allhonest
02-15-2007, 06:19 AM
I have never been diagnosed with OCD, but I'm pretty sure I have Pure-O.
While other people might get a temporarily relief from their anxiety when they drink alcohol, my experience is quite the opposite, at least when drinking in social situations. When I drink, I get that "lock" described by many OCD sufferers as a "brain lock". And then I try to fight my feeling of anxiety because hey, you're supposed to have fun when you attend a party right. I sort of try to avoid "losing" the fun that parties are supposed to be. So it just spirals downwards and it ends with me withdrawing from the party (and a lot of depressive thoughts!). If somebody tells me something at the party that I take in, it contributes to the spiral. Just the slightest hint that what is being said is meaningful about me as a person is enough to get the intense rumination going.
The day after however, I am full of energy (contrary to what most people experience the next day).
So here's my theory:
1. The brain registers the alcohol and sends out the "something-is-wrong-signal"
2. The frontal cortex, basal ganglia and amygdala start working
3. These three parts of the brain constitute a mutually dependent "lock". The brain works overtime
I guess most "normal" people would let go and relax when they drink alcohol and attend a party. Me, I relax my brains much more reading about black holes (read "a brief history of time"?) or performing extreme sports. That state of "flow" is something that just never happens at parties and that is why I never get to know people at parties (they might see my Pure-O though as I get pretty distracted / distanced.)
What is your experience with OCD and alcohol?
Does it give a calming effect or can it (like in my case) trigger your OCD?
While other people might get a temporarily relief from their anxiety when they drink alcohol, my experience is quite the opposite, at least when drinking in social situations. When I drink, I get that "lock" described by many OCD sufferers as a "brain lock". And then I try to fight my feeling of anxiety because hey, you're supposed to have fun when you attend a party right. I sort of try to avoid "losing" the fun that parties are supposed to be. So it just spirals downwards and it ends with me withdrawing from the party (and a lot of depressive thoughts!). If somebody tells me something at the party that I take in, it contributes to the spiral. Just the slightest hint that what is being said is meaningful about me as a person is enough to get the intense rumination going.
The day after however, I am full of energy (contrary to what most people experience the next day).
So here's my theory:
1. The brain registers the alcohol and sends out the "something-is-wrong-signal"
2. The frontal cortex, basal ganglia and amygdala start working
3. These three parts of the brain constitute a mutually dependent "lock". The brain works overtime
I guess most "normal" people would let go and relax when they drink alcohol and attend a party. Me, I relax my brains much more reading about black holes (read "a brief history of time"?) or performing extreme sports. That state of "flow" is something that just never happens at parties and that is why I never get to know people at parties (they might see my Pure-O though as I get pretty distracted / distanced.)
What is your experience with OCD and alcohol?
Does it give a calming effect or can it (like in my case) trigger your OCD?
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steveo23
02-15-2007, 08:33 AM
Hey
I must say that alcohol has served as a big trigger for me in the past, and like you, I never really experienced the ill after effects the next day like a lot of people do with their OCD or just in general really... it was just when I was drinking. I can understand it very well; the party atmosphere, lots of people talking, lots of things going on, the intake of booze putting a distorted view on things... the environment is full of triggers, and it can set the scene for some very intense rumination. Especially if you combine alcohol with any medication you may be taking; it's not the best mix there ever was.
That's an interesting theory. I do still drink socially these days, but now it's no longer a regular thing for me, and I am much more sensible with it (ha, those crazy college years), it doesnt give me a problem in terms of OCD. I think anything that has a calming effect and takes the edge of OCD is good thing; reading, exercise, sensible drinking, whatever. Yeah, I picked up that book as some extra reading when I was studying physics. Of course, it went way over my head, haha.
Steve
I must say that alcohol has served as a big trigger for me in the past, and like you, I never really experienced the ill after effects the next day like a lot of people do with their OCD or just in general really... it was just when I was drinking. I can understand it very well; the party atmosphere, lots of people talking, lots of things going on, the intake of booze putting a distorted view on things... the environment is full of triggers, and it can set the scene for some very intense rumination. Especially if you combine alcohol with any medication you may be taking; it's not the best mix there ever was.
That's an interesting theory. I do still drink socially these days, but now it's no longer a regular thing for me, and I am much more sensible with it (ha, those crazy college years), it doesnt give me a problem in terms of OCD. I think anything that has a calming effect and takes the edge of OCD is good thing; reading, exercise, sensible drinking, whatever. Yeah, I picked up that book as some extra reading when I was studying physics. Of course, it went way over my head, haha.
Steve
ocdengineer
02-15-2007, 09:10 AM
No worrys Steveo23. "A brief history of time" is way over most peoples head. If you can understand half the book you are doing well.
Anyway, alcohol was bad for me as well, but not while drinking only the day after. I would be sick for days and full of anxiety, so I quit drinking altogether. It was the logical conclusion to a long bout of drinking that started in college and didn't end until a couple years ago. I pretty much quit smoking and drinking at the same time because they both mask the anxiety dissorder and I wanted to know what I was up against. I also quit caffeine which was very critical. Caffeine is one of the worst things you can ingest if you have anxiety becuase it is a stimulant. If you thik racing thoughts ocurr without caffeine, your thoughts are just amplified after the caffeine.
Exercise and eating well als help a lot. I started weight training and have really been into it for the last 6-7 months. Any kind of exercise is helpful though. It gives you a place where you can release all that anxious energy and then go home exhausted. LOL. I love it.
Anyway, take care guys,
OE
Anyway, alcohol was bad for me as well, but not while drinking only the day after. I would be sick for days and full of anxiety, so I quit drinking altogether. It was the logical conclusion to a long bout of drinking that started in college and didn't end until a couple years ago. I pretty much quit smoking and drinking at the same time because they both mask the anxiety dissorder and I wanted to know what I was up against. I also quit caffeine which was very critical. Caffeine is one of the worst things you can ingest if you have anxiety becuase it is a stimulant. If you thik racing thoughts ocurr without caffeine, your thoughts are just amplified after the caffeine.
Exercise and eating well als help a lot. I started weight training and have really been into it for the last 6-7 months. Any kind of exercise is helpful though. It gives you a place where you can release all that anxious energy and then go home exhausted. LOL. I love it.
Anyway, take care guys,
OE
plagued
02-21-2007, 09:03 PM
i have pure o and drinking seems to make it worse. if i only have a few, i feel fine, but if i get a little drunk i go crazy the next day. when i wake up i think, oh my god what did i do? then the thoughts begin-what did i do- did i kiss someone-did i have sex with someone-did i hit something with my car? once i start thinking about one thing i cant get it out of my mind. if i cant remember everthing that i did in detail i start to come up with things that i might of done. this turns into a vicious cycle that i cant stop. i think i keep obsessing over my thoughts instead of my actions-it drives me crazy. then i start looking for things to prove or disprove what i think and if the littlest thing is out of place i automattically assume the worst. i feel your pain.:eek: