Heroin Do I tell my psychiatrist about my drug abuse?

[shadowstryker]

Okay, so I am currently a heroin addict. I've also abused benzos and drink almost every day. I know it's a problem, and I've been very depressed, anxious, and I can't sleep unless I am on something recently so I've decided to see a psychiatrist. I've been told that the first thing she will ask me, however, is whether or not I have an issue with substance abuse. I'm not sure if I should tell the truth or not though.

I'm really hoping that I'll be prescribed some benzos to help me sleep, and also to help me throughout the day. I've used Etizolam therapeutically and it makes me happier, less anxious, very social with everyone and anyone, helps me sleep, and was all around very helpful. I want an XR benzo preferably so that I can't abuse it, but if I tell her about my benzo abuse there's no way I'll be prescribed it. I feel like there's a chance it'll be the same if I tell her I use heroin as well. So if I want benzos, but also want help for my addiction, should I only tell her about the alcoholism?

Now that's only if I want benzos however. I can get benzos on my own, but I want an XR that I can use therapeutically not one to abuse. Should I do that, or should I keep quiet and deny I have any drug issues? If I do that I'll probably/hopefully be prescribed something for sleep and antidepressants as well, but I hate being dishonest. And now I come to my last option: I could be completely honest and tell her about all the drugs I've used and abused (heroin, other opiates, benzos, alcohol, psychsdelics like DMT, and a bunch of others I don't feel like listing). I feel if I do this though I'll be turned away and won't get any help at all, and it was hard enough to work up the courage to seek help to begin with. I really do want help, I just don't know what I should and shouldn't say to get the help I need...

 

[HeadHigh]

Yes, please talk to him about it. There's no way he will be able to actually help you if you leave something that major out of his knowledge. If anything it might be his reasoning for prescribing you what you need, you just have to tell him that its for helping you get off of heroin

 

[GolemGolem]

Your choosing to see this Psych on your own? No ones forcing you, and the goal is to get healthy? Then tell her the truth, see how she reacts and if there is hope of ever trusting each other. If there is proceed, if you two don't click move on to the next psych.
If you want benzos you can manipulate most psychs pretty damn easily, but this will destroy your ability to trust in their judgement.
You won't be turned away, but she will want you to take her drugs and no others, she might be realistic about the chances of that happening, she might not. Might get something for your anxiety too.
I say be open.

 

[Ozle]

Be more precise, what exactly are you hoping to gain from this consultation? It's not really clear to me from your post whether you're definitey looking to give up your addictions, or whether you're hoping for some other kind of help.....although that may just be because it's 2AM in my timezone.

 

[GolemGolem]

I thought he was asking for help with his depression and anxiety, and he is an addict but the care he wants isn't about the addiction, it's about the depression and anxiety..
Am I close OP?

 

[shadowstryker]

Be more precise, what exactly are you hoping to gain from this consultation? It's not really clear to me from your post whether you're definitey looking to give up your addictions, or whether you're hoping for some other kind of help.....although that may just be because it's 2AM in my timezone.

I said it in the original post but it may not have been clean. Antidepressants and something to help with anxiety and insomnia. Ever since withdrawals a month ago I've been depressed, drinking every day to deal with the depression and to do something, I've been slightly anxious too, and I can not sleep unless I'm on something. That's also why I drink every night too. If I drink, I can sleep. If I pop a bunch of painkillers or benzos, I can sleep. If I try going the night sober? I'll lay in bed for 8 hours with my eyes closed trying to sleep, but no dice. I usually just give up and watch a movie at around 5am because I just accept sleep will not come, and I usually get in bed at 10.

So, in short, something to solve my depression, anxiety, and insomnia. And hopefully, in turn, that will stop my addiction.

 

[shadowstryker]

I thought he was asking for help with his depression and anxiety, and he is an addict but the care he wants isn't about the addiction, it's about the depression and anxiety..
Am I close OP?

Spot on. Depression anxiety and insomnia.

All of those are caused by addiction and, in part, causes of the addiction as well. The insomnia is what keeps me using at night. The depression means I just lay around all day when I'm alone because I don't want to do anything, and using fixes that. And the anxiety doesn't really contribute to the addiction, it's just an effect I want fixed.

 

[GolemGolem]

So yeah, the shrink is gonna want to get you off the street drugs, but I doubt she'll kick you out. It's called self-medicating and it is absurdly common. Shouldn't have a problem getting antidepressants, pretty good chance of getting the benzos too, and might get a reference to an addiction specialist. That could be useful.
Depression sucks, I know it well.

 

[Larc]

Just pointing out the obvious, less drugs =more sleep.

Im surprised this hasnt been closed yet. We're not here to help you gst drugs from a doctor.

Yes, if you actually want to get better and aren't just looking for drugs, tell your doc about your drug use.

 

[shadowstryker]

Just pointing out the obvious, less drugs =more sleep.

Im surprised this hasnt been closed yet. We're not here to help you gst drugs from a doctor.

Yes, if you actually want to get better and aren't just looking for drugs, tell your doc about your drug use.

Less drugs = more sleep no doubt, but no drugs following a long period of drug abuse = absolutely no sleep.

And I'm not asking how to get drugs really. If I wanted to get benzos and antidepressants I know exactly what to say. I could lie to get IR benzos just as easily too, but I don't want that. I don't need help with getting the drugs themselves. What I need help with is figuring out what to say to achieve a result that is best for me and able to get me optimal help for my addiction and issues caused by addiction.

 

[Larc]

You need to be 100% honest. I dont know you, but it seems like your ready for a change. You cant expect a professional (asduming you find one that actually cares) to help you with your addiction and also feed it.

The psych will most definitely help you ween off the benzos and other drugs, but the end goal would be to quit, not maintain. He/she will most definitely not hand over a benzo script to someone cur7rently abusing them.

