Drinks + therapy???

OK, I'm sure no one will think this is ideal, but I'm curious what the thoughts are on going to therapy with a little buzz. I could see the plus side: you could get things out that you have always held back due to self-consciousness. Then once they're out, they could be discussed in later sessions. I'm not talking about sloppy drunk, just a drink or two to relax and decrease inhibitions (think happy hour chattiness). I'm sure there are lots of cons too, but I'm just curious what people/Ts would think about this...

I have taken a Xanax before therapy several times. I thought it would help me talk, but it didn't, it made me foggy and slow. T knew because I told her.

It would be good to tell T about thinking about doing this to explore the therapy anxiety more. Talking about it instead might give you lasting relief .

i have had ts' flat out tell me none of their patients are allowed to come to therapy buzzed or intoxicated. like it breaks a contract.

T's here don't tolerate that, they send you packing.

I don't see much of a difference between taking a drink or taking psychoactive drugs that are prescribed. I took prescribed drugs at one time that made me less anxious, more talkative, etc. Doesn't seem too different from having a beer to relax. (I'm not advocating showing up drunk to therapy.) There have been clinical trials done on using certain drugs/meds in conjunction with psychotherapy to help get the patients to open up. I think some of these drugs or their relatives came to be on the "abused drugs" list so they never became approved for use in psychotherapy. But the studies showed they certainly can help. (But there can be undesirable and even dangerous effects too.)

For myself, though, I don't like to take mind-altering substances before therapy, whether prescribed or alcohol. I prefer to just be me.

Probably not a good idea. If there's one issue you haven't been able to share, and one time think you can if you try this, then who knows? But it isn't a good coping mechanism for therapy session jitters.

I'm not even going to list the 300 reasons why that would be a bad idea-- but one that comes to mind is-- would the drinking be done at home and then the individual drives to therapy? I sure hope not.

As far as tranquilizer drugs, I have been on them for nine years. To take a Klonopin before therapy, to me, is like eating a pretzel before therapy. It really doesn't matter. It doesn't have that effect on me-- Klonopin, no Klonopin, I'm still the same person, I still open up the same, I still speak the same-- I'm just either a little less anxious, or not.

I drank 3 Mountain Dew's and downed a jumbo box of Mike and Ike's before a session last fall.......she thought I was a little "jumpy"...lol

I admit that I've thought about it--including appointments with my primary care doc. Another doctor in the same office triggered me before and I have a hard time even talking about medical things. I admitted the thought via unofficial email to my primary doc about coming to an appointment buzzed. I have no idea what he would do or say, but I imagine if I did it and he knew that he'd probably mention it. I just don't have a clue what he'd say.

I once asked my T if he could set up a martini bar in the waiting room.
He wouldn't go for it.

If your not ready to talk about an issue... then you aren't ready (period).
when it's time it's time, I just think a natural flow is better than spilling so much out at once you wont be able to cope, and then be set back even farther... no matter how much "information" is on the table.

I wouldn't know... I couldn't drink one or two, I'd dissappear for a few days, if I came back at all....

OMG, I was just thinking about this today! I think it would lighten me up a bit. Stopping at the pub before therapy one day. Down a few and head to therapy. However the driving issue brought this fantasy to an end.

Once as an off the cuff comment my T mentioned going out having a few beers with my friends and coming home to dealing with my H while intoxicated. I laughed at her comment, but I couldn't believe that she actually said it. I think she didn't mean to actually say it either and when she realize it she move away from that position quickly. My dad was an alcoholic.

I think it would make me a bit less %#@&#! during the session, but probably not advisable.

I went to therapy once having had 2-3 beers (the clinic I went to was only a couple blocks from my house in the City) and told my therapist I'd been drinking. She asked, "Is there any sense in our continuing?" and I answered, "Yes" and we did. I never did it again. She wasn't thrilled.

That's funny! I thought about that today too, on my way to my appointment.

I mentioned it a while back to her and told herI felt uncomfortable telling her that as I was looking at the 12 steps hanging on her wall!

