This is a topic from YOUTUBE. Reply as normal, and we will post it to the user on YouTube.
Belongs to: Therapist reacts to Save Me by Jelly Roll
Does anyone else use alcohol to help physical pain? I’ve had mental health issues for my whole life but I think I drink and used drugs to help the physical pain. At least at the beginning
Thank you for taking time to share and to ask these questions. It’s not an altogether uncommon thing for people to try find solace in alcohol. I have used it to numb my feelings and emotions. In a process it numbs the central nervous system and confuses it enough to misinterpret pain. The hard part is when it wears off, it doesn’t l the pain all together for very long.
Often it’s easy to reach for something that’s so accessible and feels “good”. When I found myself on days off opening up a bottle I’d think that it’s alright because I was only ever by myself and couldn’t hurt anyone. In truth I knew I was just stuffing down my own hurt and impacting my mental health.
I feel it’s only a more recent thing that people have talk about and have been comfortable sharing. I’ve seen a lot of older generations misuse alcohol and deny that it’s impeded them because mental health and physical pain were “for the weak”.
I know with using alcohol to cope I was finding my sleep was disturbed and I was having more times where I craved having a drink just because I could. In the end I got used to the amount I was drinking and it started having less effect so in order to get the same experience, I needed more and more.
When we look at unhealthy coping mechanisms we find that we experience more distress. A prevention from clear thinking and being able to overcome challenges and obstacles and the impact it has on our overall health.
It can be a challenging thing to try to go cold turkey without any support and for some it can also be something that distresses their bodies and minds. Professionals are equipped with the support to not only assist us with overcoming unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol usage, but provide us with the resources to alternate methods.
Physical pain is debilitating and terrifying to face. I know that some people may experience so many different trials before they find a good long term management for their pain.
In the long run, your health is so important. Talking to friends and family and finding the right support networks can be such a load off the stress.