Hello all, I stumbled onto this site just looking for information. I am glad to know that I am not alone in endevours to quit drinking. I appreciate everyones posts and have read them all. Lots of great knowledge out there. I am 37years old and have been a social drinker since I was 16. My drinking seamed controlled until in 2004 I went thru a pretty bad divorce. I then started drinking daily. And I could hide it all pretty well from the world to. Guess I didn't see it as a probem. However my fiancee just left me this month. I figure it has to be the drinking that did it. Its not that I hadn't moved on with my life and it's not like I wasn't happy but my drinking just turned into a daily habit. I would get off work and go right to the local liquor store. I would then proceed to drink beer all night until I fell asleep. It didn't matter if things in life where good or bad, anything just seemed a good excuse to drink. I to would go to work fearing getting pulled over by the cops. Making sure I had a breath mint so people wouldn't notice my beer breath. I would then coffee up all day back to a sense of sobriety only to get in my car to go hame promising myself not to buy more beer. Then there i would find myself in the liquor store again.
I had actually wanted to quit for awhile but needed to figure it all out for myself. I agree when people tell you you need to quit drinking it only pushes you in that direction further. Hell there where times I would actually convince myself that my drinking wasn't a problem. Now with my life the biggest mess it's ever been I binge drank a couple times the last week but have been clean and sober for 2 days. I had my 1st and only panic attack last night and it freaked me out. I had the shakes the vomiting, insomnia, and still have no appetite. I have earned from all of you here that the syndrome will go away with time. I only pray that it will. I don't know if I can deal with another panic attack again. But there is no doubts for me. I'm done with drinking. It has only hurt me and the ones I love. I know my fiancee will never come back. She left the state and cut off all contact. So if anyone out there reads this...yeah it's real simple just don't drink. It's not worth the pain it will cause you in the end and maybe my post can save a friendship, marriage realtionship before you take it to far and lose everything.
Thanx 4 reading
S
I had actually wanted to quit for awhile but needed to figure it all out for myself. I agree when people tell you you need to quit drinking it only pushes you in that direction further. Hell there where times I would actually convince myself that my drinking wasn't a problem. Now with my life the biggest mess it's ever been I binge drank a couple times the last week but have been clean and sober for 2 days. I had my 1st and only panic attack last night and it freaked me out. I had the shakes the vomiting, insomnia, and still have no appetite. I have earned from all of you here that the syndrome will go away with time. I only pray that it will. I don't know if I can deal with another panic attack again. But there is no doubts for me. I'm done with drinking. It has only hurt me and the ones I love. I know my fiancee will never come back. She left the state and cut off all contact. So if anyone out there reads this...yeah it's real simple just don't drink. It's not worth the pain it will cause you in the end and maybe my post can save a friendship, marriage realtionship before you take it to far and lose everything.
Thanx 4 reading
S
Hi boys and girls,
I'm "chameleon"
Well I'm sorry to say this but I promised to be honest with you, I'm the one who wrote on 1/14. Well that gift of a bottle of alcohol really was a bad thing, I'm fighting ever since. I got 11 beers again tonight, I'll stop again for sure, it's like my body can't take it anymore, I can't get up after 9 drinks, something inside me must be messed up! tomorrow will be rough, I know it, but I'll battle and I'll stay dry!
yeah!
I'm "chameleon"
Well I'm sorry to say this but I promised to be honest with you, I'm the one who wrote on 1/14. Well that gift of a bottle of alcohol really was a bad thing, I'm fighting ever since. I got 11 beers again tonight, I'll stop again for sure, it's like my body can't take it anymore, I can't get up after 9 drinks, something inside me must be messed up! tomorrow will be rough, I know it, but I'll battle and I'll stay dry!
yeah!
I have been sober for 25 days and feel wonderful, I will never drink again.
For those that are using a medication to withdraw or sleep, I offer this as the answer.
Eating small meals..vitamins, especially B1,Milk Thistle. The craving is greatly reduced by L-Glutamine 1000 mg (vitamin store).
As for a wonderful night's sleep take Valerian Root...two 450 mg capsules about 30 minutes before bed. You will relax and feel wonderful in the morning. Also at the vitamin store.
For those that are using a medication to withdraw or sleep, I offer this as the answer.
Eating small meals..vitamins, especially B1,Milk Thistle. The craving is greatly reduced by L-Glutamine 1000 mg (vitamin store).
As for a wonderful night's sleep take Valerian Root...two 450 mg capsules about 30 minutes before bed. You will relax and feel wonderful in the morning. Also at the vitamin store.
Hi
Im not sure if i am suffering from alcohol withdrawl symptoms but ill explain as good as i can.
Ive been feeling kinda ill for 2 months now but gradually feeling better, it all started with swollen glands in my neck and i had terrible tremors for a day which passed. This lasted approximately 1 week before my glands felt completely better and i was over the moon!
It came back just before xmas as a sore throat but as it was xmas i had a few days of drinking up until the new year and felt all glittery etc. Alcohol seemed to help it.
Have been for blood tests and they came back normal. Ive been ill up until today although now i have really sore ribs since drinking on Saturday night, it just suddenly came on when i was in my bed. Now i just feel miserable like i cant concentrate on things properly and don't have much pleasure in anything, i just want to be in my bed. Any help will be so appreciated, all i know is im through with drinking and want to get fit.
Im not sure if i am suffering from alcohol withdrawl symptoms but ill explain as good as i can.
Ive been feeling kinda ill for 2 months now but gradually feeling better, it all started with swollen glands in my neck and i had terrible tremors for a day which passed. This lasted approximately 1 week before my glands felt completely better and i was over the moon!
It came back just before xmas as a sore throat but as it was xmas i had a few days of drinking up until the new year and felt all glittery etc. Alcohol seemed to help it.
Have been for blood tests and they came back normal. Ive been ill up until today although now i have really sore ribs since drinking on Saturday night, it just suddenly came on when i was in my bed. Now i just feel miserable like i cant concentrate on things properly and don't have much pleasure in anything, i just want to be in my bed. Any help will be so appreciated, all i know is im through with drinking and want to get fit.
These posts are good motivation for me to read when I'm thinking about getting a drink. I feel like I can relate to all of your experiences, and it is good to be reminded of what will happen to me again if I start to drink again.
I've been drinking about 2 handles of vodka a week since summer. Normally I just wake up am still drunk and feel well rested cuz I drank myself out. This didn't cause me any problems with school, besides when I drank lightly and couldn't fall asleep so I skipped class.
Recently I've tried quitting cold turkey and failed. I used valerian, melatonin, B1, sodium, potassium, and calcium supplements. My withdrawal symptoms were still horrific. All day I would just sweat and shake and feel in a haze. I could feel my heart beating really fast and hard, and then at bedtime I would just lay there and hallucinate. Oh also I dry heaved constantly (I have had much practice at holding in puke for the purpose of getting drunk... all I ever do is dry heave).
After 4 days of this I called a detox clinic because I thought I might die, didn't go, and started drinking again heavily so I could sleep.
Now I'm on my second try, and this is the 3rd night withdrawing. I feel fine in the day, but I still sweat a lot. Still sleeping was very hard the first night, but the 2nd night I didn't use any sleep aids and the night was actually much better. I didn't sleep but atleast I didn't hallucinate. My resting heart rate has fallen from 140 to 73, so now I don't think I am going to die laying in bed anymore which at least makes it relaxing.
I think maybe sleep aids like valerian and antihistamines were actually contributing to my mental confusion and dehydration, instead of helping me fall asleep. So i suggest not using a sleep aid.
Well yea that's me! I have recently found some motivation, goals, and direction in life, and actually have responsibilities, so even though this has only been 3 days I know I had to stay clean (I'm going to have to figure out how to sleep or I'll start hallucinating from sleep deprivation though).
Good luck to you all! Keep sending stories about how bad withdrawal is so I am reminded that I don't want to have to go through it again.
-tex
I've been drinking about 2 handles of vodka a week since summer. Normally I just wake up am still drunk and feel well rested cuz I drank myself out. This didn't cause me any problems with school, besides when I drank lightly and couldn't fall asleep so I skipped class.
Recently I've tried quitting cold turkey and failed. I used valerian, melatonin, B1, sodium, potassium, and calcium supplements. My withdrawal symptoms were still horrific. All day I would just sweat and shake and feel in a haze. I could feel my heart beating really fast and hard, and then at bedtime I would just lay there and hallucinate. Oh also I dry heaved constantly (I have had much practice at holding in puke for the purpose of getting drunk... all I ever do is dry heave).
After 4 days of this I called a detox clinic because I thought I might die, didn't go, and started drinking again heavily so I could sleep.
Now I'm on my second try, and this is the 3rd night withdrawing. I feel fine in the day, but I still sweat a lot. Still sleeping was very hard the first night, but the 2nd night I didn't use any sleep aids and the night was actually much better. I didn't sleep but atleast I didn't hallucinate. My resting heart rate has fallen from 140 to 73, so now I don't think I am going to die laying in bed anymore which at least makes it relaxing.
I think maybe sleep aids like valerian and antihistamines were actually contributing to my mental confusion and dehydration, instead of helping me fall asleep. So i suggest not using a sleep aid.
Well yea that's me! I have recently found some motivation, goals, and direction in life, and actually have responsibilities, so even though this has only been 3 days I know I had to stay clean (I'm going to have to figure out how to sleep or I'll start hallucinating from sleep deprivation though).
Good luck to you all! Keep sending stories about how bad withdrawal is so I am reminded that I don't want to have to go through it again.
-tex
im a 24 yr old and I've been drinking about 6-9 beers every nite for about 2 years now.. only taking very short breaks in between (1-2 days at most). I came down with a nasty cold 3 days ago and i haven't been able to drink because of it. I haven't had any terribly awful withdrawal symptoms yet other than the waking up every 2 hours/insomnia/nightmares and slight anxiety in the mornings but i keep looking online about DTs and im worried that since im going on day 4 i might get them. If your not completely outta whack the 1st few days can it just come out of nowhere or is it just one of those things that progressively gets worse the 1st few days till it gets there? Anyway im glad i found this forum where i relate to alot of you guys and i appreciate you all for putting up your stories/support. I just quit smoking on xmas eve and haven't picked it up since and that withdrawal was a nightmare. Hopefully things just get better from here with the alcohol withdrawal and i dont run into any trouble. im sick of feeling like i need to drink all the time to prevent myself from feeling anxious.
The anxiety is a result of withdraw and the cold. The cold is stressing your body and the withdraw is causing the synapse to still fire but I read that symptoms will get worse befor better but they will paek. Your not going to get DT's from 6-9 beers a night and you would have already had them. Drink fluids, eat well and its not good to drink 6-9 beers a night. If you cant do 1-2 dont do any stay on the detox your on its better for you in the long run
ive been feeling like c**p i have stopped drinking for a month now i started drinking heavily when i was 19 so ive been doing it untill now feb 3 so its a month i do have bad dreams and wake up sweating like a muther i have headaches my stomach twitches and my whole body twitches here and there small ones. can anyone reply back about muscle twitching if you have them are those considered tremors. i also feel depressed and feel so out of it and anxiety sets in but i do feel better from time to time not all much better i drink alot of water and they say to take b1-thiamine but how much i really do think about drinking but i wont because its hell to pay with your body and yes some of us wont get better and develope problemswith our body which i hope it doesnt so stop now
I see myself in all of the writings. I've been drinking regular for about 8 years (since out of college). Over the last 2 years more so (about 10 to 21 beers a night depending on what day) I dont drink before work, only after. Playing online poker is an excuse for me too drink. I normally win more money if i'm drinking...my play gets better after ive had a few (6), and it does??
I've had some of the sypmptoms that all have mentioned when trying to quit. Today at work was probablly the worst than ever before. Plus, what really has lead to my excess drinking (over the past 2 years) has been a very stressfull job with lots of hours (I quit there and found one I love)...worst of all a loss of my 21 year old nephew to a motorcycle accident who I was really close....finally loss of a fiancee which was not alcohol related, she just financially drained me for everything I had, and now rebuilding. Its just been a stressfull 2 years and have used alcohol to forget...I have to get back on track and use my successes.
