Re: Caffeine and the dopamine connection

[Guest guest]

I really like you Detlef, so I hope you don't end up harming yourself. I don't

know what to say, but perhaps like me, you could limit alcohol to a few evenings

a week and and work hard at therapy for the rest of the time. I know it is

really hard thing to do.

Kv

>

> Recently I was " busted " for importing greater than allowed quantities of

> the drug tianeptine - trade name Stablon, usually prescribed as an

> antidepressant. Tianeptine, in larger than the recommended dose, does

> for dopamine what coffee does, but in a much more pleasant way, and

> doesn't seem to have the side effects of caffeine overdose.

>

> Of course, the " purity police " couldn't countenance such a useful drug,

> and although legal to import in quantities no larger than the

> recommended dose for three months, anything above that is a no-no. I had

> imported 6 months' worth, because the supplier had reduced the price by

> 30%. Hence my pissed-offness at all those people tasked with looking out

> for our welfare: I wish they'd mind their own business and leave me

> alone! I wasn't harming anyone by what I was doing, yet was made to feel

> like a criminal.

>

> Now the reality. Because this chemical produced such a pleasant feeling,

> from my gut to my brain, my intake escalated exponentially, to the point

> where I was taking three months' the recommended dose in less than a

> day. Such is the degree of my wanting to avoid the alternative.

>

> Now, here I am, left with alcohol - my last " free " defense against the

> bleak, glowering darkness that threatens to swallow me up. Oh, and

> cigarettes, of course. Whilst taking the tianeptine, I managed to all

> but eliminate the booze, but in the brains of government-appointed

> do-gooders, this is meaningless; ie, tianeptine (or any other

> potentially useful and less harmful chemical) is prohibited, while

> alcohol and nicotine are legal - and socially acceptable. Indeed,

> governments the world over derive much useful tax revenue from the sale

> of these two common but ultimately deadly drugs. Why?

>

> Yes, I know that drugs aren't " the answer " , but I think many of them

> could be beneficial in a great many ways, if regulated and supplied

> thoughtfully. There are some drugs out there that are capable of totally

> changing one's self-view and world view. But they're deemed " illegal " ,

> because some of us would like them " too much " . Go figure.

>

> My name is Detlef. I'm almost 62, and I don't understand.

>

> In the next decade or so, I'll probably die of congestive heart failure,

> like my father, or of an alcohol- or other nicotine-related disease.

>

> I don't want this, but my choices are limited. There are no magic wands,

> but there are drugs that could help, but they are denied by my fellow

> citizens who can't live inside my skin and know what I'm experiencing.

> Though their intentions may be " good " and " heartfelt " , they simply do

> not know, and make no attempt to know. All they seem to understand is

> " sin " .

>

> OK, I'm getting melodramatic here, but what the heck! I've got my vodka.

> I'm feeling more or less OK, and tomorrow is another day. I'll be sober,

> but you'll still be ugly (old joke).

>

> Somewhere, deep down inside, I know that the piper must be paid if I

> intend to listen to that particular song. Somewhere, I know the way

> home.

>

> Let me go there with grace.

>

>

> Regards,

>

> Detlef

>

[Guest guest]

I thought I would be open with you Detlef about how I feel so you can connect.

I'm suffering a lot right now as my job goes down the pan and I don't think I

have the resources to be a go getting self employed, travel anywhere, work any

hours, freelance engineer, with low wages, no sick pay, no holiday pay, and

won't know if there will be any work from week to week. Plus I have a huge

mortgage, a girlfriend who is my best friend and a dear to me, but I not sure if

she's the right one. And no sex drive. I can see why some people drink

themselves to death.

What I do is allow myself to suffer and keep trying. But perhaps I am being hard

on myself because I think I am not a very brave person so I keep pushing myself.

ACT toughens me up, but I find it hard. I just want some good sleep and some

peace of mind for once.

Oh, well, back to suffering, and my piano and guitar. I hope something comes of

this.

All the best Detelf.

Kv

> >

> > Recently I was " busted " for importing greater than allowed quantities of

> > the drug tianeptine - trade name Stablon, usually prescribed as an

> > antidepressant. Tianeptine, in larger than the recommended dose, does

> > for dopamine what coffee does, but in a much more pleasant way, and

> > doesn't seem to have the side effects of caffeine overdose.

> >

> > Of course, the " purity police " couldn't countenance such a useful drug,

> > and although legal to import in quantities no larger than the

> > recommended dose for three months, anything above that is a no-no. I had

> > imported 6 months' worth, because the supplier had reduced the price by

> > 30%. Hence my pissed-offness at all those people tasked with looking out

> > for our welfare: I wish they'd mind their own business and leave me

> > alone! I wasn't harming anyone by what I was doing, yet was made to feel

> > like a criminal.

> >

> > Now the reality. Because this chemical produced such a pleasant feeling,

> > from my gut to my brain, my intake escalated exponentially, to the point

> > where I was taking three months' the recommended dose in less than a

> > day. Such is the degree of my wanting to avoid the alternative.

