Posted by deirdrehbrt on February 28, 2006, at 0:29:04
In reply to I'm Struggling with Alcohol Cravings, posted by vainamoinen on February 27, 2006, at 18:01:22
I don't know about the taruine. I don't have much information on that in relation to bipolar disorder.
As to the effects of alcohol and bipolar, that is something that I know a bit about. Bipolar people sometimes self-medicate. As we're on both ends of the emotional spectrum, some use both stimulants and depressants. My choices were caffeine and alcohol. All of this together was a bad combination. I found though that when drinking, (I'm a recovering alcoholic as well), my depressions became extremely severe. It wasn't the sort of depression where I couldn't move, but the sort where I was filled with a deep apathy, so empty that life was worthless.
My last fling with alcohol was two fifths and a couple of those little bottles. Anyway, I don't remember much about what actually happened over the next couple of days, except sitting in a public park, and starting to take a bunch of pills. I remember standing up, and starting to walk. The next memory was waking up in intensive care. That is the date that I finally stopped drinking.
For me, alcohol is deadly. Before that day, I had been hospitalized eight times. Most of those times was the result of alcohol mixed with my illness. I didn't know it then, but looking back I realize how many times that my psychiatrist had told me that alcohol was dangerous with my meds. I'd try to stop, but I inevitably drank again.
Even the med bottles said not to drink. Some said "alcohol may intensify this effect". To me, that was a game. One said "Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication". So what?
Alcohol is dangerous with the meds, but it's also dangerous with the disease. Thinking about it, if you are prone to depression, which is part of many people's bipolar, and you take a depressant, what will you get?
On the manic side, you've a loss of inhibitions. (at least some of us). Alcohol is known to reduce inhibitions as well. That doesn't sound like a real good combination either.
Anyway, you asked for a reminder of why alcohol might not be a good idea with Bipolar disorder. That's my experience. I hope it helps.
--Dee
poster:deirdrehbrt
thread:613886
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20060205/msgs/614116.html