Be 100% honest, do what he/she says 100% and try it out. The worst thing that happens is you dont like sobriety and you find a new psych to lie your ass off to .

 

[shadowstryker]

You need to be 100% honest. I dont know you, but it seems like your ready for a change. You cant expect a professional (asduming you find one that actually cares) to help you with your addiction and also feed it.

The psych will most definitely help you ween off the benzos and other drugs, but the end goal would be to quit, not maintain. He/she will most definitely not hand over a benzo script to someone cur7rently abusing them.

Be 100% honest, do what he/she says 100% and try it out. The worst thing that happens is you dont like sobriety and you find a new psych to lie your ass off to .

I said I abused benzos, but only because that's all that was available at the time. I used them for a month or two on and off and dropped them no problem, I don't find benzos addictive in the slightest (whether it be diazepam, alprazolam, etizolam, etc, no issue) so I don't feel that I should even mention it. The heroin addiction may be mentioned however. If anything I have a drug problem though, not a heroin problem, considering I seem to need to be in something everyday. Heroin/opiates are just my DOC I guess. Although since I dream about slamming heroin very often/almost nightly and relapsed I guess I do have a heroin problem...

 

[GolemGolem]

Might wanna look into the term "dual track" It's geared to people with both drug and mental health issues. I didn't much care for it myself, but it might be what you're looking for.

 

[shadowstryker]

Might wanna look into the term "dual track" It's geared to people with both drug and mental health issues. I didn't much care for it myself, but it might be what you're looking for.

I didn't find much to do with drugs and mental health issues under the term "dual track". I did find an interesting article in Danish though, but it wasn't related in any way. I think you might be thinking of dual diagnosis. And I'm sure I do have a depression disorder or something but it doesn't really help me in finding treatment much, I've known that I've been depressed for a while now.

 

[GolemGolem]

My bad, it's been years...I was thinking dual diagnosis. I was sent to a hospital around the year 2000, and I was put in a dual diagnosis group. Didn't much care for the various low level clinicians leading group, but the shrink was alright - and fairly understanding, and fairly open with his prescription pad. Got a fairly standard cough in there, and since DXM was a DOC of mine, and interacted with the ssri he had me on he gave me a big ol' bottle of vicodin syrup once I was in the day program and not spending the night there....
So yeah anyway, I hope you find what you're looking for man. I think there is a decent shot that you might.

 

[weekend addiction]

People say to be honest and I never have but whenever my pscyh found out about drug use (many times has happened) there was a huge attitude change from the doc where they became rude, distant, and forget about something as simple as Neurontin much less benzos...

 

[shadowstryker]

People say to be honest and I never have but whenever my pscyh found out about drug use there was a huge attitude change from the doc where they became rude, distant, and forget about something as simple as Neurontin much less benzos...

That's exactly what I'm worried about. I think I might tell them about my alcohol use, as that'll explain why I feel the way I do and it runs in my family so it's believable, and that way I can still hopefully be prescribed benzos and stuff. Although I self medicate with benzos as is anyway.

 

[Slow_Mobius]

I have a rare condition that causes me a lot of pain in pretty much all of my joints (not fibromyalgia). When I was 100 honest with the problems I was experiencing with my doctors, I would usually get shooed away with shit meds for pain and sleep, and the attitude I got from the doctor was something along the lines of college kid coming in with disease I've never heard of looking to get some fun drugs. So I spent a lot of time self medicating (something it sounds like you've been doing). I've since finally found a doctor familiar with my condition who's making a real effort to give me the help I need, and I probably would've found him sooner if I hadn't given up on doctors and looking for help in the medical system. I would advocate for 100% disclosure, and if they become distant and unhelpful, you can rightfully become offended and either ask for a referral or leave to see another doctor who will help. I think some of the other replies are correct in saying that you can't get the help you need from any physician if they don't know 100% of your situation. Otherwise you can continue along the self medication route, but it sounds like that's what you're trying to get away from.

 

[pbuilder]

I said it in the original post but it may not have been clean. Antidepressants and something to help with anxiety and insomnia. Ever since withdrawals a month ago I've been depressed, drinking every day to deal with the depression and to do something, I've been slightly anxious too, and I can not sleep unless I'm on something. That's also why I drink every night too. If I drink, I can sleep. If I pop a bunch of painkillers or benzos, I can sleep. If I try going the night sober? I'll lay in bed for 8 hours with my eyes closed trying to sleep, but no dice. I usually just give up and watch a movie at around 5am because I just accept sleep will not come, and I usually get in bed at 10.

So, in short, something to solve my depression, anxiety, and insomnia. And hopefully, in turn, that will stop my addiction.

You got to understand though, the insomnia and depression and anxiety issues are directly correlated with the addiction issues and substance abuse. It's a vicious circle. You won't really know where you are psychologically as far as depression, anxiety, and insomnia go until you taper off all substances and are clean for at least a month. It is a vicious circle, that is why we get so addicted to these substances, they solve the problem that they themselves keep making worse. I'm not sure if anti-depressants are a good idea, they have a lot of really awful side effects and generally have been proven to not be very effective. And then you are addicted to another substance that is also incredibly hard to come off. May I suggest trying to change your diet so you eat more healthily (lot's of fruits and vegetables), exercise daily even if it is just a 20 minute walk around the block, and consider trying meditation. Do some research on it, there is a lot of evidence that shows it is great for anxiety and depression, and is considerate "moderately" effective against depression, which is the same as effectiveness that anti-depressant drugs rated.

I wish you good luck and it's really good that you are trying to seek help from a psychiatrist, that is a big first step.

 

[Codeine Demon]

So am I the only person who's been told by multiple psychs that they wouldn't prescribe me anything because of my history with substance abuse?