Posted by Greg A. on October 23, 2001, at 11:29:50
In reply to no greg, not an experiment (more), posted by juliedealer on October 23, 2001, at 7:53:04
Cheers Julie!
You have started to answer my next prying question - what brings you to this Board. Anxiety is something pretty familiar to me. I was treating anxiety long before the word 'depression' was introduced to me. I now believe, that for me, the two are totally linked. I know that's why I drank. I just wanted some relief from the tightness and nervousness I felt. And for a long time alcohol did it. I could be the life of the party when drunk (not too drunk), my shyness was not so much of a problem, and I believed people liked that version of me better. And I did so much want to be liked. Years later, I found that most of my drinking was done on my own at home. It relaxed me, but not in the same way as before. There was a real component of sadness and depression to it and a real rebound of anxiety after.
I cannot say that quitting drinking initially helped me. In 1998, I stopped from July until December. Unfortunately the last month of that period was spent in the hospital and therapy for depression. Since then I had not even tried to stop drinking. Until a short while ago. When James correctly, if somewhat bluntly, observed that my post about reasons for drinking was 'what all alcoholics say' it really hit me. They were just that - excuses. I quit - for one day. Then another, and so on. I have no great plan in mind. I just know that I do not want to be an alcoholic.
Four weeks on effexor is early in the use of an AD. You should begin to notice some beneficial effect around that time, so don't get too worried if nothing has happened yet. Do you see a regular doc or a pdoc? I have found that the more knowledgable and current the doc is on AD meds. the better the results for me. Different people respond to different things. This Board is full of ideas and stories from people and their search for the right med or combination of meds. The problem sometimes is that it takes so damn long!
Julie - do you drink to stop the anxiety or because you just want to drink? I have some thoughts on dealing with and reducing anxiety, so let me know if you are interested. They might involve stopping drinking though!(but not right now)Take care,
Greg
poster:Greg A.
thread:12856
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011015/msgs/12889.html