Posted by Joanne on December 31, 1999, at 7:19:07
In reply to Re: Are Benzodiazepines Like Alcohol?, posted by anna on December 27, 1999, at 10:51:46
> > When I drink I feel so happy and uninhibited by anxiety, especially social anxiety. I know this is normal, but is that what benzos like Valium, Klonopin and Xanax make you feel like? If so, then they're the drug for me. How's this analogy, Benzo:Alcohol::SSRI:Marijuana ?
> --
> I've used all three (though it has been a millennium since I touched pot). Took xanax, then klonipin for anxiety/panic disorder. Alcohol does not give me the spacy feeling that I recall getting from pot. But a benzo keeps me much more in control then either of the other too, and I don't get silly, or feel dizzy, etc. I can and have taken a bezo before or while working, but a glass of wine makes concentrating hard. I love my wine, but P-doc once said if I had to choose between a benzo and alcohol, to go with the benzo and drink pop!
Hi Marc,
As one who used to consume alcohol in great quantities for all the classic reasons,
(to be more sociable, less introverted, to relax, to feel happy, etc.) I have found that alcohol is a deterent to anti-depression treatment. I will only speak for myself in saying that before when I was partying heavily, every night, I thought I was the happiest girl at the bar. However, it was a false happiness based on my view of reality being extremely distorted, my judgment flying out the window, and I became a different person. Destructive things like drugs became extremely appealing to me, and in every area of my life the alcohol caused me to change the way I viewed things. It did not enhance my personality; it took away my intelligence and judgment and almost took me down a path of destruction. For social phobia, I find that Ativan works very well for me, and the Wellbutrin antidepressant as well. Let me know how it goes, and good luck.
poster:Joanne
thread:17465
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991212/msgs/17725.html