Posted by nolegirl23 on March 17, 2007, at 19:45:52
In reply to Re: I'm considering alcohol to replace medications » jealibeanz, posted by TheMeanReds on March 17, 2007, at 17:31:51
I agree, and my pdoc does as well.
Although I do prefer wine to beer.However, I have 2 problems, 1) my boyfriend. He is one who thinks that he knows everything about everything, but he is relatively ignorant when it comes to issues of mental health. He though that mania is a severe form of depression, and thought that I was having a manic episode when I sliced my arm to threads..
Anyways, he seems to think that because I am on Lamictal, Xanax and Lexapro that I can consume ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL. At first, I didn't drink on xanax b/c I didn't know the effect that it would have on me. Once I became accustomed to being on Xanax, I can gauge my limits in terms of alcohol consumption. And yes, drinking on meds and alcohol is out of the question.Second Problem: I have an eating disorder - I have been diagnoses as both anorexic and as bulimic.. My disorder is complex as I am anorexic for months, than bulimic for weeks... It's strange. Nonetheless, I am obsessed with my weight. I enjoy drinking because it eases my anxiety. A couple glasses of wine + my xanax and I feel exactly how I would like to feel everyday. Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't attempt to work or drive or anything under the influence of the above, but when the day is done and I am in the safety and comfort of my own home, that calm (yet lucid) feeling is exactly what I crave.
So then there is that whole label: alcoholic which is think is the crux of your issue. Not that I am saying that you are an alcoholic, but I would be that others, including medical professionals would say that if you were to stop your psych meds and replace them with alcohol, regardless of whether or not the outcome was effective, you would be labeled as an alcoholic.
Now, take that same concept and apply it to those of us who are on 'addictive' meds. If an alcoholic is dependant on alcohol to make themselves feel a certain way, than why am I not called a "benzoholic"? I am dependant on benzos after all. If I were to quit my benzos today, tomorrow I would be having one seizure after the other..I'm beginning to ramble. My point in short is that I agree with what you say. Alcohol does act as an anti-depressant and an anti anxiety in most of us. The problems of alcohol may outweigh the benefits..
poster:nolegirl23
thread:741828
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070314/msgs/741875.html