At the Dr. why is this so scary??
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At the Dr. why is this so scary??
But im doing it!! 
I hope this is the last time ill ever feel this way!! So control-less, so useless! I have a good long life a head of me, and I want to take advantage of it. Love you all! Will touch base soon!
I hope this is the last time ill ever feel this way!! So control-less, so useless! I have a good long life a head of me, and I want to take advantage of it. Love you all! Will touch base soon!
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Appointment went well, but im not an alcoholic?!? Lol at least thats what ive been told... Been using alcohol to self medicate an insane anxiety disorder I guess... Add xanax and boom!! (and I told him everything!!) I have some new meds and the xanax is with my family, and will be tossed. Im not sure I agree completely with this diagnosis but ill try it. If it doesnt help, ill get a second opinion. Just happy to be with my family and have help and support!
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: I'm exactly where I should be.
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Glad you had a nice visit with your Doc. Hopefuly, you get on the right track with new meds.
But just for the record, I've had people tell me Im not an alocholic -that doesn't change MY opinion. Maybe I'm not an alocholic but I can't drink - isn't it ironic?!
Did you move yet?
But just for the record, I've had people tell me Im not an alocholic -that doesn't change MY opinion. Maybe I'm not an alocholic but I can't drink - isn't it ironic?!
Did you move yet?
Crazy Cat Lady
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,661
I believe that you're an alcoholic if you feel that the alcohol is having a negative impact on your life and you aren't able to stop. I use alcohol to self medicate anxiety, bi-polar disorder, depression, boredom and who knows how many other things. All the meds in the world won't help if you continue to drink! If the change up in meds dosen't help and you continue to abuse, be firm with your doctor and/or get a second opinion. It's perfectly normal to have fear going to the doctor. It's a major lifestyle change. The initial fear passes eventually then all the secondary fears weasel in. It's okay. I'm just powering through them, reading positive quotes, mentally listing all the things I'm grateful for and going minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day and stringing together more sobriety time. Good luck!
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
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I'm glad you saw the Dr, Camille - I've had Drs tell me I wasn't an alcoholic too.
I sure proved them wrong LOL
None of us can diagnose you though - I really hope the Dr is right
Just...don't use what the Dr said as an excuse to drink.
Whatever you are, I think you'd have agree drinking's not done you any favours lately - I hope you'll stick with abstinence
D
I sure proved them wrong LOL
None of us can diagnose you though - I really hope the Dr is right
Just...don't use what the Dr said as an excuse to drink.
Whatever you are, I think you'd have agree drinking's not done you any favours lately - I hope you'll stick with abstinence
D
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,193
I don't mean to be snarky, but... potato patato?? I say this based on experience. I believe I was self-medicating my anxiety and depression (and my anxiety-related night terrors/sleep disorder) with alcohol. However, to me it meant I was dependent on alcohol, which is like being addicted. There are better ways to cope with anxiety, and, alcohol INCREASES anxiety and depression. So, while you are working on your anxiety issues and taking anti-anxiety medication, please stay away from alcohol or it will just make everything way worse. It is a cycle and while you may turn to alcohol to temporarily relieve your symptoms, in the end, the alcohol makes them worse. So whether you are an "alcoholic" or not is not really the issue... the issue is that drinking is bad for you, and you should stop, right?
My doctor told me I should cut back or stop drinking based on the amount that I drank, regardless of the reasons. It doesn't matter, to me, if I was "temporarily" dependent on alcohol as a way to self-medicate... I have to deal with life and my problems in a mature, responsible way, and turning to alcohol was not doing that. So whatever you want to call it, it seems you have learned that alcohol is your enemy, not your friend, and you need to stay far away from it. If it is hard to do that then in my opinion you are at least alcohol dependent, and, whatever the reason, you should do whatever you can to stay sober. Good luck.
