Posted by seamus2 on March 15, 2007, at 15:18:50
I've always been a heavy drinker but lately it seems that my only joy in life comes from a bottle so I've decided to quit. I can and have abstained for months, so I don't think it will be too much trouble.
But I'm afraid I may have permanently screwed with my head by so much abuse. Things seem bleak and I take little reward or joy from anything.
I found this looking through the archives and wonder if anyone had any concrete, scientific knowledge to share on the matter:
>>>---It is very likely that he is feeling bad. It would be hard to say if it is "actual depression" or "long term abuse and withdrawal depression" for a while. I believe even as long as 18 months. He will have deleted all of the dopamine in his brain and changed the receptors. And something about the neuroepherine? (Any of you science types please help, I'm going on memory and half-understood concepts.) This will make it hard for him to take pleasure in normal pleasurable activities until that stuff starts to heal up back to normal. If he is depressed anyway/as well, he may need an antideppressant. He may need one anyway just for the alcohol situation. <<<<
If my little receptors have indeed "down-regulated" (although, I'm not entirely sure I know what that means) how long before they perk up again?
Anecdotes and or medical citations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
poster:seamus2
thread:741314
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20070101/msgs/741314.html