Quitting Alcohol & anxiety/depression

I'm in my 50's, always worked out & alway drank every day of my adult life. I guess with the vitamins & working out it never really showed. I drank like a 6-pak of beer & a couple drinks every night to mostly compensate for acute anxiety problems. The problem is it gradually got worse - anxiety & drinking last fdew years.
I decided to quit drinking 5-months ago and the anxciety sky-rocketed and I was in deep depression for about 3-months. The anxiety & depression are slowly going away & it was indeed the wrost feeling I've ever experienced and now day dream of "just feeling normal all the time". I'm going to therapy every week and on mild xanax when needed for the anxiety. One benfit I've noticed is my blood pressure has gone from about 130/90 to around 100/60 and my heart rate has gone from 75-85 down to 45-55. I have read the anxiety part can take up to a year to go away completely & wonder what advice or experience others may have had with this. The anxiety is bad enough - when the depression feeling comes on its almost unbearable [buit thank goodness its slowly now going away [ WHEW!!].

[ibizan]

Not quite sure what the question is here.......giving up alcohol?alcohols role w/anxiety and depression?

[HSFBFAN]

My question basically for those with experience is how long does the anxiety & depression feeling s take to taper off & go away? I first stopped drinking by tapering off with a beer or 2 a day & then like a month later drank a 6-pak & a couple drinks & the next day I felt horrible. It happened once more after that where I didn't even drink much & the after effects lingered for like 3-4 days [depression & anxiety big time]. It is worse than any hangover you can imagine & since I never experience anything like this I'm looking for some insight as to when I'll feel completely "normal" again.

[ibizan]

i underwent inpatient rehab in 1983 used from 14-28....smoked pot daily for 11 years,heavy alcohol use several times a week.....mixed drink person....valium 10 mgs. several times a week to bite anxiety after drinking and help sleep....bad thing there a benzo...thats a cousin to that xanax ur using.....and also last year of use got in2 a cocaine habit several times a week a 1/4-1/2 gram per episode.That was 27 years ago i'm 55 now.....i've had no relapsing....but they told me in rehab it would take at least a year for the emotions to settle.......regular 12 step aa/na was a HUGE help......I found it 2 b true....u cannot expect quick relief from a habit thats take u years to develop!Ah we want immediate gratification in all aspects of our life don't we?:0That xanax does more damage than good..is habit forming......u need doctors advice of gradual weaning off to cessation!It would help immensely for u to try some AA and/or join a support group for recovering alcoholics!This is very tough to do alone....u need the aid of ur peers that have gone b4 u w/this to guide u thru!Sure helped me!

[working dog]

my anxiety took a couple years to go away........it does go away in time......good luck....billy

[rpooo]

It sure sounds like your on the right track. I worry about you being on Xanax since it can become very addictive as Ibizan already stated. I to have spent my adult years drinking like crazy until abot 1 1/2 years ago.

Anxiety runs in my family, I have 4 siblings and we are all stuck with it and my daughter has it. Mine was so out of control I couldn't drive anymore or be in public. I could barely ride along as passenger. I use to have to leave the movie theater and I could barely speak during my department head meetings and certainitly could not write to take not since I would shake so bad. This was noticed right away by the TV Station general manager so I had to explain it to him. Fortunatly he was familar with it and was very understanding.

My doctor now prescibes me Lexapro and I was able to feel the effects immediately. Once the dosage was adjusted to fit what I needed it has worked amazing. I think of it as my little miricle pill because it has given me back my life. I very seldom feel anxiety anymore and people driving on I-10 in Texas watch out because here I come. Ha ha!

I dont know if there are different types of anxiety like what I have but I do know that alcohol had a big effect on it. It calmed me down a lot so it didn't seem so bad.  Talk to your doctor and find out if its fitting for you and get rid of that xanax! Take care.
Randy

[dominosarah]

My concern is with the Xanax right now..........

[HSFBFAN]

Hey thanks for the response as well as the others & they are all helpful.
You're right about the anxiety thing being heriditary as my 3-sisters have it & 2 of my 3 kids as well. My daughter has been in AA for 3-years and did alcohol & drugs heavily as a young person. I found out in my parents last years that they both had anxiety issues, but no clue what to do about them [my mom couldn't stand being in busy grocery stores].

As for the xanax I don't seem to have any kind of problem or concern with it. Except for alcohol I've never liked taking any kind of meds or pills. Therefore, my wife has had to threaten me with taking the xanax once in awhile, as I take 1/2  of the lightest does I was prescribed & that is maybe once a month. Thank good ness the last couple days the depression feeling has eased up considerable and my anxiety has lessened also. I'm working out, trying to meditate & not get too wrapped up in work. I mostly am trying to concentrate on my 3-kids, my wife & our new grandson & that helps tremendously. Its weird but at my lowest moments I just wanted to be left alone & thought maybe I'd be better off by myself with no one to bother me. Not sure why I felt this way, but know that would NOT be a good thing. Thank you all though for the very smart warning on the xanax - don't want to trade one problem for another.

[dominosarah]

Ok i am not worried about the xanax now!!!  

You sound like you have a good plan and are working at relieving the anxiety in your life.  I think you come by this honestly with other family members having anxiety.  Keep doing what you are doing.  

