Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

[bleep]

I didn't want to post this in the med section, given the natural bias of the browsers there.

I'm very curious as to why more people don't seek a chemical solution to this problem? For me, it was like a light going on when I stumbled across the theory that this was perhaps caused by a chemical imbalance, and could, as a result, be cured/fixed/alleviated by chemicals. As to whether that's true or not, I'll wait for the scienctist to determine, but certainly it's worked for me.

Granted, that may well be because I always choose the easier option, but given that so many people, a lot of whom would rate themselves as having willpower/determination/etc. try and fail to beat this on their own, why does it seem to me that medication is sometimes seen as 'cheating', or taking the easy way out? It is certainly not the first option that is considered. Is it still too early, or will this always be the case? I suspect that even if it is discovered that it's a medical condition, there will be those who insist it's a willpower/lifestyle choice (please note I'm not saying it is, one way or the other).

I have enormous respect for those who have beaten this unassisted. Personally, I tried and failed. With chemical assistance, I am finding it surprisingly easy to triumph. In fact, it doesn't feel like a victory, it feels more like the enemy has simply left the field.

There's still a lot that doesn't make sense to me regarding this. If it is a chemical imbalance, which to me seems to be the case, how does this account for those who triumph and live happy and productive lives without addressing the chemical side of this? The imbalance, if that is what it is, must still be there?

Sigh. Who knows? I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts.

[startingover]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

Well I think addiction and the reasons for it take many different forms. A lot of it will be our mindset as well as our physiology (IMHO)
In order for me to stop drinking, it took anti depressants and counselling as well as completely changing the way I thought. So yes, I did use chemicals to change my brain chemistry as well as other tools such as willpower and lifestyle choices.
This is a fantastic question Bleep and I dont think there will be just the one answer to it.

[Marshy]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

Hi Bleep,

In desperation at not being able to stay AF for more than a couple of weeks at a time I took Antabuse for about a month and found it very helpful. That was about four years ago. Since then I haven't taken anything medical, partly because I really don't like taking pills (not even painkillers) and so didn't automatically think of a chemical "solution" to my addiction - I just don't think along the lines of medication (ironic, huh?).

I also wanted to be drug-free - I'd had alcohol controlling me for so long I didn't want to feel beholden to anything else. I took the Antabuse but didn't want to take it for a prolonged period. I used it keep me sober while I worked on other ways to maintain my sobriety.

bleep;1218320 wrote: If it is a chemical imbalance, which to me seems to be the case, how does this account for those who triumph and live happy and productive lives without addressing the chemical side of this? The imbalance, if that is what it is, must still be there?
.

Interesting question. I suppose I'd have to disagree based on my experience. Although I think I'm susceptible to addiction for whatever reason and always will be, I don't think I have an imbalance that is still there, every day, wanting me to "correct" it with drugs (legal/illegal/prescription, whatever). I don't feel like I have something missing, something waiting to be filled.

[spacebebe01]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

It is around 20 years or so now that I first went to am AA meeting and I say this so you can get an idea of how long I have been struggling with alcohol addiction. I have tried virtually everything I can think of since then to help me sort out m drink problem, hospital, treatment centres, church, counselling, acupuncture, reading books, changing my diet ect ect the list goes on and on. I have suspected for a long time there may be a medical treatment for me but until recent years only had my own doctor to ask, with having a home laptop and internet I can reserch formyself now, something a lot of general practioners have no time or interest in doing. To me medication is not at all a first choice, or an easy quick fix, it is giving me the opportunity to live a happy sober life without the black cloud of relapse always waiting to happen. I take medication for other illnesses and disorders so why not this one?

[Supercrew]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

Great thread!

For me, (and this isn't passing judgement on anyone who hasn't done it my way), I felt I needed to beat my addiction somewhat naturally. I know I screwed up my brain chemistry by overusing alcohol, and I do think that I had a chemical imbalance in my brain that made me susceptable to alcoholism and other substance abuse issues due to my genetics, but I looked at it as proving to myself that I could beat this problem by naturally changing my brain through exercise and self hypnosis and common sense and by taking daily action to combat it.