My doctor told me I should cut back or stop drinking based on the amount that I drank, regardless of the reasons. It doesn't matter, to me, if I was "temporarily" dependent on alcohol as a way to self-medicate... I have to deal with life and my problems in a mature, responsible way, and turning to alcohol was not doing that. So whatever you want to call it, it seems you have learned that alcohol is your enemy, not your friend, and you need to stay far away from it. If it is hard to do that then in my opinion you are at least alcohol dependent, and, whatever the reason, you should do whatever you can to stay sober. Good luck.
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Singapore
Posts: 737
The definition of alcoholism is mired in ambiguity. Just look at this forum. Card carrying boozing experts still argue for days over what is heavy drinking and what is alcoholism, and then argue over for days more over what or who is qualified to make that distinction.
I'll agree with the folks above me. No one can tell you if you are a booze hound or not, it's your own call to make. Your Doc doesn't live inside your head nor live through the repercussions of your drinking. I've also been told recently by a specialist in addiction that doctors can be notorious for understating certain problems as well as overstating others. They do it either to protect your feelings or to accentuate a call for preventative action.
Personally, I went to a team of psychiatrists years ago to help treat my obvious alcohol dependency. That's right, a team. Wasn't an alcoholic then either, according to their diagnosis. In return I received a perpetual Pez dispenser, filled with 2 different types of Xanax + Ambien and Prozac, all things I abused for 2 years or more on top of drinking more and more. Was like giving a loaded gun to a contract killer. Bottom line is that I ended up becoming a serious alcoholic only after seeing those shrinks and getting whacked out on benzos. Started drinking daily simply because I couldn't take withdrawing from the Xanax/Ambien. Seriously, it was absolutely the most horrid and drawn out experience of my life, complete with seizures, psych wards, the whole nine yards.
IMO, #1 you have a problem with booze because you say so. Alcoholic or not, who cares? It's not like we get a t-shirt once the distinction is made. #2, stay as far away from Xanax and other benzos as you can. Benzos are manufactured by Satan himself, in a laboratory somewhere within the bowels of hell.
I'll agree with the folks above me. No one can tell you if you are a booze hound or not, it's your own call to make. Your Doc doesn't live inside your head nor live through the repercussions of your drinking. I've also been told recently by a specialist in addiction that doctors can be notorious for understating certain problems as well as overstating others. They do it either to protect your feelings or to accentuate a call for preventative action.
Personally, I went to a team of psychiatrists years ago to help treat my obvious alcohol dependency. That's right, a team. Wasn't an alcoholic then either, according to their diagnosis. In return I received a perpetual Pez dispenser, filled with 2 different types of Xanax + Ambien and Prozac, all things I abused for 2 years or more on top of drinking more and more. Was like giving a loaded gun to a contract killer. Bottom line is that I ended up becoming a serious alcoholic only after seeing those shrinks and getting whacked out on benzos. Started drinking daily simply because I couldn't take withdrawing from the Xanax/Ambien. Seriously, it was absolutely the most horrid and drawn out experience of my life, complete with seizures, psych wards, the whole nine yards.
IMO, #1 you have a problem with booze because you say so. Alcoholic or not, who cares? It's not like we get a t-shirt once the distinction is made. #2, stay as far away from Xanax and other benzos as you can. Benzos are manufactured by Satan himself, in a laboratory somewhere within the bowels of hell.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,146
It's rare for a Doctor to tell a patient he/she has a serious health problem that the Doctor cannot help with, and to then watch them exit their office without a remedy for their suffering. Imagine how awful that would feel to a caring medical professional.
Easy to understand the impulse to not take that road, and instead to take another one where there is an answer, a solution. That way they have wisely fixed the problem and are not found lacking, if it's important to them to not be found lacking. A common and understandable combination of motives and resulting actions.
See how the solution plays out for you.
Easy to understand the impulse to not take that road, and instead to take another one where there is an answer, a solution. That way they have wisely fixed the problem and are not found lacking, if it's important to them to not be found lacking. A common and understandable combination of motives and resulting actions.
See how the solution plays out for you.
