RAB12345

I feel like I'm very slowly making progress in my recovery from alcohol and figuring my brain out. I had a 2 hour visit with a therapist today at the new psychiatrist office I'm going to. I've already been officially diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder three times from three different places, alcohol use disorder in early remission, and depression. The therapist is STRONGLY suspecting I also have ADHD, predominantly inattentive type(ADD). I won't go on any meds for that though, I can cope without them. I'm treating the anxiety and depression because I think its come back with a vengeance since I got sober and I do hope that dwindles back to my normal level the longer I stay sober. I'm afraid of meds, but I'm more afraid of not getting better. I'm on my second week of wellbutrin and I'm restless and anxious and want to get up and go but nothing I do makes the restlessness go away. That's new since I started the medicine so maybe its got something to do with the ADHD or the anxiety disorder. I don't know, maybe if I give it more time it'll even out.

Just thinking out loud here. It is terrible that many people suffer after they give up alcohol but it does make me feel better to know that it's not just me.
Almost 4 months now...not counting or anything

least

Congrats on nearing four months sober!

I found that quitting drinking greatly helped ease my depression but it also allowed my antidepressants to work as they should.

Yes, it is comforting to know we're not alone in this struggle.

MythOfSisyphus

That's great news, RAB12345!

stickyone

Good to hear that you are getting help for mental health. I too have 2 specialist I see. Then give me a 2 week break here and there to see how I am doing on my own. And Im feeling better in high stress environment and anxiety. I haven't yet taken medication that is available. Not saying it's bad or anything just a personal choice. Because of my addiction to medication. Congrats on the 4 months.

Anna

It sounds like you're taking care of yourself. Yes, do give the wellbutrin a little more time to see if those restless feelings ease up. I hope they do. I became much more aware of physical and mental issues when I stopped drinking, so that might have something to do with it, too.

RAB12345

Yeah, I struggled to make the choice to go on medication for the anxiety. It got so severe that now I think I may have traumatized myself over the suffering I endured for 3 months. I will not use ritalin or adderal or any controlled substance for ADHD and will be hopefully using the anxiety meds only temporarily and going off of them under close supervision when the time is right.

Dee74

Really glad things are looking up RAB

BeABetterMan

Wellbutrin made me really anxious. But for me, I couldn't get a good feel for how the meds work until about weeks 4-6. There are a lot of good meds out there if WB doesn't even out.

Great job on your sobriety BTW!!

Sober45

When we stop drinking we are left to deal with underlying issues and you are doing that in spades. Finding the right medication can be a trial and error thing until you find what works but I am certain with the attitude you have, things will level out.

Congratulations on almost 4 months!

RAB12345

No one ever told me it would be the underlying issue magnified by 100

Delilah1

It sounds like you’re making really positive steps, anxiety is definitely not something easy to deal with, great job figuring out what’s working.

dpac414

This is really, really great to hear. I'm so glad you're getting the help you need to manage everything. As someone who is on meds for anxiety and depression, I can say that it may take a little while to find the right ones and to have them start working. So just try and be patient and stay under supervision of your doctor.

I will also say as someone who takes medication - I'm grateful for it. My brain doesn't work on its own and I need the medicine to level the playing field so I can think and handle things clearly. This isn't me giving medical advice or trying to push medication on anyone, but I just wanted to say that since you expressed you were scared of them. In my opinion they don't change you....they just make you able to be who you're supposed to be. Like clearing the garden of weeds so the flowers can grow.

either way I'm really happy that you're feeling better and getting **** done.

ant385

That’s great RAB. One question though did you suffer from GAD, ADHD etc before you drank heavily? Reason I ask is if you did not you may see this recede gradually the further you progress with your recovery.

RAB12345

I always had anxiety. Never to this level. Situational mostly. Always had ADHD but its pretty mild so I'm not treating it. This all got really bad when I quit drinking. I'm pretty much non functional off of medication right now but i hope to be able to come off of it as i progress in my sobriety.

stickyone

Nothing wrong with taking medicine to help you get back on your feet. Have a wonderful day

BettyP

Hey RAB - same here. I had panic attacks and anxiety in the past before I became a heavy drinker, and dealt with it in times of sobriety, but never to the extent that I have since I quit for good this summer. It's definitely post acute withdrawal magnifying the symptoms. Have you visited the big PAWS thread at all on here? Really helpful. I've read a lot about it all and it seems like it takes about six months to a year to get back to baseline, and some people also continue to experience symptoms for longer. It's our brains putting the pieces back together, which is unfortunately a painful process. There is no way we could have known how this would feel, so I hear ya on feeling upset that nobody told you it would be your original issues amplified by 100. I'm at six months sober now and only recently have the tides started to turn. I also started taking a low dose of antidepressant about a month and a half ago - and I have been totally not about taking meds my whole life (I'm in my early 40s). But this withdrawal stuff - there was no other choice. It has been excruciating. Zero shame in taking some meds - I was scared at first too, but they are taking some of the pain out of the process and keeping me from picking up a drink. They're saving your life - think of them that way.
Keep the faith - things slowly slowly get better. And from what I've read, you do eventually get back to your old self. Just stay sober and keep throwing everything you can at your sobriety. We are all here to talk :-)

Wastinglife

I also have ADHD-Primarily Inattentive. Diagnosed late in life when in rehab for alcoholism at 35. I also can't take the stimulant meds because I abuse them. I will abuse any substance in general. I am on Wellbutrin just recently.