Posted by JohnB (206.165.44.90) on September 11, 1999 at 10:11:35:
In Reply to: CHRONIC CLUSTERS,TREATMENT SUCCESS AND ALCOHOL!!! posted by GRAHAM on September 10, 1999 at 19:00:26:
Graham,
I can certainly relate to the fun you enjoy bending an elbow with friends; it is one of my favorite things too. I also have been very pissed off at the CH demon for interfering with what, for many of us, is a normal social event. I don't think you are crazy, nor do I find it strange that you would try to "face the devil" in order to do something you really enjoy. I don't think that anything in your posts constitutes proof of alcoholism.
I have never heard of anyone being "cured" of clusters by quitting drinking or quitting smoking, for that matter. Neither have I heard of anyone converting chronic clusters to episodic by abstinance. I am told that episodic folks can drink with impunity during off season.
Having said this, here are a couple of points to consider.
1) Clusters are frustrating, and we have no focus for this frustration and the anger many of us feel about this devil. Who or what is there to be angry AT? Unresolved anger is a serious emotional problem in and of itself, and there doesn't seem to be any way around it for some of us clusterheads. Mixing unresolved anger with alcohol can be dangerous.
2) Many clusterheads become depressed as a result of years of pain. This is particularly prevalent with those of us unlucky enough to be chronic. Alcohol is a depressant. Drinking alcohol defeats the use of antidepressants. Drinking alcohol while depressed can lead, in my humble opinion, to an increased risk of suicide.
3) Again in my humble opinion, a desire to continue drinking alcohol while clustering can lead to misuse and overuse of preventative medications and abortive medications, and the mixing of medications with alcohol that should not be taken together.
4) I have heard others talk of a 24-hour free period after a good bout of drinking during which one can drink without triggering a cluster. I believe I have also heard that this "immunity" goes away.
Being a clusterhead is a real pain in the butt. Giving up things we enjoy is a real pain in the butt. Giving up alcohol will not cure the clusters. Giving up alcohol will help you deal with having clusters, as will this wonderful forum DJ has provided for us.
Peace, zeros to all.