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Alcoholism Discussion Thread Version 6.0

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itchy said:
Cognitive-behavior-what? What does that even mean?
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It's an entire paradigm of psychological therapy. Basically, the idea is that through mindfulness of one's motivations, perceptions, thoughts, and assessments, one can intervene upon behavior, and employ novel strategies that allow one's long-term desires to overcome the short-term oriented heuristics and rationalizations that fuel active addiction; the goal is to implement adaptive, healthy heuristics to replace addictive motivations and behaviors. Most approaches facilitate complete abstinence, but some are oriented toward cultivating more 'normal' drinking patterns (a significant minority of ex-addicts are able to get to the point to where they can have a wine with dinner without falling off the wagon, but this is very tricky territory indeed, and depends on the specifics of one's history of substance use).

Why would one choose CBT over the AA model? It highlights the patient's agency in recovery, not his/her powerlessness. It is supported by a moderately large body of research, whereas AA's track record is spotty at best. It also tends to work better than AA for individuals who are irreligious or who do well with abstract reasoning. But at the end of the day, one must experiment and discover which model of treatment works best for them.

is gonna go to some cognitive-behavior modification class...
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Usually, CBT is rooted in one-on-one sessions with a psychologist, but group-therapy can also be useful...

Not everybody can be sipping frappuchinos while getting an mango colonic and getting a peticure.
...ebola
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I don't know what you're on about, dude...CBT is completely mainstream in clinical psychological approaches to addiction, and in any given metro area, there are multiple therapists who specialize in use of this paradigm; it's covered by nearly any insurance that includes mental health. I'm just trying to demonstrate that rejection of AA/NA is no excuse to avoid getting clean, and that there are multiple valid routes toward breaking one's addiction.

I honestly don't know why you would respond so disparagingly toward something that you don't yet know anything about. . .

ebola
 
^Indubitably, if he won't go to an AA, he surely wouldn't go to CBT; but appreciate the info. @ebola, yes I had ceased in giving him beer for about 3 days, maybe 2. Couldn't keep it up. Man WON'T go to a detox so eliminating completely isn't safe either is it. 'Weening' seems to be the fit in this particular situation and as ItchyScratchy says, 'weening' worked for him. That and will power.

I must assume by what i've read that if advice isn't put into action fairly quickly, one like me is considered a lost cause. FAir enough.

I wish all of you well; appreciate all words shared and insight gained and with that, fair thee well folks
 
Okay. What you're doing is not a good idea, but if you're dead-set on it, a 20 percent reduction in dose every 2 weeks or so should be appropriate. This is similar to what is appropriate with a benzodiazepine taper. I'll be pretty surprised if this works though.

So why would he reject both AA and seeing a psychologist? Does he just refuse to talk with anyone about his problem?

ebola
 
I will answer your question @ebola. Yes, he refuses to speak with anyone except me now and then and then, just barely, a bare acknowledgement of a 'possible' problem, never in detail will the man go.
This is why I had come here. anyway, again, thanks and good day to you
 
[video]http://www.tubechop.com/watch/4415885[/video]

Lately I've been feeling like this and I ponder how I will ever quit boozing after 15 years :(
 
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need some advice. have had growing anxiety for the past couple weeks. Seriously cannot pin point what its from. Ive been going crazy looking up things. I have a history of drug use/abuse. Recently it's just been a weekend warrior type deal. And I haven't done any drugs in over a month other than a gram of mushrooms a few weeks ago. ( i was drunk when I took them) I do however drink. I only drink heavily when i'm partying which recently always ends up with me just passing out after about 10 drinks. In the week I generally have 1 - 3 drinks a night. Sometimes none at all. But I enjoy going to sleep with a drink in me. Could I possibly be going through alcohol withdrawal? I see shadow people at night and it's getting worse and worse. Google says I'm a heavy drinker....I have also been trying to explore my inner fears and let them come to a head recently. TO get metaphysical on yall. "A state of total allowance" I don't know...I've gone through periods of heavier drinking without anxiety like this. Maybe it's something else....im just so confused. I'm 20 by the way.
 
I hope everyone is doing well. I attended an AA meeting last night. I've had some lousy experiences with meetings but this one was okay. To be clear, I've not been sober, but I've read into the philosophy and apparently it's alright if I still go to a meeting even if I'm struggling in the meantime.

I spoke. I guess the main premise of what I was talking about, involved the importance of people being good to each other. In retrospect, I hope I didn't come off as condescending. I don't think I did. I hope not. I shook a few hands after the meeting, people recognized me from a couple years ago, etc. It was a decent experience. I'm glad it happened. I don't necessarily subscribe to the religious aspects of the program, or even the 12 steps, but simply being able to speak my mind was a release for me.
 
fakeplastictrees4 said:
need some advice. have had growing anxiety for the past couple weeks. Seriously cannot pin point what its from. Ive been going crazy looking up things. I have a history of drug use/abuse. Recently it's just been a weekend warrior type deal. And I haven't done any drugs in over a month other than a gram of mushrooms a few weeks ago. ( i was drunk when I took them) I do however drink. I only drink heavily when i'm partying which recently always ends up with me just passing out after about 10 drinks. In the week I generally have 1 - 3 drinks a night. Sometimes none at all. But I enjoy going to sleep with a drink in me. Could I possibly be going through alcohol withdrawal? I see shadow people at night and it's getting worse and worse. Google says I'm a heavy drinker....I have also been trying to explore my inner fears and let them come to a head recently. TO get metaphysical on yall. "A state of total allowance" I don't know...I've gone through periods of heavier drinking without anxiety like this. Maybe it's something else....im just so confused. I'm 20 by the way.
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I really don't think any of us can say for certain whether or not alcohol withdrawal is the culprit. What I can say is that alcohol withdrawal is a serious situation. It is possible you might have some rebound anxiety from the drinking along with general anxiety.