But I do think its time to get active again and enjoy my life. I am drinking now, but hope tomorrow is day 1!
Tell me, do you think to drink socially ever again is ever a possiblillity for anyone...or do you just have to totally give it up? I once knew a proclaimed alcoholic who said they just knew when to cut themselves off??? I guess it depends on the individual???
Have a good tomorrow everyone
I've had some of the sypmptoms that all have mentioned when trying to quit. Today at work was probablly the worst than ever before. Plus, what really has lead to my excess drinking (over the past 2 years) has been a very stressfull job with lots of hours (I quit there and found one I love)...worst of all a loss of my 21 year old nephew to a motorcycle accident who I was really close....finally loss of a fiancee which was not alcohol related, she just financially drained me for everything I had, and now rebuilding. Its just been a stressfull 2 years and have used alcohol to forget...I have to get back on track and use my successes.
But I do think its time to get active again and enjoy my life. I am drinking now, but hope tomorrow is day 1!
Tell me, do you think to drink socially ever again is ever a possiblillity for anyone...or do you just have to totally give it up? I once knew a proclaimed alcoholic who said they just knew when to cut themselves off??? I guess it depends on the individual???
Have a good tomorrow everyone
It's all psychological and it depends on the environment. If the person is engrossed in any kind of hectic work then he will not have symptoms but if he is taking rest then surely it will affect. I am telling this from my own experience. Doctors told me that my liver will be damaged in 6-12 months if I didn’t quit drinking. But I still drank. I was able to quit only when I migrated to a new place and started working hard.
It depends on how much someone was drinking. If he was taking in more than 10 r 12 drnks a day, he'll be damn sick. I was drinking more than 1/2 a bottle of vodka each day. The first day sober I just felt achy and shaky. the second & third days were the worst -- throwing up, volet shakes, horrible pains. I'm on my fifth day & I'm stll pretty sick, but at least I can get out of bed. f your husband starts to really shake, get him some librium from your MD --it really helps. I wish you all the luck n the world. Also get him some B vitamins, they help too.1
I managed to sleep after about 36 hours of sobriety. Slept for maybe an hour or so, with a terrible nightmare. Otherwise I'll just lay down and my thoughts will wonder to the epitome of scary/strange, to say the least. It's like my mind has a mind of its own. I've been drinking rather heavily for.. goin' on two years now, I'd say. Started off at like 5-6 beers most nights of the week. When I wasn't drinking I'd find a way to get high. About four months ago a few bad things happened and I started drinking pretty heavily.. 9-12 beers a night, then went on to the whiskey. I'd say for the past 3 or 4 months I've been drinking every single night until passing out and falling asleep, basically. Until I just couldn't stay awake anymore. Recently I had a wake-up call (that being, waking up covered in my own vomit on my friend's couch with only a vague idea of how I got there). Then a few hours later I walked into work to pick up my paycheck and was pulled aside by my boss and was told that people have been smelling alcohol on my breath. This was all yesterday morning, when I ultimately decided that I had to quit. It's been around 42 hours since my last drink, and I've slept a total of an hour since. Crazy anxiety, paranoia, depression ... I'm anxious about depression, I'm depressed about anxiety, I'm going insane. I'm so tired yet wired as all hell. I have to work in the morning, and I'll have to walk in being stared it, evaluated on whether or not I'm sober.. I don't want to even try to sleep because when I lay down, that's when all the anxiety accumulates. At times I'm sweating yet shivering.
But I have to quit. I cannot keep this up. I've been trading off between different ways of substance abuse for years now. All in all I really haven't been sober for more than a month in several years. I'm only 21. I'm doing this cold turkey and alone, while still working and trying to function. And meanwhile hiding the withdrawals from everyone around me, out of necessity. If people at work notice something funny about me, they'll either assume I'm drunk and fire me, or notice I'm withdrawing which is basically proof that I really was drunk on those shifts, and fire me. I need my job. I've got work in about 10 hours and just can't get rest. After another sleepless night it's gonna be so much more difficult.
