Posted by Rick on February 23, 2000, at 18:12:45
In reply to GAD, posted by tom on February 23, 2000, at 17:38:42
> Thanks for the replies!the problem is that i am >an alcoholic and my doc,and i am afraid that >benzo may trigg my cravings for alcohol?
Tom,
The only thing I can tell you is that I am currently taking Ativan 0.5mg 3x a day for about a week now and I also have had alcholic tendencies, although I currently have not had a drink since new years eve. Something that I read in a book that my doctor gave me offered some insight to alcoholism and anxiety/panic disorders.
It mentioned that a very large percentage of people with undiagnosed GAD can unknowingly be using alcohol to self-treat their symptoms of anxiety, which made 1000% sense to me. I know I used to love to drink because it made me feel adequate...fearless...and gave me the perception that I was normal only when I was drinking. Maybe (and I say this because I am only like you - learning) you have reached the "root" of your alcoholism, and maybe you should worry less about what benefits/consequences you get from drinking, and have you and your doctor examine the benefits/consequences of treating your GAD. I think you could actually find relief from your cravings, if you only knew the benefits of treating the problem that you have been trying to solve with drinking. If your cravings are truly physical in nature, then I may be way off base here. Something to think about and talk with your doctor about anyways.>Antipsychotic med.sounds a bit drastic to me or? >are there anywone who nows more than me about >this please tell me!
I can't tell you much on this one, but I have decided personally to trust my pdoc, after all, I have done a terrible job personally of trying to control my anxiety. I wish you the best of luck!
poster:Rick
thread:23408
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000220/msgs/23414.html