Is the use of Ativan good in helping withdrawl syptoms? How long should it be taken for without fearing another addition? Any advice would be helpful. I dont know what alot of drinking is - mine is 1/2 pint of vodka in the early afternoon and sometimes a couple of glasses of wine as well. This has been going on for about 6 months now. Ironically that is about 2 years after my baby boy was diagnosed with autism. I dont want this to get out of hand and want to stop now. Could someone please offer some advice.
Hi Charlotte,
It's true that you may have some axiety in WD from alcohol, but my advice would be to stay away from the Ativan. Can you try tapering your use and then maybe take a day off and see how you feel? It may surprise you how much BETTER you'll feel after stopping for awhile. I have used alcohol to self medicate my anxiety but I think a lot of that anxiety was created by the WD from the alcohol itself. Anyway, I have done it both w/xanax and without anything. Your intake does not seem like a dangerous amount so if I were you...I'd try to taper it and quit w/out the ativan. Why bring in another potentially addictive substance? (Not like I can talk...but I guess because I've "been there"...heck "still here"... wanted to share.)
It could be that you really do have some anxiety and need the meds, but until you take the alcohol out of the picture. how will you know?
Minn
I as well used alcohol to help with anxiety and boredom. Like the previous poster; I believe my alcohol use contributed more to my anxiety than it did to help ameolorate it. Its hard though to know exactly if the anxiety is coming from the anxiety itself, or if one is actually going through a minor form of withdrawal..particualry when so many of the symptoms are the same (jittery/nervous feeling, chills, sweating of the palms and face). I would advise not using the Xanax and see how you feel the first two days. If you start to get real nervous and twitchy...call your doctor or consider the Ativan...10 months daily intake is long enough to go through real withdrawal.
Thanks for the insight. PjCAT - Are you saying that drinking straight for about 10 months will most certainly bring on withdrawls, and possiblly because I have not been drinking that long - I may not suffer terrriby?
it's a case of which came 1st the chicken or the egg. Once you've stopped drinking you will most likely find that the anxiety will pass away, so getting involved with such an addictive drug is not ideal really. Valarian can be helpful in taking the edge of the jitters and that's not addictive; most health shops sell it; also a couple of months on St Johns Wort (assuming you're not on any anti depressents) will help lift your mood wilst you get used to live without alcohol.
Ultimatly you will need help if you think you have a real drinking problem and I would always suggest what worked for me, AA; the number of your local group is in the phone book and they will be only be happy to help out.
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