I figured I would post an update as part of keeping up with journaling exercises, which I've been slacking on. I've lost track of time a bit on how long it's been since my last drink but I guess that's a good thing. The cravings come and go but that's in large part to due to some of the anxiety issues I've still been dealing with. The therapist I was working with was kind enough to bring in Dr. Francisco Gonzalez-Lima (her husband) to one of our meetings to discuss what he thought might be happening. We spent an hour and half discussing how the nervous system works and how he believed I was using alcohol as a coping mechanism for a deeper seeded anxiety/panic issue I've likely been dealing with my whole life but was never diagnosed with or dealt with. Once I had the panic attack in October 2024, I started developing safety behaviors due to the cessation of alcohol, various medical ailments, and other GAD/PD symptoms that were never addressed.
That was one of the most informative and helpful conversations of this whole ordeal over the past few months Dr. Gonzalez-Lima was able to get me referred to one of his partners at UT to craft a PD/GAD treatment plan that they both feel will be highly successful and their data supports it. If anyone else is dealing with anxiety/depression issues associated with sobriety, I'd encourage to look up the work by both Dr. Michael Telch and Dr. Francisco Gonzalez-Lima (both longhorns) in order to get empirical information about what you're dealing with. That's the first step they both make you do if you decide to work with them anyways.
I will say that despite having some really good days and some very bad days, my will to not drink is growing and as I become more informed about what is going on with me physiologically. Now that there's a plan in place to help with the mental side of things, I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. Please see below for info about Dr. Telch and Dr. Gonzalez-Lima and make sure you are taking care of your mental health. Stopping drinking is hard enough but you wont realize the amount of pieces you have to pick up.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Glenn
https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psychology/faculty/telch
https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psychology/faculty/fg