What's your relationship with alcohol?

I'd drink every day if it weren't for health effects and cost. Although some types of spirits can be cheap enough without being instantly puke-inducing or horribly hangovergenic, so cost is only a minor issue. Just mix in some fruit juice (cheap fruit juice, of course) and you're good to go. But my general sleep quality is already bad on its own, and any time I drink alcohol there's a risk that it will go on to completely ruin it. It not only gets me (physically and mentally) tired over the next week or so, but also moody.

Any kind of wine makes me instantly nauseous (even the smell). I think I was 15 the first time I tried spirits (and then after that I kept drinking a sip here and there), but I only tried beer for the first time when I was 20 or so, as it didn't smell good. I've since discovered that there is good beer, and I like to drink a bottle or two by myself once in a while (back in college, for a while, these "one or two" bottles were more like "three to six", once or twice every week). I have been heavily drunk a few times (not many), but never by myself (which means it hasn't happened in a long while now).

I've been trying several types of medication recently (most of which don't go along with alcohol), so I have barely drunk any alcohol in the past twelve months or so. I get by with my daily sleeping pills. Their effect is somewhat similar to alcohol, but instead of worsening my sleep they help me sleep better. And they're not expensive. And unless I skip a dose, there doesn't seem to be any side effects. (If I do skip a dose, hell breaks loose.)

Alcohol & I are comrades. I am actually buzzed off a combination of alcohol and phenibut right now.

I would imagine most schizoids enjoy taking a few pulls from the bottle to ease up some social discomfort. And then maybe a minority of schizoids use alcohol to help fight inner emptiness? Just guesses. Personality disorders and substance abuse often do go hand-in-hand though.

Placid wrote:Alcohol & I are comrades. I am actually buzzed off a combination of alcohol and phenibut right now.

Phenibut. Does it work as an anxiolytic? Is it addictive (or at least do you find it addictive)? I'm looking into things that can reduce my anxiety.

Obumbrata wrote:Phenibut. Does it work as an anxiolytic? Is it addictive (or at least do you find it addictive)? I'm looking into things that can reduce my anxiety.

As far as I'm aware, all sedatives are addictive. Antidepressants are often prescribed against chronic anxiety, but unlike the effects of sedatives, the effects of antidepressants are very slow and complex, and they always include major downsides besides addiction/dependence (very often rendering the drug more harmful than helpful). Insomnia (all forms of it) seems to be the most common undesirable effect of antidepressants of all types.

Also, it's worth mentioning: it depends on the amounts and dosages, obviously, but drinking alcohol while under the effect of sedatives can be fatal. (In fact, there's probably a significant list of famous people who died this way.) One of the reasons is that alcohol reacts chemically with a lot of things, but perhaps the major reason is that alcohol itself is a sedative (any sedative in excess can kill you).

Obumbrata wrote:

Placid wrote:Alcohol & I are comrades. I am actually buzzed off a combination of alcohol and phenibut right now.

Phenibut. Does it work as an anxiolytic? Is it addictive (or at least do you find it addictive)? I'm looking into things that can reduce my anxiety.

I took four grams of it, and I was pretty gone. Two grams is anxiolytic and relaxing. I have read anecdotal reports saying that yes, it's pretty addictive. I don't do it often myself, so I haven't had the chance to find out. Honestly, if you can be a responsible person, best anxiolytic I could recommend is etizolam, commonly bought as Etilaam, marketed by Intas Pharmaceuticals. You can buy some here. Be smart & be careful, also read below. If you have any questions, ask. I've taken plenty of etizolam.

*mod edit- link removed*

anagram wrote:

Obumbrata wrote:Phenibut. Does it work as an anxiolytic? Is it addictive (or at least do you find it addictive)? I'm looking into things that can reduce my anxiety.

As far as I'm aware, all sedatives are addictive. Antidepressants are often prescribed against chronic anxiety, but unlike the effects of sedatives, the effects of antidepressants are very slow and complex, and they always include major downsides besides addiction/dependence (very often rendering the drug more harmful than helpful). Insomnia (all forms of it) seems to be the most common undesirable effect of antidepressants of all types.

Also, it's worth mentioning: it depends on the amounts and dosages, obviously, but drinking alcohol while under the effect of sedatives can be fatal. (In fact, there's probably a significant list of famous people who died this way.) One of the reasons is that alcohol reacts chemically with a lot of things, but perhaps the major reason is that alcohol itself is a sedative (any sedative in excess can kill you).

IMO drugs can be used as a tool to break down the mental barriers that have been erected by environmental conditioning.

Of course, there is a difference between use and abuse. Drug use is when you have a definite endpoint in mind which that drug is instrumental in helping you reach. The use stops at that endpoint. Drug abuse is when you are modifying your brain chemistry with the explicit purpose of not feeling sober. Personally I both use and abuse drugs. lol

Also, dependence with many (certainly not all, but many) drugs, come from these two things:

1. Psychological dependence
2. Putting the drug in your brain for so long that your neurology becomes accustomed to it

Both of those problems IMO come from either losing sight of an endpoint for use of the drug, or not having a reasonable one to begin with.

We're just good friends.

Question: Why was my link removed?

Thanks placid and anagram. Yes, I know about sedatives and addiction. And I've learned my lesson wrt sedatives + alcohol (in large amounts anyway, I still mix in small quantities every so often). I'm just trying to find alternatives to my current med situation. I'm looking for things I can bring up with my doctor(s). I'm just trying to get informed at this stage about what's out there. I won't be trying anything new anytime soon.

I don't particularly like the taste of alcohol so I rarely drink any alcoholic beverages. Also both my parents suffered from alcohol abuse so that also was another reason why I didn't care for alcohol much because I didn't want to turn into my parents.

I'm definitely a drunk. I have 2-3 shots at least 5 nights a week. I don't know why I like it so much. I guess just to stave off boredom until I fall asleep and have more stuff to do the next day. Also due to drinking so much, usually I drink the cheapest I can find from Vodka/Rum/Gin 1.5L bottles and mix it with soda pop or juice. I probably get a new one every paycheck.

I like to think I'm under control, but... that's just drunk logic.