To think there should be a way to feel permanently drunk ?

[stellenbosch]

without drinking?!!

I'm very naturally shy normally. But drink makes me feel very confident... would be nice if this was possible in every day life without the drink?!

Ideas?

Have you considered an inner ear infection?

Anti anxiety tablets might help? Not that everyone should take them carte blanche....

Can I ask how old you are?
I spent most of my 20s feeling like you do. I eventually realised that almost everyone else was doing the same thing and that actually being the one not drinking (or only have one) was better because you have more control over your actions than everyone else in the room x

Pethidine made me feel drunk. It was awesome! 😄

(and it’s always nice to be the one to remember the craziness than being the one remembered for it!) x

Oooh...pethadine! (2 children...beat pain relief ever!!)

*best

Have you ever tried CBT? Maybe not quite so much fun as drinking, but way better for your liver and job security, and the evidence of success for shyness and social anxiety is really very good, if you are genuinely engaged with it.

Or if your anxiety is enough that you genuinely wish you could be drinking, then definitely get to your gp and discuss medication / therapy.

Probably being totally boring on a light hearted thread, but just in case this was a no smoke without fire thing I do want to say that noone should have to feel such shyness that interferes with their daily life.

Boost your self esteem, join a voluntary group or evening class to meet new people, practice a mantra,

I used to feel like you OP.

I had being confident, having fun and letting myself go all tied up in my head with alcohol.

Mainly because I overcame teen shyness and awkwardness that way and never really stopped except for pregnancies.

Not drinking this last year for health reasons has made me oddly confident in all situations.

If I'm just with friends having a coffee I'll say things-maybe funny things, cheeky/geeky things which I used to self edit as I was not 'out' and therefore drinking. I feel more like me all the time, I enjoy nights out more too as I think I listen better and appreciate the night more.

It's like I took my stabilisers off and it turns out I didn't need them after all.

I would never have believed it if someone else told me, it's like a mini miracle, 30 years too late!