Posted by AMenz on May 28, 2001, at 15:00:40
In reply to Re: Please help! latest... adrafinil trial, posted by patrick on May 28, 2001, at 12:02:59
You have the evidence right there that alcohol is contributing to your depression.
Whereas I drank when I was stabilized without major problems (although not more than 3 glasses of wine on a weekend and 1 to 2 glassess with dinner) now that I am no longer stabilized (this is another story) just one glass of wine will propel or worsen a mixed state (horrible with depressive and irritable symptoms and terribly clouded thinking and lability).
The reason is simple - alcohol is a depressant. Now I don't know whether you are and alcoholic or not but maybe you want to quit drinking FOR NOW.
FOR NOW are the key words that helped me stop. That way you are not depriving yourself forever just for now till your mood situation changes.
Over time I now find, and you may, too, that I don't really want alcohol, not because it wasn't fun to drink, but because the aftermath just wasn't worth it.
> I am just like you.
>
> I'm on Wellbutrin. It helps somewhat, but I still wake up with depression. I also take Neurontin, which was initially a Nardil enhancer. Off Nardil, now, thank God, and getting by. However, the key drug for me is Klonopin. If I try to cut the 2.5 mgs that I'm on, to 2mg, bang! acute social phobia/anxiety/panic attacks. I think the benzos are driving this whole thing. That's why I'm so curious about the neurotransmitter GABA.
>
> Anyway, I only drink on Fridays. However, I can't stop at one drink on that Friday, because I get so pumped up to party/living for the moment/hanging with friends, etc., so I'll have 6-10 drinks on that Friday. The next 3-4 days I'm in depression hell. The suffering is intense. Then by the next Friday, I feel fine, and I'll do it all over again. I forget about the prior week's pain. It's like getting knocked to the canvass and getting up only to get knocked down again.
>
> Finally, I lose all emotional control on these Fridays when I drink -- like I'm possessed. I constantly put myself in danger on these Fridays and then I pay over the next 3-4 days.
>
> I'm trying to quit alcohol, because I have atypical depression and I can't drink. I wonder if I'm an alcoholic. I wonder if I stop drinking (and it’s only 1x/week), will my atypical depression (social phobia, GAD, depression, anxiety/panic attacks) go away.
>
> Patrick
poster:AMenz
thread:56006
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010522/msgs/64512.html