perhaps we should talk about the traditional medication used by many for stress,anxiety and panic attacks and phobias, namely alcahol.
many of us rely on the booze in order to function, and to be able to get out there, go places and do things.
vodka is popular, the theory being that people cant smell it on the breath. alcahol's effectiveness seems to vary a lot, its the complete cure for some but doesnt help others much at all. more and more is needed, of course, so that eventually people can only often drive when drunk.
I have known of anxious people eventually requiriring huge amounts of liquor, several pints a day, in order to be able to function. they finish up as alcaholics without particularly wanting to be.
they sometimes only stop or reduce their drinking when liver damage or other problems start to show up.
benzo addicts suffer far less damage to their bodies than do alcahol addicts.

the effects of alcahol on the popular meds such as benzos and antidepressants needs to be discussed, also it would be helpful to tell the doctor, dentist, etc how much you have drunk that day, as sometimes they cant tell.

ironically, sometimes fortifying ones self with a couple of drinks for some difficult social occasion is seen as OK, whereas taking a valium is seen as a sign of moral weakness.....

ALCOHOL sounds so much like BENZODIAZEPINES... (xanax, ativan, etc)

Doesnt it Jennita? http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/blob_fire.gif

People get brain damage, from Benzo's!

What would I rather have liver damage or brain damage, probably liver damage, at least I could get a liver transplant.

Alcohol causes brain damage as well. So does sleep deprivation and a million other things that we do every day. Just-A-Boy please think before you speak.

Can you please not be rude to me... Thank You!

Hey sorry if I came off a little harsh but I think you need to watch what you say on a board where people are very sensitive to fear. Constructive Criticism is fine but your posts seem to try and have some shock value to them. Try and be a bit more supportive.

Well, Just-a-Boy does have a point!!! Benzodiazepines and alcohol are cross-tolerant. They even use benzodiazepines to detox people from severe alcoholism.

Alcohol in moderation is not extremely harmful...it's when people make a daily habit of it that they start to get in trouble, you know, like always having some beers everyday after work to unwind...we used to have a neighboor who started to drink in leiu of eating a meal! Not good!!

In contrast, when my mother-in-law lost her husband, she would have one small drink when she would get anxious and sad...but only one and not everyday! Now, time healed some of her sorrow and now she is extremely active and happy....not at all even close to an alcoholic. Her doctor was pushing Prozac at that time, she politely refused.

Personally, I avoid alcohol. Never liked the taste...and one time I had a bit of wine before a meal, on an empty stomach, and got a bit tipsy...I did not like it at all! I guess I am one who likes to be in control rather than being controlled, I suppose? I don't know. Everyone else loves "happy-hour", so I guess that makes me the party-pooper! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

I respect your "statement" Mike76... but I dont agree of the judgment you gave a bout me.

My post didnt contain any of inaccurate, abusive, defamatory, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy statements.

Thank You!

Originally posted by hry33:

benzo addicts suffer far less damage to their bodies than do alcahol addicts.


This is probably true. However, this does not minimize the pain a suffering some doctors have caused to their patients by putting them on benzos for far too long.

Alcohol is a crutch......

For anxiety and stress relief, try exercise.

CChan
For anxiety and stress relief, try exercise


I totaly agree. Exercise does wounders for anxiety. But I have to tell all of you, my cure was the end of my nicotene addiction (dipping tobaco). I dipped tobaco for 17 years.It was only about a week after I stoped before I could feel a real change in the way I was feeling. Hope it works for you.

Good luck and God Bless to all of you.

hry33, you are so right about the booze. Truth be told up until this point the way I've gotten myself through a nerve-wracking situation is to have a little nip. I'm trying to find some type of natural remedy out there but honestly nothing gives me that good old-fashioned "I don't give a damn" care-free attitude like a quick shot. My anxiety isn't severe enough for an over-the-counter medication but lately that pushing in my throat feeling is starting to scare me. That's why I came to this site and so far just being able to yack with you guys has been a stress relief in itself! Cheers! ha, ha.

This is a good topic. I hate to admit this but I have anxiety about driving, especially on the highway. Panic attacks and the whole thing. The only time I'm relaxed enough to drive on the highway comfortably is after I've had a few drinks. A lot of people don't realize how much they drive and how essential it is. I even avoid dating if I know we'll have to drive on the freeway to get to our destination. When I tell people I can't drive they give me a strange look and don't believe me, and on top of it all I love to travel. I'm about to start taking xanax and see if I can get my life back.