://www.scientificamerican.com/search/index.cfm?QT=Q&SC=Q&Q=marijuana

Yes - "street" marijuana contains all kinds of shit that produces unwanted side effects, specially when you smoke it.

The idea is that it could be refined and used to devise medications. These would specifically target sites of the brain to control selected problems.

 

[Remus]

I like drinking as a pleasure and not a habit!

mmmm nice blossom hill wine

and a pint of boddingtons!

cant beat it....

but only in moderation

 

[Anonymous]

Social Phobia

Basically Socail Phobia is the state of being fear because, people with socail people which can also be call socail anxiety is when you can't speak in public or working in a group as a partner. It also the state of when you were shy to commiunicate to freind or a stranger that you never see before. Social phobia can be very debilitating, it may even keep people from going to work or school on some days. Many people with this illness have a hard time making and keeping friends. These visible symptoms heighten the fear of disapproval and the symptoms themselves can become an additional focus of fear. Fear of symptoms can create a vicious cycle: as people with social phobia worry about experiencing the symptoms, the greater their chances of developing the symptoms. Social phobia often runs in families and may be accompanied by depression or alcohol dependence. Most people say that drinking lowers their inhibitions and makes them more sociable, but with me it seems to have the opposite effect.
Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others. People with social phobia have a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions. Their fear may be so severe that it interferes with work or school, and other ordinary activities. Physical symptoms often accompany the intense anxiety of social phobia and include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea, and difficulty talking. people with Social Phobia tend to be sensitive to criticism and rejection, have difficulty asserting themselves, and suffer from low self-esteem. The most common fears associated with the disorder are a fear of speaking in public or to strangers, a fear of meeting new people, and performance fears (activities that may potentially be embarrassing), such as writing, eating or drinking in public. During this article, is also make they think alcohol will help get rid of social anxiety, but when they go to club and drink all day along later on, it will cause some issue for them. Sufferers usually fear more than one type of social setting. Typically, social phobia begins in teenager and it doesn’t improve without treatment. Most people that have social anxiety are reported has shy, people that don’t like people looking at them when eating. People with social anxiety disorder tend to make life choices by themselves based on the fear, avoiding classes and special presentation because they were shy to talk or people looking at them

 

[Anonymous]

Social Phobia

Basically Socail Phobia is the state of being fear because, people with socail people which can also be call socail anxiety is when you can't speak in public or working in a group as a partner. It also the state of when you were shy to commiunicate to freind or a stranger that you never see before. Social phobia can be very debilitating, it may even keep people from going to work or school on some days. Many people with this illness have a hard time making and keeping friends. These visible symptoms heighten the fear of disapproval and the symptoms themselves can become an additional focus of fear. Fear of symptoms can create a vicious cycle: as people with social phobia worry about experiencing the symptoms, the greater their chances of developing the symptoms. Social phobia often runs in families and may be accompanied by depression or alcohol dependence. Most people say that drinking lowers their inhibitions and makes them more sociable, but with me it seems to have the opposite effect.
Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others. People with social phobia have a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions. Their fear may be so severe that it interferes with work or school, and other ordinary activities. Physical symptoms often accompany the intense anxiety of social phobia and include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea, and difficulty talking. people with Social Phobia tend to be sensitive to criticism and rejection, have difficulty asserting themselves, and suffer from low self-esteem. The most common fears associated with the disorder are a fear of speaking in public or to strangers, a fear of meeting new people, and performance fears (activities that may potentially be embarrassing), such as writing, eating or drinking in public. During this article, is also make they think alcohol will help get rid of social anxiety, but when they go to club and drink all day along later on, it will cause some issue for them. Sufferers usually fear more than one type of social setting. Typically, social phobia begins in teenager and it doesn’t improve without treatment. Most people that have social anxiety are reported has shy, people that don’t like people looking at them when eating. People with social anxiety disorder tend to make life choices by themselves based on the fear, avoiding classes and special presentation because they were shy to talk or people looking at them

 

[Horatio]

never got drunk until a particulary lonely patch on Valentines Day this year. since then I have realised how great alcohol can be for a socialphobic. But at the same time it doesnt mix with my medication well so I try to limit it. Besides... its probably not a good idea to drink alone at home... although I just got a few shopping bags full from liqour shop in preperation for my solo welcome to the new year tomorrown night... Im such a hypocrtie >.<

 

[Anonymous]

True

SA got me to where i am today... a alcoholic musician :x

 

[sabbath92001]

Alcohol is a toxic substance. Drink too much, you die. I don't drink more than one or two beers, when I drink, which is not often. I prefer the "Sweet Leaf".

 

[LilMissTragic]

I have never and will never touch alcohal. I dont like things that have the capacity to change my state of mind so drugs are out too. Then again, I dont really need to alter my state of mind, i'm happy as i am.


Worrydoll, do you have to drink more and more ot get the same hit??

 

[Fredscars]

i drink a bit. usually only one bottle at a time though