Looking for a listener who's experienced with anxiety, suicidal tendencies, addiction help
I'm dealing with addiction to drugs and alcohol. I have really bad anxiety, not even from anything specific. I just have this persistent feeling of doom looming over everything in my life. It's a heavy mix of anxiety and depression caused by it.
Because of that I turn to drugs and drinking to cope. It's driven away a lot of my close friends, which just leads me to keep doing it even more. I really want to stop so I can start to rebuild the friendships I've hurt.
I also have problems with suicidal thoughts, and have attempted suicide by overdosing before.
I really need someone to talk to who can talk these things out with me, or at the very least give me advice on how to start therapy or resources/hotlines that can help with these problems. I don't want to exhaust my friends anymore with these problems.
If you have experience dealing with anxiety, depression and substance abuse please let me know.
Hi @Cream222 I'm sorry to hear you're struggling so much! 🙁
You might find this post helpful. I hope you find the support you need. 🤎
@Cream222
Hey, it looks like you expect a great amount of knowledge and responsibility from a single person, especially while him or her being just a volunteer, not a highly trained professional...
From your description the matter looks very serious. It seems like your addictions have roots in your anxiety, and they make you feel like suicidal. By "serious" I don't mean that would be unresolvable, but that would mean acting cautiously, step-by-step and on daily basis.
It sounds like a job for a therapist/therapy group specialised in addictions and/or everyday talk with your AA or NA sponsor, with a listener (or a few of them) only in the supportive role.
In case of emergency, please, be also aware of the fact you can find some contacts here:
I hope you are already familiar with those links?:
and:
@Cream222
As for the depression itself, please, bear in mind that it can be a result of various things: genetical susceptibility, traumas or other unresolved emotional matters from the past, but also it can be induced by alcohol or drug abuse, so it is very important to take you out of this vicious circle.
