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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 8, 2006, at 7:38:52
Hi to all,
I am new to this section of Psycho Babble.
I recently sought help from a local agency to help with my 10 year addiction to xanax,Zoloft, and 5 years of weekly Binge Drinking.
After my initial visit..I am now wondering if I opened a can of worms that I will regret.
My "counselor" coldy told me that I was an alcoholic, and drug addict..and that my Family MD was my enabler~ All in our first meeting!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am scheduled today to see the "Psychiatrist" at the agency..and to be honest I am scared.
Here are my questions:
How much power can this Agency have over me?, I have self-referred myself to them all on my own.
I feel threatened already...and wonder if I should not go today..and just begin gradually cutting back on my xanax on my own..and eliminate drinking altogether ( I have already gone 8 days with no alcohol)
Can this agency "take over" and force me into a rehab program against my will??? ( I know that sounds paranoid,,,,but it is a concern I have)
The agency is a Community Mental Health Center.
Any help would be appreciated
BF
Posted by James K on May 8, 2006, at 12:50:20
In reply to Seeking Help....Good Idea or Maybe Not., posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 8, 2006, at 7:38:52
> My "counselor" coldy told me that I was an alcoholic, and drug addict..and that my Family MD was my enabler~ All in our first meeting!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> I am scheduled today to see the "Psychiatrist" at the agency..and to be honest I am scared.
>
> Here are my questions:
>
> How much power can this Agency have over me?, I have self-referred myself to them all on my own.----I'm not an expert, but here are my thoughts. I'm assuming you're an american (Ohio?). Unless you are on social security disablility of some kind or perhaps medicaid, I don't think they can have any power over what kind of treatment you get. If you are on disablity, the most they could do is control what kind of treatment you get to ensure future benefits.
>
> I feel threatened already...and wonder if I should not go today..and just begin gradually cutting back on my xanax on my own..and eliminate drinking altogether ( I have already gone 8 days with no alcohol)----If you've gone that long without Alcohol, you are not a danger to yourself or others requiring hospitalization voluntary or involuntary (I will say that to the extent you are physically dependent, some new withdrawal symptoms could show up about now. If a physician has prescribed a medication for you, no "counselor" has the legal power to overide that medical decision. I would (out of paranoia) not give out my doctor's name (if you haven't already) to keep him out of trouble from some overzealous government employee from reporting him as some kind of drug dispensing doctor. Wanting to quit both the benzo and the alcohol is admirable, but when you get into the addictions specialty, you are going to find a lot of prejudice against legitimate medications. Those people have a different mindset, and they have seen horror stories and denial and lies from so many addicts (not you).
Getting off xanax should be a slow taper. If you can pull it off yourself (with your physicians help if you want) good for you. Going off a long term benzo (xanax) and alcohol at the same exact time will be difficult. I'm doing it the last two months. If you don't feel you are in big trouble I'd wait on phase two. The desire is admirable. Don't forget that symptoms led your physician to prescribe for you and they may return as you discontinue.
If you really want to quit, and can't, you may need rehab, but I see nothing in what you say that could force you into rehab. I also don't know that you are required to keep an appointment, to avoid a commitment type legal battle (unless your jurisdiction, or insurance plan, has some kind of rules about compliance to ensure continued benefits) but you don't seem to meet the requirement for involuntary commitment to a facility.
Learning more about addiction to alcohol and dependence on a prescribed substance can be good for you, so maybe stay involved. Just know that they come from a different point of view - one of blaming and total abstinence from everything. Psych meds have a purpose, and dangers as well, but a physician or psychiatrist is just as/more qualified than an addiction counselor.
>
> Can this agency "take over" and force me into a rehab program against my will??? ( I know that sounds paranoid,,,,but it is a concern I have)---I hope this helps some, and if anyone disagrees or has more concrete info on his particular situation, please jump in. This is just my experience and understanding of a different part of the country.
>
> The agency is a Community Mental Health Center.
>
---James K
Posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 8, 2006, at 18:44:31
In reply to Re: Seeking Help....Good Idea or Maybe Not. » BUCKEYE FANATIC, posted by James K on May 8, 2006, at 12:50:20
To James K,
Thank you for your advice.
My experience today with the Pysc- Doc has helped make my decision NOT to get involved any deeper with this State -Agency. I am quite capable of slooooowly tapering off Xanax, by myself.
As to the alcohol...I have already decided that it is not for me anymore. If any symptoms of withdrawl appear over the next few days or week...I will handle it.
Much of what you posted was sooooooo true.
The "Doctor" today was as cold and mechanical as the Counselor last week.
After about 15 minutes she made a statement that I would be hard to treat because, and I quote"...you already know everything...."??????? What kind of assesment is that to make on someone's first visit? If I am not mistaken, there is such a thing as developing a certain trust and confidence level with your patient.I have done my share of counseling others...so I am a bit uncomfortable on the "other" side of the Desk so to speak....I admit that. But these people are so un feeling and all-business...how in the world do they expect someome to turn over their life and to them?????????????? She actually wanted me to immedietely STOP seeing my Primary Care Physician...and sign oveer to HER the control and dispensing of all future Medications!!! Was she crazy????^%#$%@$%#^ LOL
Pardon the unintended pun.Anyways...thanks again.
