How many here cope using alcohol?

[Fishinguy]

Hi

I was just wondering how many of you use alcohol (even in small amounts) as a means of coping with anxiety, panic attacks, depression and other disorders. Anyone care to share?.

I have been dry for 2 years now but whenever my anxiety got too bad, I would confine myself to the bedroom where I drank an entire case of beer, chain smoked and listened to loud rock 'n roll music. For over a year and a half this became a daily routine for me as a means of drowning out reality.

Anyone else have a similar story to tell...anyone else use alcohol to cope?.

[Angelwings]

Hi Fishinguy

I'm not sure that alcohol is the best solution but sometimes I'm tempted (I must admit). It seems that when I'm not walking around in a depressive "fog" or buzzed out from the meds, I am panicking my head off about some disease, looking at my body and freaking out over symptoms. It would'nt take much for me to pick up a bottle of Gin (or whiskey) again sometimes - especially if I was ever turned down for benzos.

A little while ago the tingling in my back and neck got so bad that I freaked out and finally had to take a couple of Xanax's. Maybe it's from sitting so much or perhaps from the anxiety.

Celexa, like a lot of meds do loose thier effectiveness over time and new meds must then be found. I have even wondered if taking sleeping pills might help "relax" me but I see now that the ingredient in them is nothing more that the same ingredient found in Benadryl. I might as well eat a piece of candy.

Anyway, good luck hon and I think that's great that you stopped drinking:-)

[Fishinguy]

Thank's...sure was'nt easy though!

I'm seriously wondering if there is a good (non-alcohol) subsititute for benzos or antidepressants. I'll be going to a new clinic next month and I don't know if the new doc will prescibe them (benzos). I need something to fall back on in case he does'nt. There's NO way I can deal with my anxiety/panic without taking something and "deep breaths", yoga and "green tea" just don't do it for me. I need somthing that will definately work (and fast).

Thank's again for the reply:-)

[Healthnut]

Alcohol comes on nice and smooth in the beginning and makes you feel like "yourself" again but it later turns on you like a mad dog.

I'm going through some pretty intense stress and anxiety myself lately and I'm wondering if that's why I feel "exhausted" most of the time...like I just went to hell and back. I'm just totally spent from stress. The last two weeks have just ground me down to nothing.

- HealthNut

[pmhoran]

I have been, from time to time, VERY tempted to "indulge" ... but so far have managed to keep myself from doing so.   I keep telling myself alcohol would probably only complicate things more than they are already.   But if I am honest with myself I think its "fear" that keeps me from drinking. 

I am afraid that if a few shots do make things easier to cope with that I will easily become dependent on it ... and I have enough to try to cope with without adding something else into the mix.   But also, I do take meds for a few of my other "non anxiety related" symptoms that warn of interactions when mixed with alcohol.   So ... its been over 10 years since even a sip of booze has passed my lips.

I do miss it though.   I always enjoyed a glass of wine or two with my dinner ;)

Take care
Peter

[Fishinguy]

Hi pmhoran

You sound like me!. I have been dry for two years now but every once in awhile (especially when the anxiety/panic hits) I find myself fantasizing about a nice gin and tonic with a lemon twist or a whiskey and coke with a maraschino cherry. I don't really feel like I'm still "addicted" or anything, it's just that I know that a few drinks would calm me down and make me feel great but the price I'd pay later is what keeps me from falling back into this trap again. Anyway, congrats on being dry for 10 years and counting:)

[Matrix]

I've heard alot of people say that while alcohol works its only temporary and once it wears off it can make things worse. This has been my experience to so now I use herbal/flavored teas. They work well.

[Lostcause]

I've heard alot of people say that while alcohol works its only temporary and once it wears off it can make things worse. This has been my experience to so now I use herbal/flavored teas. They work well.

I hope you won't take this the wrong way but I have always been slightly suspicious of "herbal remedies" but I must admit that I also like the idea of being able to use "natural things" that don't require a lengthy wait at the doctor's office and a prescription so I'm actually with you on this one. I know quite a few people swear by them, so they must work on at least some level. Is there anything I can take for OCD or anxiety that works good?.

[rara]

Maybe serotinin containing food, like not surtain serotinin decreasing sportsdrinks, selleri i think? Its on the net i am sure but i have aboslutly no idea if it will work. Ask a doctor ore health shop and then a doctor, on this one.
Otherwise Zoloft is a pretty mild medecine, not a drug. 

[rara]

I have acctually thought about alcohol for ocd relivers, "well it wouldnt be addictive since the alcohol is "meerly" a substitute until help and medecine comes along, especially if one doesnt even like alcohol".
I am breaking English gramar rules by using " sing inside an " sign but the word "meerly" is such a denial understatement it had to be dun, sorry all you english majors...
Of course alcohol ore anything else as a reliver, substitue is always an addiction path and i think for a lot of people fear ore "swelf protection" stops them. Especially fear for "getting" another problem.
What i would like to now, eventhough i know it is bad, is does it work?
In depression, ocd, whatever but it has to be a neurosis? Can anyone please tell me?/rara.
ps. Now not as in rara like a cheerleader but as a name.ds.

