Opinions - Alternative To Alcohol that lowers inhibitions and reduces social anxiety

[Silverbackman]

Whenever SWIM goes to a party he usually doesn't want to drink, but he always ends up drinking alcohol. SWIM doesn't like alcohol, but it's the only drug he has access to that lowers inhibitions and reduces social anxiety from SWIM.

But like I said......he doesn't like alcohol. SWIM hates the hangover he may get as well as the fact that he is screwing up his liver and kidneys. Most of all he hates the fact that his brain cells are being fried and killed.

SWIM also is very picky with his alcohol.......his body can only stand rums like Bacardi. Most other drinks cause horrible hangovers to swim. And many parties only have beer to start out with.

SWIM also smokes and loves weed, but weed is not powerful enough to lower inhibitions around others and reduce social anxiety. It does it only VERY slightly.....but doesn't take away that fear feeling.

Is there a drug out there that is far safer and better to use besides alcohol for parties and social interactions? A drug that takes away fear at the same powerful rate as alcohol?

To SWIM's knowledge, MDMA is an okay alternative SWIM thinks.......but he isn't sure. It doesn't screw up your livers and kidneys but it may still damage serotonin receptors.......though this damage is no where near alcohol's damage of brain cells (and of course no drug is perfect). SWIM is aware that there is a hangover......but I hear it isn't as bad as alcohol. Though SWIM would rather take a substance with no hangover at all. But is MDMA as powerful as alcohol in social interactions?

SWIM prefers if this alcohol alternative is legal, but if it is illegal then it is okay for SWIM. As long as the damages are no where near alcohol.

[brighteyes88]

well, for swim, e's are the best for social interaction. he feels free to talk to strangers, and is just more friendly, so gets no bad reactions(mostly).
swim is unsure of the damage e does, but only because he doesnt really care - hes probably gna get hit by lightning anyway

swim also doesnt like alchahol. where swim stays, its cheaper and a lot more fun to drop a couple of e's.

[Silverbackman]

Originally Posted by brighteyes88

well, for swim, e's are the best for social interaction. he feels free to talk to strangers, and is just more friendly, so gets no bad reactions(mostly).
swim is unsure of the damage e does, but only because he doesnt really care - hes probably gna get hit by lightning anyway

swim also doesnt like alchahol. where swim stays, its cheaper and a lot more fun to drop a couple of e's.

So how are swim's hangovers from e? Are they better or worse than hangovers from alcohol?

E overall seems a lot safer than alcohol as long as you keep enough water in and don't drink too much water.

[brighteyes88]

Originally Posted by Silverbackman

So how are swim's hangovers from e? Are they better or worse than hangovers from alcohol?

E overall seems a lot safer than alcohol as long as you keep enough water in and don't drink too much water.

haha, mostly its just the sun that gets depressing, during the comedown, this is both bright, unpleasant and generally a bit depressing.

solution: close curtains and smoke a joint. it really isnt that bad, and if swim gets home at about 5-6/sunrise, swim can usually sleep.

yes, e is pretty safe, swim reads that apparently more ppl die from peanut allergies than e. but thats just hearsay, not sure if its true

mind, swim rarely gets hungover from alchahol, so not really applicable.

[svenghali]

SWIM has been replacing alcohol with GHB, GBL, 2nd plateau doses of DXM, MJ, MDMA (spaces these out a bit), or alprazolam or diazepam mixed with amphetamine (he understands the danger of that mixture, but it's treated him alright the few times he's done it)
DON'T look to MDMA as an alcohol substitute. For one, alcohol is used fairly often, at least more often than once every two weeks. MDMA is recommended to only be taken once every two weeks, or else SWIY loses 'the magic', and simply faces a harder comedown. SWIM supplements with 5-HTP if he is using MDMA any more often than that fortnight gap. He doesn't really recommend it. Look to GHB maybe.

[_caesar_]

SWIM's been meaning to ask a similar question for quite a while, he's managed to pretty much abstain from alcohol for about two months, previously it would have been induced almost everyday in various quantities.

The reason for the abstinence is due to the "Jekyll and Hyde syndrome".

It’s been very hard. Its not only the one or two, three etc tipples a day that he misses though he is getting used to that. Its the fact that he has been unable to socialise - being from Ireland where most of it is done in the pub its a problem for SWIM.

He's been racking his brains for an alternative.

Xanax has been a problem for him in the past so he's trying to keep his benzo intake under control - which involves a few valium to relax. Regardless SWIM feels being under the influence of benzos wouldnt really mix with those drinking alcohol, though it would help with social anxiety.

Maybe he will consider GHB, he's never tried it but from what he knows it may suit the environment, thanks svenghali

[Spelvin]

Originally Posted by _caesar_

The reason for the abstinence is due to the "Jekyll and Hyde syndrome".

OMG Swim hasn't heard anyone else with this problem but swim's gf has the exact same thing! We usually just call it "alcoholism" even tho that isnt correct, its just insane, manic violent rage that only comes about when drunk.
SWIMGF has tried party pills, opiates, valium and clonazepam on seperate occasions looking for a social lubricant that won't make her violent but nothing seems to be encouraging so far. Maybe if swim can figure out how to get a hold of sum GHB that can be tried. Until then, phenibut or red bull seem to work best.

[Broshious]

SWIM thinks Gabapentin deserves a mention. Certainly as effective as alcohol for SWIM with no hangover that he has ever experienced. Also, there seems to be no physical addiction as SWIM was taking it almost daily at decently high dosages for over a month and stopped cold turkey without feeling a thing. SWIM must note that Gabapentin is an anti-seizure med so cold turkeying may be dangerous.

