• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Addiction(s) and Spirituality

Fathis Crowe

Fathis Crowe

New member
Joined
Jan 6, 2013
Messages
40
Reaction score
17
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Independent
Lately I've been thinking a lot about my lifestyle. I drink a lot of caffeine throughout the day and a lot of alcohol at night (I only drink on the weekends).
I have major stomach problems, which both have huge detrimental effects on, yet I still consume both. I consider myself an addict to these drugs.
I wake up every morning on the weekends feeling tired, cranky, and usually hungover. It usually ruins the entirety of my day.
I'm embarrassed and frustrated at my inability to control these addictions. I often try to think why I do this and the only reason I can conclude is because I like them.

Does anybody else live my same lifestyle? Why are we doing such harmful things to ourselves?
 
I have experienced similar things. Cigarettes were one. One day you will realize that you cannot continue, or you won’t. The older the body gets the less of a recovery you can expect. Young people bounce when they fall, old people thud! Good Luck!
 
I don't drink coffee. I do drink beer on my nights off. I average 6-9 beers per week. I feel fine.
 
Fathis Crowe said:
Lately I've been thinking a lot about my lifestyle. I drink a lot of caffeine throughout the day and a lot of alcohol at night (I only drink on the weekends).
I have major stomach problems, which both have huge detrimental effects on, yet I still consume both. I consider myself an addict to these drugs.
I wake up every morning on the weekends feeling tired, cranky, and usually hungover. It usually ruins the entirety of my day.
I'm embarrassed and frustrated at my inability to control these addictions. I often try to think why I do this and the only reason I can conclude is because I like them.

Does anybody else live my same lifestyle? Why are we doing such harmful things to ourselves?
Click to expand...

It’s been my personal observation that many of us use addictive substances to self-medicate, most especially the drinking.

I use caffeine to my advantage as an energy boost. I generally have only one cup in the morning, but if I have a busy day planned that I know will tax me physically? I’ll have that one cup and a couple of bottled Starbuck’s cappuccinos, as an example. I did that regularly when I had a very long day in real estate... start 9am, Busy all day, and an 8pm evening appointment. I do it now to help me with my flagging energy level.

Drinking? That’s another kettle of fish. If you are drinking yourself into a hangover every weekend, then you have some problems you deal with by drinking alcohol. Maybe it’s anxiety or stress. There are other ways to deal with the anxiety that are much more effective and have little or no effect on your body. Vitamin X is a miracle drug.

There most certainly are weekend alcoholics. I’d say you need to take a good hard look at what’s going on and learn some coping skills. If your alcohol use wasn’t an issue, you wouldn’t bring it here. But glad you did.
 
MaggieD said:
It’s been my personal observation that many of us use addictive substances to self-medicate, most especially the drinking.

I use caffeine to my advantage as an energy boost. I generally have only one cup in the morning, but if I have a busy day planned that I know will tax me physically? I’ll have that one cup and a couple of bottled Starbuck’s cappuccinos, as an example. I did that regularly when I had a very long day in real estate... start 9am, Busy all day, and an 8pm evening appointment. I do it now to help me with my flagging energy level.

Drinking? That’s another kettle of fish. If you are drinking yourself into a hangover every weekend, then you have some problems you deal with by drinking alcohol. Maybe it’s anxiety or stress. There are other ways to deal with the anxiety that are much more effective and have little or no effect on your body. Vitamin X is a miracle drug.

There most certainly are weekend alcoholics. I’d say you need to take a good hard look at what’s going on and learn some coping skills. If your alcohol use wasn’t an issue, you wouldn’t bring it here. But glad you did.
Click to expand...

I tried talking to my family about it and they think I'm crazy for thinking I have a drinking problem, but I come from a family of Irish, Italians, and Cubans so drinking is a norm in their societies.
I started drinking at the age of 14 with my parents and older brother. At first I thought it was cool because all the people I looked up to (grown-ups) were doing it,
but being at a family function sober was a rude awakening for me. They are very sloppy people.

