Drug Rehab Options Blog

Hi my name is Jennifer and im roughly five weeks sober, ive been through early recovery before and thought I had all the bases covered but Ive come up against something new this time.

I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression many times but I always assumed that it was just part and parcel of my drinking, I used depression on my sick notes instead of alcohol dependency (less of a stigma, lol).

The horrific anxiety has lessened significantly since I stopped drinking, but in the last couple of weeks I have become crippled with what I can only call depression.

I dont feel miserable I just dont feel anything, I have gone from being a chronic insomniac to sleeping (or just zoning out) for approxiametly 18 hours a day.

I hate leaving the house, Im not frightened I just dont want to, and even when I do I cant bring myself to talk or interact with anyone, Im fairly ok when Im on my own but life isnt like that, is it.

Im taking anti depressents, which I have been for a while, along with vitamins and Im trying to eat healthily etc.

I am seeing a counsellor and although it started off well enough, Im starting to feel its a bit pointless, or even counter productive, Im not sure how experienced she is and although she is lovely I find myself becoming frustrated with her.

I would appreciate any advice any one has to offer, should I just wait this out or is there other avenues I should be exploring.:dunno

well, let me just explain: i guess you could say i am the epitome of cross addictied. i have been diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia, drug addiction, and alcoholism...along with the standard mental disorders of social anxiety, PTSD, and depression. having said that, alcoholism is the main evil of the moment. really, i can't make it for two days without flying into a rage and heading for the liquor store. and i do *try*...but the irritability that comes along with the withdrawls is too much to bear sometimes. also, i read some previous posts about the alcohol and facial puffiness *which i cannot stand*...i notice it most the first few days of withdrawl and as someone with an eating disorder i am aware that i am waayyy too sensitive as to what other people think of me. HOWEVER, one comment on how bloated my face looks and BAM, it's back to the vodka bottle. you all seem to have a lot of strengh and i know you don't have "all the answers", but if you all could give me advice on how you got throught that initial month of sobriety (most i've had is 2 weeks in the past 2 years) i would love to hear it. thanks!!

Hi

I wanted to strart this post as I have been drinking all my adult life (now 37). I went to AA, counselling, and tried to deal with alcoholism myself too unsuccessfully. I was always depressed about what i thought was the drinking.

2 months ago i decided it might be time to start thinking about how to end my life as it really was not living anymore and i could not get any better. At this point i decided i would have one more shot at it and went to a counseller.

I've been going for 2 times a week ever since and have been sober with no real hard cravings like when i tried to give up myself. I think in some way it has helped me to be told that i have been self medicating using alcohol to either in some part deal with the anxiety/depression/social anxiety and to some extent the issues i have with myself, which i am addressing now and will continue to do so at counselling.

I was prescribed anti-depressants (seroxat or paxil as it is known in the states), anatabuse and an anti anxiety pill for the weeks coming off booze.

I want to start this thread as i wanted to get some feedback on the above and also wanted to discuss users questions about my road to recovery which has, and i know will be now, successful. Fears on medication etc.

I would never have really considered what i have done to get to being able to sit here happy and posting in a sane frame of mind, post away please:-)