of course, see your Dr, be honest about your drinking and if a Dr prescribes a medication for depression knowing your history, follow the directions. Before I quit drinking I told my nurse practioner I was having trouble with drinking too much alcohol, she prescribed something that seemed to help my emotional being, but quitting alcohol was an AA thing, a God thing. the pill did not help me stop drinking, but it did ease some of my depression. becoming an alcohol free person did the most for reducing my depression. anyway, that is my story. your experience will be your story. jj
-- Edited by jj on Tuesday 27th of March 2012 04:04:10 PM
Alcohol, I learned, is a chemical depressant, an anesthetic and many other things...with other drugs it is synergistic (It will multiply their affect beyond prescibed dosages) describing yet another danger to the human system beyond what it will do all by itself. First thing I did was stop drinking and then I faced the depression that alcohol taught me was a normal usual emotion and neurological condition. Yes alcohol(ism) is a teacher and with our own practice we can make a habit of the emotions and mental and behavioral consequences. After I was off of the chemical I was with a very good alcoholism counselor at the VA. I also (by HP's guidance alone) went to college on the disease of alcoholism and chemical addiction. I learned a lot of techincal things about alcohol and the human person; how old it is and how I became genetically predisposed to both the addiction and to the depressive state I was practicing for years. I could do depression very well without a drink until I stopped and was helped to practice other emotions..."Emotions are choices" I was taught and told by my counselor and sponsors...I get to choose the ones I want to feel outside of the chemical influence. Sounds like rocket science huh? It isn't really I just didn't know what others did until I sat and listened; learned and practiced which is what I do now.
My form of depression...associated with genetic alcoholism is called dysthymia...I've always had it and no longer suffer at the hands of it cause when it stages I have solutions. I don't have to drink -and- I don't have to behave depressed.
Gonna read more responses. (((hugs)))
-- Edited by Jerry F on Tuesday 27th of March 2012 08:45:07 PM
I'm trying to figure out how to get rid of my depression, without meds. Not because I'm against pharmacology, but because I still drink. I know if i stop drinking that would help, but can't seem to make that idea stick. but how do I beat this hopeless and sneaky monster? What have you guys done that worked?
what has worked for me is, when i was willing to do whatever it takes to feel better, it meant not drinking alcohol. the only way i could stop was by attending AA meetings, learning about the steps, reading the Big Book to find my story, accept my powerlessness over taking a drink/drinks, accepted that i needed help (from a higher power), and accepted the help i asked for, letting God (one of my understanding) help me because i could not help myself. the depression lifts after working the AA program. it is not a 'magic moment' it is a process/progress and i have to do the work. when it changes from i have to do this program, to i want to do this program. that's when the miracles happen. God bless you. sheila/jj
Hello Anne, welcome to the board. I tried to fix lots of stuff, while continuing to drink/use. nothing lasted. I finally came to terms with having to get clean and sober to work on my problems. Most of us had depression. Most of us were able to work the steps and come out of it without the depression. Some need to take mild meds to help with it. You won't know until you give sobriety a try.
Ditto what Dean said. Personally, I was always victim to depression and anxiety until I got sober. Those conditions are much better managed now. Stop trying to self medication with alcohol. It's the worst for you depression.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Welcome to "MIP". Alcohol and depression go hand in hand, just like everyone said. It's only when we sober up that our depression seems to subside somehow. There's a root cause behind our depression just like our drinking. And when we discover that fatal flaw the possibilities from there are endless. We must discover the key to lasting sobriety first, however, than everything else will follow. So begin there.
Don't get me wrong, there are certain steps we need to take that could alleviate the desire to drink -like Sheila said- but it must start and end with us, period. It may seem difficult for us at first, but life does improve over time -only after we stop drinking though. So take the first step and move on from there. I hope you do, starting today.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Wednesday 28th of March 2012 02:08:57 AM
I'm on a very low dose anti-depressant, which I was on when I was drinking too, only then I couldn't understand why it didn't seem to work... never mind the fact that I was counteracting it by pouring a depressant into my body every night. :)
You should start over again with me today? Do 90 meetings in 90 days is what I hear will work. When I was doing frequent meetings, I did not drink for 40 days. Then I got lazy and relapsed. I know meetings work - hope by saying this I can pound it into my head and yours. As I'm reading this I'm sitting here with tears coming down my face... it's just not fun anymore is it... Not for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoong long time... for me.
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
Alcoholism and depression are extremely complex brain disorders and the interacting chemistry is --in the context of decades of research and treatments--just beginning to be understood sufficiently for some effective help to emerge, for some people, some of the time. The science has moved on beyond the writings and wisdom in most original AA literature and beliefs.
For that reason, AA issued a GSA approved pamphlet: the A.A. Member-Medications and Other drugs. The section on heath conditions that may require medications and how to work with competent physicians who understand alcoholism begins on page 9. It is important reading!
The bottom line though is simple and absolute. Drinking does not help--even when it may actually keep the depression from being "felt" as potently as it may be after the alcohol is removed. See Aquaman's post on his buddy's suicide.
When the depression stands alone--even it it actually worsens in sobriety-- there is at least a chance of finding a decent a management plan, or even resolution. A.A. members should not play doctor or be judgmental regarding the appropriate use of medications and therapies for co-occurring disorders, but I believe we should encourage our fellows to seek a proper at of the degree and nature of the problem, including a full inclusion of drinking history. It's almost impossible to significantly treat other disorders--if they are NOT "just" a function of the alcoholism itself--until the drinking stops and some abstinence is attained.
Going to meetings, listening, and following the suggestions has been the place to start for many of us--there is no easier, softer way, and half-measures avail us nothing!
-- Edited by leeu on Saturday 31st of March 2012 08:55:53 AM