 

[anxietystricken]

I have used alcohol since the age of 13....I have been using it since about the age of 17 to controll anxiety....I have had some very bad bouts of anxiety on the hangover days.. I have decided to quit exactly 44 days ago...I have really bad anxiety now....I feel the unreal feeling and find I don't want to venture outside much....It has been about a month straight of feeling buzzed out....I was told it is my body trying to deal with all the stress that I have covered up...I have been assured that the unreal feeling will go away when my body and mind get used to the fact that there is no more alcohol coming this way...I sometimes feel that I would rather start drinking again then feel spaced out all the time.....But as long as I can see light at the end of the tunnel then I will stay on the sober path!
       I can honestly say that I drank heavily about 3-4 times per week...As a matter of fact being sober seems strange to me....I don't remember much of my young children's life....They almost feel like strangers to me because I never took the time to enjoy them.....Please tell me if you have felt this way.
                                                         Roger

[the_friar]

Hi everyone

I empathise with everyone who has used alcohol.  I am 47 and have been using alcohol since I was 13, although my introduction to it was a lot earlier.  I am pleased to say that I took my last drink on the 2nd of October 2004.  I am inspired to see that many of you have been dry for considerably longer.

The physical need for alcohol evaporates after a few months and then it's a case of battling the psychological aspects.  I was recently hospitalised after chasing a thief and I had an incredible urge for a bottle of whisky.  I spoke to the staff and they reacted very positively for my requests for ice-cold water (which I find helps; the coldness gives a kick to the body) and time for my slow breathing exercises [even though they were treating me for a heart attack at the time].  My want of whisky surpassed the fears of having a heart attack.  It is extremely potent.

The Japanese have a saying: "First of all a man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man!"  This is true, so if you haven't started to self-medicate with booze, try not too.

The booze offers oblivion, the element that I miss most, but it doesn't solve any problems.  Indeed, in my case, my self worth decreased when I sobered up after painful hangovers and my depression and problems were still there.

I am lucky, because although I was drinking up to 3 litres of vodka each day for quite some time, I appear to have been very lucky with my liver and seem to have only ended up with malformations forming in my hands (I can't recall the name of the condition - possibly because I can't say it!  ;) ) and type II diabetes (which, of course, is bad enough).

I seem to have come through it (so far) without any significant brain damage - although my short term memory is sometimes a little dicey (a problem, I have been assured, that will rectify itself on the whole).  What was I saying?   

One of the most important points I have realised is that whilst I was striving for oblivion I was making everybody else's life an absolute hell.  I was hurting those people close to me who were protecting, comforting and loving me even when I was pissed (excuse my language but it's the only way to say it - drunk is far too civilised a word) and despicable.

My depression is still with me, but I have a clearer mind and try to be pro-active rather than reactive.  My increased clarity of thought allows me to search for positives each day even if I can't find any.  I am more able to notice those little touches and aspects that my family generate towards me, and not feel quite so alone; and not burn them up through drunken ignorance.  Alcohol can be a really nice element of socialising but it's a dreadful medicine.

I admire those of you who have abstained.  It's not easy.  When I am stressed my first thoughts are 'I need a drink .... I've got to have a drink.  Drink is how I cope with stress!'  Yet those feelings are beginning to subside - or become diluted at least. I hope I can follow the examples that you have shown.

With regard to seratonin.  I know it sounds a little cliched, but lots of exercise will enable the body to muster its own endorphins and seratonin and acts as a natural anti-depressant.  Hey look at me talking - overweight, over-age and as lazy as hell!  :)

I am beginning to rediscover my family and they are beginning to rediscover me.  I can relate to the feelings expressed by rara.  We don't realise what we are destroying and, thankfully, I appear not to have left it too late.

Most of all, I have found typing these words quite therapeutic.  This is the first time I have taken the time to write these feelings.  Take care everyone and if you haven't taken up the poisoned chalice, try not to.

[Airborn]

Last summer i used to drink a lot of alcohol, almoast everyday, because of depresion.Now i am not depresed anymore, and i only drink it when i go out with friends.In my opinion alcohol can be very good if you use it with head.Meaning, use it to relax yourself, not run away from problems on daily basis.Drinking it once per week wont damage your body, but will relax you and prepare for new challanges.My opinion.

[SistahGeek]

I am ashamed to admit that I self-medicate using alcohol to calm myself when in the midst of severe panic...I am hoping to be prescribed Xanax or Valium to alleviate the need to do this 

I take shots whenever in the midst of  an attack and it calms me ... I don't want to become an alcoholic over this and until I get he meds, nothing else works.
If anyone has any assitance and advice I would appreciate it.

[apple]

I did the same thing with having a drink when the anxiety or panic set in.  now I have clonazepam for it.

Just remember that the anti-anxiety meds can be just as addictive as alcohol so you really have to use your head...try to do other things like relaxation tec.  breathing excersises and talking to someone to try to get thru too.  Always grabbing a pill everytime is a sure way to get addicted....I find sometimes I am able to talk to my husband and he helps me get thru the problem or at least take my mind off of it...sometimes it doesnt work and I take a pill.

[itsmeesindee]

Alcohol helps in the short term but can actually make your anxiety/depression worse.  Depression is the root of anxiety and alcohol is a depressant.