I wish I had a better answer. My best answer is, if it gets too bad, please don't be hesitant to visit a doctor and see what's going on. If you truly think you're in alcohol withdrawal, then get it checked out. They'll check you out in an emergency room and by the time you leave, you'll have a good idea about what's going on. Get the help you deserve.

Let us know how you're doing. I like your username, by the way! Great song by a great band.
 
blahman do you have any NA meetings around? Might want to give that a try, I tend to find it more power of the group/unity in recovery based and less religious feeling but that is just me. There is a reason that "Alcohol is a drug." is in one of the first readings that starts of NA meetings.
 
Hey everyone, long time no see.

58 hours sober no desire to drink, withdrawal symptoms are tolerable but the anxiety, anhedonia, and depression are causing a light psychosis and the lonliness is twisting me sideways.

6 more days I'm sure I'll be good, I just can't get away from seeing this hideous garbage everywhere I look.

Mother has 6 beers in the fridge drinks in plain sight knowing full well how imperitive it is I refrain. Can't turn on the television without at least 10 references to alcoholic beverages, be it programs, commercials or otherwise. I live in the same room she watches that crap so it's hard to ignore even with powerful music.

Shit, if this were something like Ketamine I'd be set. You don't go out and see billboards for heroin or pcp now, do we? Alcohol is ubiquitous in this culture and it needs to be curtailed. Perhaps how tobacco has been demonized, I don't really know the answer.

All I know is when crisis strikes my first impulse is to walk 3 miles to cop a half pint of the cheapest vodka I can find. That's an impulse I'm sure we all share and I'd love some feedback from anyone who has successfully conditioned that impulse out of their psyche.

"May you live in interesting times" - Ancient Chinese Curse

I hope everyone is doing well in their sobriety, particularly in the accute stages. I recommend gabapentin to anyone in this stage as it helps tremendously (at least for me), and of course if your habit is particularly severe don't hesitate to visit the ER. They will help you taper with librium or something similar. Delirium tremens is a real threat as are seizures. Don't take a chance.
 
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Abstained from liquor (just drinking beer) for.5 months until.this year rolled.around..
Embarrassed by weight gain.last year and still.avoiding cannabis I've justified picking up.the bottle again (drinking less.beer).

Tried.replacing/reducing with a certain popular grey-market diazapine but found it did nothing for me.sober, but mixed well.with alcohol ...

Figured with my new insurance maybe I could.finally get some help.but instead I.can't find a doctor and am.running low.on.all.My meds. Good times ahead !
 
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No drink for over 5 months, thanks to Antabuse and the local addiction clinic... I was in rehab last summer but relapsed soon after returning home. Then I started using disulfiram and haven't drank alcohol since. A year ago I was still so deep in alcoholism that I was occasionally drinking hand sanitizer, mouthwash and other substitutes.

I haven't been completely free of substances, though. I have experimented with DXM, poppy seed tea and morning glory seeds a few times... I've also been planning to grow psilocybe mushrooms, but haven't started yet.
 
ihearthemoose said:
Hey silver, where are you from?
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NW Oregon (not Portland) .. only societal.resources I've located is AA, which I am.totally not down with. Local hospital doesn't have anything last I checked.

Finished my bottle.of liquor (at noon) and now out at a local taphouse .. Gonna try again Monday to find a Doctor but so far can't reach any.
Made it Home to swallow more diazapines &beer; another productive Saturday
 
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Closing out day 12 of sobriety tonight. For the first time now, I'm pursuing treatment beyond detox. I spent a week in a short term stabilization unit, mostly built for addicts new to recovery, dual diagnosis, etc. I received some decent help there, though it had some downsides here and there. But it kept my mind in a better place, and being homeless, at least I wasn't out in the cold. And I am back on my meds, although they haven't quite kicked in. I also managed to help others and get a few laughs out of people while I was there, which is always good.

I was discharged from there this morning, and until this blizzard passes, I'll be staying in this transitional housing program. There will be a bed available for me in rehab on Wednesday but this storm is going to hit us hard here on the east coast, so I might be snowed in. But until then, I've got heat, I stocked up on food, I've got a bed, wifi, and I didn't drink today or use today.

The thought of 90 day rehab is intimidating. Yet the alternative is just living on the street with no end to it in sight. If I finish the 90 days, I can move back into this sober house. 3 months rent free to find a job, then 3 months half rent, and then if I'm still here, I'll be paying my full rent and will have support to remain sober.
 
I've been sober for almost 6 years now. However, my psychiatrist still insists that I am an alcoholic. I didn't even drink alcohol much but it is on my mental health record. I asked how I could have that erased and the psychiatrist told me that it is permanent. Has anyone else experienced this kind of permanent labeling BS from a shrink before?
 
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