Posted by laurie_lu on April 18, 2008, at 19:47:13
I use to consume a couple alcoholic beverages a few times a week without any ill effects. It would help me unwind and de-stress. The last several months I've noticed a new unpleasant pattern.
When I consume alcohol, the next day I have no ambition and I feel increasingly depressed, anxious, and hopeless. But it's manageable.
But, when I consume alcohol two or more consecutive nights in a row, these mental/emotional side effects are amplified dramatically to the point it frightens me.
It literally takes 3 'dry' days to begin to feel better and not experience those horrible mental/emotional side effects. I don't take any prescription antidepressants.
Those feelings are so disturbing to me that I have stopped consumiung all alcohol except for maybe on a Saturday evening with my husband or during a special occasion. And just then it is limited to a maximum of 2 drinks. Even then, the next day I feel like crap.
I realize alcohol is a depressant and I've suffered with mild/moderate depression my whole life (39). But I've never felt side effects like the ones I've described before until these last few months. It makes me worry that my chronic depression is getting worse but only noticeable when alcohol is introduced????
Now I'm trying very hard to live life without using alcohol to unwind and de-stress. It's hard to find other ways to cope with life's stressors.
Friends/family have noticed I've not been drinking alcohol and have commented that I'm a lot more fun when I 'do' drink alcohol. I miss the 'fun & happy' me when I did drink. Alcohol made me feel so much better. I wish there was an herbal pill that would make me feel that same way.
Has anyone experienced this?
poster:laurie_lu
thread:824129
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20080326/msgs/824129.html