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Drinking and Autism

M&M001

Hi all,

Just wanted your views on drinking alcohol and autism.

  • Since my early twenties, I found drinking just eliminates my autism and anxiety.
  • I become the person I want to be, confident, can make friends easy, dance away, no shyness.
  • I always drink in moderation, until I reach that happy place.
  • Usually I feel the need to escape in to that euphoric state once a week, to escape stresses of the week.
  • I feel like I don’t need to mask.
  • But now late 30’s the recovery is too much.

I need to try new things to replace this habit. But as I do it in moderation, once a week is that bad? It’s day 5 post diagnosis.

  • in reply to Martin

    I really like the taste of th3 [removed by mod] gummies I’ve tried - but they’re too expensive to buy regularly.

  • Yes. I have also found alcohol to be very freeing and helpful - but of course it has plenty of downsides. I started drinking as a teenager and found that it helped reduce my anxiety and social awkwardness. And I suppose I’ve been leaning on it ever since really. Thankfully my body can’t really cope with vast amounts of alcohol - so after about 2 glasses of wine I sort of have to stop or I feel ill. Having said that I’ve spent many years of my life having a drink pretty much every evening and that probably not been great for my health. I find that it not only relaxes me - it also cheers me up - which is odd as apparently alcohol is a depressive. One of my favourite things about it is that it hugely eases my current worries - albeit just for a few hours at most. I ‘care less’ about things when I’ve had a drink, but also become more sociable and loving. It’s helped me, but I can only guess that physical health wise it may well have harmed me. Over the last year I’ve reduced it a bit so I don’t have a drink every evening - now it’s probably three evenings a week. I just have one of those mini bottles of Prosecco. 

  • I just have a glass of wine at Christmas and sometimes when I celebrate my birthday so I can't really give advice. It does seem like you're not over doing the intake though. 

    Have you maybe tried meditation or journaling? 

  • in reply to M&M001

    I think you don't need to worry at this level.

    Being able to socialise and relax is important too. Enjoy yourself.

    If it is harder than it used to be just have 1 drink less, or maybe have a mixer or something to make each last longer, or alternate between alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks. 

  • in reply to Stuart333

    I always aim for below 5 units and try and stay hydrated and eat before and after.

    Thank you for for your suggestions, I think slowly I will reduce it for special occasions.

  • in reply to Martin

    I will trial them, I hate the scent of [removed by mod], if I ever smell someone smoking, but I am sure the gummies are different and flavoured. Thanks for the recommendation.

  • Congrats on your diagnosis, Marnee101!

    I really enjoy being buzzed as well and feel very similarly to you. However, alcoholism runs in my family, so my wife is wary of me becoming too dependent on alcohol. Right now I only drink socially, and because of that I usually have to be careful about how much I drink since I usually have to drive/watch the kids when around alcohol. I’m not allowed to keep it around the house.

    Personally? I don’t think drinking once a week is too big of a deal. But you have to keep an eye on your health and be mindful of your environment. If you have certain disorders like fatty liver disease or obesity you should probably cut back as much as you can.

  • I found that [removed by mod] gummies - the oil tastes foul - help take the edge off anxiety in stressful social situations. [removed by mod]

  • I could write lots, but if it is once a week it's probably ok.

    It depends on what you mean by moderation. You might be drinking the weekly allowance of 14 units in one go. More than 5 I think is binge drinking. Women and men have different tolerances.

    I have always drunk to some extent. It is the only thing that works. Alcohol promotes dopamine for reward and GABA to make you feel almost and quiet your brain. I was never bothered about being drunk, although I have been at times, but more about how relaxed my mind felt. It reduced stress abd allowed me to cope. The risk is when it is at home and becomes every day.

    The problem is it does not reduce adrenaline or cortisol from stress (exercise is best for this), it just masks it. It upsets sleep quality, so you are not as rested. Having boosted dopamine and GABA artificially you brain then cuts them below where you started so 20 hrs later you can feel emotional or low. But these are more issues if you drink regularly. 

    Since being diagnosed I tried to stop for a while, I didn't want it as much, but now have a bottle of wine a some weeks.

    Health wise this level is fine, although less good if all 10 units are in one go, so splitting it across 2 days is better. Psychologically it depends on what you are drinking for. If it is to escape or cope and as a crutch it is supposed to less good. But I assume that is because it is likely to escalate.

    I'd allow yourself a drink once a week, taking away the pressure is good for you. Don't feel guilty about indulging yourself occasionally. You don't need to be a monk or nun.

    If you are struggling with hangovers, then drink a bit less,, don't mix drinks, make sure you eat, keep hydrated by drinking water before bed. Really it depends on how much you drink in one go and over what time period.