> >

> > Now, here I am, left with alcohol - my last " free " defense against the

> > bleak, glowering darkness that threatens to swallow me up. Oh, and

> > cigarettes, of course. Whilst taking the tianeptine, I managed to all

> > but eliminate the booze, but in the brains of government-appointed

> > do-gooders, this is meaningless; ie, tianeptine (or any other

> > potentially useful and less harmful chemical) is prohibited, while

> > alcohol and nicotine are legal - and socially acceptable. Indeed,

> > governments the world over derive much useful tax revenue from the sale

> > of these two common but ultimately deadly drugs. Why?

> >

> > Yes, I know that drugs aren't " the answer " , but I think many of them

> > could be beneficial in a great many ways, if regulated and supplied

> > thoughtfully. There are some drugs out there that are capable of totally

> > changing one's self-view and world view. But they're deemed " illegal " ,

> > because some of us would like them " too much " . Go figure.

> >

> > My name is Detlef. I'm almost 62, and I don't understand.

> >

> > In the next decade or so, I'll probably die of congestive heart failure,

> > like my father, or of an alcohol- or other nicotine-related disease.

> >

> > I don't want this, but my choices are limited. There are no magic wands,

> > but there are drugs that could help, but they are denied by my fellow

> > citizens who can't live inside my skin and know what I'm experiencing.

> > Though their intentions may be " good " and " heartfelt " , they simply do

> > not know, and make no attempt to know. All they seem to understand is

> > " sin " .

> >

> > OK, I'm getting melodramatic here, but what the heck! I've got my vodka.

> > I'm feeling more or less OK, and tomorrow is another day. I'll be sober,

> > but you'll still be ugly (old joke).

> >

> > Somewhere, deep down inside, I know that the piper must be paid if I

> > intend to listen to that particular song. Somewhere, I know the way

> > home.

> >

> > Let me go there with grace.

> >

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> > Detlef

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, KV, what you recommend is indeed what I am attempting - with limited success.Whilst perusing my avalanche of daily newsletters, I cam across this article in Salon magazine, dated 28 September. It's fascinating for a whole bunch of reasons, some of which I've touched on before.Regards,Detlef> >> > Recently I was "busted" for importing greater than allowed quantities of> > the drug tianeptine - trade name Stablon, usually prescribed as an> > antidepressant. Tianeptine, in larger than the recommended dose, does> > for dopamine what coffee does, but in a much more pleasant way, and> > doesn't seem to have the side effects of caffeine overdose.> > > > Of course, the "purity police" couldn't countenance such a useful drug,> > and although legal to import in quantities no larger than the> > recommended dose for three months, anything above that is a no-no. I had> > imported 6 months' worth, because the supplier had reduced the price by> > 30%. Hence my pissed-offness at all those people tasked with looking out> > for our welfare: I wish they'd mind their own business and leave me> > alone! I wasn't harming anyone by what I was doing, yet was made to feel> > like a criminal.> > > > Now the reality. Because this chemical produced such a pleasant feeling,> > from my gut to my brain, my intake escalated exponentially, to the point> > where I was taking three months' the recommended dose in less than a> > day. Such is the degree of my wanting to avoid the alternative.> > > > Now, here I am, left with alcohol - my last "free" defense against the> > bleak, glowering darkness that threatens to swallow me up. Oh, and> > cigarettes, of course. Whilst taking the tianeptine, I managed to all> > but eliminate the booze, but in the brains of government-appointed> > do-gooders, this is meaningless; ie, tianeptine (or any other> > potentially useful and less harmful chemical) is prohibited, while> > alcohol and nicotine are legal - and socially acceptable. Indeed,> > governments the world over derive much useful tax revenue from the sale> > of these two common but ultimately deadly drugs. Why?> > > > Yes, I know that drugs aren't "the answer", but I think many of them> > could be beneficial in a great many ways, if regulated and supplied> > thoughtfully. There are some drugs out there that are capable of totally> > changing one's self-view and world view. But they're deemed "illegal",> > because some of us would like them "too much". Go figure.> > > > My name is Detlef. I'm almost 62, and I don't understand.> > > > In the next decade or so, I'll probably die of congestive heart failure,> > like my father, or of an alcohol- or other nicotine-related disease.> > > > I don't want this, but my choices are limited. There are no magic wands,> > but there are drugs that could help, but they are denied by my fellow> > citizens who can't live inside my skin and know what I'm experiencing.> > Though their intentions may be "good" and "heartfelt", they simply do> > not know, and make no attempt to know. All they seem to understand is> > "sin".> > > > OK, I'm getting melodramatic here, but what the heck! I've got my vodka.> > I'm feeling more or less OK, and tomorrow is another day. I'll be sober,> > but you'll still be ugly (old joke).> > > > Somewhere, deep down inside, I know that the piper must be paid if I> > intend to listen to that particular song. Somewhere, I know the way> > home.> > > > Let me go there with grace.> > > > > > Regards,> > > > Detlef> >>