The first time I quit drinking with MWO I was taking Topamax I purchased off shore. By the time I reached 250 mg I had absolutely no desire to drink. But, I was having problems remembering things and I missed my soft drinks, and I didn?t get my off shore order done in time to not run out of pills before the next delivery. I decided to slowly move down to no topamax. Big mistake. I did pretty well for a few weeks/months but somewhere along the way I decided it was ok for me to drink a beer now and then. Actually I started with the N/A beer but it was not always around when real beer was so I thought I could handle it. Wrong. Slowly at first and then complete capitulation :licked: I started consuming large amounts of booze. It kind of sneaked up on me, and all the sudden I was not only off the wagon, it was running over me. I knew I was having a hard time handling life; so I tried to get an appointment with a psychiatrist but was told it would be a month or more before I could get in :egad: . I tried to hold myself together and stay on top of my problems, but I had an episode of heavy drinking, major depression / breakdown, and was absolutely not capable of functioning. I still could not get an appointment quicker. I was told the only way I could get immediate attention was to check my self into the hospital mental ward. I didn?t want to do that because to me that is where they put those people who answer yes to ?do you feel like you might hurt yourself or someone else?? I don?t think I want to be that someone else so why would I put myself in that position? So I called the psychiatrist every day sometimes twice or three time a day to ask if they had any cancellations. I was determined to get some help. Finally, (I think the receptionist was tired of me and understood how desperate I was) I found a slot for the next week and was happy to get that opportunity. I saw the Dr. today and he was a blessing from God. He is a recovering Alcoholic himself and understood what I was telling him as if he had lived it. I asked about topamax or campral and he has been using both of these for patients who want to quit drinking. Since I have been AF for 12 days he suggested I take campral, along with Gabapentin and Welbutrin. I took my first two doses of meds today and I feel so much better it is unbelievable. I have been AF long enough that the cravings had already started; but now I feel no compulsion to get drunk. Thank God.
I know this is long, but I feel I should post it. I was reluctant to go to a psychiatrist the first time I wanted to quit drinking. I was embarrassed, felt guilty, and ashamed of what I had become. If only I would have had the courage to go to this Dr. then, I might not have had this mental collapse. I found he wanted to help me any way he could. He was not accusing, confrontational, over bearing, or any of the negative things I had built up in my mind. He wanted to help me. That?s it, he wanted to see me get better and he was willing to do whatever he had to do to help me :happy: . I asked him about taking Vivitrol, and he had a favorable opinion but wants to wait until others have had longer to establish its capability and safety. We are going to discuss it more in detail at our next appointment. I would like it better since now I have to take 6 pills a day and the injection last 4 weeks.
I know I am long winded but the moral of the story is; don?t hold back on going to a psychiatrist because of the things you think might happen. My brain makes up all kinds of scenarios and if I concentrate on them they seem to be reality; but only in my mind. Please if you are just starting out (or floundering like me); go find a Dr who will work with you. Just getting over that barrier will make you feel better about your future.
Thanks for letting me run on, it made me feel better if it did nothing else :rays: .
God Bless
Bear
I know this is long, but I feel I should post it. I was reluctant to go to a psychiatrist the first time I wanted to quit drinking. I was embarrassed, felt guilty, and ashamed of what I had become. If only I would have had the courage to go to this Dr. then, I might not have had this mental collapse. I found he wanted to help me any way he could. He was not accusing, confrontational, over bearing, or any of the negative things I had built up in my mind. He wanted to help me. That?s it, he wanted to see me get better and he was willing to do whatever he had to do to help me :happy: . I asked him about taking Vivitrol, and he had a favorable opinion but wants to wait until others have had longer to establish its capability and safety. We are going to discuss it more in detail at our next appointment. I would like it better since now I have to take 6 pills a day and the injection last 4 weeks.
I know I am long winded but the moral of the story is; don?t hold back on going to a psychiatrist because of the things you think might happen. My brain makes up all kinds of scenarios and if I concentrate on them they seem to be reality; but only in my mind. Please if you are just starting out (or floundering like me); go find a Dr who will work with you. Just getting over that barrier will make you feel better about your future.
Thanks for letting me run on, it made me feel better if it did nothing else :rays: .
God Bless
Bear
eace:
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