I have got a pot to piss in at the moment because i “just spend it” - is it just me or part of the diagnosis?
I spend at least £200 fortnight dowm my local pub - just for the social interation but now i just cant afford it anymore.
I also spend about £100 on weed a fortnight (which im trying to quit) and now my finances have gone tits up.
Do i forgoe any social life to save money and stop going down the pub?. I even asked the landlady to limit my bar tab
but she said no as i always pay on time and after all shes running a business. Its just too easy to sail down there when im feeling isolated and before i know it ive ticked up 40 quid on beer. I realise i should take some responsibilty and just drink
less , but the prospect of being indoors all day just makes me really agitated and pissed off.
I now have a court summons for unpaid council tax which has been worrying me all week. And i dont know what to do.
Are other SZs like this? Or am i just kidding myself, and that im a raving alcoholic??
Ive never been good with money. Mother always helped me budget - but i seriously dont think i have the life skills
to do it on my own.
Are you working or on benefits? Spending £150 a week on booze and weed is the kind of thing that gets right wingers clamouring for cuts to disability/unemployment benefits. A lot of us are responsible but those against the disabled/unemployed focus on those who are not and tend to tar us all with the same brush.
Yeah ive tried that, but i have the will power of an ant. Maybe i should try harder
When ive had a bad night its just too easy to go and spend it - and my only “mates” are down the pub - i dont go anywhere else apart from the supermarket. I think i need to grow a backbone
I get ESA and PIP. £370 one fortnight and £620 the other during the month. and I know i sound like a complete waster. But any enjoyment i get during the day is down the pub. Tried Voluntary work but felt very unconfortable in the shop. I Know i must try harder and at least stay indoors couple days. Its the actual doing i have a problem with. Maybe im just a pisshead.
With my outgoings if I spent £150 a week on booze and weed I’d soon end up in massive debt. In a climate where the assault on benefits and the welfare system is ever present we need to be mindful not to encourage those who seek a reduction in both.
I quite agree mate. Im just asking whether my lack of self control is based on SZ - or whether its just my own personality.
I agree im not the best welfare model for benefits, but these are the only stratagies i have in my limited abiltys to cope with life. Maybe im just self medicating with weed and alcohol. I honestly dont know. Ive only had the diagnosis for 10 months so im still learning about everything. I feel ive pissed you off. Sorry if i did Firemonkey x
What was your childhood like? Substance abuse is oftentimes a result of deep rooted childhood trauma. You are not a bad person. You are not a failure. You have a disease. That’s not an excuse to not try to get better but rather diagnose the issue. Relapse is a part of recovery by the way. You’re not alone when it comes to cooccurring substance abuse and mental illness. Baby steps you should worry about your health before appeasing people who may have it out for you for spending money on drugs and alcohol. You are probably self medicating. But there’s better medications than what you can provide for yourself from the bottle or joint. Good luck it ain’t easy. I wish you success and long life. You’re a good guy imo rogerrob
Enjoy your weed and alcohol while you can, I get PIP too and we are lucky we can treat ourselves. I used to spend over a £100 a week on alcohol and takeaways until I gave up drinking in June.
My mental health has got worse since I gave up alcohol because now I haven’t got anything to look forward too, I spend most of my time watching tv in bed.
Going to the pub gets you out of house and you are around other people.
My mother is/was controlling and emotionally abusive. Im also diagnosed with BPD as well as Sz so i also have a problem cutting at times, It took me a long time to get the confidence to see them in the pub but i actually enjoy it. I realise im trying to self-medicate, but feeling so “flat” all the time - im always searching for that “high” or enjoyment i get outta booze and weed. Sitting watching tv all day drives me crazy - and i just have to go out and see them down the bar . I have no other friends or social life. Thank you for your kind words, means alot
“Going to the pub gets you out of house and you are around other people.” Thats exactly what i think! I bloody wel suffer daily with my issues Why cant i enjoy myself!! But yeah - its self medication - and i should / need to be more aware of that .
BUT i gotta calm it down - its putting me in debt.
I take a medication called naltrexone and I also take Zoloft. The combo makes me not drink at all. I wish I could help u better with the weed. Now that shit is tough for me to kick! Consider the idea of naltrexone and or Zoloft. I’ve had about a 6 pack since June. But smoked a lot of weed. I also had a lot of abuse as a child and young adult and sought change of consciousness and escape to deal with it. Have to be strong. I’m here for ya if u ever need help/advice/someone to vent to ;). Peace ️
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