![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 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?
Posted by nolvas on April 19, 2008, at 7:03:46
In reply to Can't Consume Alcohol Anymore = Depression, posted by laurie_lu on April 18, 2008, at 19:47:13
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and that's where the confusion lies over depression. However alcohol affects many biochemical processes and neurotransmitters in the brain, there is certainly no surprise that it can worsen depression and also anxiety. It serves to relieve those feelings until the effects of alcohol have worn off where there is usual a rebound effect. If you suffer from anxiety and or depression or other mental illness it is wise to avoid alcohol or moderate it's use.
Posted by LizinManhattan on April 19, 2008, at 8:08:48
In reply to Re: Can't Consume Alcohol Anymore = Depression, posted by nolvas on April 19, 2008, at 7:03:46
Hi,
I have never been a regular drinker, but whenever I have alcohol I feel awful the next day, too. I get very depressed and just want to stay in bed all day. Now I avoid all alcohol all the time. People will pressure you to drink, but eventually they'll just accept that you aren't going to. At least that's what happened to me.
Liz
Posted by nolvas on April 19, 2008, at 14:34:20
In reply to Re: Can't Consume Alcohol Anymore = Depression, posted by LizinManhattan on April 19, 2008, at 8:08:48
People are usually very social animals. Alcohol is a very sociable drug and therefore it's 'pushed' and accepted by most people, they will encourage you to drink to be 'sociable'. It's still possible to have a good time out with people and not drink. Don't be pressured in to drinking alcohol if it doesn't agree with you.
Posted by laurie_lu on April 20, 2008, at 1:36:50
In reply to Re: Can't Consume Alcohol Anymore = Depression, posted by nolvas on April 19, 2008, at 14:34:20
Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it.
Posted by KeepinOn on May 4, 2008, at 17:40:46
In reply to Can't Consume Alcohol Anymore = Depression, posted by laurie_lu on April 18, 2008, at 19:47:13
Alcohol is poison, particulary for the brain, particularly for brains susceptible to depression, borderling personality disorder, bipolar disorders, mental illness, emotional illness, mood disorders, irritability, anger issues, and rage syndrome.
Eliminate it for at least two weeks. After two weeks, jot down situations and reactions for a few weeks. After that, have one drink. Then jot down situations and your reactions for the next 7 days. Don't anticipate, don't analyze, just jot it down. After 7 days, go back and look. Maybe it will take you a few times doing this, but I assure you, you will eventually see the pattern of your reaction to alcohol.
For myself, I'm past the age of wanting to get drunk, but I would still like to have one drink once in awhile but his is what happens: I have a drink, I have fun, the next day, I'm fine but then the 2nd day after drinking, I can't cope, everything is overwhelming, everything is just too much to deal with, and before I recognized it as a reaction to alcohol, I thought it was depression. That lasts for one or two days before I move in into the irritability stage where I scream at people on the phone, have road rage, and yell at people I love.
If I don't drink alcohol - not even one drink - I rarely have those reactions .... EXCEPT when I drink caffeine. It seems that I can drink a cup of caffeinated coffee for several days before the irritability sets in, but it will always set in eventually.
I hear tell that eliminating sugar can also eliminated many of these reactions.
So my advise is observe, try to find causes, eliminate the causes, and observe again.
Best wishes and hugs of understanding and support to everyone.
Posted by laurie_lu on May 4, 2008, at 18:47:44
In reply to Re: Can't Consume Alcohol Anymore = Depression, posted by KeepinOn on May 4, 2008, at 17:40:46
Thankyou for the suggestions. I will definately keep a mental diary and do as you mentioned.
Posted by metalblade on May 9, 2008, at 21:14:13
In reply to Re: Can't Consume Alcohol Anymore = Depression, posted by laurie_lu on May 4, 2008, at 18:47:44
You might be bipolar II not realize it. I suffer from bipolar disorder and when I drink alcohol it makes me depressed the next day. Vodka isn't as bad as bear when it comes to causing the depression. I read it has something to do with a chemical in dark liquor and beer.
Do you also get hyper when you take AD's like effexor or do you feel the effects of an AD right after you have taken it? That is another sign of BP.
I use to take lithium, but unfortunately it has done a number on my kidneys, so now I take fish oil, choline, and a small amount of vitamin D. Don't go over 50mg of the choline or you will get very very depressed. The trick to treating BP is to keep the mania under control so you don't get depressed later. For every high you get either euphoric or disphoric(uncontrollable anger) you have to pay it back. The choline, in my opinion works better then the lithium at controlling mania, but it doesn't have an AD effect.
I also have SP and have decided that the only thing that helps it with out aggravating my BP are opiates.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Alternative | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.