Bipolar - Reduction vs Abstention
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: NZ
Posts: 10
Bipolar - Reduction vs Abstention
I tried posting on the Newcomers Forum, but didn't have any empathy shown. Can I please ask you this?
Is it Ok to be reducing not abstaining? This is all so new to me. I'm on several meds for Bipolar II and I don't want to make a sudden change. I haven't seen my GP; this is my own initiative and I'm day 4 of significantly less alcohol. I'm feeling good, but when I read about people abstaining I kind of feel like I'm not "the real deal".
That is what I posted there - and they were like "you have to stop altogether".
I want to stay on my bipolar meds and reduce my alcohol intake gradually so I don't have a sudden reaction. My head is messed up and I'm about to leave SR.
Advice???
Is it Ok to be reducing not abstaining? This is all so new to me. I'm on several meds for Bipolar II and I don't want to make a sudden change. I haven't seen my GP; this is my own initiative and I'm day 4 of significantly less alcohol. I'm feeling good, but when I read about people abstaining I kind of feel like I'm not "the real deal".
That is what I posted there - and they were like "you have to stop altogether".
I want to stay on my bipolar meds and reduce my alcohol intake gradually so I don't have a sudden reaction. My head is messed up and I'm about to leave SR.
Advice???
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
Well, it isn't good to be drinking at all if you have a diagnosis and are medicated for bipolar.
Many people do a step-down withdrawal - is that what you are talking about? Are you cutting back to prepare for quitting, or you just think you can drink socially?
This is a sobriety website, not a moderation website. We don't have recommendations about "cutting back." We recommend abstinence. There are moderation websites, you could search for one of those if that is the type support you would like.
Many people do a step-down withdrawal - is that what you are talking about? Are you cutting back to prepare for quitting, or you just think you can drink socially?
This is a sobriety website, not a moderation website. We don't have recommendations about "cutting back." We recommend abstinence. There are moderation websites, you could search for one of those if that is the type support you would like.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,518
Hi , I have had anxiety problems most of my adult life and every singe time I drank alcohol it made me feel worse . I,m sorry that you have bi-polar which is a challenge in and off itself .
Only you can decide what do do . Only you know how you feel after drinking and what effect alcohol has on your medication use .
You wont get many people on SR encouraging you to drink only a certain amount . I haven't saw anyone on this site who drinks "just a bit " and happy with that . I haven,t saw anyone in AA who "drinks just a bit " and happy with that . Can I suggest you read the "what is alcoholism " sections and decide how alcohol is affecting your life and be honest with yourself .
Take care
Only you can decide what do do . Only you know how you feel after drinking and what effect alcohol has on your medication use .
You wont get many people on SR encouraging you to drink only a certain amount . I haven't saw anyone on this site who drinks "just a bit " and happy with that . I haven,t saw anyone in AA who "drinks just a bit " and happy with that . Can I suggest you read the "what is alcoholism " sections and decide how alcohol is affecting your life and be honest with yourself .
Take care
Do your best
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 67,047
It's not you wernt getting shown love hell its moderation/tapering doesn't work for alcoholics if it did we wouldn't of ended up here
Don't leave go post again in newcomers listen to the advice of countless others who have been where you are now
As for your medication I suggest booking a Dr apt asap as meddling with your medication is highly dangerous & not recommended anywhere bud
Hang in there
Don't leave go post again in newcomers listen to the advice of countless others who have been where you are now
As for your medication I suggest booking a Dr apt asap as meddling with your medication is highly dangerous & not recommended anywhere bud
Hang in there
paradox
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 665
I'm not sure if you would call this advice, Hell66.
It's more of a warning really.
I can empathise with you completely.
I was once where you are today.
I'm a bipolar alcoholic.
I have recovered from two potentially fatal illnesses.
You suffer from bipolar.
If you can drink just a little bit and be happy with that, perhaps you are not an alcoholic . . .
yet.
And yet, I get the sense that you have trouble controlling your drinking -- you would like some help.
You are here -- that's a good start.
When I was first diagnosed with bipolar, 35 years ago, it was called manic-depression.
Over the next several years my psychiatrist advised me that I shouldn't drink.
I did not follow his advice and my use of alcohol increased over the years.
I told myself that I was self-medicating.
I drank to ease my mania -- to quiet my mind -- to sleep.
I drank to cope with agitated depression.
Eventually, a daily drinker, I found that I could not stop.
I have stopped now, but I needed a lot of help.
I have not had a drink for 11 years now.
I am much happier and please believe my when I say:
My manic depression is not as bad as it was when I was drinking.
I put that down to the fact that my meds work better without the booze.
Just as importantly, my programme of recovery helps me to accept the highs and lows, which makes them far easier to deal with.
My moods are much more stable and I am contented most of the time.
So, whatever you tell yourself about the way you drink or the quantities that you drink, please realise that, if you are not deceiving yourself now, you may fall into that trap in future.
I now know that I did.
Alcoholism can creep up on us, but if we drink enough for long enough I believe that it is inevitable.
That's my experience anyway.
I hope that you are not alcoholic.
But, if you are:
I pray that you find a solution,
before it's too late.
It's more of a warning really.
I can empathise with you completely.
I was once where you are today.
I'm a bipolar alcoholic.
I have recovered from two potentially fatal illnesses.
You suffer from bipolar.
If you can drink just a little bit and be happy with that, perhaps you are not an alcoholic . . .
yet.
And yet, I get the sense that you have trouble controlling your drinking -- you would like some help.
You are here -- that's a good start.
When I was first diagnosed with bipolar, 35 years ago, it was called manic-depression.
Over the next several years my psychiatrist advised me that I shouldn't drink.
I did not follow his advice and my use of alcohol increased over the years.
I told myself that I was self-medicating.
I drank to ease my mania -- to quiet my mind -- to sleep.
I drank to cope with agitated depression.
Eventually, a daily drinker, I found that I could not stop.
I have stopped now, but I needed a lot of help.
I have not had a drink for 11 years now.
I am much happier and please believe my when I say:
My manic depression is not as bad as it was when I was drinking.
I put that down to the fact that my meds work better without the booze.
Just as importantly, my programme of recovery helps me to accept the highs and lows, which makes them far easier to deal with.
My moods are much more stable and I am contented most of the time.
So, whatever you tell yourself about the way you drink or the quantities that you drink, please realise that, if you are not deceiving yourself now, you may fall into that trap in future.
I now know that I did.
Alcoholism can creep up on us, but if we drink enough for long enough I believe that it is inevitable.
That's my experience anyway.
I hope that you are not alcoholic.
But, if you are:
I pray that you find a solution,
before it's too late.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 1
Been there, too.
Hello.
I have bipolar disorder. Fairly classic. From my youth mania and then horrendous crashes into depression. I've drunk through much of it, self medicating is the term. Trying to stop now and would love to talk to someone in the same boat.
I have bipolar disorder. Fairly classic. From my youth mania and then horrendous crashes into depression. I've drunk through much of it, self medicating is the term. Trying to stop now and would love to talk to someone in the same boat.
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