My mom is 100% Cuban so my coffee addiction came from her side of the family. They drink Cuban Coffee (Espresso) every morning. I also started drinking this at a young age.
I'm 26 years old now and I'm having a life crisis. There has to be more to life then these addictions. I have been diagnosed with Anxiety and IBS and both of these habits heighten my ilnesses.

I know they're bad habits, but I got so used to them and my inner circle all embrace them. Not to mention society as a whole embraces them as well. It's so hard to Abstain.
 
Fathis Crowe said:
I tried talking to my family about it and they think I'm crazy for thinking I have a drinking problem, but I come from a family of Irish, Italians, and Cubans so drinking is a norm in their societies.
I started drinking at the age of 14 with my parents and older brother. At first I thought it was cool because all the people I looked up to (grown-ups) were doing it,
but being at a family function sober was a rude awakening for me. They are very sloppy people.

My mom is 100% Cuban so my coffee addiction came from her side of the family. They drink Cuban Coffee (Espresso) every morning. I also started drinking this at a young age.
I'm 26 years old now and I'm having a life crisis. There has to be more to life then these addictions. I have been diagnosed with Anxiety and IBS and both of these habits heighten my ilnesses.

I know they're bad habits, but I got so used to them and my inner circle all embrace them. Not to mention society as a whole embraces them as well. It's so hard to Abstain.
Click to expand...

Xanax is your friend. But not in conjunction with alcohol. It’s a deadly combination. I have just emerged from two of the most abysmal things a human being can experience. If you can stop drinking for two weekends in a row and get a Xanax prescription taking just a half pill a day and another half when you are sorely tempted to take a drink, you may solve your own problem.

I am not a doctor. I am passing on to you what worked for me. Read this twice.

You’re young. Now you’re confining your drinking to the weekends. That will change. Now is the time to tackle the problem head on. You obviously haven’t lost insight into your problem. If you don’t handle it soon, you’ll gradually lose that ability as well.

And if I were you? I’d put my coffee addiction on the back burner. One problem at a time.
 
MaggieD said:
Xanax is your friend. But not in conjunction with alcohol. It’s a deadly combination. I have just emerged from two of the most abysmal things a human being can experience. If you can stop drinking for two weekends in a row and get a Xanax prescription taking just a half pill a day and another half when you are sorely tempted to take a drink, you may solve your own problem.

I am not a doctor. I am passing on to you what worked for me. Read this twice.

You’re young. Now you’re confining your drinking to the weekends. That will change. Now is the time to tackle the problem head on. You obviously haven’t lost insight into your problem. If you don’t handle it soon, you’ll gradually lose that ability as well.

And if I were you? I’d put my coffee addiction on the back burner. One problem at a time.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the advice and I agree that handling alcoholism should be my main priority, but I'm not one to mask one addiction by starting a whole new one.
The whole Xanax theory sounds very counter productive to me. You shouldn't stop an addiction by adding a new one in it's place, but that's just me.
 
Fathis Crowe said:
I appreciate the advice and I agree that handling alcoholism should be my main priority, but I'm not one to mask one addiction by starting a whole new one.
The whole Xanax theory sounds very counter productive to me. You shouldn't stop an addiction by adding a new one in it's place, but that's just me.
Click to expand...

Is that what you would plan to do?? Then you’re right. It’s not for you.
 
" get a Xanax prescription taking just a half pill a day and another half when you are sorely tempted to take a drink, you may solve your own problem.

How else do you interpret this besides starting a new daily habit. You said to take half a pill a day. That's a habit and lifestyle change. Please elaborate if I got this wrong.
 
In my experience the need/desire for caffeine decreases if I drink less beer.

For the booze, there's AA or moderation / harm reduction approaches.

Example:
"How to Change Your Drinking: a Harm Reduction Guide to Alcohol (2nd ed.) " - Kenneth Anderson
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom