Become an alcoholic?

[Kristen1]

I haven't been on meds for a while and it's been horrible. I drank last night and tonight and I feel fabulous!!!!! I know wherre it can lead, but shoot, it feels good to feel good!!! What's the difference? if yourr altering your brain with meds, why is it so bad to do it with alcohol??

[jgoble60]

Well with meds it's a consistent feeling. You take meds you feel better. With alcohol it's a shot in the dark (I found out the hard way), you drink to much it can kick your anxiety into overdrive, too little and it can have no effect at all. From what I can gather, meds like Xanax have a similar effect on the brain as alcohol, that's why they should never be taken together. And that's why you feel better you got lucked up and drank the right combo. But next time you might not get that lucky. It's not worth an addiction, besides Xanax is cheaper.

[Lowrey]

[peachersx]

I know exactly what you mean... I'm a bit worried about alcoholism also, I've been drinking nearly daily for a good few months now, just a glass of wine but it definitely helps. I'm gonna cut out all alcohol I think, because it also interferes with my meds and makes me feel awful although it takes the anxiety away.
Good luck!x

[mrmanic]

How do you feel the day after drinking? I used alcohol as a coping strategy for a few years on the daily at night (would completely eliminate feelings of anxiety) but the next day I would have extreme rebound anxiety and the cycle continued.

[jcrowe61]

I have a rule, no drinking unless I had an anxiety free day.  If your drinking to self medicate and make yourself feel better you shouldn't.  Also alcohol is a depressant and can make you feel worse in the long run.
I love beer and I'm watching a baseball game right now and a beer would be great right now but I had some anxiety tonight so I'm not going too.

[bratgirl67]

I saw your post and knew I had to respond.  Be very careful using alcohol, it is  a form of self- medicating and it is very dangerous.  I did the same thing you are describing and I felt I had it all under control.  As time went on, I needed more alcohol to calm me down and soon I was drinking every day.  It started with one glass of wine in the evening and it got so bad I was waking up at night to get wine to calm me down so I could sleep. I never meant to but I became an alcoholic.  I quit in Sept 2009 and I have been sober ever since.  It has been the most difficult thing I have ever gone through.  Pleae I urge you to rethink your decision to use alcohol to get rid of anxiety, it almost killed me.  Take Care

Brenda

[Irishmanwrites]

The post a few above from Lowrey is another cheap shot from an unhappy soul.

What would makeone someone post such.

"Poison", "Artifical pills" , "Not a solution"

I can't understand what would make someone post this.

Nor can I understand the lack of moderation.

[GenSec]

if you drink some natural alcoholic drink like good beer, quality brandy or whyskey, you at least poison yourself in a more natural way than by eating artifical pills.

This without a shadow of a doubt qualifies for my vote as being the most ill-judged comment on medication - and alcohol for that matter - that i have ever heard.

1st prize.

[pauly j]

[Irishmanwrites]

I agree with Pauly J.

Lowrey. Your comments are at such a low of level of intelligence that they border contempt. You'll excuse us if we dont raise a glass to them.

[Loner742]

I believe that medication can be a very helpful tool. Medication, and also a collaboration of aid from various professionals, including psychotherapy, can help a person reach a point in life where they are able to succeed on their own. Alcohol makes it easier for some people but that can be a downward spiral. Especially if you reach the point where you just cannot turn it off. People put off asking for aid because they're already dealing with it by drinking. Some people do the same thing too if their GP prescribes them a xanax, so they don't feel the need for therapy. Then that collaboration never happens. If you find yourself drinking in your room, alone, it's time to ask someone for help.

[Kristen1]

Thank you all for your replies. i am not planning on becoming an alcoholic, it was a joke of sorts, although I do feel better while drinking....not so much the next day!!! LOL! I wish it wasn't so frustrating tying to find a medication that will work for me though. i know it is all trial and error, but when you are prescribed something that makes you feel 1000 x's worse than the hell you are aleady suffering, you begin to feel hopeless.

[jen2213]

Not promoting it AT ALL, but my Grandma had agoraphobia just like I do now and they only way she got over hers and left the house after 15 years was by drinking beer

But she died in 1987 so before that they really didn't have anti-anxiety meds and all that crap, they relied on shock treatment and trips to the mental institution.