BF
Posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 11, 2006, at 10:03:41
In reply to Re: Seeking Help....Good Idea or Maybe Not. » BUCKEYE FANATIC, posted by James K on May 8, 2006, at 12:50:20
James K,
I have one more question.
I realize now that I can manage my own symptoms.
Xanax tapering is uncomfortable...but so far I am OK.The alcohol is really a minor player...1/12 weeks and I am good, with little or no desire for it.
I DID give the name of my MD to the State Counselor and I am on State Sponsered Insurace, since my wife has been a student, we need financial help with the bills and food.
I did however self -refer, and I intend to just NOT keep my next appointment ( May 25).
If they follow up with a call, what do you ( or anyone else out there) think will happen if I ignore their attempts and just go on my merry way?????????BF
Posted by ramsea on May 14, 2006, at 0:44:49
In reply to Re: Seeking Help....Good Idea or Maybe Not., posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 11, 2006, at 10:03:41
Sadly, it is best to be a bit wary with some of these agencies. They can save lives but also get things wrong sometimes and can destroy lives too. I am referring to women with alcohol problems who come forward on their own for help and then get their children taken away. Sometimes that is necessary but I know of cases where it was just downright tragic and missplaced. In the UK that may happen but maybe not the US--just don't know.
ANyway, 20 years ago I thought I needed help with my drinking--it was actually most importantly untreated bipolar that needed attention but the GPs in my life were not seeing that just then--and my GP was fairly horrible to me about the drink and sent me to an agency. Someone in AA told me to NOT go to my first appt. because they had sent social workers round to her immediately and took her kids off her, and a long court battle and separations ensued---though eventually after much grief she got her kids back.
She suggested my drinking was of the kind that AA alone could help, and she was right. In fact, I didn't need AA---I just need to abstain from drinking most of the time because I have severe bipolar and it sets off cycling if I drink even a socially normal amount on any regular basis, or too much in one go (which "non-bipolar"s can do on occasion without terrible mood swings).
So my advice is to just not go to the appt. if you don't want to--it is your choice. You could write a very simple letter of cancel by phone and say very briefly, having consulted others you realize you don't require their assistance.
See how it feels alone. If you went to an AA meeting or some other self-help, non-authority type, just for the education for even a short time, that might help. Or read the lit. But keep your meds to yourself in AA. There are too many self-appointed blamers and drug-phobics who think even a severe depressive/bipolar is an addict if they take an AD or other med.
It's true some people abuse anything, but some people also properly and correctly, and with good reason, take a medicine for neuro-psychiatric reasons too. And occasionally many non-alcoholics or borderline alkies drink too much and have to stop doing so--and manage to do so. But if it isn't easy to do, and provides trouble, than a place like AA or rehab specific to alcohol, say, might help. Rehab is not as private as AA. It all depends on your level trouble.
get back if you can on how you get on. one more thing--a benzo withdrawal site suggested it might take up to 1-2 years to taper properly off a benzo. Do it too quickly and the person rebounds and often ends up even worse, so shave teeny amounts off the pill and go very slowly. try looking for benzo withdrawal info on the www.
Also, watch for depression sliding back in when you are off the alcohol. William Styron, who wrote the novel (film) Sophie's Choice and also the small auto-bio book "A Visible Darkness" (about his depression) first became aware he was seriously depressed after stopping his nightly fairly heavy drinking. He may have withdrawn without proper support and education, in any case, it shocked his system and revealed an underlying depression. I've heard of this with others too. Just something to be aware of.
It may be you have no problem with withdrawing, given enough time and no disabling shocks to your system. best wishes, ramsea
Posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 15, 2006, at 7:26:10
In reply to Re: Seeking Help....Good Idea or Maybe Not., posted by ramsea on May 14, 2006, at 0:44:49
I appreciate your informative post ramsea.
Thank you.Indeed I will cancel my appointment, and continue on the path I am now on.
I kinda have a hunch that my mild depression is a result of heavy benzo use. I always had anxiety...but only 2 times in 40 years did I have depression.
Since my benzo dose is so high...I have experienced mild depression. I bet as my xanax use goes down in my slow taper..that any bezo-induced depression will also eventually dissapate.
Unfortunately, depression from confonting life without benzo's or alcohol may result in depression of another kind...but I am prepared nd OK with that.
I will post after my first AA meeting sometime this week. Even tho it has been 2 weeks and I dont crave alcohol...I can tell that under the right circumstances I would drink again. So, I do need some support to help me stay dry.
Ill keep you posted
thanks again BF
Posted by BrianBoru on May 23, 2006, at 20:58:16
In reply to Re: Seeking Help....Good Idea or Maybe Not., posted by ramsea on May 14, 2006, at 0:44:49
Buckeye,
I've been in the same position as you. Skip the "community health center" (sounds like you already have). They're usually the worst. Talk to your family doc about setting up a Xanax withdrawal schedule. If you stay off the alcohol, it probably won't be bad. Give yourself several weeks to recover physically from the effects of the alcohol, then start the Xanax taper. AA can be OK, but there are some die-hard fanatics there who will convince you that you are OK and they needd to be locked up. ;-) You may have to shop around for a decent group of folks.
BB
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