If you're driving to the appointment - hell no!! I'm one who thinks that no one should drive with even ONE drink. Seriously.

If you're not driving...well...I dunno. I'm not sure that it would really help you at all.

Should I admit this? Well, I've done it twice and it was 1.5 drinks each time.

There is a cute martini bar one street over from T's office. I just go around the block but I can walk and should've done that.

I told him both times and why and he never made me feel bad about it at all. I asked him once why he didn't throw me out and I'm not remembering if there was an answer. I asked him this when not drinking by the way.

It helped me get the sexual abuse story out. I wasn't drunk but calm enough to discuss it. The second time was after a rupture.

I did tell him on my own that I won't do it again. I know it isn't right. He's never made it an issue and at least I felt he accepted some of my bad parts...

T and I once talked about LSD therapy, I think that is what you mean Sunny. It isn't approved and was abused but he said it really was allowing the deep work to happen. Of course, I said okay let's try it!!! I got a NO, NO AND NO response.

I wouldn't mind trying that in a controlled environment...heck that might be the only way for me to get better.

I read that patients often can actually feel being in their mom's womb and the birthing process. I find that fascinating!

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almeda24fan said:
T and I once talked about LSD therapy, I think that is what you mean Sunny.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">I was thinking of another drug, called Ibogaine. It has been used to help with addiction and also in psychotherapy. It is a highly controlled substance (schedule 1) so these medical uses have not been promoted. Another controlled drug with a history of use in psychotherapy (and clinical trials) is MDMA (ecstasy).

You know, if my T would drink some coffee before our sessions, she wouldn't start to close her eyes part way through and make me think she was sleepy...

She did adopt a young girl from China last year, I think, so she's probably up later at night than she used to be. But it makes me think she's not paying attention. When the talk gets interesting and she gets into it, she's more awake.

I thought for the longest time that it would really help if I had a buzz on when I went to therapy. So one day I tried it: I was at work and spiked my orange juice with vodka just before I left for therapy (FYI: I was taking the bus to therapy back then so no danger of driving). It wasn't much of a buzz, but I thought it would relax me. Well it didn't. I became paranoid that the effects of the drink would start to show and then I realized some of the things T asks me about require a really clear head to answer. It was a bad experience, and I didn't try it again. I never did tell T about that (it was early on in therapy).

When I'm in group therapy, I've said a number of times how much easier it would be for me to talk if I'd had a drink or two. The other group members allude to that sometimes (joking), but I don't think I'll ever actually try it. I don't think T would kick me out if I did, but I'm not sure group therapy would be particularly helpful at that point. Although people would like me better I'm sure. I become relaxed, upbeat, talkative, more revealing etc. If I'm ever actually really intoxicated I fall under the category of "happy drunk."

I have never heard of LSD or ecstasy being used in therapy! Having tried both in the past, I can't imagine how that would ever be helpful. I was incoherent on ecstasy (couldn't finish a sentence), and LSD gets totally bizarre. The latter does slow down your perceptions such that you overthink everything ("what did he mean by saying 'hello' to me?") and in that sense you might get a stronger understanding of the workings of your mind. But at the same time, the hallucinations are drowning out any ability to concentrate. But it does magnify feelings that you have -- I distinctly remember feeling alienated and then going and crawling under a table when I was tripping. It's hard to remember details afterward since it's sort of like the dream-state. Anyway -- not to go off on a tangent! -- I'm surprised anyone would ever have tried that as part of therapy!!!

Sidony

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. And no, driving was not a concern.

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I don't see much of a difference between taking a drink or taking psychoactive drugs that are prescribed.

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Word. It is curious that it seems like there's a lot more judgment assigned to one rather than the other isn't it, when they both can have similar effects? I don't currently have an Rx for those things, though I'm sure I could get one if I wanted as anxiety has always been an issue for me. Maybe some day I will.

