Chess and Xanax

Hello all friends of Caissa!  I have a serious question.  I know some people post things on here about playing chess after drinking, or playing chess whilst high on pot, but, does anyone have any experience with playing chess while taking Xanax? (It's a common, modern benzodiazepine.)

I have noticed that my game goes to complete hell after just a few of those.  Leaving pieces stupidly hanging, having little to no short term memory or pattern recognition, etc.  Does anyone else notice their game suffering on Xanax?

And not that it really matters, as its a free country, but I am legally perscribed it, as I can be awfully high-strung at times.  Thanks for the helpful comments and insight.

Nothing wrong with Xanax if you need it, but it's not surprising at all that it hurts your game. If you have an important game coming up, time your dosing accordingly. If you're just playing for fun, I would try not to worry about it too much. 

I takeanti anxiety meds and other medications medicinally and I function as normal as ever because I have been on them for so long. So, I guess it may cause your play to suffer, but some people may not notice it. Good topic/ question.

XD

nervous tension is also not good for chess... i think you can talk with your doctor to find a good balance...  relaxed vs. tense.

Exactly, working with computers- is why I actually had to find a balance, stress causes you to overload and overlook possiblities. And with that, is potential for mistakes. I play chess because I like to excersize my mind and socialize with people who find tactic and strategy appealing. I just found this thread interesting. I like the different views and experiences. Obviously we all take different medicines or none at all.

zz zz zz.....................................

Well, I think my normal nervous tension helps my chess.... one side of me is thinking "Kill!  Kill!  Crush!  Destroy!" whilst the other side of me is thinking "hmmm, lets settle down and work out the best way to safely and efficiently accomplish that."  It's no different from the streets, really.

lol, truth. Maybe it's better to worry while playing :p like battle ship- I take that game like I would take war... and I play it on a Blackberry.

i think you can find a middle path... maybe "kill kill" when you have the clear initiative and settle down  when you don't have it. your game should dictate and not how you feel that moment... not easy for me also.

maybe slower time controles help??? i have a familymember who was too low on energy/concentration because of medication (also for chess). with some adjustments (with his doktor!!) he is fine now.

Well my main gig on here is those "on line" 3 day/move games.  I do a lot better at those and only play when I'm in the mood.  I also played like 30-60 minute "live" games this spring and got my rating up to 1400, for what its worth.  I stopped using the tactical trainer back in June. 

Could this be the answer to CP's floating chess pieces riddle?

I, too, am prescribed to Xanax due to my issues with anxiety.  It can definitely alter your game when your body is becoming adjusted to it.  After you normalize, it shouldn't affect your game too much...

I take my xanax in the morning, and have found that my game suffers late at night....so, just like in chess, there are some patterns that you will discover :)

Good luck with everything, OP! 

The truth being...?

Benzos are a CNS (Cenral Nervous Sytem) Depressant, and like many of those, for example, booze, you're going to be impaired, although feeling "better". My shrink tells me that the benzos hit many of the same receptors that booze does, so, you're buzzed/drunk if you have enough Xanax in your system. It's science.

Well you cannot drive when taking that stuff because of the influence on reactions etc.. So probably it has an impact.

Yes but driving on benzodiazepines is not that dangerous.  It's not like the stuff makes you nod off like heroin or anything.  Just be careful, keep an eye on the rearview and keep the alcohol intake down to 2 or 3 drinks an hour and you'll be fine..

Another person who should be allowed nowhere near a car.

2 or 3 drinks? An hour?! While taking benzos!?!? And then driving???!!! Are you nucking futs?!

Look, dude, let's hypothetically say I have experience "mixing & matching". It may feel wonderful, but I would NEVER drive or do anything where I had the potential to endanger someone else. What are you losing by calling a cab, or just staying were you are, and, hypothetically, enjoying your chemical cocktail?

But heroin is ok. That junk is the shit.