Question:
Help! I'm addicted to partying.?
I'm a 24 year old female and I am literally addicted to partying. My party addiction has caused me to have a severe drinking problem. I am now going through alcohol withdrawals and having panic attacks which are related to my constant need to go out, socialize and binge drink. I drink less during the week, maybe 2-3 drinks a night, but when i am raging, i can consume up to 12 drinks in a night (and i am a small girl 5'0 and 110 lbs). I have been doing this for a few years now, but the really bad symptoms have only recently started occurring (within the past 2 months). I also tend to do cocaine sometimes while I'm raging and I know that that isn't good either. Now, i realize, that the drinking has to be drastically minimized, but i'm more worried that without going out and partying on the weekends, i will be miserable, bored and friendless (most of my friends are at least 3 years younger than me and are avid drinkers and drug users). I am married and not in college anymore and I work from home so its not like i can just go out and meet friends very easily. Any suggestions of ways that i can curb my craving for going out and getting completely **** wrecked? Someone else has to have gone through this before and I really would like some good advice on how I can get over this because i fear that i am destroying my life and on the quick road to mental illness or even death. Since I am married, obviously I want to start a family in the near future, but my need to party has made me completely turn away the idea of settling down and starting a family because i am terrified and really don't know what i would do with myself because i feel like i will be all alone in the world other than my husband and a few close friends. And please don't tell me to go to AA. I don't believe in a higher power so it simply will not work. In fact, don't tell me to just stop drinking because that is not a very helpful answer. I know that i am an alcoholic (and i can try to work on that), but this is really about constantly craving to party even though i am starting to be aware that it might be killing me.
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
No, I won't tell you to go to AA. I will, however, suggest that you see a competent, non-12-step based therapist (ask about the 12 step thing, it's important) who deals with addictions. For social support I suggest SMART Recovery.
http://www.smartrecovery.org/
i struggle with that too but mostly I got over it. Just accept the fact that you will be lonely and slightly depressed while you wean off the parties. Make a goal to cut back. Only go to super cool parties. Let's face it- most partying is just drunkeness and not real celebrations. Stick to superbowl parties- new years, birthdays, etc. You need become familiar with YOU. Being alone and comfortable in your own skin will help you stop partying. I also wonder if you party with your husband or not? Could it be that you are unhappy in your marriage so you are trying to escape? You will need to find real friends to replace your party friends and that is a long process. I suggest that you get into fitness. It can be pretty easy to make friends through sports activities. If you find a sport that you really like, maybe you will choose to skip parties because the hangover interferes with your sport.