Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor

Below is Dr Matt's Answer
to a Burning Question

Kicking Addictions: Drugs & Alcohol

Dr Matt:

I'm 37 and single. I live in Atlanta. For the last 5 years, I've been taking the drug "Ativan" for my feelings of anxiety. I don't think I'm addicted, but the fact is that I cannot cope with the world without it. I even look forward to the times I take it, and I sometimes double the dose when I really want to escape the harsh realities of life.

My question is, if I try to get off this drug, what can I expect in terms of withdrawal side effects?

Thanks,
Ariel

Dear Ariel:

I do not prescribe or encourage the taking of any drug to relieve psychological and emotional troubles. My expertise is in helping people effectively meet Life's Challenges--to include eliminating emotional and psychological distress--without taking drugs.

Ativan is the brand name for Lorazepam; it is an anti-anxiety agent. Ativan is a mild tranquilizer, sedative, and central nervous system depressant. Ativan reduces a person’s level of consciousness, altering the normal ability to think and be fully aware of present surroundings.

Ativan can be addictive--both psychologically and physically. Individuals can develop an addiction to Ativan because it produces feelings of well-being.

Withdrawal symptoms due to discontinuance are similar to those associated with barbiturates and alcohol. More severe withdrawal symptoms may occur with those who have taken Ativan over an extended period of time--or have taken excessive doses. The more extreme withdrawal symptoms may include but are not limited to:

         •   insomnia
         •   ringing in the ears
         •   shaking
         •   tremors
         •   sweating
         •   nausea
         •   convulsions
         •   abdominal and muscle cramps
         •   vomiting

Ariel, have you tried to stop taking Ativan before? If so, did you experienced any of these listed symptoms? Do you plan your daily activities around taking this drug? If you are addicted to Ativan, could you admit it? Have you ever tried to get multiple prescriptions from different doctors to satisfy a craving to take more Ativan?

Talk to me and I will help you. If I don't hear from you, then I invite you to read the following pages at my website:

  **     The key to solving all emotional and psychological problems in life is centered in the Heart.
  **     The Heart is the fountain from which your thoughts and emotions flow.
  **     While popular thinking suggests that you can become or do anything through your thinking                        —a.k.a.,Mind Power—this is not so. You cannot "think" your way to higher character, OR
            cognitively conjure your way to a Change of Heart.

The info at the previous pages (click the hyperlinks) will introduce you to True Principles that will absolutely aid you in successfully kicking any addiction to Ativan--or any other drug to include the socially-accepted drug called alcohol.

If you want more than an introduction to the True Principles of which I speak, the complete explanation that will guide you through all Life Challenges, is given in my book, Changing Your Stripes.

All the best,

Matt Moody, Ph.D.
Social Psychologist

* * * * * * *

The Greatest Prize
for Life's labors isn't
in material possessions
or impressive accomplishments,
but in the progress of personal character.
You labor for your own becoming, this is your richest reward.
Who You Become is your greatest possession,
make it your Masterpiece!
(Changing Your Stripes, 2nd Edition, page 274).

The book, "Changing Your Stripes" presents principles for getting out of
the ditch in which you've been dumped (the difficulties of which you are a victim), and
the ditch in which you've jumped (the difficulties for which you volunteer).

"Mastering a challenging situation
is ultimately a matter of
mastering yourself!"
- Matt Moody 

"Changing Your Stripes," teaches you the principles that lead to lasting change,
making you a new kind of creature capable of communicating
with calm, even as storms of contention swirl.

If these principles resonate and ring true,
then . . . this book is for you!

Sold Exclusively
through this website

Changing Your Stripes is a
unique reference book that will help
you understand, . . . and solve all of
Life's ever-appearing problems.
Here are more reasons to buy
Changing Your Stripes

Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor