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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PuraVida on February 13, 2003, at 1:08:14
Is there anyone here who is either self-medicating with alcohol and wants to stop or cut down, or who has successfully done so?
Posted by Alara on February 13, 2003, at 4:41:33
In reply to Mood and alcohol, posted by PuraVida on February 13, 2003, at 1:08:14
> Is there anyone here who is either self-medicating with alcohol and wants to stop or cut down, or who has successfully done so?
>
>
Pura Vida, I can't speak for everyone - but in my case cutting down successfully on alcohol is probably an unrealistic dream.In the past i have consumed up to 2 litres of wine a night. When I wasn't working, I got the drinking level down to 1 midi of beer a night but it has now crept back up to 3.1 std drinks owing to stress. Sometimes I drink a lot more.
From what I hear, most people who are worried about their ability to cut down in the long term need to cut it out altogether.
Most of us who find ourselves in this boat ought to aim for total abstinence. IMHO.
Alara
Posted by Alara on February 13, 2003, at 4:43:45
In reply to Mood and alcohol, posted by PuraVida on February 13, 2003, at 1:08:14
BTW, if you want to cut down, start by switching to something with half the alcohol content of what you usually drink. (In my case I switched from wine to beer.) Limit your supply so that you know you've had your fill for the night. :-)
Posted by bluedog on February 16, 2003, at 9:46:49
In reply to Mood and alcohol, posted by PuraVida on February 13, 2003, at 1:08:14
> Is there anyone here who is either self-medicating with alcohol and wants to stop or cut down, or who has successfully done so?
>
>I used to self medicate. It started when I was about 17 and I used to binge every weekend but it gradually progressed to the point where I was drinking 2/3 to nearly one full bottle of scotch or bourbon almost every night for well over a year. It's an absolute miracle that I was able to hold my job during that period.
I quit cold turkey last June 2002. My depression and level of functioning actually worsened for around 3-6 months after quitting but I believe quitting probably saved my life as I would have ended up on skid row pretty quickly if I hadn't stopped as my level of alcohol consumption was finally starting to catch up with me physically and I was starting to get sick all the time (not just from the hangovers but with chronic fatigue and an immune system that was collapsing around me).
I dabbled with moderate drinking around Christmas and New Year recently but realised pretty quickly that even tiny amounts of alcohol have horrific depressant effects on me. I think my past excesses have permanently changed my brain chemistry and I doubt whether even occasional social drinking will ever again be an option for me.
I've said this before to other posters but I was inspired to quit drinking after seeing an interview with the Scottish comedian Billy Connolly at the time. He used to be a chronic alcoholic but hasn't had a drink in over 18 years. Billy Connolly is one of my heroes and I would highly recommend his biography "Billy Connolly" written by his wife Pamela Stephenson. I guarantee you that this book will inspire you!!!
I figure that if he can survive without drinking after all he's been through then so can I! Though I won't kid you that it's easy to quit...whenever I go through a "rough patch" I remember with much fondness the temporary relief that alcohol used to bring me but so far I have been strong and with each passing week it becomes a little easier to resist the temptation to start self medicating again.
I hope this helps you a little.
warm regards
bluedog
Posted by justyourlaugh on February 16, 2003, at 18:00:05
In reply to Re: Mood and alcohol, posted by Alara on February 13, 2003, at 4:43:45
never been able to be "a little drunk"
i drank everyday all spring and summer...
now i binge twice a week ,,but i am drinking now for the third day..
jyl
Posted by Tabitha on February 17, 2003, at 1:12:00
In reply to Mood and alcohol, posted by PuraVida on February 13, 2003, at 1:08:14
I try to be abstinent or nearly so. I drank too much for about 20 years. I tried doing just moderate drinking (limit to one on social occasions) but I found it was easier to just not have any than to struggle to stop after one. Social drinking was always my downfall anyway. I was a really awful drunk, so many times I'd freak out, make a big scene, alienate lots of people, do things to get myself in trouble, then deal with the shame for months afterward. Leaving all that behind was a big help.
My moods are better too. Even drinking only on weekends was keeping my depression going more than I realized. The other thing is, I always got really bad hangovers, sick for an entire day after, so if I drank Friday or Saturday night I spent one whole weekend day sick. I don't have the time for that! It's so nice to have the whole weekend feeling OK rather than giving up half of it to hangover. It's also nice to be able to socialize and not wake up the next morning horrified at what I'd done the night before.
When I started the drinking in my teens, it was mainly to overcome social anxiety. In my 20s my internal state of depression felt so bad, it just felt like any brain chemistry change was good. I guess that's self-medicating in a nutshell.
I still have some bad habits but quitting the excessive drinking was probably the best thing I ever did for myself. My life got better in every area after that (mood, relationships, self esteem, career).
Posted by bozeman on February 18, 2003, at 21:31:22
In reply to Re: Mood and alcohol, posted by Tabitha on February 17, 2003, at 1:12:00
Agree. Easier to not drink at all, than to try to set a limit.
I suppose if meds are working properly then don't *need* alcohol. I drank the most when I was seriously depressed and non-medicated. Don't drink much now. It was making me too down the next day.
Posted by PuraVida on February 23, 2003, at 22:57:20
In reply to Re: Mood and alcohol » Tabitha, posted by bozeman on February 18, 2003, at 21:31:22
Thanks to you all for your replies. I'm hanging in there to see if I can give the new meds a better chance, though tonight I almost caved cuz I'm so sick of being depressed. I'm on a group list serve through www.moderation.org - very good program (for me.) It has been really helpful and supportive.
Also, someone just posted on PB about alcohol and meds - if you are interested.
Thanks again!
PVG
Posted by Alara on February 24, 2003, at 5:59:48
In reply to Re: Mood and alcohol, posted by PuraVida on February 23, 2003, at 22:57:20
Pura Vida, there is a very supportive email group that you can join. Just go to Yahoo Groups and search for WeStillDrink. It's a small and supportive group. There's no judgementalism and everyone is encouraged to find their own way to sobriety. Nobody judges you if you still drink. Instead you will find real support and friendship, which may just lead to recovery.
Best Regards,Alara
Posted by PuraVida on February 24, 2003, at 14:25:21
In reply to Re: Mood and alcohol » PuraVida, posted by Alara on February 24, 2003, at 5:59:48
Thanks Alara - I'm checking it out -
PV
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