Posted by laima on November 28, 2006, at 20:46:33
In reply to Re: Difference between Ativan and Valium? » Phillipa, posted by Quintal on November 28, 2006, at 18:51:06
I'm not bipolar and I didn't know there would be a problem. Just wanted to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Never ever was diagnosed with any personality problem either. Didn't move on to "other drugs", l haven't had such issues on such a scale with other drugs. One would think stimulants, for example, would be very abuseable and problematic-not an issue here. Pot was always around me some years ago- I walked right away from it, no issue, no problem. Interesting. People in my family have had alcohol problems for several generations though. And of course, lots of people use alcohol without any issues- but probably no one will dispute it's a highly abusable, addictive substance. Insiduous, even. But somehow, I am able to take "drinking vacations" without too much effort once I am determined. That fortunately always feels more like a "psychological" craving rather than an "avoid unpleasantness" desperation. Sort of how giving up excessive cookie-eating (or whatever) doesn't lead to "unpleasantness" in any meaningful, physicological way, though it can be a drag. No breathing trouble, no blood pressure instability spells...no panic about "where's the drug!" Of course now I am wary not to develope an alcohol problem! And I've had opiate-like painkillers (ie, vicodine) after dental surgery, and that wasn't ever any issue either. Neither were were sleeping pills like ambien: yes I acted weird- because they didn't make me/induce me to go to sleep- but I never craved them or missed them after their brief trials. (Maybe "brief trial" is the key?) As for "unstable", I'd say I was very highly functional until about six months ago, when the so called max dose of clonopin konked out, and subsequently the hold-it-right-there, and then later the withdrawal efforts and rebound anxiety began. (Start and stop, over and over--I don't think a withdrawal determination would have to last any six months despite my own problems.) I don't get it why benzodiazapines have been so different. Now of course, there is anxiety, and little to do about it responsably other than yoga and "lifestyle changes". Unfortunately, at least for now, still way far more anxiety than before I ever heard of the easy "cure", or whatever it was supposed to be. Might be best to check one's genetics or family history? Maybe? Or just take breaks once in awhile to take assessment? Or maybe not always relevant? They definately are VERY effective drugs; that's a blessing and curse all at once. Such a shame that for some people, at least, there's that little "develope tolerance" problem.
> It seems that benzos are addictive mostly to people who are unstable or have personality disorders then as liama suggests?
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> When I think more carefully about this I find I was most likely to abuse benzos and other drugs when I was hypomanic. It was that hedonistic euphoria that says "What the hell, you only live once" and the loss of insight that I think lead to the benzo abuse and from benzos on to other drugs. Curiously I usually stop taking all drugs when I'm depressed - including antidepressants even though it is at that time I would benefit from them the most.
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> Has anyone else with bipolar tendencies found this pattern to substance use - alcohol etc?
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> As liama says, the pdocs do not ask if we have a history of addiction and of course I didn't have a history of substance misuse at that time so there was no way of knowing. This is my point about benzos - they're much the same as other addictive drugs. There are people who can take opiates for many years and withdraw successfully without major problems, but this does not mean they are not addictive.
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> Q
poster:laima
thread:707968
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061123/msgs/708369.html