Using substances to cope with social interactions

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I'm curious about something, Last year I was injured at work and prescribed a semi-synthetic opioid pain killer (Tramadol) for the injury, and I found a odd side effect while taking the pain killers. When I was working in the office on "light duty" I found it far easier to function in a social environment while on these pain killers than when I wasn't. The best way for me to describe it would be that my Social anxiety was nearly non existent and I no longer cared what other thought of me while I was taking the pain killers. At least to me, it seemed as though I could interact with other at my office easier as well. Until this point I had never used any kind of drug Rx or otherwise that would be considering "mind altering". I was wondering if this is common, to be expected, or some strange quirk unique to me. Either way I will have to continue taking some form of medication because the injury caused permanent damage that will never heal 100% so if this turn s out to be a good side effect I wouldn't be complaining to much . I was just curious if this was something common or not.

I've taken a painkiller for that same reason before & it's enjoyable but I certainly don't reccomend it.

_________________
"Standing on a well-chilled cinder, we see the fading of the suns, and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origin of the worlds."
-Georges Lemaitre
"I fly through hyperspace, in my green computer interface"
-Gem Tos

Some anti-anxiety meds just put me to sleep. It doesn't help with actually reducing social anxiety. I just want check out.

I've had that same experience too.

Psychiatry thinks it can treat ASD but all that amounts to is a bunch of devil-may-care experimentation with random drugs that only work as advertised for people who aren't really paying attention.

_________________
"Standing on a well-chilled cinder, we see the fading of the suns, and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origin of the worlds."
-Georges Lemaitre
"I fly through hyperspace, in my green computer interface"
-Gem Tos

I've been on an SSRI for anxiety for about 6-8months. It helps with the anxiety which my ASD produces. My doctor didn't put me on it for social anxiety but it helps a little with that as well as the more general stuff.

The thing that helps me with social things most is having someone who knows me nearby to interpret what's going on when I get lost or don't know what to do. That's much more helpful than any medicine. Sometimes I think about building a social-rules type robot so I could have that all the time, but then I remember that Anakin built C3PO (a protocol droid) and ended up going to the darkside so maybe that's not such a great idea. lol

A social rules android app might be cool.

Tramadol may increas the body's production of serotonin, which may contribute to feelings of well-being and happiness.

Nothing I used made me socialize better; I just felt less anxious and assumed that I was doing so. So to me there's not much of a point in taking anything, unless I just want to feel more comfortable.