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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Does alcohol have a direct effect on decreasing anxiety?

lifeisflyingaway

Ex-Bluelighter
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
164
Location
chicago, IL
I don't know if it's just me or does alcohol do a real good job at reducing anxiety as well. I hardly drink anymore or get a chance to due some certain situations, but when i do i feel a big reduction in anxiety and sometimes the confidence level goes off the wall. I'm pretty buzzed right now even though i know it will shortly wear off, but i feel my thoughts slowed down and i also feel less "shaky". I'm not extremely shaky but when i'm nervous i feel like i'm about to start shaking lightly but i just feel like i'm unable to feel that way from alcohol. I also feel extremely euphoric which i don't hear many users mention or feel that way from alcohol either. I've done every drug and i never thought that alcohol would be one of my favorite ones since in the beginning i thought it would probably be more boring. As i said before i can't drink alcohol because of my living situation but if that wasn't an issue, i would feel off the roof from a six pack of beer (which makes me feel so full, and bloated) or 6-7 shots in a few mixed drinks. I also feel pretty dreamyyyyyy from alcohol but i never have blacked out, or even slur. If anything i feel like i can hold a decent conversation with someone whether it was immature conversation or sophisticated. I don't feel like acting ridiculous, i don't know maybe alcohol has a different effect on me. As long as their no hangovers i'm good. Also music seems enhanced, but that could be just me. So back to the question is it common for alcohol to majorly reduce anxiety and add a sense of confidence without necessarily being trashy? And yes i know if one drinks for months at a high dosage that alcohol would increase anxiety so please don't repeatedly mention that as i am not an alcoholic or even yet close to become one.
 
yeah until it wears off; its a gabaergic after all. Yes what you are experiencing is the proper level of alcohol lol. Alcohol works similar to benzos in terms of anxiolysis but it also induces euphoria probably through the release of other transmitters, so thats why confidence is boosted as well as good feelings. These are the reasons people become alcoholics in fact.
 
I don't know if it's just me or does alcohol do a real good job at reducing anxiety as well. I hardly drink anymore or get a chance to due some certain situations, but when i do i feel a big reduction in anxiety and sometimes the confidence level goes off the wall. I'm pretty buzzed right now even though i know it will shortly wear off, but i feel my thoughts slowed down and i also feel less "shaky". I'm not extremely shaky but when i'm nervous i feel like i'm about to start shaking lightly but i just feel like i'm unable to feel that way from alcohol. I also feel extremely euphoric which i don't hear many users mention or feel that way from alcohol either. I've done every drug and i never thought that alcohol would be one of my favorite ones since in the beginning i thought it would probably be more boring. As i said before i can't drink alcohol because of my living situation but if that wasn't an issue, i would feel off the roof from a six pack of beer (which makes me feel so full, and bloated) or 6-7 shots in a few mixed drinks. I also feel pretty dreamyyyyyy from alcohol but i never have blacked out, or even slur. If anything i feel like i can hold a decent conversation with someone whether it was immature conversation or sophisticated. I don't feel like acting ridiculous, i don't know maybe alcohol has a different effect on me. As long as their no hangovers i'm good. Also music seems enhanced, but that could be just me. So back to the question is it common for alcohol to majorly reduce anxiety and add a sense of confidence without necessarily being trashy? And yes i know if one drinks for months at a high dosage that alcohol would increase anxiety so please don't repeatedly mention that as i am not an alcoholic or even yet close to become one.
I'm sorry but i've seen you mention this a few times...

It's highly likely that you have not tried every drug.
 
Alcohol is an anxiolytic when first taken and with no tolerance, but soon it begins to be anxiogenic (gives anxiety) and with time it can give full blown panic attacks.
 
I'm sorry but i've seen you mention this a few times...

It's highly likely that you have not tried every drug.

Aren't you just a little too over analyzing? Either way i've done every drug to my knowledge which includes, heroin, meth, crack, cocaine, pcp, lsd, shrooms, mvpd, ecstasy, mepherdone, valium, temezepam, xanax, klonopin, seroquel, ativan, oxycodone, morphine, i think thats it. Hint i said to my knowledge, i have not tried a few drugs that i'm probably unaware of or don't care for.

