What is depression?
A chemical imbalance? Ok someone could have a nice life but due to a chemical imbalance feel depressed. Right so there's often a chemical solution given as the solution.
Depressed because of a crappy life situation? okay so this is not due to a chemical imbalance and TOO OFTEN a chemical solution is STILL offered as a solution. Now the person has two problems. A ****ty life and the problems that WILL COME from being on UNNECESSARY DRUGS.
We are going to assume that you fall into the second category: that is to say, depressed because of a crappy life. AND YOU COULD SAY YOU ARE TREATING THAT PROBLEM WITH A CHEMICAL SOLUTION : ALCOHOL. Now you have two basic problems that are exasperating each other.
Of course we could argue, which came first the chicken or the egg. The alcohol or the depression. Any sort of addiction or compulsive behavior (which is what an addiction is) usually comes from an inner malaise. The alcohol or compulsive behavior is a symptom of your inner malaise (depression /anxiety ) and simply treating the symptom without dealing with the root cause is a temporary solution that will just see the symptom manifest later on in life through the same behaviors or something entirely different (compulsive behaviors / addictions can morph into sinister dark monsters )
NOTE: Stay away from any "recovery movement" cults and anybody therapist, aa cult members, well meaning idiot "friends" who believe in the "disease model theory" which is pure fantasy and does more harm than good. AA has a 5% success rate because 1) You have to want to change your habits for the better, the majority that go there STILL HAVE A PREFERENCE FOR INTOXICATION 2) They still identify as "alcoholics" (somebody who does not drink is a non drinker, not an alcoholic.....a non drinker....doesn't drink.....whereas an alcoholic....you got it....still has a preference for being a stumblebum.) 3) Waste of time. time you could spend on rebuilding the relationships you have messed up, going to gym, pursuing meaningful hobbies with people who ARE NOT STUMBLEBUMS , and of course FIXING YOUR FINANCES (Sitting in a dingy, smoke filled basement with the unwashed illiterate losers spouting cliches from their big book is a HUGE NEGATIVE WASTE OF TIME AND UNNECESSARY.
NOTE 2: Anybody, can quit any addiction right now or MODIFY THEIR BEHAVIOR FOR THE BETTER. *DISCLAIMER: IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE DISEASE MODEL THEORY THEN YOUR ONLY OPTION IS TO REMAIN ABSTINENT AS YOU ARE LOCKED IN TO A SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY MATRIX. DO NOTICE HOW MUCH THESE STUMBLEBUMS ARE EMOTIONALLY INVESTED IN THEIR MATRIX WHEN YOU DEBUNK THEIR MYTHS HOW THEY RUSH TO DEFEND THE DISEASE MODEL.
You have three options: continue to use heavily, use moderately (whatever that means to you, always in an educated way) or abstain.....and you can freely choose your options based on facts and confidence, not fiction and fear.
Moderate use is possible for anyone, loss of control is a myth (it's to do with preference and choice)
However: risk-free substance use is not possible for anyone (it has risks for everyone, you must educate yourself on the risks and mitigate them.)
HAMS Harm Reduction is a support and informational group for safer drinking, reduced drinking, or quitting alcohol altogether.
hams.cc
Do start to add harm reduction techniques and you must apply mindfulness to all of your behaviors. Perhaps intoxication no longer serves you. Observe it and decide to make positive changes. Check out HAMS.
DEPRESSION.
Anger turned inward (and not expressed) turns into depression. This leads to substance abuse. Creating a "false refuge" where you can retreat and not have to face the "pain" of your problems or the situation that has presented itself to you. Inaction and inertia: the breeding ground for addictions and mental illnesses. What are you angry about? What needs are not getting met? (your well being)
Anger turned outward too much can be aggression and this can cause problems too. Fights and arguments. Hot headed decisions. Telling your boss or spouse exactly "what you think of them".
The key is to direct the energy of anger into assertiveness. You look at the problem objectively and with STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PATIENCE you see a way out, a way to a better job or relationship. This requires shrewdness, long term planning, goal setting, keeping your intentions to yourself.........this is the long game. Unfortunately too many do not have the patience nor the emotional control to choose assertiveness and delayed gratification for a better future as they want an instant "fix" and they want their pain eased NOW. Impatient and irrational they will go on to confound their misery making more rash decisions based on uncontrolled anger (emotional loss of control). You must cultivate bringing your mind back to a rational state and focus on being assertive.
Anxiety: uncontrolled anxiety (fear of the future, fear of the situation, fear of the unknown, worrying about the uncontrollable leads to compulsive behaviors and quick fixes and is also a breeding ground for substance abuse and mental illnesses. Uncontrolled anxiety leads to all kinds of other disorders.....
the solution for anxiety? Drugs or alcohol? no this just masks the problem. Action and the courage to take action is not only the solution but the default setting for all STOICS. This ties in nicely with assertiveness: you simply must take correct action no matter what your emotions are screaming at you. Focus on what's in your control.
I suggest you read up on Stoicism:
Here's the Enchiridion by Epictetus
The Enchiridion by Epictetus, part of the Internet Classics Archive
classics.mit.edu
