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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Greg on June 8, 2000, at 13:53:42
Did either of you, or anyone, happen to see the special on 20/20 last night regarding the alternative treatment (besides total abstinence) for alcoholism? I had to miss it as it was on past my bedtime, and the VCR is broken. Id love to know what it is. Doesn't somebody come up with something like this at least once a year? I could really use something to cheer me up today. Anybody with any info please let me know.
Greg
Posted by shar on June 8, 2000, at 19:56:53
In reply to Brenda/Shar/Anyone - Did you see 20/20?, posted by Greg on June 8, 2000, at 13:53:42
Greg:
I was trying to un-crash my computer and listened to the show with one ear. Yes, it was the "AA is so rigid, etc. and not everyone has to maintain total abstinence" news again.This guy had gotten addicted to alcohol in college and I believe was abstinent for some years and then decided that he thought he could handle social drinking. So, now he is a social drinker, but not an alkie.
His take on the 12 steps was that it didn't have room for individual differences and he didn't get a lot out of it.
We used to call people who went "out there" again (started drinking) graduates. As in, "oh yeah, Joe graduated" (doesn't need AA anymore).
Also, I remember people talking about having a "slip" (a great word to minimize making a choice to drink and get drunk) and once someone said SLIP stands for "sobriety loses its priority." Thought that was pretty good.
That's my take on the show. Nothing earth shaking. I guess my concern is for the alcoholics who may stay away because of it, but that too is a choice. I know fer damn shure that I am not interested in being a social drinker. I am interested in getting drunk/numb and staying that way as long as possible. So, I don't tempt fate by having even one.
Hope you're doing better today.
Shar
Posted by ChrisK on June 9, 2000, at 6:24:56
In reply to Brenda/Shar/Anyone - Did you see 20/20?, posted by Greg on June 8, 2000, at 13:53:42
Greg,
I didn't see the show for the same reasons as you, past my bedtime and broken VCR. (One of these days when I'm less apathetic I will get a new VCR.) Anyway, one thing that has helped me as an alcoholic is Naltrexone. It does a good job of killing cravings for alcohol and drugs.
I don't know the exact workings in the brain but it blocks the transmitters that give you the feeling of being high.
There was a time when I was taking this med that I continued to drink and never had the feeling of being drunk. In my case it did a great job of blocking the recepters that made me feel "good" from drinking. I can definitely reccommend this med for people trying to get off of drugs or alcohol. It also has AD properties that have been documented in the archives here.
I have no idea if this is what ABC had on their show but it has been very helpful for me.
BTW, the brand name is ReVia if you want to do a web search.
Chris
Posted by Greg on June 9, 2000, at 8:04:31
In reply to Re: Brenda/Shar/Anyone - Did you see 20/20?, posted by ChrisK on June 9, 2000, at 6:24:56
Chris,
I am currently celebrating my 12th wonderful year of sobriety. Trust me when I say that I have no desire to go back out and "test the waters" under any circumstances. My curiousity was based on the knowledge that almost every year someone comes up with a new "cure" for alcoholism, and I thought that this new one on 20/20 might give me a well needed laugh.
I can assure you that no drug will ever allow me to drink again and I really (by the grace of God) don't have a desire to. I probably always have been, and most definitely always will be, an alcoholic. Thankfully, I am a "recovering" one.
Now if they come up with a permanent cure for depression and anxiety, I'll be the first guinea pig in line....
Thanks for your response, Chris.
May your day be a peaceful one,
Greg> Greg,
>
> I didn't see the show for the same reasons as you, past my bedtime and broken VCR. (One of these days when I'm less apathetic I will get a new VCR.) Anyway, one thing that has helped me as an alcoholic is Naltrexone. It does a good job of killing cravings for alcohol and drugs.
>
> I don't know the exact workings in the brain but it blocks the transmitters that give you the feeling of being high.
>
> There was a time when I was taking this med that I continued to drink and never had the feeling of being drunk. In my case it did a great job of blocking the recepters that made me feel "good" from drinking. I can definitely reccommend this med for people trying to get off of drugs or alcohol. It also has AD properties that have been documented in the archives here.
>
> I have no idea if this is what ABC had on their show but it has been very helpful for me.
>
> BTW, the brand name is ReVia if you want to do a web search.
>
> Chris
Posted by kady on June 9, 2000, at 8:33:31
In reply to Re: Brenda/Shar/Anyone - Did you see 20/20? » ChrisK, posted by Greg on June 9, 2000, at 8:04:31
>My husband is an alcoholic in recovery. He has abstained for 6 years. I have attended some open aa meetings as well as al anon. My sister is very actively involved in al anon as her husband is an alcoholic in recovery. It's strange, but I always felt that alcohol hits people differently as drugs do. I have always felt that the 12 steps were not overly realistic while fully supporting those who work them. I think the 20/20 show was extemely valid in many ways, yet, if you have been sober for years why in god's name would you want to "test the waters". I do feel that in many alcoholism is a behavioral problem and in many it is a chemical reaction etc. I found it interesting as did my husband. I have had family and friends with alcohol addictions and I can tell the difference between true addiction and doing it just because life isn't always what you want. I say to all alcoholics, stick to your sobriety, but know there are other alternatives. It isn't worth the risk. It's expensive and it's mostly sugar! And congratulations to all those who have remained sober. I am as proud of you as I am of my husband. I stopped going to his occassional open meetings because I would tear up at the end of them. I was so proud of all of them!
Posted by Brenda on June 9, 2000, at 11:10:37
In reply to Brenda/Shar/Anyone - Did you see 20/20?, posted by Greg on June 8, 2000, at 13:53:42
> Did either of you, or anyone, happen to see the special on 20/20 last night regarding the alternative treatment (besides total abstinence) for alcoholism? I had to miss it as it was on past my bedtime, and the VCR is broken. Id love to know what it is. Doesn't somebody come up with something like this at least once a year? I could really use something to cheer me up today. Anybody with any info please let me know.
>
> GregGreg,
I didn't catch the show. Have seen/heard that stuff before. I agree with Kady's post - some people seem to have a "true" chemical addiction, while others are very heavy drinkers - without being alcoholics. Me - I'm an alcoholic. It sucks, but that's the way it is. The best thing for me was acceptance - like it says in the Big Book. First I had to accept my alcoholism. That was easy for me compared to accepting the fact that after 19 /12 years of sobriety, I still on occasion crave a drink. What I've accepted is that it's not the drink per se, but the relief - how be it brief - from depression and frustration. As long as I tell someone when the craving hits me, I'm usually okay. I do believe in the 12-steps, but don't attend meetings anymore. I started medicating with alcohol at age fourteen. Then drugs. By age twenty-five, I was so f---ed up, I'd forget where I left my baby, etc. Thank god back then the cops would just take me home instead of to jail! As long as I continue on my medication for depression and accept my limits in life, I've been able to stay sober. I KNOW I can never drink again - but I sure as hell sometimes want to. I'm grateful for supportive friends and family.
Back to your original question - for those folks who have a problem with alcohol and not alcoholism, those quick fixes may help them. That stuff is not the answer for me. One day at a time and being grateful is what works for me.
Hope this helps, Brenda
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