But I have to quit. I cannot keep this up. I've been trading off between different ways of substance abuse for years now. All in all I really haven't been sober for more than a month in several years. I'm only 21. I'm doing this cold turkey and alone, while still working and trying to function. And meanwhile hiding the withdrawals from everyone around me, out of necessity. If people at work notice something funny about me, they'll either assume I'm drunk and fire me, or notice I'm withdrawing which is basically proof that I really was drunk on those shifts, and fire me. I need my job. I've got work in about 10 hours and just can't get rest. After another sleepless night it's gonna be so much more difficult.
Maybe I am just an odd ball. I have been drinking at least a 12 pack of beer per day for the last 23 years. I decided to stop last Sunday. The amount of $$ I spend on alcohol was enough to convince me, and yes there were family concerns. I am single but I do have 3 kids that I would like to see for quite some time. The only issue I have had with quitting is changing my habits. I usually work late and I would get off work and go hit the bar for 3 hours or so before it closed. I have obviously stopped doing this and the hardest part is figuring out what the heck to do with the free time I have. I am currently trying hard to catch my 18 year old son's score on XBOX 360(of which I have gained 40% in one week). and I find that reading and writing takes up a lot of my free time this past week so I can remain occupied without doing booze. Its all mental for me it seems, as far as pysical symptoms, I have noticed a larger appetite, and I am a tad sleepier, but nothing like I have read here. I am just lucky and believe me, I loved to drink, I just finaly hit the 'full' limit. I have one week down and 2000+ to go...
I'm on the 8th day of being sober after 20+ years of drinking. I gave in to drink a an 'easy' way out of facing up to school pressures and family relationship issues after losing my mother at 17. Being barred from local bars and shunned by my friends didn't drive the message home, and anyway, there were plenty of drinking 'friends' who didn't make any demands of me, itellectually or emotionally. What a great hiding place. What a waste of 20 years.
I've been really surprised by how mild my physical withdrawal symptoms have been - mainly nausea, headaches and tiredness, all of which have just about subsided. I've taken B1 and milk thistle each day, and eaten loads of salads - even if I haven't felt like eating some days. I can see the bloated look leaving my face and belly now and am starting to feel more like doing things - eg going for walks, reading.
Emotionally, I'm trying not to beat myself up over not doing this sooner, because it's been far easier than I expected. However I know I can NOT take a single drink, as others have found. Allen Carr 'Easy Way to Control Alcohol' has been a great help with this, as it has conditioned me not to even want to poison myself again. I must say, AA wasn't my thing at all, so it really is a matter of finding what works for you.
Admitting to myself that I had a problem was actually the biggest problem. You really have to want this for it to work - not because it is hard (says she with all her 7 days of experience) , but because it will change your life - and change can be scary.
I've been really surprised by how mild my physical withdrawal symptoms have been - mainly nausea, headaches and tiredness, all of which have just about subsided. I've taken B1 and milk thistle each day, and eaten loads of salads - even if I haven't felt like eating some days. I can see the bloated look leaving my face and belly now and am starting to feel more like doing things - eg going for walks, reading.
Emotionally, I'm trying not to beat myself up over not doing this sooner, because it's been far easier than I expected. However I know I can NOT take a single drink, as others have found. Allen Carr 'Easy Way to Control Alcohol' has been a great help with this, as it has conditioned me not to even want to poison myself again. I must say, AA wasn't my thing at all, so it really is a matter of finding what works for you.
Admitting to myself that I had a problem was actually the biggest problem. You really have to want this for it to work - not because it is hard (says she with all her 7 days of experience) , but because it will change your life - and change can be scary.
The best advice I can give is to see a doctor about alcohol withdrawal symptoms. They should be able to prescribe something that will help. You don't have to go through all the pain of withdrawal like it's 1930. I've heard librium used to be in use - not sure what they use these days. I'm a recovering addict myself, and stuff like suboxone is a great help (short term - do not use that stuff for more than a week or the withdrawals are long, drawn out, although "mild", whatever that means). Hope this helps.