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 14,934
I agree with what Dee said "Just...don't use what the Dr said as an excuse to drink."
Your Dr. is looking at you from a physical point of view, and the great news is from a physical point of view you don't have any permanent damage, yet.
What diagnostic procedure did he use to evaluate your spiritial condition?
Your Dr. is looking at you from a physical point of view, and the great news is from a physical point of view you don't have any permanent damage, yet.
What diagnostic procedure did he use to evaluate your spiritial condition?
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I actually dont want to drink. Because of the doctor!! I think hes wrong, and even if im not a heavy heavy drinker, I know I still drink too much. Ill see how these new meds workout, and go from there! I know alcohol is an issue, and it will be for my whole life!! But if I can use "anxiety" as a reason to stop drinking, ill take it! Im stopping For my health, mind, and 100000000 other reasons! I want a baby... Reason number... Who knows... 
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I was curious...if you told him you thought you had a drinking problem and all he gave you was meds -what other means of recovery did he provide for you? Did he offer any recovery options? Or just meds?
I went to the doctor once having panic attacks and dizzy -aweful post drinking feelings. I did tell them I had drank but I didn't say how much and how often -and they didn't ask. I guess they just figured I had a hangover.
I was given buspar and sent on my way. I felt by taking the buspar maybe I could curb my feelings to want to drink. Inevitabley that didn't help. I eventually went off the buspar and continued drinking. Just be careful with meds. Meds are one thing, alcohol is another -mix them for toxic relationship.
I went to the doctor once having panic attacks and dizzy -aweful post drinking feelings. I did tell them I had drank but I didn't say how much and how often -and they didn't ask. I guess they just figured I had a hangover.
I was given buspar and sent on my way. I felt by taking the buspar maybe I could curb my feelings to want to drink. Inevitabley that didn't help. I eventually went off the buspar and continued drinking. Just be careful with meds. Meds are one thing, alcohol is another -mix them for toxic relationship.
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Location: « USA » Recovered with AVRT (Rational Recovery) ___________
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Originally Posted by CamilleBelle 
Appointment went well, but im not an alcoholic?!? Lol at least thats what ive been told...
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Join Date: Dec 2011
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Camille - I say this out of relating more to you than most. After reading your post (and rereading all of mine) from this point forward I promise to no longer distinguish myself from "heavy heavy drinkers" or alcoholics who are out of control. The truth is we are heavy heavy drinkers, we are alcoholics, and despite how we are trying to wrap our heads around it, the reality is, we drink at unhealthy rates which we can't control that has brought us sorrow and guilt. I am an alcoholic. I am a heavy drinker. I am a drunk. No more qualifications about how happy my memories are, mo more qualifications about how little it has impacted my life. To thy own self be true: I've had fender benders that resulted from drinking (even the sober ones), I have crossed the line many times and said things that have gravely offended people, I've puked on myself in a drinking binge, and I have exposed myself to others in ways that no dignified self respecting person should. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by people who truly love me, and tolerate me. On the off chance you feel like convincing yourself that I am even worse than you - let me also tell you that all that i have owned up to is over my entire life time, and once each...And in this simplicity, it is all abundantly clear to me - I can't have just one, I can't drink responsibly, and the cravings i have at night, similar to those i had for cigarettes 20 years ago - are an addiction, not a slight abuse of alcohol.
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I agree with Pigtails.
I self-medicated anxiety/depression/panic attacks with alcohol which was a bad idea. And, yes, I had to get the depression treated which I did. But, I had still become an alcoholic and I still had to deal with that. Treating the depression/anxiety didn't make my alcoholism disappear.
I hope your dr is right, too, Camille.
I self-medicated anxiety/depression/panic attacks with alcohol which was a bad idea. And, yes, I had to get the depression treated which I did. But, I had still become an alcoholic and I still had to deal with that. Treating the depression/anxiety didn't make my alcoholism disappear.
I hope your dr is right, too, Camille.
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