Thats what you wish mr. antibenzo lol! As i had mentioned in the post i hardly ever get the chance to drink due to "living circumstances" which entails i'm not allowed to drink at home and the reason being is because i live with my parents and they are very strict. However i did not say i couldn't walk down the street to the gas station and go drink at the park.
 
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why would i wish that you couldn't drink? i'm just re-iterating what you said before.

i'm anti-benzo in your case because im 99.99% sure that you'd get addicted to them, and you seem to miss out a lot of information when you come here asking us whether or not benzos would be a good idea for you - considering you're pretty much a full on drug abuser.
 
why would i wish that you couldn't drink? i'm just re-iterating what you said before.

i'm anti-benzo in your case because im 99.99% sure that you'd get addicted to them, and you seem to miss out a lot of information when you come here asking us whether or not benzos would be a good idea for you - considering you're pretty much a full on drug abuser.

I'm not a "full on drug abuser". For your information i did get benzos prescribed from a doctor and i still have 25 pills left and had them for over a few weeks. I just was thinking you wouldn't want me to be able to drink either. I've read your responses in other posts and the last person i would expect to constantly say how i don't need benzos and i shouldn't get them prescribed etc is someone who is an addict or was one himself of drugs that aren't that fabulous either. I understand when their is an opinion but to go on and on about the anti benzo it almost felt bashing, especially when their are drugs that are equally if not more addicting as well.
 
Alcohol is an anxiolytic when first taken and with no tolerance, but soon it begins to be anxiogenic (gives anxiety) and with time it can give full blown panic attacks.
I have drunk massive amounts of alcohol for 30 years and I can attest that if you can maintain high levels then you are anxiety free (relatively). But once blood levels start to drop it's the worst panic attacks ever.
 
I'm not a "full on drug abuser". For your information i did get benzos prescribed from a doctor and i still have 25 pills left and had them for over a few weeks. I just was thinking you wouldn't want me to be able to drink either. I've read your responses in other posts and the last person i would expect to constantly say how i don't need benzos and i shouldn't get them prescribed etc is someone who is an addict or was one himself of drugs that aren't that fabulous either. I understand when their is an opinion but to go on and on about the anti benzo it almost felt bashing, especially when their are drugs that are equally if not more addicting as well.

i'm not bashing you at all, in fact i'm actually trying to protect you from a whole world of horrific withdrawals related to benzos. i never said that i don't want you to drink either, if you're able to drink responsibly and not do crazy shit while drunk then i respect you fully in that. from your previous posts however i was led to believe that you can not drink at any times due to your current situation - which leaves me questioning a few of your posts here. i'm trying to promote a sense of harm reduction in that i don't want to see a fellow bluelighter experience the same kind of shit i've been through. i wouldn't put it upon my worst enemy let alone a poster on this forum who i care about. i am an addict, yes, i'm not glorifying drug use in the slightest. it's my curse and vice and wish i could rid myself and free myself from the clutches of addiction and my goal and aim here is to try and stop people going down the road i did. it seems as if my "bashing" may have done some good, seeing as you're controlling your use of the benzos and aren't taking handfuls like you used to in the past as you have stated in older posts.
 
I have drunk massive amounts of alcohol for 30 years and I can attest that if you can maintain high levels then you are anxiety free (relatively). But once blood levels start to drop it's the worst panic attacks ever.

wow you drank for a long time, how long would it take for withdrawals to begin from your last drink? is it normal to re-dose while your sleeping or no
 
Please lifeisflyingaway... synthetix and all of us are trying to help you. Benzos are vital for our demography, but if you begin taking them every day they'll become your personal hell... If you can't do the time, don't do the crime, if you see what I mean.
 
life, do you really want to end up in the same kind of situation as us? at the moment you have so much going for you and you're not fighting the demon of addiction. but it will so easily creep up for you, and i'm honestly concerned about you. it's not because i'm having a go at you or being a dick, i just genuinely want the best for everyone here.
 
life, do you really want to end up in the same kind of situation as us? at the moment you have so much going for you and you're not fighting the demon of addiction. but it will so easily creep up for you, and i'm honestly concerned about you. it's not because i'm having a go at you or being a dick, i just genuinely want the best for everyone here.
What he's saying is true.You like alcohol now but I can tell you stories of Pancreatitis,swollen liver,bleeding kidneys,ulcers. Not to mention a lot of broken friendships and love relationships. When I took my first drink in the late 70's I never thought of my future.
 
