Because the last time I drank I had an alcohol seizure, the kinds of medications I can be on is always a serious consideration.

When I fell apart in 2003, I was prescribed neurontin to help with nerves. This is a non-FDA approved use. I believe it is used for epilepsy, and it is a good med bec. it is not processed by the liver, gets flushed out pretty quickly. I am taking it at a much, much lower dose than an epileptic might. I still take an almost minuscule dose if I've been sleepless a few nights and want to sleep. I am tring to phase it out for that.

As for using alcohol for job nerves, I drank some vodka (ha, how young I was, hadn't yet graduated to tequila, my booze of choice which I remember o-so-fondly) out of the glove compartment of the car before I went in for the job interview that got me my first reporting job. "False courage, Dutch courage, who the heck cares where the courage comes from," I remember reasoning.

But alcohol is a bad friend, charming at first, but ruinous in the end.

Good luck, both of you, finding what you need to work with you and for you.