I have always been an athlete and I kind of looked at it like taking steroids. I could take steroids to make myself bigger and faster in a shorter amount of time, but then I would always have to rely on the drugs to stay at my best. I think I kind of looked at them as cheating or as a crutch. And what happens if they stop working or if I build a tolerance? How will this effect me in the future? I have also been weary of drugs because most doctors aren't sure exactly what mixture will work for my specific problem. Maybe I was scared by them because I have doctors in my family that told me that antidepressants are misprescribed and many of the doctors prescribing them aren't really sure of the exact effect so it is trial and error depending on how they affect you. I don't mind testing some things, but I also don't want to feel like a lab rat when it comes to my mental health.

Now I may even be somewhat of a hypocrite because I do take certain supplements that I feel help with relaxation and anti aging, so I guess I do use a "medical approach" in some ways.

I think I just came to the conclusion that the more I could figure it out on my own the stronger I would be in the long run...if that makes any sense.

[tiptronic_ct]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

I pretty much agree with what Starty said.

NE's post also resonates strongly.

Plus I've now typed what must amount to an essay, each time deleting / adding / changing everything I'd like to add to what they've said. In the end it would just be words, though... The long and the short of it is that meds helped to save my life. I also wish that there would be greater acceptance of meds as a primary treatment for alcoholism.

[Unwasted]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

Bleep, I just have an aversion to the thought of taking medication (the irony is not lost on me). However, if alcohol was ruining my life and all else failed, I'd do it. I have the same reservation that SC wrote about, which is - would I then just get dependent on something else?

I feel like my "imbalance" is still there but that I'm trying to change it in other ways - I'm pretty early on, though, so I'm not a good barometer on what works yet.

I hope others come along and post here - important topic!

[mario]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

Hi Bleep
I stopped drinking only after what can be described as my lowest point or rock bottom and just knew I had to do something, Something inside me just clicked, Cant explain it in academic terms I just stopped and did it cold turkey for the first few weeks, Its such a complicated addiction and everyone is so different that what works foe one does not work for others And as you say Bleep there is still an awful lot that does not make sence to me, I dont know if its a chemical imbalance or a genitic gene or what the hell it is, Just know I suffer with it.

[bleep]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

Hi all, wow, thank you, some very interesting answers!

I guess my thinking, after reading through them, follows Ne's - that over time, the imbalance corrects itself if it's not being fueled constantly by alcohol. Fits perfectly with the whole progressive disease aspect as well, as you further increase the imbalance over time.

One thing that doesn't quite fit in with it is this - hypothetically, I'm an alcoholic, and without any medication, I stop drinking, and remain stopped for 15 years. At this point, I'd like to believe that my brain chemistry has normalised pretty damn much. However, if I have a drink, I am back to where I was at the point I stopped drinking?! Why doesn't my brain chemistry take at least a small amount of time to throw its' toys out the cot?

As I said in my opening post, I'm happy to leave this one to the scientists. They need a kick up the backside though! I can't help but feel that if we can put someone on the moon, a similar resolve here would get similar results.

[Chillgirl]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

Bleep - I can resonate with so many of these posts.

Like Supercrew I have always been into fitness despite the alcohol abuse and taking any medication would always be the absolute final resort for me.

Like Mario, I got to a point where something clicked within me and I seemed to get this overwhelming inner drive to beat this bastard of an addiction.

Like Molly the whole bac thing looked like hard work and complicated. I wanted to put all my energy into rebuilding my life and learning to see it for the 1st time through sober eyes.

I also passionately wanted to draw a line under AL. I didn't want to swap one dependency for another.

[hippie37]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

I look at things quite holistically, in that I believe my alcoholism is a product of many different things and not just one defining path. So treating my alcoholism must come with that in mind also. I can't just focus my attention on one thing. I have to look at my relationship with the world and how I see myself in it; and in doing so look at my physical, mental and spiritual well being in respect of that.

I haven't felt the need to combat my alcoholism with chemicals for a long time now. Like Marshy I started using Antabuse and other chemicals to help reduce cravings in the early days, but I felt that was not resolving anything. It was merely suppressing something rather than actively making progress for me. I'm very weary about taking chemicals to enhance something in the brain that has not been chemically diagnosed. Depression is something that is combated with anti-depressants (chemicals); yet there is no proven test (chemically) to diagnose a person with depression. Psychiatrists who've been asked the same question cannot answer that one.

Each to their own though. I haven't had a drink today, so something is working and I don't feel the need (or want) to have a drink. If other's can achieve that doing what they do, then I'm behind them 100%.

