Misc alcohol replacement?

[griffenspade]

I feel my drinking is starting to be a problem. I definately drink EVERY day after work. I used to drink alot of hard liquor (half handle to full handle to myself every weekend.)

Now working and shit, life feels stresful. Iv stopped drinking that much hard liquor bcs my stomach hurts alot after I do. So I eat dinner and drink.

I want to find something healthy to relieve stress, and that would help me unwind from the day.

Iv thought about

-xanax
-ketamine
-phenobarbital
-opiates.

But I think doing those every day would b very bad for you too.

The only drug that I have herd of that isnt that bad for you is GHB.
Looking at the chemistry it metabolizes into CO2 and water.

Iv taken it once, and It got me rly fucked up with no hangover, but it tastes like kerosene.

Its GHB a healthy alternative to drinking?

 

[dokomo]

Any of the substances you listed, including GHB, are NOT healthy alternatives to alcohol. They all carry the price of addiction, dependence, and withdrawal syndromes upon cessation.

There are TONS of healthy ways to relieve and manage stress that do not involve drugs. A good diet, exercise, hobbies, meditation, etc are all excellent ways to relieve stress without drugs.

If you think you have anxiety problems underlying all of this, it might be good to see a psychologist as well. They can help you get off of the alcohol, and can refer you to a psychiatrist if they think some kind of medication is needed, even just for short term use.

 

[amapola]

Hi griffenspade,

It's good that you recognize that your drinking has become a problem and are looking for help. That is one of the most difficult parts of addiction or whatever you are classifying your drinking as at the moment. Dokomo has hit the nail on the head with his advice of a healthy lifestyle and no drug can beat that. If you are looking for support you should check out The Dark Side which has a lot of threads like this and people going through the exact same thing you are (as well as much worse).

If you are willing to, speaking to a doctor or therapist could be very beneficial as well. They are trained to deal with situations just like this and may even decide to safely prescribe you something to help you sleep or with anxiety depending on their diagnosis. Either way they can definitely help you work something out.

Good Luck!

 

[griffenspade]

I could have gotten the same advice from a DARE counsler. I dont mean to be rude like that. But I was really looking for some honest advice on how to moderate my alchohol useage. I understand there are alot of healthy alternatives to using drugs. Personally I run alot, to replace the XTC rush. I meditate, I'm in the process of learning hypnosis, and the mind.

But addiction is something I'm always going to have to deal with as long as I am alive. I crave intense experiences, from using, to going down the freeway at triple digit speeds, to rollercoasters, high stakes negotiating, being the life of the party. I always have to live life at 1000 miles an hour

Im completely opposed to the typical. Idk its just at the core of my being, and living like that I am completely aware that addiction is always a step away.

I dont really have a problem so much as with anxiety. I am quite HIGHLY charismatic if you meet me, I'm the sales type.

But I have the keep up this rediculous image of perfection, and the world expects sooooo very much of me all the time. I have to look perfect for everybody, and I DESPERATELY need my own private little bubble for which alchohol gives me.

I rlly feel lost and dont know what to do, iv been to many therapists as a teenager, and they all give me anti-psyhcotic medicate for which I HATE.

: (

 

[dokomo]

You get to live your life on your own terms, but you're looking at the consequences of doing so right now.

I'm sorry you didn't like the advice, but thats all we can really give. This is a harm reduction forum and it says right in our guidelines that we're not here to tell you which drugs will get you high. If alcohol is becoming a problem in your life, it will serve you well to address the root of the problem rather than replacing one addiction for another.

edit - in the interest of harm reduction, have you tried marijuana? It actually causes anxiety in a lot of people, so it may be a bad solution for you. Smoking certainly isn't the best thing for your body, but there are safer ways to do it and that amount of alcohol is certainly more harmful overall.

 

[amapola]

Well I'm sorry you feel that way but completely understand where you are coming from. In my life I'm an outgoing not a care in the world kind of guy as well. There have been hard times for me and during them I have pushed people away and thought I'm strong enough to just get through this and I've been fortunate enough to make it to the other side. I like to think that if I ever really did need help though I would be able to talk to somebody about it but in all honestly I bet I wouldn't.

So regarding your specific question about replacing alcohol with a less damaging drug. That's a really hard one to answer. There are a lot of different drugs which are less chronically toxic to your liver and brain but they all have their negative side effects as well. There are people who are stuck with benzo tolerances that will require months to wean themselves off to prevent seizures all the while feel a little bit more stressed every day than before taking them. Opiate fiends who are battling a life long addiction which they know they will never get over. People who take a few extra barbituates after a bad day and are now dead.