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I'm not even going to list the 300 reasons why that would be a bad idea--

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Well, if you wanted to toss out a couple I wouldn't say no. I have the vague feeling that it's a no-no, but I can't quite get my head around why it would be so bad. Because it's deceptive if you don't disclose? Maybe...but I'm sure she doesn't disclose some things to me sometimes. Because it would be better to just tell her I'm feeling anxious and discuss that instead? Of course, but if that's not an option, if I'm too anxious to communicate, then this allows me to continue communicating and getting toward that point. And this opens up the option of discussing the anxiety more later as I'm sure I will tell her at some point. Because you might grow dependent on this coping mechanism? I know me pretty well and this is just not one of my issues. Because she would feel bad that she hadn't really done her job if I was assisted in opening up (like a comedian feeling like the laughs weren't really earned if the audience is tanked)? Maybe. But as she always says, it's my hour. I can do with it what I like and what I think will help me best.

Thanks again for the thoughts. I'm not advocating it for anyone and I'll probably never do it again. But it went well and helped me accomplish what I wanted to during that session, so overall I'm pleased. If there's any fallout when I eventually do disclose, I will update then.

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notme9 said:
It is curious that it seems like there's a lot more judgment assigned to one rather than the other isn't it

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I find that interesting too. To relax with an Rx is OK but to use an over the counter method is not. I haven't decided my feelings on this yet. Is it just the issue of whether you disclose it to your T that make it OK or not? Or is it considered OK because someone (T, MD, Pdoc) told you artificial relaxation with substance A is acceptable but substance B is not? Or is it simply that you need to figure out how to calm and relax yourself without any substance PERIOD?

I'll jump in and agree that it's strange that the anti-anxiety meds are acceptable but alcohol is not. Certainly for me if I drink, it reduces anxiety. In my case, having less anxiety means I'll talk more. I imagine it'd be the same whether I was using alcohol or some kind of anti-anxiety medication. I don't see much difference besides the all-important dosage -- the meds are carefully dosed for you to prevent you from taking too much -- OTOH, you have to use your own personal judgment with alcohol -- too much, and you won't be clearheaded. I think there's an ongoing assumption that most folks can't choose the appropriate dose for themselves. So my guess is that's the reason it's not accepted. Clearly, the time I spiked my orange juice before therapy it wasn't a good amount -- I wasn't buzzed but wasn't clear enough either. Whereas if it'd been late in the day and I'd had a beer beforehand (lower dose of alcohol, esp. after having eaten), I'd probably be just relaxed enough to express myself with less anxiety. It's a tempting prospect, but I'm steering clear of it . So I guess on some level I want to be able to cope with reality without any medicinal support. I'm not knocking it though. Honestly, alcohol helped me get over my shyness enough to date when I was in college (used to be painfully shy). But nowadays I'm trying to be more outgoing and open without it (at least for therapy, I'm not vetoing happy hour!)

That's just rambling but I wanted to interject the dosage bit. A theory I just developed about the what's acceptable / unacceptable about self-medicating.

Sidony

I recently was using someone else's prescription to mellow out (not good, I know) and I told T. He told me NOT to take anything before coming to see him, and I never have. It feels like "cheating" to me - cheating MYSELF. I want to process this stuff, and I have a feeling that if I do it under the influence of something, I'll just have to do it again later when I'm sober. God knows, as a recovering alcoholic, I've spent LOTS AND LOTS of time talking about things while I was drunk, but here I am, now that I'm sober, still needing to talk about those same things (and more!) in therapy!

So I was just in individual therapy. We were talking about an upcoming event for me that I'm anxious about (details not important). I joked that maybe I'd just booze it up beforehand. And T said: "You and your anxiety deserve more respect than that."

I really loved that statement.

Sidony

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And T said: "You and your anxiety deserve more respect than that."

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That's a very caring thing to say. (Side note: I wonder if he'd say the same thing about an Rx?)

Good for you tackling difficult situations unaided. I usually have no problems forcing myself to do things, but I just felt completely stuck in this situation. I could force myself to say the words, but I really needed to be able to feel them and have an emotional connection while I explained, and my anxiety was just totally blocking that. Just numb and zoning out, month after month. So the wine helped me do that, and now I feel like I can move forward since stuff is already on the table. Whatever it takes, I guess.