Autism and alcohol

This is me to a tee. I spent many years binge drinking to relax and slow my mind, to overcome social anxiety and mainly because I liked the way it made me feel. I have never been physically dependent on alcohol but mentally, it's been a crutch all my life. I know for certain that it makes me feel worse overall so I drink much less than I used to. In fact, I have come to find it a very boring drug that does nothing but dull you. I still have the desire for it but I give in much less frequently. I doubt I will ever be 100% teetotal though.

Binge drinking seems very common among autistic individuals. There’s been quite a few studies on this but I don’t think there is enough awareness made from professionals on the potential impacts it can have on someone with a different way of thinking shall we say. If it becomes “routine” and makes you feel “normal” it’s going to be very tough to accept that it’s bad for you until it’s too late and you are a full blown alcoholic. It really doesn’t help long term with anxiety and makes it much, much worse which becomes a cycle of anxiety, drink, anxiety, drink. Some thoughts can certainly be overwhelming with the emotions they bring leading to a sense of needing to shutdown or switch off. 

I never really thought of it this way, but when younger I used alcohol to ease anxiety, to be able to be more outgoing, also the main social place was the pub.

I then used it to slow my thoughts and also to help sleep. I know it helps get to sleep, but makes the quality worse. However, I used to wake up feeling better than when I didn't drink.

I then used it for stress and to cope .

It has always made me feel better and lifted my mood, at least while drinking. I have noticed recently the next l days it can reduce mood. But I think this is a normal hangover effect. 

For years I was close to the 25 units weekly limit till they lowered it. 14 is bit harder to stick to.

I've always been inclined to binge drink, although I have reduced that.

I have had periods where I needed a drink, I usually stop for a month if this happens. I always thought I had it under control.

I was told by a doctor a long time ago  to make sure you have a few dry days a week. I know my liver function is completely normal.

Hello Bananatropics26  I know this discussion is pretty old now but I wanted to see if anyone had posted about this topic and here we are. I hope you are doing well? The more research I do into this topic between the connection of alcohol and autism the more I am certain it’s do with how alcohol slows things down, makes thinking clearer (at least at lower doses) and takes away the constant anxiety many of us on the spectrum feel in one way or another. There is also the aspect of boredom or under stimulation, with such keen or narrow interests meaning we may struggle to find other things entertaining alcohol can distort reality briefly and allow us to view things from a different angle. This is just my way of viewing it, again I do hope you are well.

Thank you, I hope so.

I hope things improve for you too x.

Oh yes thank you ️. Sorry to hear your father also struggles with this. Maybe he'll get better. I hope so. 

I’m sorry you struggle with your drinking. I know it can feel like nobody cares, but believe me, people do. Looks like a lot care here. Take things a day at a time, you’ll get there.

I don’t drink alcohol. My body doesn’t metabolise alcohol properly, which makes me instantly sick when I drink it. So I don’t drink it as I really can’t.

My dad has issues with it, he drinks a lot, it’s his crutch I think it helps him deal with the stresses of life. I’m trying to convince him to get help, hoping he will.

Take care of yourself and write about things when you need to. We are here for you.

Yeh I just say all the autistic people I met were alcoholics you may not be I don't know you. So I apologise if you took what I was saying the wrong way. 

Yes, non-alcoholic wines are dire. I have yet to come across anything drinkable.

Hi, Hope you do find some help soon 

My own experience would I say I've depended on alcohol over decades.  Not to the point I wake up thinking of it, but from teenager years until now (mid 50s), I've had a drink the majority of days in the evening

I do think it was part of my masking, and calming my anxieties - yes the younger years were part of growing up - but the continuing drinking at home was self-medicating,to calm me before sleep.  The ASD link I only think is via my anxieties.

Through therapy over recent weeks I am much calmer, I drink alcohol 2-4 nights a week not 7 but that's only been for the past 4 weeks.

If Alcohol is in the house I'll drink it at night - so wife now just get 1 bottle of red for me at the weekly shop, and I have to jump in the car if I want any more - including even Alcohol free 

I recently started drinking zero alcohol Estrella FreeDamm lager and it is very, very good, especially in the garden on a sunny afternoon. 

I do love being able to enjoy a decent alcohol free lager without the ensuing sluggishness of alcohol.

I have tried some of the non alcoholic wines available, but they fail to come near the taste of a good black red or crisp dry white. 

What else interests you (beyond alcohol)?

People have variable levels of addictive physiology and psychology. I think that they are largely or wholly independent of autistic or allistic status. I had a physical health emergency last June. I was advised to avoid alcohol initially, then drink in moderation. I went from drinking an average of 9 to 18 units of alcohol a week (one to two bottles of wine) to nothing for for four months, then one to three units a week thereafter. It posed no real problem for me. I discovered that many zero alcohol beers were quite palatable, so had a useful alternative to sugary drinks (which I do not like).

I’m sorry you feel so bad and hope that you can take advantage of some of the specialist help available to people who are alcoholics.

Like others here, I am autistic and I am not an alcoholic, so please don’t mislabel me.

I am not suggesting you should seek Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as your main struggle is with alcohol, and Rosie Mod has posted some links, but it would be worth using a CBT technique to challenge and reframe your thought of  “autistic people are all alcoholics”.

Ask yourself what evidence there is that all autistic people are alcoholics, evaluate the conclusion and reframe the answer in your own words, eg. “Not every autistic person drinks alcohol” or “Many autistic people abstain from alcoholic drinks or are moderate drinkers”. You can use this technique for all kinds of assumptions and it can sometimes help to give people a more realistic view of the world and feel a bit better about things. 

All is not lost for autistic alcoholics - it is not written in stone that autistic people can’t stop drinking and perhaps keeping that in mind might make your journey through life easier.

Dear Bananatropics26,

Thank you for posting and telling the community what you are going through. 

The National Autistic Society does not currently operate a crisis or emergency service. We advise you to contact 999 or any of the mental health crisis lines listed on our Urgent Help Page if you or anyone else is at risk of immediate harm: https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and-support/urgent-help 

You may find the following useful: 

• National Autistic Society webpage with information about addiction: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/addiction 

• Alcohol Anonymous support: https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/helpline/contact/ 

If you feel that you might need some support with your mental health, you can find advice and information on how to go about seeking help, including links to other resources and details of helplines and listening support services, here: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/seeking-help 

I hope this is helpful to you. 

Kind Regards,
Rosie Mod

Yeh thanks for sharing. I'm not asking for help no just mostly venting to be honest. It's just all these neurological issues that I have that I need help with that I'm not getting any help with

Hi, Thank you for explaining exactly how you feel, I’m not here to preach to you. What you haven’t said is if you want to stop drinking, you won’t stop until you really want to. I do understand the self loathing, depression and anxiety, my love affair with alcohol started when I was still at school, it was an affair that lasted over 40 years. For me it helped me to mask and gave me confidence.

You are right, neurodiverse people are more prone to addiction, I’ve joined an alcohol addiction online group and was surprised how many autistic and adhd people are there.

All I can say is that I thought the alcohol really helped with my depression and anxiety, I now know it was fuelling it. Obviously we will always be autistic and have the struggles that go with it, I find processing these feelings and emotions much easier with a clear mind.

When I did stop I felt exhausted for the first 6 months, it does get better, I actually enjoy waking up now. I’m on day 380 and will never go back to my old ways, my masking skills are somewhat depleted but I’m of an attitude now of, “I don’t care.” 
It might be worth speaking to your GP, there might be medication that can help.

I don’t know if you’re venting or asking for help, all I do know is that you have to want to stop, people telling you to do it doesn’t work.