Love and Blessings xx

[caysea]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

Hi All
Al has been in my life since the age of 13. Drinking, binge drinking has been part of my life for over 40 years. Turning into daily drinking around 2000. I had many times tried to stop drinking Many failures, not for lack of trying but still no success. Why this time did I find a way out? It has to do for what ever reason, with the click mario mentions. I was ready. I went cold turkey. I was willing to work through all the cravings that were the same as the past. It wasn't a DUI or medical reason or what ever that made me have the click.
Now if their had been a chemical that could have helped me get sober back in 2000 when i started trying to get sober I would have taken it. It might have been the answer instead of waiting for the moment that we can't explain. If others find a quicker answer to get sober use it. One of my biggest regrets in life is the time I wasted drunk. I think any aid that helps break the hold of al on you and enables you to get some sober time is good. Other work has to be done to live a sober lifestyle but stoping drinking is the start.
Now al has no place in my life but it should have happened a long time ago.We pour al into our bodies but are afraid of the side effects of medicine???? I am someone who went the cold turkey route and tell all do what ever you can to break al hold on you. The sooner the better.


Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
AF 5-16-08

[sapphire60]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

Hi Bleep,

Great topic and one that has given me much food for thought. The fact that we can be sober for long periods of time and then slide right back down the slippery slope after just one drink IMHO doesnt mean that we our chemistry hasnt recovered to a certain degree. I read about the kindling effect of repeated alcoholic assaults followed by withdrawal. Not sure exactly what the story is there as it is some time since reading the book, but put simply, it is a similar reaction by the brain to certain chemicals because the cells have a "memory". I am a Fitness Professional and we know that muscles when trained to perform certain functions repeatedly (as in endurance training, weight training etc.) even after the athlete stops that training for years, when they take it up again, the muscles "know" what is expected of them and they quickly adapt to the training again. On the contrary if someone takes up a particular sport later in life, their muscles etc. will have to start from scratch to learn the new skill.

If this kindling effect brings about a "memory" in the way our brain responds to certain stimulus such as alcohol/drugs then re-introduction of the chemical and its correspoding effect is swift.

Therefore in my understanding of this theory, there can still be a substantial recovery in other aspects brain behaviour such as cognitive function and memory etc. with some of us there may never be a safe time to drink again.

I have tried different meds over the years, such as Topomax, Antabuse, Campral, Naltrexone, various SSRI's but alas none of them helped. I now take Prozac and am thrilled with results. I also take a whole swag of vitamins, aminos, herbals etc. to help repair the physiological damage to the whole body system. I have a strict diet with no sugar or processed foods and exercise every day. I have my addiction under control because my body and emotional health are very high.

So for me, I would say that if meds help you quell the urge to drink by all means atake what you need, but dont forget about the wholistic nature of recovery as an integrated approach has to be more successful than repairing one area (the brain) and not taking care of the rest.

Great topic Bleep, Saff

[Struggles 106]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

I don't know much about the meds mentioned here and elsewhere, and did the cold turkey thing too.
It seems that what happened to me happened to Mario and Caysea. Something clicked.
I was in a fabulous store today, wandered into the wine section. Looked at bottles of Pinot Grigio for a few seconds and got out of there. No way!
I agree with everyone-whatever it takes. I used to think about Antabuse, back then it was the only thing I knew about. I never got any and it seems that now there are lots of different meds to help stop drinking.
So good to know that others have experienced the same thing. I really wish there was some magic way to stop the suffering. The feeling of being helpless, scared and worried is
so terrible.
Take care everyone.

[bleep]

Addiction and chemically assisted recovery

Thanks again for these thought-provoking replies. It's a fascinating aspect of the issue, at least to me.

Whilst I would normally agree with a holistic approach, in fact that's probably how you should live regardless, I've found it not to be the case here - I took meds, the cravings disappeared, and life as it should have been returned. Funnily enough, now that that has happened, I'm more interested in getting healthier (other than smoking more and more every day) than I've ever been. Since I've never been in the slightest bit interested, that's not saying much though! It definitely wasn't the other way around, which would have made more sense.

Reading the replies has made me wonder if the 'click' that many people speak of (perhaps also known as 'rock-bottom' ?), seems to do something to peoples' heads. Not quite sure where to take that though?