My grandbabies are the best therapy in the world.  There is nothing like seeing the world thru a childs eyes~~~sara

[rpooo]

I guess I dont understand why your wife would want to take the pills unless she has concerns of it becoming a problem. If your not able to take this medication as directed then you need another. So I still strongly suggest talking to your doctor about Lexapro. It is a non-habbit forming medication. I have doubts that any doctor would prescibe xanax knowing you have such an addictive personality. It almost sounds dangerous for you to use this medication as directed. I have cirrhosis and I cant even get pain pills from my doctor! ha ha I suppose I could through a fit and he would give them to me since the pain is daily but like you just said " don't want to trade one problem for another ". I also think that its likely you will have to live with this anxiety the rest of your life since it is hereditary. Mine didn't surface unil my early 30's.

In my last post i was so busy going on and on that I forgot to tell you Congradulations on your sobrity! It really is a rewarding accomplishment! I wish you the best.

Randy

[dominosarah]

I think he meant that his wife reminds him that he does have some anxiety meds when the anxiety gets to be to much......

[rpooo]

Oooh, Thank you Sarah Ha ha. Wow I totally did not get that. Times like this I blame on the cirrhosis (HE) ha ha Sometimes my wife will ask me to do something and ill tease and say I cant, my liver hurts! ha ha It never hurts and she knows it so its funny but worth a try!

[ibizan]

oh yeah...she asks u to do something..but ur big furry carcass is asleep and snorrrringgggggggggggggg zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz most of the time so she told me in a pm...why bother?

[rpooo]

Ooowwwwwwee, Dont say things like that, it hurts my liver! I get the feeling that according to you she has PM'd you quite alot..are you sure your not drunk or something? LMAO! Just teasing!

[ibizan]

Nah..Lord if i had a drink i'd fall down and not be able to get up for days.....LifeAlert wouldn't save me either!:)i just have so much fun w/u here......u got greyt sense of humor and good advice for ppl seeking answers!:)i do appreciate u ol fuzzy furry honeybearbutt!!!!

[rpooo]

My face is so red and my head is about to explode and here it is foolish me I been worried about my liver this whole time. It's Ibizan and her charm I gotta watch out for! Thank you Ibizan I usually just watch your lead and go from there!

[ibizan]

Ah my big  cyberloquacious fuzzbutt..i've schooled u well......ur such a help here.....i just ate some chunks of juicy watermelon for u...bears like that!:)

[Jaybay]

PHHPPPLLLRBBBTTT!!!!  I just about spewed my water all over my computer!  "Cyberloquacious!"  ibizan, I'm swiping that one from you.  ROFL!  :-D

rpooo - On a more serious note, I'm with you on the Lexapro.  That stuff worked wonders for both my depression and anxiety that had plagued me for years.  I noticed improvement with the very first dose and stabilized at only 10 mg.  Been on it for years until we lost insurance and I needed something cheaper.  Celebrex is just OK.  I could miss a couple doses of lexapro and be OK but can't miss one dose of the celebrex or I'm noticeably uptight.  

I really have to wonder why doctors prescribe xanax so much.  Like you said, there are plenty of other meds to try like lexapro that don't mess up your mind and become destructively habit forming.  I can see it for the occasional panic attack but for daily use?  Makes no sense to me, but then I'm blonde and these things make my brain hurt...  ;-)

[rpooo]

When I was prescribed Xanax it was so that when I had an event coming up that I knew would bother me I could take Xanax in order to help with it. This drug is a Benzo-diazepines so it has the potential to become very habbit forming. Also persons with liver disease should not take Xanax or persons that have a history of drug abuse or alcoholism so once I found this out I stopped right away.

HSFBFAN
Here is something I thought you might need to read about if your breaking or cutting any pills to take one half a dose.

Xanax may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Xanax should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

IBIZAN I had to look this one up! Look up I did it again! ha ha Thats just me, always something to say. Blah blah blah! ha ha la la la
lo·qua·cious   /loʊˈkweɪʃəs/  Show Spelled
[loh-kwey-shuhs]  Show IPA

–adjective
1. talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous: a loquacious dinner guest.
2. characterized by excessive talk; wordy: easily the most loquacious play of the season.

[ibizan]

J-glad u enjoyed!both u and pooh make a fab point bout the meds......i agree 150%.....and rpoohbear...ur loquaciousness is of value...no empty chatter from u in this forum...it is all GOOD!

[HSFBFAN]

Some really good feedback from everyone here & much appreciated, especially the comments regarding the xanax. The part about not breaking it up is interesting as 2-different doctors told me to take 1/2 & then take another 1/2 if you feel the need [?]. Also found interesting if you may have liver damage from drinking [don't know if I do or don't] then you shouldn't be taking it [obviously good to know!].

The depression aspect of withdrawal is hard to figure. Most people including a therapist say the alcohol is out of your system in a few days & the withdrawal symptoms should subside after a few weeks. With me I felt like crap for a couple months [read 90-days for your brain to "reset" from an addiction once you stop]. The depression thing lasted about 6-months daily and was overwhelming at times. Suddenly though its like a light swithc was turned off & suddenly its now gone - HOORAY!! I am taking it slowly though as this happened once before & suddenly it reappeared for several days. Researching myself it seems the body AND mind can take up to a year once you stop taking an addictive substance like alcohol after having many years on a daily basis -which is probably true.

BTW - I think this forum is so helpful because of the experiences shared by all who comment. I asked my therapist recently if they'd ever suffered from depression and/or anxiety & they answered "No". Now while I respect their Ph.D in psycology I wondered how they could even understand what I was going through & feeling....

[ibizan]

unreal what that therapist told u.....google Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome in Alcoholism.......it will help u understand what ur going thru.....and refer the therapist to read it as well!