[Infinite I]

Swim thinks benzos, mainly valium for swim in small doses gets rid of social anxiety, thoguh they are addictive swim used to be a bit of an addict to valium but now swim uses rather than abuses though it is a thin line.

As for alcohol, swim beleives it is a myth that it kills brain cells, cante remember where he seen it tho studies done on alcoholics and non alcoholics showed no difference in amount of brain cells, however alcoholics dont eat and lack of vitamin b effects the size of their brain and can cause death !

[brighteyes88]

Originally Posted by svenghali

SWIM has been replacing alcohol with GHB, GBL, 2nd plateau doses of DXM, MJ, MDMA (spaces these out a bit), or alprazolam or diazepam mixed with amphetamine (he understands the danger of that mixture, but it's treated him alright the few times he's done it)
DON'T look to MDMA as an alcohol substitute. For one, alcohol is used fairly often, at least more often than once every two weeks. MDMA is recommended to only be taken once every two weeks, or else SWIY loses 'the magic', and simply faces a harder comedown. SWIM supplements with 5-HTP if he is using MDMA any more often than that fortnight gap. He doesn't really recommend it. Look to GHB maybe.

true about losing the magic hey...yea, bt swim dont go out "drinking" that much, so for him it does work as a sub

[Bajeda]

GHB and Barbituates have alcohol like effects, but might not be as good for the social anxiety reduction you are looking for. GHB does reduce anxiety to an extent, but its not the optimal way to use it.

Anything that interacts with GABA could be promising, as those substances tend to affect anxiety levels, generally reducing them.

Kava-Kava (Piper Methysticum) is something you should check out, as well as Alprazolam or other benzodiazepines.


As for MDMA, swim feels that its something that is better off used for planned out recreational experiences, introspection, or therapeutic benefits. Using it chronically as an adjunct to social interaction just doesn't seem like the best way to use it.

[fnord]

benzos should do the trick!get 2-3mg(or how ever many it takes for you) of klonopin/whatever should lower your inhibition,ther fun to snort teh tatse like a breath mint for the nose.buzz,just make sure youdont drink or mix opiates.

[KBLSD]

Originally Posted by fnord

benzos should do the trick!get 2-3mg(or how ever many it takes for you) of klonopin/whatever should lower your inhibition,ther fun to snort teh tatse like a breath mint for the nose.buzz,just make sure youdont drink or mix opiates.

dude 2-3mgs is alot maybe its not swim just remebers taking 3 bars and he cant remember. swim thinks u should only take 1mg and that would be good for social anxiety

[svenghali]

Benzos are good, but one must be careful how much he or she is taking, and what they're being mixed with. Klonopin is a great one though. If SWIY can stand up to downing a kava cocktail, go for it. The only problem with GHB is its legality problems, which can be trouble for people accustomed to consuming their alcohol.

[dwilkes7]

Just a suggestion but swim suffers from GAD and Agorophobia. Swim has noticed that the use of Kratom with a low dose(1mg) of klonopin has smoothed out a lot of the anxiety and poses very small risks of bodily damage if used responsibly.

Be very careful to check the laws in your country about Kratom, It sometimes comes with very stiff penalties!

[msimm]

SWIM would second the Valium suggestion. Benzos aren't always easy to get a hold of (scheduled, so your doctor or other means may or may not work out). SWIM had a pretty strong habit after 2 years of continuous use. Found tappering to be effective and while there were some physical issues (mild irritability, some insomnia) SWIM overall found the addiction to be nothing like his other 2 experiences (Cigarettes and Ritalin) where' the craving where mad, even after the body load was becoming alarming (obviously with the latter).

So SWIM is a believer. Taking V again, but much more moderately. And with the tapper experience behind him SWIM feels much less worried (just don't use compulsively and then run out, that's bad).

Alcohol is high in calories and overall SWIM thinks it's a pretty shitty drug (not that I haven't had fun getting drunk, just it's addictive and can cause blackouts/hangovers/etc). I found drinking to be most fun when I was young and socializing and getting drunk was expected and overall enjoyable (aside from the inevitable stupid drunk kids drama).

[msimm]

To post a little more on track swim would (second) Phenibut as a possibility. SWIM hasn't partied with it (hasn't partied in general, SWIM's doing that adult stuff and not much else).

But SWIM bought some bulk and used to take somewhere between 1 and 2 grams. SWIM's wife mentioned that while SWIM was taking it SWIM's breathing was depressed, at least while sleeping (it alarmed her). But overall SWIM felt slightly more sociable and some of disinhibited (was more likely to laugh and more prone to telling the truth without feeling emotionally overwhelmed, eg when arguing felt very even).

[fnord]

Chloral hydrate worked well for a friend.but look into its dangers first.

[Lehendakari]

Benzos works wonders inhibiting social fear, but it doesn't make SWIM very pro-social.

GHB can be a good pro-social drug, but it's very short-acting and SWIM notices that lowers his inhibitions with familiar people, but doesn't reduce fear towards strangers. Risk of OD is high, one can pass out easily if one redoses or measures badly his dose.

Amphetamines and coke are pro-social (moreso when miced with benzos/alcohol/ghb) but they are definitely a bad option, the comedown is harsh and they're not very healthy.

Kava kava never did the trick for SWIM.

Phenibut and L-theanine works for SWIM but only when mixed with a little alcohol.

MDMA. Same that amphetamines and coke, but much more pro-social.

[Broshious]

SWIM has recently found Acorus Calamus(Sweet Flag) to be pretty useful.