How could we possibly recommend any of these to you knowing that this could happen and the reasons that you want to take the drug put you at higher risk for negative side effects?

A 'safe' level of alcohol consumption for a male is considered to be no more than 12 drinks a week, no more than 4 drinks a night, and at least one day a week where you don't drink at all. Perhaps you could try that? If you are just looking for a suggestion on "what to take" then feel free to search around for herbal highs or something and take whatever you want.

Good luck!

 

[TheLostBoys]

Griffen, I for one use to drink heavily to devour my stress but it seemed that alcohol did nothing but give me severe headaches the next day. I quit alcohol 8 years ago & tried to smoke weed to chill & hang out with friends & it did me okay for a while but weed just gets to the point where you dont wanna do much.

I started taking Vicodin for my pain last year & it actually helps me with stress. I have a friend that has been self medicating herself for about the past 2 years on Vicodin for depression & it has done nothing but wonders for her self esteem, personal life & business she runs. Its been a positive thing for her & she doesnt abuse it for the sake of getting high. She started with half a Vicodin in the morning & half at night the 1st year & now shes up to 1 in the morning & 1 at night.

Im not saying opiates would be the right alternative for you, but imo, opiates are a better addiction than alcohol if I would have to choose an addiction to have, just my opnion tho.

Its very easy to get carried away with opiates but its your choice if you wanna dive into them. I see people on this site start with Vicodin & then in 2 weeks they wanna try Oxy's & Opana. That is way too fast & your tolerance will be shot to hell. I recommend starting with codeine & see how you handle it for relieving stress.

 

[docs - docs]

Have you ever been tested for ADHD? I used to exhibit the same patterns of behaviour as you, almost identically- always pushing the boundaries of experience, addicted to 'thrill' in any form. I've always known I was a little tweaked, but until I was diagnosed and properly treated, I had NO idea how much it was running my life.

Being medicated for ADD has calmed the chaos in my life that I used to pretend to embrace, while it was secretly making me terribly anxious. Getting it under control has been better than anything for my anxiety and addictive tendencies.

 

[John_Burrows]

From the way you describe your daredevil, live life to the fullest lifestyle, it sounds like the question you really should be asking is WHY quit now if you enjoy it? Replacing the bottle with the needle isnt a way to fix anything, it's just changing gears.

Don't give up, man! You know the saying, "live fast, die young and leave a beautiful corpse."

Do it!

Who says you have to live your life like the other 98% of boring people out there?

Keep drinking, add some drugs to mix things up, fuck anything that moves, make shady business deals and NEVER drive under 95.

Now THAT'S living!

 

[dokomo]

Griffen, I for one use to drink heavily to devour my stress but it seemed that alcohol did nothing but give me severe headaches the next day. I quit alcohol 8 years ago & tried to smoke weed to chill & hang out with friends & it did me okay for a while but weed just gets to the point where you dont wanna do much.

I started taking Vicodin for my pain last year & it actually helps me with stress. I have a friend that has been self medicating herself for about the past 2 years on Vicodin for depression & it has done nothing but wonders for her self esteem, personal life & business she runs. Its been a positive thing for her & she doesnt abuse it for the sake of getting high. She started with half a Vicodin in the morning & half at night the 1st year & now shes up to 1 in the morning & 1 at night.

Im not saying opiates would be the right alternative for you, but imo, opiates are a better addiction than alcohol if I would have to choose an addiction to have, just my opnion tho.

Its very easy to get carried away with opiates but its your choice if you wanna dive into them. I see people on this site start with Vicodin & then in 2 weeks they wanna try Oxy's & Opana. That is way too fast & your tolerance will be shot to hell. I recommend starting with codeine & see how you handle it for relieving stress.

From the way you describe your daredevil, live life to the fullest lifestyle, it sounds like the question you really should be asking is WHY quit now if you enjoy it? Replacing the bottle with the needle isnt a way to fix anything, it's just changing gears.

Don't give up, man! You know the saying, "live fast, die young and leave a beautiful corpse."

Do it!

Who says you have to live your life like the other 98% of boring people out there?

Keep drinking, add some drugs to mix things up, fuck anything that moves, make shady business deals and NEVER drive under 95.

Now THAT'S living!

Posts like this are what I get for leaving a thread like this open, hoping people would give advice consistent with the purpose of Other Drugs and Bluelight.