Posted by Tony P on September 2, 2001, at 2:04:07
In reply to Re: Atypical Depression=Alcoholism, posted by Cecilia on September 2, 2001, at 0:20:37
I too am not clear what "atypical" means, although I'm sure it's defined in the various medical/psychiatric diagnostic standards (maybe only by default?).
My personal experience is that I am an recovered alcoholic (9 years), that about two years into sobriety I finally acknowledged I had untreated depression, which did indeed respond to A/D therapy, but was "atypical" in the ordinary sense that my experience of my depresssion did not seem to me at the time much like the common picture of clinical or sub-clinical depression - and I had known quite a few people diagnosed as such. Since then, I've seen many people post on this board who do seem to experience the weird mixture of anxiety AND depression that is my personal world.
But to return to the original question,
1. I am sure I was fairly seriously depressed as an adolescent without knowing it, and discovered that alcohol (and some other drugs) gave some relief for a while.
2. A professional I know whose speciality is A&D abuse says he sees a significant group of recovering alcoholics in particular who continue to suffer depression after most others have recovered and are emotionally more or less normal (whatever that means).
3. I have certainly been more than 3 months alcohol-free on many occasions, with or without medication (currently 9 years as mentioned), but I am also sure that my depression was an important contributor on the occasions when I did go back to drinking.
Tony P
>
> I have atypical depression but no taste for alcohol-I don`t remember when I last had a drink but it`s been many years. (Chocolate is my addiction of choice!)
poster:Tony P
thread:77264
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/77383.html