there's certainly better options than alcohol to help reduce anxiety if that's your main point of drinking. before going down the benzo route i'd suggest looking into physical activity, meditation, yoga, the list goes on. seeing a therapist might be beneficial, they'll certainly teach you coping mechanisms.

would you look into any of those suggestions?
 
i'm not bashing you at all, in fact i'm actually trying to protect you from a whole world of horrific withdrawals related to benzos. i never said that i don't want you to drink either, if you're able to drink responsibly and not do crazy shit while drunk then i respect you fully in that. from your previous posts however i was led to believe that you can not drink at any times due to your current situation - which leaves me questioning a few of your posts here. i'm trying to promote a sense of harm reduction in that i don't want to see a fellow bluelighter experience the same kind of shit i've been through. i wouldn't put it upon my worst enemy let alone a poster on this forum who i care about. i am an addict, yes, i'm not glorifying drug use in the slightest. it's my curse and vice and wish i could rid myself and free myself from the clutches of addiction and my goal and aim here is to try and stop people going down the road i did. it seems as if my "bashing" may have done some good, seeing as you're controlling your use of the benzos and aren't taking handfuls like you used to in the past as you have stated in older posts.

Lol well now that you explain it a bit better you don't seem so "bashful". I won't have this prescription for long it has a refill than it's over, because the doctor wants me to get a new psychiatrist or a neurologist. (My current psychiatrist is very hateful towards benzos and even alcohol believing it should be banned). Theirs no hold to say what the future may bring, and i can certainly say i'm 80% sure that other drugs i'll get to buy off people who i haven't met won't be benzos because in my experience their harder to find. But yes, i;ve now read enough on benzo withdrawals to not want them prescribed for a daily thing, or abuse them daily (nor with any drug).

there's certainly better options than alcohol to help reduce anxiety if that's your main point of drinking. before going down the benzo route i'd suggest looking into physical activity, meditation, yoga, the list goes on. seeing a therapist might be beneficial, they'll certainly teach you coping mechanisms.

would you look into any of those suggestions?

I have done quiet a few of those suggestions however i don't have an alcohol problem atleast not yet. I think physical activity works good for anxiety, but the only time i get urges to speak my mind without being as hesitant is when i'm under the influence usually of alcohol. But i'm alive, i'm functioning, and can manage the anxiety upto a certain point.
 
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reading about benzo withdrawals and actually experiencing them are a whole different story. I've been completely addicted to benzodiazepines for almost 4 years now, i've done withdrawals, the whole thing and yet still take etizolam daily. Nothing scares me more than a benzo withdrawal, especially after long use. Benzos aren't hard to find once you know the right people. it's so fucking easy to slip into that world or to have benzos sneak up on you that you really really should not fuck with them, as it will be life changing once you are dependent.

I only say this because i know better yet still am addicted/dependent on gabaergics in general. if you really just have limited access to them then that's fine do what you will. i made this post in the case, in the future, you find that you have massive access to benzos/alcohol and related drugs.

Most people who are alcoholics didn't really plan on it at first either, same goes for addiction to any drug.


sorry to preach
 
It's been hours since my buzz has been over. Oh how i miss guzzling that disgusting alcohol down my throat and feeling warm, dreamy, and confident. While when i was buzzed i was talking in the shower to myself saying how i need to be more assertive in many situations in life etc. Now that i am completely sober again as i am most of the time these days, i can't seem to bring back that assertive feeling i wanted to feel more often. Ugh i was trying to train myself to becoming even a bit more aggressive in some ways when i'm sober, and i should of known once the alcohol wore off i wouldn't be able to bring any of those feelings back.
 
for that you have to put yourself in those situations and at that moment of judgment be more assertive, go against your instinct. Eventually i got tired of people and their bullshit and started to call them on it or get into arguments with random people, like Larry David in CYE sort of shit lol. I notice on benzos and etizolam that i am overly assertive when normally i am shy, i can talk to strangers without issue and if someone says anything that pisses me off i can start an all out psychotic fucking war with them. Generally i avoid that now but it's happened in the past and is completely out of my character. it's tough to find that fine line between assertive and passive but you'll just have to experiment with it, start small.
 
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