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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 11, 2005, at 8:53:07
Hi, everyone,
I'm pleased to announce that Jeffrey D. Roth, MD, addictions psychiatrist, group psychotherapist, editor of the Journal of Groups in Addiction and Recovery, and author of "Group Psychotherapy and Recovery from Addiction: Carrying the Message", has volunteered to be our guest expert for a week (until April 17).
If you have any questions for him, just post them here with "Roth: " at the beginning of the subject line to flag them.
Discussion about the how this works -- or doesn't -- is welcome, but should take place at Psycho-Babble Administration.
OK, any questions? :-)
Bob
----
The participation of a guest expert is intended to provide information and not advice. His responses should not be considered diagnosis or treatment. He may suggest an option to consider, but do not infer that his professional opinion is that you personally should choose that option.
During the past 24 months, he has not been a full-time employee of any commercial organization with an interest in the topics he will be commenting on, and neither he nor any immediate family member has had a significant financial interest in or affiliation with one.
Posted by partlycloudy on April 11, 2005, at 10:17:07
In reply to Roth: Guest expert on addictions, posted by Dr. Bob on April 11, 2005, at 8:53:07
Welcome to Babble, and thank you for being a guest expert.
My question is where to find alternatives to AA meetings for group support for recovery from alcoholism. Are there resources available that aren't part of in- or out-patient programs, or is that the best place to look for group support? I have read of other groups such as Women In Sobriety, and they appear to be variations on the 12-step programs.
Also, I have concerns about substituting one addiction for another - the groups I have met with appear to offer caffeine, nicotine, and processed sugar as viable alternatives to drinking.
Many thanks in advance,
partlycloudy
Posted by jeffrey d roth, md on April 11, 2005, at 22:06:09
In reply to Roth: Alternatives to AA for group support?, posted by partlycloudy on April 11, 2005, at 10:17:07
> Welcome to Babble, and thank you for being a guest expert.
> My question is where to find alternatives to AA meetings for group support for recovery from alcoholism. Are there resources available that aren't part of in- or out-patient programs, or is that the best place to look for group support? I have read of other groups such as Women In Sobriety, and they appear to be variations on the 12-step programs.
> Also, I have concerns about substituting one addiction for another - the groups I have met with appear to offer caffeine, nicotine, and processed sugar as viable alternatives to drinking.
> Many thanks in advance,
> partlycloudyDear Partlycloudy,
Many alternatives exist to AA and other Twelve Step Programs. Women in Sobriety is one. Others that might be of interest to you include Rational Recovery (based on rational emotive therapy-Albert Ellis), Secular Organization for Sobriety (www.secularsobriety.org) and the support groups (16 step program) patterned after the work of Charlotte Kasl. Most inpatient and outpatient programs that utilize a mutual help model are currently based on 12 step programs, so the web is as good a resource as any for locating alternatives.
In general each group determines its use of nicotine, sugar and caffeine so you may need to ask contact people for each meeting what their deal on those chemicals is.
Jeffrey D. Roth, MD
Posted by kriskraft on April 13, 2005, at 10:50:34
In reply to Roth: Guest expert on addictions, posted by Dr. Bob on April 11, 2005, at 8:53:07
I've taken klonopin for so long I've worn it out. It does not control the anxiety any more even if I incresae the dose. I have been on it 3 years and it used to work wonderfully. My doctor says not to exceed 3 mg daily but that doesn't even do any thing. Now that I've tried to cut back life isn't anywhere normal and I have rebound anxiety all day long. I also take remeron 30 mg at bedtime. I feel horrible. What are some substitutes. Do I need detox to get better? I tried buspar and it seemed to make me more jittery and anxious. Dr. tried me on the class of things like abilify and stuff; I felt worse also. help
Posted by jeffrey d roth, md on April 13, 2005, at 21:25:47
In reply to Re: Roth: Guest expert on addictions, posted by kriskraft on April 13, 2005, at 10:50:34
> I've taken klonopin for so long I've worn it out. It does not control the anxiety any more even if I incresae the dose. I have been on it 3 years and it used to work wonderfully. My doctor says not to exceed 3 mg daily but that doesn't even do any thing. Now that I've tried to cut back life isn't anywhere normal and I have rebound anxiety all day long. I also take remeron 30 mg at bedtime. I feel horrible. What are some substitutes. Do I need detox to get better? I tried buspar and it seemed to make me more jittery and anxious. Dr. tried me on the class of things like abilify and stuff; I felt worse also. help
Dear Kriskraft,
If you do detox off of klonopin, please do so very carefully under the supervision of an addictions medicine physician. Of all the anti-anxiety medications, klonopin has the worst kick in terms of withdrawal; abrupt withdrawal may result in seizures and death. I can not really recommend any other medications, in any case you do not seem to have benefitted from one antidepressant, remeron, or a major tranquilizer, abilify. If you have not already done so, you might want to check into AA (they see tranquilizers as "solid alcohol") to get some support for alternative methods to deal with your anxiety.
Keep the faith,
Jeffrey D. Roth, MD
Posted by paulbwell on April 14, 2005, at 1:01:53
In reply to Roth: Guest expert on addictions, posted by Dr. Bob on April 11, 2005, at 8:53:07
Hello Dr Roth,
Tell me how does someone know when their treatment for anxiety or ADHD becomes 'Adiction' as opposed to threaputic use?
Kindly,
P
Posted by jeffrey d roth, md on April 14, 2005, at 21:10:47
In reply to Re: Roth: Guest expert on addictions, posted by paulbwell on April 14, 2005, at 1:01:53
> Hello Dr Roth,
>
> Tell me how does someone know when their treatment for anxiety or ADHD becomes 'Adiction' as opposed to threaputic use?
>
> Kindly,
>
>
> P
Dear Paulbwell,
Treatment, by which I am telling myself you mean pharmacologic treatment, becomes addiction when the medication makes ones life unmanageable. Simply needing the medication does not make the process an addiction. A diabetic is not addicted to insulin. So you might want to ask someone you trust to be honest with you to talk about how your life is going. Are you achieving your vision in your work and relationships? If not, is the medication helping or interfering with moving closer to your goals?
Hope this is helpful.
Warmly,
Jeffrey D. Roth, MD
Posted by daisym on April 14, 2005, at 23:44:07
In reply to Roth: Guest expert on addictions, posted by Dr. Bob on April 11, 2005, at 8:53:07
Do you think one can become addicted to therapy?
Posted by jeffrey d roth, md on April 16, 2005, at 8:24:40
In reply to Re: Roth: Guest expert on addictions, posted by daisym on April 14, 2005, at 23:44:07
> Do you think one can become addicted to therapy?
Dear DaisyM,
One does not become addicted to real therapy. The danger is in the patient attaching to the therapist's addiction, or the therapist attaching to the patient's addiction.
Thanks for the question,
Jeffrey D. Roth, MD
This is the end of the thread.
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