Posted by FredPotter on November 17, 2002, at 23:31:19
In reply to Re: Alcohol substitute - what's best?, posted by utopizen on November 16, 2002, at 23:37:31
I feel at home here. I nearly died a year ago after decades of self-medicating with alcohol. I discovered panic would magically disappear after a glass of brandy (that was when I was young - it took a lot more when I was older). Eventually, decades later, things got worse and my health suffered from all the alcohol.
Now I don't drink at all. I take Antabuse every morning so I can't use drink. It's so very tempting when God-awful, end-of-the-world-terror- of-nothing takes over that I take away that choice. The funny thing is that I rarely feel that bad these days. I take antidepressants, lithium, fish-oil and I have a kind Dr who prescribes me Xanax despite the pressure put on him not to (here in New Zealand it's like that).
When I was in hospital a year ago they stopped the Xanax more or less cold-turkey. This as well as suddenly stopping drinking led to a seizure and a couple of days unconsciousness. It was all so misguided: my behaviour and theirs.However I have to say that even though I'm grateful for the ability to have Xanax in my pocket at all times, it doesn't really work. It takes about 1.5 mg to have any anxiolytic effect and that probably wouldn't be enough for a big freak-out. I mostly content myself with knowing that time passes and I eventually get over it. For fun I study Zen and meditate, enjoy Nature, reading, music and hey - I smoke my pipe. Nothing works like alcohol it seems. I really miss it. There are of course several potential substitutes. I've tried kava, but that doesn't do much for me, if anything. The other stuff like GHB or opiates well I wouldn't have the courage.
I admire your honesty Hok for starting this thread. Keep it going
Fred
poster:FredPotter
thread:127923
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021116/msgs/128079.html