I'll give it a try and see if it does anything for me.
Honestly, my current diet is terrible in some ways. I know it's wrong, but another bad habit. One thing I've noticed about myself is that sugar combined with caffeine in liquid form (mainly mountain dew) really helps my mood. I also put alot of sugar in my coffee in the morning. I'm not big on sweets (snacks), and I know it's not entirely the caffeine that does it for me. I think it's a combo of both that gives me the 'mental pick up'. Otherwise, I eat healthy, but the problem is I don't eat 3 meals a day. Usually 2 (I know, it's another bad practice I need to break).
Another reason why I contemplate over the hypoglycemic diagnosis is because of other family member history. I have other family members that have suffered from depression & anxieny issues (not always officially diagnosed). My family also has a history of diabetes although I've been tested for that & it came out negative. I also seem to have a very high metabolic rate. All this gives me the notion that my body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels may be out of whack a bit or I just starve my body/brain of energy easier than most do. Obviously, ethanol intake is very similar to sugar intake as far as the body is concerned. I have no idea what I'm talking about but it's just a theory of mine. Not an excuse for my drinking problems by any means.
Thanks for the advice.
_________________________ Me: 38 W: 36 R 16 M 12 2 kids: S6, D4 Bomb: 10/22/07 Sep: 12/11/07 My First Thread, My Story
I also seem to have a very high metabolic rate. All this gives me the notion that my body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels may be out of whack a bit or I just starve my body/brain of energy easier than most do. Obviously, ethanol intake is very similar to sugar intake as far as the body is concerned. I have no idea what I'm talking about but it's just a theory of mine. Not an excuse for my drinking problems by any means.
Thanks for the advice.
If you read the article that I included a link to in the previous post, you'd see that your 'theory' is supported by the researcher who wrote the article.
Hey there are lot of us here facing the same issue. Our S's are pretty good at pointing that out. HeII they have there own problem, they have put with it, enabled it, my W married me with it and she is a drug and alcohol C'er. Go figure.
I can totally understand the defensive end of things as well. I'll tell ya what has made me rethink my assessment on the issue, something else said to me by my sponsor.
I don't have a drinking problem, actually I'm pretty damn good at it. I have a sober problem. I can't deal with life sober, on life's terms. So far I have found this to be pretty true. By the end of the day I recognize I'm tight and thinking about it, so I get to a meeting. Sorta funny how that works.
We each have our own issues though, and I can't begin to guess what yours may be, that is why you only will have to admit them to god and another human being, if you take the AA route, as it should be.
It is good to see those positives from the wife, she is slowly tearing down that castle wall.
I don't have a drinking problem, actually I'm pretty damn good at it. I have a sober problem. I can't deal with life sober, on life's terms. So far I have found this to be pretty true. By the end of the day I recognize I'm tight and thinking about it, so I get to a meeting. Sorta funny how that works.
So, that stops you from drinking. What are you actually doing to 'treat' the problem of 'not dealing with life on lifes terms'?
Going to a meeting doesn't treat it. It stops you from drinking. We all agree that drinking is 'bad'. AA has a 1% success rate. so, obviously by itself, it doesn't address the real issues behind why people drink. It just gets them to stop - for a while. Some for a long time. But are they happy, or just 'sober'?
Why do we hear things about people who are 'sober' but still angry all the time? They are a 'dry drunk'. Well, don't you think that's because they took away the MEDICATION but didn't treat the PROBLEM?
Real studies are starting to find that there are a lot of reasons people get addicted to substances. Some are biochemical, some are psychological.
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We each have our own issues though, and I can't begin to guess what yours may be, that is why you only will have to admit them to god and another human being, if you take the AA route, as it should be.
WHY will he have to admit them to god and another human being, "as it should be"?
You mean these steps:
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5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
You forgot step 13: "After beating ourselves up, and letting our self esteem fall even lower because we have done nothing but self flagellation, we did nothing to actually discover WHY we drank in the first place". We just admitted that we we immoral, defective and powerless. Then we stopped drinking out of shame.
Here is my idea: Take responsibility for your life. LEARN the reasons WHY you drink. UNDERSTAND that you are someone who CAN BECOME ADDICTED to alcohol. Take action.
I completely disagree that focusing on being 'broken, helpless and defective' is the way to 'treat' alcohol addiction. Finding out WHY you need this substance and treating THAT problem, while also knowing that you must avoid alcohol is a better way to treat this issue.
Even though I don’t drink, what you just wrote here seems so very inspiring. I might add that patience and persistence is so important in overcoming life’s problems. Change does not happen overnight and it won’t happen unless you consistently take responsibility to make that change. Anything you ardently desire and enthusiastically pursue will inevitably come to pass.
What am I doing to treat my problem? There are many things.
1) I'm educating myself about myself, identifying the goods & strengthening them, identifying the bads & eliminating them one by one. I also accept the things I cannot change. 2) I refuse to continue living life unhappy, so I'm focusing on the positives more. 3) I refuse to have 'regrets' about not doing or saying things things that are important to me anymore. My life/happiness is in my control, not other people's. 4) I am working on myself, trying to change my thought patterns that were the triggers for the stress, depression & anxienty. I'm developing new techniques of dealing with them when I have those feelings. 5) I'm rebuilding old and new relationships so I have a support group, taking some of that burden off my W's hands & trying to support her more when she needs it. 6) I've stopped blaming other people and my past for my problems.
The list goes on, but I've listed some of the main ones. Mostly, it's an attitude adjustment & a realization that I alone am in control of my own happiness & success. The other major realization has been that I'm a strong mot**fu****. I don't need to get wasted when sh** hits the fan. I can be happy without getting a buzz. I love my W & kids, there are alot of things that make me happy, I don't NEED drugs or alcohol to be happy.
_________________________ Me: 38 W: 36 R 16 M 12 2 kids: S6, D4 Bomb: 10/22/07 Sep: 12/11/07 My First Thread, My Story
I like that list. Frank makes some awesome points. There is a lot of shame rolling through AA, and it is about addressing life's problems, the drinking is but a symptom. Need to do some more work on my part and start some writing on that.
I also like your list. There is one thing missing that I think you should add: I keep the company of MEN who understand the trials I'm going through and talk to them when life seems overwhelming.
MEN need OTHER MEN. In the past there were 'Elders' and other support structures in society. That's been missing for so long and is probably the reason society is so screwed up.
Do you have any MEN who are your support (outside of AA, you need variety of perspectives) that you can call whenever you are in anxiety / panic / fear/ self doubt? If not E-Mail ME and I'll be your 'Betterman'.
Also, go get Hold On To Your N.U.T.S.. You can get it at a local bookstore or on Amazon. Read it.
Then, realize that you should NEVER discuss problems with your W that are MEN's issues. Never.
