I only really enjoy life with alcohol

[Mushroo]

I am a chronic over thinker / worrier. My head just doesn’t shut up, ever. I am constantly thinking about what I need to do, but also procrastinating and then feeling guilty about procrastinating. For example, even if im relaxing and watching tv or a film, I can’t concentrate and I end up checking things on my phone and doom scrolling.

I don’t enjoy conversations really, as I worry about saying the wrong thing, or I just don’t really care what people are talking about.

However, if I have say, a large glass of wine, I feel relaxed, everything is more fun, I can actually concentrate on what I’m doing and enjoy the activity. I become fully engrossed in the task - it’s like the background noise is switched off and I’m fun. I actually enjoy conversations! I don’t feel constantly worried I’m saying the wrong thing. I can sit and watch a whole movie!

I vividly remember being about 18 and thinking I finally understood why people looked forward to the weekend - for the first time I enjoyed being at parties, going for meals etc.

Im not an alcoholic, well, maybe I am, but I only drink a glass or so on a Friday / Saturday , but I honestly think I’d enjoy life more if I could drink more, (I also think my work would improve but I obviously don’t drink at work!)

The problem though is the anxiety / overthinking - would medication replicate that large glass of wine? Or do I just need to accept this is who I am.

(I’ve tried exercise, meditation, yoga, going for walks. None of it works as well).

Quite a few people have reported Ozempic and similar WLI meds helping with ADHD symptoms. So maybe this is what happened for you.

@Mushroo- the standard way is to go to your gp, fill in a snap IV assessment (like 20 questions) and the gp will read that and then decide if you qualify for a referral. Typical wait times to local nhs services though are huge, I was on my local ADHD assessment waitlist for 3 years and was then told it would be a further 7+. So I went through the ‘right to choose’. I picked the provider I wanted which was careADHD and referred via the GP end of Jan. By may I was diagnosed and by June I had medication. Didn’t cost me anything aside from the monthly prescription cost. The wait times are slightly longer now on RTC just because local NHS waitlists are over 6-7 years everywhere now, so a lot of people are opting for RTC route, it’s just not something the gp will inform you about usually or encourage as it costs the local intergrated care board money for each RTC referral, but they can’t refuse. DM me if you would like any more information I’m happy to help no how complicated the system is and I’ve been in it now for over a year researching and am now going through the process of having two children assessed for ADHD so I’ve read an gone over everything to do with it until my eyes water! Alternatively you can have a look online at adhduk they have a section on righttochoose and that has all the providers, a timeline of waitlists for each and who can prescribe medication under the nhs framework, so it’s cheaper and not the private costs. They also have templates of referral letters you can send to your gp! X

Also, no you won’t be able to try actual ADHD medication without a referral. Most of them are stimulants ( there are some that aren’t) but the most popular are lisdexamfetamine ( elvanse) or methylphenidate ( concerta) to be prescribed this you have to have regular blood pressure and pulse checks as it can raise both, and also weight checks as it can cause a decrease in appetite. You could try supplements such as magnesium or b12 as a lot of people who have ADHD tend to be low in magnesium and b12 , but the most effective would be the actual ADHD meds which you need a diagnoses for.

I was like that before I took Mounjaro - it was a massively beneficial side effect, that I never even thought about having a glass of wine, when I was drinking up to half a bottle a night.

I'm like this also. I overthink and have often thought after a few drinks that I'm actually a better person because rather than becoming slightly obnoxious when drunk, it brings me to "normal" levels of inhibition like you've said. But I'm the same, I drink once or twice a week.

I wonder how old you are... Because for me I used to feel more bothered by this when I was younger. I have learned to accept and live with my overthinking. I try not to avoid the important things in life either and just do things anyway even if I feel anxious. I don't think you would know I was anxious or overthinking if you interacted with me because I've had so much practice at meeting new people now because of uni, work, and now playgroups as a SAHM that I'm just so used to conversation.

I would say to keep doing the things that make you a bit nervous and you will desensitise a little bit.