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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by FredPotter on December 1, 2002, at 22:52:39
I would be interested in people's views. I've had treatment resistant depression for years, very much mixed with/preceeded by anxiety. Because of the dramatic anxiolytic effects of alcohol I never went a day without it. As I entered my 50s it seems my brain could no longer take this treatment. My wife left me over a year ago and I hit the bottom. I was seriously ill with depression and alcohol. I stopped drinking (with some help) and day by day I began to feel better and life became a joyous experience. There were times when I'd have loved to drink of course.
I gradually started drinking again but eventually the same thing happened. Acute illness. I stopped again. And gradually the improvement began again.
The psychiatrist I was seeing said that various parts of the brain atrophy with prolonged use. But with abstinence they actually grow back. This can be over a period of years. Of course we used to believe that nerve cells never grew back, but they've been found doing it.
During my first recovery I didn't take ADs, lithium or fish oil. This time I do, to maximise my chances of a prolonged recovery. However, the common feature is abstinence I'm afraid to say. I never wanted to believe this.
I say this not to lecture anyone, but simply to pass on the my experience to any whom it may benefit. Life can still be hard, frustrating, painful and frightening, but it is also beautiful and joyful. And it's nice to feel my brain working better as each day goes by
Fred
Posted by utopizen on December 2, 2002, at 0:31:33
In reply to The antidepressant effects of abstinence, posted by FredPotter on December 1, 2002, at 22:52:39
Unfortunately for young males with ADD, it has a negative effect on concentration. Chemicals like nortypilene and others I don't even bother to spell are released after intercourse that assist concentration, and are the same chems targetted by antidepressants.
Posted by NikkiT2 on December 2, 2002, at 1:40:31
In reply to Re: The antidepressant effects of abstinence, posted by utopizen on December 2, 2002, at 0:31:33
Posted by ArthurGibson on December 2, 2002, at 3:44:05
In reply to I don't think Fred meant abstinence from sex!!! (nm) » utopizen, posted by NikkiT2 on December 2, 2002, at 1:40:31
It more a question of "The depressent effect of alchohol."
The stuff is a killer to anyone with a weakness for depression. Stay off it 100% and you will feel miles better afer a few weeks, months, years, lifetime.
Posted by utopizen on December 2, 2002, at 7:07:08
In reply to Re: I don't think Fred meant abstinence from sex!!!, posted by ArthurGibson on December 2, 2002, at 3:44:05
> It more a question of "The depressent effect of alchohol."
>
> The stuff is a killer to anyone with a weakness for depression. Stay off it 100% and you will feel miles better afer a few weeks, months, years, lifetime.
>>Oh, good to know. Well I realized I was using alcohol at parties for anxiety. Luckily I realized this and sought treatment before it became a pattern. Schools should teach kids more about drinking for anxiety as an early sign of alcoholism. They beat around the bush by saying things like "some people drink just to feel comfortable at parties." But they never use the term anxiety, which means kids don't think it's a condition that is treatable, so they never treat it. Or they do, but they see Dr. Jack Daniels. He's okay, though- but he only sees patients on the weekends, unless they're got more severe cases...
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 2, 2002, at 9:07:20
In reply to The antidepressant effects of abstinence, posted by FredPotter on December 1, 2002, at 22:52:39
> I would be interested in people's views.
> During my first recovery I didn't take ADs, lithium or fish oil. This time I do, to maximise my chances of a prolonged recovery. However, the common feature is abstinence I'm afraid to say. I never wanted to believe this.
>
> I say this not to lecture anyone, but simply to pass on the my experience to any whom it may benefit. Life can still be hard, frustrating, painful and frightening, but it is also beautiful and joyful. And it's nice to feel my brain working better as each day goes by
> FredCongratulations, Fred!
Fred, I don't want to put a damper on anything you're experiencing. I am very glad for you that you have found a way to stop drinking. In AA, there is something that is sometimes called "being on a pink cloud", a particular period in recovery which arises during abstinence following prolonged drinking. Either it wears off, or you get used to it, but life will take on a more normal balance (think boring), after a time. I just want you to think about it, so it doesn't take you by surprise.
Posted by sjb on December 2, 2002, at 10:02:10
In reply to The antidepressant effects of abstinence, posted by FredPotter on December 1, 2002, at 22:52:39
Way to go, Fred. I do so much better when I don't drink at all. When I was on Lexapro, and I would drink, the first day or two afterwards were ok, and then I'd spiral down into despair, binge eat, oversleep and would have uncontrollable crying spells. As an athlete, that wasn't exactly what one would call productive.
I used to think that I needed a drink to get through ANY social gathering, but I do not, of course. I just read a link somewhere about all the crap in alcohol, including wine, despite the industry's claims to the contrary. It even debunked the "wine is good for you in moderation, etc."
I'm into speciality teas now and look forward to making one of those when I come home from work as opposed to wine or scotch (my downfall of choice.)
Contiued success.
Posted by FredPotter on December 2, 2002, at 13:52:16
In reply to Re: The antidepressant effects of abstinence, posted by Larry Hoover on December 2, 2002, at 9:07:20
Thanks. That's where Zen meditation comes in. And there's nothing pink about it. I deliberately didn't say "the depressant effects of alcohol" as that is misleading, depressant referring to its being a CNS depressant. Perhaps it has metabolites that aggravate depression. I think some imbalance of neurotransmitters and some degree of malnutrition sets in after periods of abuse. But if alcohol causes depression, it doesn't do it very effectively (look around you).
This is the end of the thread.
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