Posted by john berk on April 14, 2006, at 22:26:23
In reply to Re: Husband Giving Up ... » Flame, posted by blueberry on April 14, 2006, at 19:24:21
Hi, I am dual diagnosed with depression and alcoholism, and i have to totally agree with Crazy Horse,
i have not gotten any good results with any AD unless i was at least 2 weeks sober, i was a binge drinker during the first 2 years of my prozac expeirence, and found relief in about 3-4 month's of continued sobrietry, [not complete relief by any means, but good response for ocd and major depression] but when i returned to drinking, even for a weekend, i was almost back at square one, maybe it is just my unigue chemistry, but alcohol fueled my depression, and vice versa for years.i can only relate my personal expeirence, but until at least a brief period of sobriety is found for your husband, i really don't know how any AD can be effective, or how you would even know what is and isn't working. Alcohol clouds the picture too much. one or 2 drinks is fine, but when you talk about a night of drinking, more than a few times a week, that is not only masking the symptoms, [and beleive me, i sympathize greatly with your husband and his pain]
but also doing very little justice to the pharmacutical picture and his depression recovery.it is the hardest struggle imaginable, because, [and i think Crazy Horse will agree here]when you self-medicate with alcohol, the alcoholism takes on a life of it's own, even if the depression were now to remit spontaneously, you still have the drive/need for alcohol, it is a vicious cycle. but here again i am only speaking from an affirmed alcoholics veiwpoint, mine] so i think you,[Flame] your husband, and a good therapist must decide if it is social, or medicinal drinking, it's a fine line at times.
but i still think that meds in the long run will work much better with a sober lifesyle, at least in the short run, good luck Flame to you and your husband, have a good holiday...john
poster:john berk
thread:632992
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060412/msgs/633275.html