Is anyone here in the arts?

[Dipsa]

Is anyone here an artist, actor, poet, writer, etc., whether contemplating MWO, just beginning it, or a seasoned veteran?

I first heard of My Way Out two weeks ago when spending a brutal hangover surfing the net for help, and have been using the hypno CDs and some of the supplements since then. I?m on Day 4 of Topa and feeling happy, hopeful, and full of promise. I'm loving how wonderful it is to not crave the hooch, delighting in how healthy and how good I feel and hoping desperately that I can make it last.

I know this healing process is not only physical but mental, too, and support is crucial, and so I would like to talk to other artists, either in this forum or for more confidentiality via private message, about being a drinker, trying to quit, taking Topa, if it affects your creative process at all, other aspects of following the program, etc., with the special concerns of the artistic temperament. Would love to hear from you!:k

[MKR]

Is anyone here in the arts?

Welcome!

:welcome: Dipsa,

I am actually 8 months today in MWO program. I never did the topa, but many in the moderating group have and seem to do quite well with it.

I agree the healing process is a combination of factors. I have read the book, used the supps and the hypno cds and especially the moderation section of these boards for the support given to me and the ability to give back.

I am an illustrator / graphic designer - I don't know if the topa would effect your creative process but must say it is not really something that ever shuts off in me so sober or not as in the past, the process seems to be ongoing.

I welcome you here and want to say, topa or not, getting well and waking up completely heathy adds to the creative process from just feeling better overall.

Hugs,
Mary

[Bluemoon]

Is anyone here in the arts?

Hallo Dipsa
(Dipsomaniac??)
I'm a writer, however I'm not taking topa. I am also interested to know if the topa has dulled the creative sense. How is it treating you??
Would love to talk.
Off to Uruguay soon, but will try to catch up here and there.

[Dipsa]

Is anyone here in the arts?

Thank you, Mary, for posting with your encouraging words. I think the best thing about finding this website, more than the book or CDS or supplements even, is to have the feeling that I'm not such a lowly wretch and not so alone--although I know other people with the same problem it's not something I've ever discussed with any of them.

Thank you, Bluemoon, for posting, too. (Yes, that kind of dipsa, got the moniker from dipsomaniac). I feel like the Topa is fogging me a bit and making it tough to get going creatively, but maybe that's just the Monday morning thing--we'll see how that develops and I will let you know.

Great to hear from you guys!

[dilayne]

Is anyone here in the arts?

HI Dipsa,
I'm a painter and graphic designer. Welcome. I finally went abstinent after unsuccessfully attempting moderation for a while..I had actually been AF for quite a number of years before resuming my drinking. I chose MWO while I was going through a very interesting period of psychotherapy where we addressed a lot of creative issues...you are in good company and the support here is great. Just keep posting and showing up. I did the topamax for the recommended 3 months..and I highly recommend it. I don't think it inhibited my creativity at all..in fact, I chose MWO because I wasn't ready to exert too much control in trying to quit..I was afraid that I would do what I've done in the past when I start trying to control things, and that is to shut down emotionally, which would, in fact inhibit my creativity..the topamax was great in that it helped me get to a place to make the next step. Good Luck..and feel free to PM if you like.
Di

[dilayne]

Is anyone here in the arts?

BTW- I've been AF for six weeks now! woo hoo, and I feel great!

[Dipsa]

Is anyone here in the arts?

I did the topamax for the recommended 3 months..and I highly recommend it. I don't think it inhibited my creativity at all..in fact, I chose MWO because I wasn't ready to exert too much control in trying to quit..I was afraid that I would do what I've done in the past when I start trying to control things, and that is to shut down emotionally, which would, in fact inhibit my creativity..the topamax was great in that it helped me get to a place to make the next step.

Thanks, Dilayne, this was very encouraging!

And big congrats on 6 wks AF!!

[dilayne]

Is anyone here in the arts?

anytime Dipsa...and thanks :0)

[dilayne]

Is anyone here in the arts?

Dipsa..if you like to read, here are some good books that address creativity and addiction

Witness to the Fire, Linda Schierse Leonard
The Courage to Create, Rollo May
Addiction & Grace By: Gerald G. May

I didn't read this one, but hear it has some good thoughts..
A Million Little Pieces- James Frey

[Dipsa]

Is anyone here in the arts?

Thank you, Dilayne! I have read that last one, fiction or non- as it may be, a mix, it seems--but the first three I hadn't heard of, and I will look for them. Thanks much for the list!

And I feel bad posting about stuff that is not about Kanga when this forum is hurting from his loss, so I think I will refrain from posting for a day or so?, since I am new and did not know him at all, except to express my deepest condolences to those in the group who knew him and miss him.

[dilayne]

Is anyone here in the arts?

Namaste!

[Dipsa]

Is anyone here in the arts?

Thank you so much, katesm!

[Ivygoodluck]

Is anyone here in the arts?

Dipsa,

I'm a writer but not on Topamax. I am taking all the supps which help a lot. I am doing mods--no alcohol (wine in my case) at home but have two or three when out for dinner. The kudzu in particular seems to help a lot.

The supps don't interfere with the work. The wine certainly did, when I was having it a home!

I didn't know the Kanga either but from what I've heard about him, he would want us to keep posting and keep getting well.

Ivy

[Dipsa]

Is anyone here in the arts?

Thanks, Ivy. How long have you been using the kudzu? Is it the MWO Rescue version?

For my first week, before I got the Topamax, I did just most of the supps w/o it, except for L-Glutamine, milk thistle and mag citrate which I had ordered online and took a while to come in, and I was using a kudzu off the shelf, not the MWO kind. I didn't have any reduction in craving whatsoever with that plus the tapes but perhaps I didn't give it much time. Since I've started Topamax (on Day 5 today) plus the MWO Kudzu (2700 mg/day), 5-HTP, my consumption is half of normal, which was about 10-12 drinks (normally a mix of beer, wine and brandy) and then on alternate days, quite hungover from those 10-12 drinks, I would only have 0-2. My cigarette intake which was 8-10 on drinking nights and 0-1 on hungover nights has been 3-5 drinking, 1-2 alternate. Strange that I still have this pattern of excess alternating with much less, but it's an established pattern and I expect will take some time and more sustained effort to change. I'm probably a good candidate for abs but have not been able to pull it off yet.

Thanks, everyone who has posted for your very helpful input. This forum has been so wonderful.:thanks:

[dilayne]

Is anyone here in the arts?

Hey Dipsa, when I started the program I took Roberta's recommendation to try 30 days Abs when you go on the topamax...I really felt that doing that is what made the difference for me. Other's have different opinions about it, but it made sense to me, and I knew I could go 4 weeks without drinking..actually, I was just shy of 4 weeks..so I don't think 30 days is a magic number, but at least a couple of weeks might make a huge difference...by the time you are on the 4th week, and start moderating again, you may find, like me, that there were many days that you couldn't make me take a drink. I just don't know if it would have worked the same for me had I drank those first few weeks...Of course, it was a huge deal for me to get the prescription and to take such a drastic measure, I was afraid to bring in too many chemicals into my body...I wanted to give the drug the best chance for it to work..

I'm kind of rambling here..so I'll leave it at that. I'm sure you'll hear plenty of other people's experiences with or without the Top. Good luck to you!