heavy drinking rewires brain, increases suscepibility to anxiety problems

[bcbm]

well this explains a lot (http://www.newswise.com/articles/heavy-drinking-rewires-brain-increasing-susceptibility-to-anxiety-problems)

[cynicles]

Good thing I don't drink.

[Ocean Seal]

I've had anxiety problems before I started drinking regularly. They don't seem to have gotten worse to be honest. But then again this is constructed for a large sample.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

The worst thing is that alcohol seems like a solution (albeit temporary) to anxiety. Its a vicious cycle, believe me.

[Quail]

That's quite interesting. I find myself using alcohol as a way of self-medicating for anxiety and although it kind of works in the short term, it leaves me feeling more anxious the next day (which I suppose triggers more drinking). I think it's quite common for alcohol abuse and anxiety disorders to occur together, probably feeding into each other, so hopefully these findings will help to find better ways of treating them.

[cynicles]

I already have massive anxiety disorder without the alcohol, like "sometimes won't go out to the mailbox" level of anxiety.

[citizen of industry]

I already have massive anxiety disorder without the alcohol, like "sometimes won't go out to the mailbox" level of anxiety.

Try having a drink before going out to the mailbox.

[Ele'ill]

I've been told that the best release from anxiety is running or some other cardio exercise routine and I think that is correct to a point, that it takes the edge off in a much more consistent manner than drinking does, but it doesn't alleviate the anxiety to the extent that drugs or alcohol does (for me) and when I hear people saying shit like 'who would want to drink or do drugs, I can get a runners high' I cringe because that buzz from heavy workouts isn't anything like doing drugs or drinking it's just completely different and it's a lot less work to just do drugs or drink.

[Ostrinski]

This discussion brings me back to high school when I self medicated my depression and anxiety with marijuana. Like alcohol, it ameliorated the affliction at hand but obviously had a very counterproductive effect in the long run. School was a daily struggle for me in which I was drowned in misery and despair and the only thing I really liked to do was be high.

And I think that demonstrates the worst part and most destructive aspect of self medication with substances: it keeps you dependant and subordinate to it and keeps you from learning to be prudent and learning methods to overcome the fundamental issue so you can be happier and more productive while not having to live high to high.

[cynicles]

I've been told that the best release from anxiety is running or some other cardio exercise routine and I think that is correct to a point, that it takes the edge off in a much more consistent manner than drinking does, but it doesn't alleviate the anxiety to the extent that drugs or alcohol does (for me) and when I hear people saying shit like 'who would want to drink or do drugs, I can get a runners high' I cringe because that buzz from heavy workouts isn't anything like doing drugs or drinking it's just completely different and it's a lot less work to just do drugs or drink.
An exercise high? lol those people are so ridiculous, that's like saying you get high on God. I think in my case though the run outside would only elevated my anxiety given the nature of it.

[Yuppie Grinder]

This discussion brings me back to high school when I self medicated my depression and anxiety with marijuana. Like alcohol, it ameliorated the affliction at hand but obviously had a very counterproductive effect in the long run. School was a daily struggle for me in which I was drowned in misery and despair and the only thing I really liked to do was be high.

And I think that demonstrates the worst part and most destructive aspect of self medication with substances: it keeps you dependant and subordinate to it and keeps you from learning to be prudent and learning methods to overcome the fundamental issue so you can be happier and more productive while not having to live high to high.

I am a very nervous and anxious person and feel much more at ease in school when stoned. I do better in most classes if I'm not sober, too.
If I wanted to give up all drugs cold turkey, I could easily.

[cynicles]

I am a very nervous and anxious person and feel much more at ease in school when stoned. I do better in most classes if I'm not sober, too.
If I wanted to give up all drugs cold turkey, I could easily.
If it we're anything other then marijuana I would roll my eyes, but considering the fact that I went on a 3 month long binge and tehn promptly abstained for the past 5 monthes I believe it.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

An exercise high? lol those people are so ridiculous, that's like saying you get high on God. I think in my case though the run outside would only elevated my anxiety given the nature of it.
Regular exercise can lead to an increased concentration of phenylethylamine, the same chemical found in chocolate that relieves depression, and releases endorphines and serotonin. Not sure if this would help with anxiety but it's been known to help with depression.

[cynicles]

Regular exercise can lead to an increased concentration of phenylethylamine, the same chemical found in chocolate that relieves depression, and releases endorphines and serotonin. Not sure if this would help with anxiety but it's been known to help with depression.

Oh I'm aware that it gives a high, I was mroe laughing at the fact that these same people equate it with the high you get from cannabis.

[rednordman]

An exercise high? lol those people are so ridiculous, that's like saying you get high on God. I think in my case though the run outside would only elevated my anxiety given the nature of it.Highly regular exercise is great for your general mental and physical health but even more so for getting rid of depression/anxiety problems. The real problem is that when you are depressed and or anxious, the last thing you want to do is to exercise.:(

[citizen of industry]

The phrase "you are what you eat" comes to mind. Obviously, eating healthy and exercising will improve quality of life and add a few years. But the phrase itself applies only to animals without the ability to reason. The point is to find food, reproduce and live the longest possible. Suicide isn't especially common in the animal kingdom. There are a lot of junkies that die in their twenties. So, logically, if they would have stayed off the junk and ate healthy and exercised, they could have lived perhaps even post 100. But since they were suicidal, and wanted to die at 16 or so, so they self-medicated and added another decade to their lives.

Mental illness is the problem, and that is because of our alienated society and mode of production. I think statistics bear me out on this. In developing countries workers suffer from injury and disease. In developed countries they go nuts.

[Invader Zim]

So, I'm doing the final work on a reserach project that has to be in (in the next couple of weeks), so choosing this time to abstain from booze and tobacco is a good or bad idea?

[GiantMonkeyMan]

So, I'm doing the final work on a reserach project that has to be in (in the next couple of weeks), so choosing this time to abstain from booze and tobacco is a good or bad idea?
I'd suggest giving up the booze but not bothering with the tobacco. It takes too long to start feeling the positive effects of giving up smoking and you might need it to take the edge off stressful concentrating. (Understand though that I'm not a medical professional, I did some sports studies classes for a-level and remember some of this shit).

[black magick hustla]

Good thing I don't drink.

2 bad so sad

[Os Cangaceiros]

So, I'm doing the final work on a reserach project that has to be in (in the next couple of weeks), so choosing this time to abstain from booze and tobacco is a good or bad idea?

Chainsmoke and drink scotch.

[Art Vandelay]

Chainsmoke and drink scotch.

Best advice ever comrade :)

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

This discussion brings me back to high school when I self medicated my depression and anxiety with marijuana. Like alcohol, it ameliorated the affliction at hand but obviously had a very counterproductive effect in the long run. School was a daily struggle for me in which I was drowned in misery and despair and the only thing I really liked to do was be high.

And I think that demonstrates the worst part and most destructive aspect of self medication with substances: it keeps you dependant and subordinate to it and keeps you from learning to be prudent and learning methods to overcome the fundamental issue so you can be happier and more productive while not having to live high to high.
I think that marijuana usage in my adolescence was a factor in bringing my anxiety to the forefront. Not a direct cause but certainly a factor in its manifestation. I can't even smoke a joint now unless I've had a few beers otherwise my anxiety gets pronounced considerably.

I find it interesting that you felt that marijuana helped with your anxiety, it has often been seen as a substance that would do the opposite. Different drugs affect different people in different ways though.

[cynicles]

2 bad so sad
weed > alcohol