[Guest]

Just wondered if you guys could offer any knowledge or experiences with alcohol and DP. My doctor says it might have set it off and could make it worse, but being in college its hard to avoid alcohol altogether. On the other hand, anything to make this worse is out of the question because i can barely handle it now so i just wondered if you had any input. Thanks

 

[Guest]

it definitly makes it worst

 

[Guest]

amen to that

 

[jc]

do not ! i repeat do not ! touch alcohol unless you can limit it to a couple of glasses every now and again..
my mental state has improved immensly since giving up the drink

 

[Depersonalized]

In my case alcohol was what brought up anxiety and panic which in its turn unleashed DP. However alcohol is the only thing that allows me to feel more like myself again.

 

[Kelson12]

I've been trying to stop completely for the longest time. I've certainly cut back big time compared to college when I drank heavy 3-4 times a week. Over the last year I'll go through months without really drinking, but then all of a sudden I'll be feeling rather good and decide to drink, but it usually results in increased depression. Sucks. It's hard for me cause drinking is what most of my friends do for fun on the weekends. And being 25 years old, this society is centered around drinking at this point of my life. I don't think I'm an alcoholic cause there has been beer sittin in my fridge for over a week and I haven't had any temptation to touch it, but I do think that I have some issues. In any event, it's probably good to stay away from it, as hard as it is. Take care.

Kelson

 

[= n]

It makes me feel better for a few hours. Getting too drunk can be kind of unpleasant with or without this disorder and im sure doesnt help DP/R, but hangovers are the worst thing for me. Hangovers definately can amplify symptoms a lot, but on the other hand getting drunk definately makes me feel better and more whole for a time, so its not entirely positive or negative for me.

Id say if you stay away from spirits and only get modestly drunk then you should be able to drink now and again. Thats what i try to do anyway, but if you suffer badly from hangovers then it might be best to abstain.

 

[agentcooper]

i think alcohol helps mask feelings of dp/dr. i quite enjoy some time off from my disorder.

 

[Kelson12]

i think alcohol helps mask feelings of dp/dr. i quite enjoy some time off from my disorder.

Buuuuuut, for those with depression, please know that it is one of the strongest depressants, thus making DP/depression worse. It can also cancel out the effects of meds you are taking. I am still trying to get myself to realize this completely, but I am good at GIVING advice :lol:

I used to use it to mask my DP, but now I rarely can get it to do that and since it makes my depression worse, it makes me focus on myself more and more, thus resulting in worse DP. Vicious circle.

Alcohol-->masking DP-->depression as alcohol wears off--->leads to more intense DP--->alcohol--->masking DP---depression as it wears
off-->intense DP--->alcohol--->masking DP---depression as it wears
off-->intense DP......see a trend!

 

[RedCaineForNova]

does smoking cigarettes make dp/dr worse?

 

[agentcooper]

i'm not depressed at all. i guess i'm really lucky to be one of the few people on this board who isn't depressed or anxious. stuff does make me feel sad or anxious but i don't generally feel either.

i know i shouldn't drink as much as i do, but i really don't think it makes my dp/dr any worse. thank heavens

 

[Kelson12]

i'm not depressed at all. i guess i'm really lucky to be one of the few people on this board who isn't depressed or anxious. stuff does make me feel sad or anxious but i don't generally feel either.

i know i shouldn't drink as much as i do, but i really don't think it makes my dp/dr any worse. thank heavens

^^^ You are very lucky! Honestly though, I don't think it's literally the alcohol that bothers me, it's ruminating and dwelling on it the day after. Like "Should I have drank that?", "The doctor said it can make it worse or that the meds won't take effect", etc...etc. That's what causes me to downward spiral. Ya know?

 

[Depersonalized]

does smoking cigarettes make dp/dr worse?

yes, I feel a lot better after i quit

 

[= n]

Well alcohol definitely improves things. I can confirm this first hand. I decided that someone had to test this to be sure, so i have successfully intoxicated myself and i can confirm that being drunk is great. Possibly the greatest thing in the world. Really, whats the point in being alive ? HAVE FUN! Unless your religion forbids it, i can recommend getting drunk. Thank you.

 

[ret]

I find that smoking actually helps.

 

[Brainsilence02]

I don't consume alcohol. Not at all. I just don't find it necessary. Judging from friends, it's easy to go abuse, so DON'T DRINK.

However, just from curiosity, I drank 250-500ml or a 5% wine. I think that it made things easier (didn't bother about things and so on) but I had no feeling of myself. Curiosity ended. But I will say it one more time: DON'T DRINK.

 

[dakotajo]

alcohol is very comparable to benzos. Both work on gaba and the mechanism is very similiar. Taking them together potentiate each other. Both are highly physically and psychologically addiciting. Both are cns depressants. Drugs like this, slow down the output of nts(serotonin) that we need to keep us calm and in good mood. It makes perfect sense why alcohol would aggravate anxiety/depression and worsen dp.

 

[Depersonalized]

alcohol is very comparable to benzos. Both work on gaba and the mechanism is very similiar. Taking them together potentiate each other. Both are highly physically and psychologically addiciting. Both are cns depressants. Drugs like this, slow down the output of nts(serotonin) that we need to keep us calm and in good mood. It makes perfect sense why alcohol would aggravate anxiety/depression and worsen dp.

I find benzos, such as Xanax to be a whole lot better drugs for you than alcohol You get the same effect and you dont feel like crap in the morning. So alcohol is not the best drug on this planet even if it is legalized.

 

[Guest]

well..in the name of sciene i am going to, am?, get pissed on beer and vodka while taking diazepam and trazodone...just so hopefully i can feel normal for one night so i can go out with my girlfriend on our years anniversary.

...will report back with results :shock:

p.s i just know this is gonna bite me in the ass when i sober up

 

[Martinelv]

Everything in moderation.

I'm sure this with get some rabid responses, but every single doctor/therapist/psychiatrist I've seen and spoken to, has said that benzo's are far the lesser of the two evils, when it comes to alcohol and addiction.

Chronic alcohol withdrawal is a evil thing, truely terrible. Seen it first hand, and it's not nice.