Your Question About An Alcoholic Boyfriend
How An Alcoholic Boyfriend or Alcoholic Spouse Can Be Self-Medicating With Alcohol
Is this person an alcoholic? Sharon Asks…
There’s a REALLY good friend I’ve had and his girlfriend came to me with some concerns. Her and I have became very close through the course of their relationship to get insight.
I’ve learned that this friend of mine drinks beer first thing in the morning. …
He buys a 24 case of beer almost every two days. She’s confronted him about this before, and his excuses are, ”I don’t drink beer to get drunk, just to calm me down.” (She says he actually doesn’t get drunk. He’s been doing this for so long that his tolerance is so high.)
“It controls my anxiety. I’m not going on those opiate drugs doctors prescribe for it.”
I’m very concerned about this self medicating habit he seems to have here. Anxiety looks like a common theme. He also has a history of heavy recreational drug use and drug addiction. Could he just be replacing one addiction with another?…
Dr. Uhr answers:
As a psychiatrist, I treat a lot of couples in which one of them is an alcoholic. The man you describe is an alcoholic/addict. His addiction (drugs first, then alcohol) may have started in his attempt to calm his uncontrolled anxiety. Alcohol or street drugs are not effective ways to control anxiety and end up giving you two problems: even more anxiety AND addiction. Her alcoholic boyfriend may be making excuses for his alcohol dependence to his girlfriend. (By the way, doctors never prescribe opiates for anxiety).
If you have an alcoholic spouse (or alcoholic boyfriend or girlfriend) that is self-medicating for anxiety, the best solution for your partner is to seek professional help for the addiction and take the appropriate, non-addicting medications for the anxiety. Most of the anti-depressants such as Celexa, Zoloft, Effexor, just to name a few, are excellent for anxiety and are very well tolerated.
Bottom line is that her alcoholic boyfriend has now 3 significant problems he needs to address; addiction, anxiety, and the relationship problems from not addressing either of the first two in a healthy manner.
If you want additional help turning your marriage around click here to register for my free report on, “ 5 Proven Methods For a Healthier Marriage With Your Alcoholic Spouse”. It may save your family’s life. The information in this report gives you very simple strategies that could very well save your marriage.
(Question powered by Yahoo Questions and the Answer and question title provided by Dr. Uhr).
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