how long do alcohol withdrawal symptoms last?

Same problem here. It really sucks when those around you don't see the cry for help and only manage to aggravate the problem further. I have always kept my drinking under control as in, I don't get drunk, but I can/could drink up to 20 beers in a day easily. Apparently I am funner when I am drinking. I was about a 12 pack a day person with a day here and a day there where I didn't drink. Today is day 5 and the only problem I have now is migraines. It's not hard quitting but it's already placing a wedge between me and my wife. She does not want to quit but has the same problem I do. She has admitted it in the past but her mother is an enabler and doesn't see anything wrong with it. Either way, glad I found this thread. Hopefully the migraines will subside and I can get to feeling better....the reason I did this in the first place. That and I don't want to die of cirrhosis

Most people want others to drink with them..it is extremely difficult when it is your spouse that you drink with..a Scripture used in Christian Recovery is..How terrible it will be for you who make your neighbors drunk! You force your cup on them so that you can gloat over their nakedness and shame. Habakkuk 2:15 NLT..however we are responsible for our choices and if you continue on and should get ill you will endure the suffering and so will your wife and her mother and all of your loved ones because when one member of the family suffers we all do. Lovingly tell your wife that you are staying sober and that you need her love and support..and remember The Lord Jesus will give grace to those who will be humble.

Hello people.

Just stumbled across this forum and so far the replies are mature, thank God!!! Some forums have nothing but the most childish responses.

I also am a heavy drinker and have attempted to quit but have come to no resolve, I often find myself doing shots at 2 in the morning, hoping to find a way to sleep. But I learn so stuff I though may help us all.

1) Benzodiazepines and alcohol affect the same part of the brain and are the only to chemicals that can result in seizures when coming off of them cold turkey. Soooooooooooo, please if your a heavy drinker (like downing a half a huge bottle within four hours, like me) dont cold turkey, the sysptoms are 100% more noticabale and very, very, dangerous!!! But the problem Im having is the tremors, Jesus they're not fun at all. So I attempted to control and limit my shots through the day . . . wow, fail on my part! The beginning starts out okay, then once a buzz starts before I know it, Ive down a half of bottle again. If it was not for the tremors I think I could cope with rest. I quit IV'ing oxycotins and that was hell!!! But once these withdraws start, they are worse in my opinion. For me it takes about 2 glass to ease the tremors as of now, but I'm think about letting my wife control the bottle and the amount, trying to decrease the amount of alcohol intake by atleast 5% by volume every 1-2 days, and perhaps sypmtoms with be a little less noticable.

2)The sleep issue is major guys, we've got to rest, and not just snooze but sleep, they're are 5 stages of sleep, I urge you guys to read them. With me I can fall asleep and crash out for an hour and my eyes just pop open, SUCKS! In 72 hrs rested about 3 - 4 hrs, but never hit true sleeping if that makes sense. After trying serveral sleep aids and getting no results I did alittle researching with the aid of my wife. Most sleeping aids have diphehydramine in them, which has similiar properties as antihistamines. This is important to know because some people respond completely the opposite, and instead of sleeping it increases the feeling of anxiety, which does not help us find sleep :) So I looked into natural / herbal pills to aid in sleep. Melatonin is what our brain use to control sleep patterns, but in my case when I took them it increased the restless leg syndrome (RTS) which not only drives me crazy, but my wife hates :) So she found something called Valerian Root, which promotes rest and relaxation. Stuff works . . . But for me it takes a few of them though the day and one before bed. It does not stop the sweating, but sweating is accually a good thing, means the toxins (alcohol) are being released from the body. Also 2 side not on valerian root, SMELLS AWEFUL, I mean TERRIBLE!!! But, I think it increases ones sex drive by 100% You'll want to have sex every 5 mins :) And yes Im 32 and I guy so I hit pubety many years ago, and did'nt leave the room for a year, stole all the JCpenny magazines :) So if your having problems sleeping and dont want the aid of strong medications, give it a try, working for me, cant promise for you, but worth a shot I suppose.

 

3)For me, it has help to realize I dnt just have myself to fight this battle, my wife and daughter have been an amazing support team, but it requires my honesty. They're has been times she requested me to do a shot, causes I was acting like an ass :) Or times I just confess that I need a shot, not want, BUT NEED to help lower the tremors which increased anxiety attackes which I hate!

 Sorry for the long post, this is the first support I found that some really good post, so I thought I would share my thoughts in this battle. Even though I done some bad things through the binges, and perhaps you as-well, guys, we still have control, its a simple matter of knowledge mixed with will power. My we find freedom, and actually remind the last few months of lives, :) Thanks again, and good luck!

  

There is no such thing as a failure, but there is help for what you are experiencing. You cannot, and I repeat, cannot beat this thing on your own.

I have been a terrible alcoholic binge drinker for years. I have detoxd just about everywhere. The best thing to do is go to a doctor and get put on Ativan. Works so well and pair that with Gatorade for three days and you should be a new person!!

So I see that you posted this in January. Did you end up staying sober? I'm on my 16th day and am miserable myself. I went through half a gallon of vodka usually every two days. I quit cold turkey due to a kidney infection that slapped my butt in bed for 3 days. I am constantly feeling like I'm hungover is the only way to describe it. Dizzy and clouded.. The anxiety is to the roof! When I can't take it I'll pop a Lorazepam.. They seem to help alittle. My mind won't shut down. It's like a drank a cup of coffee but am unable to move. I guess I'm writing this to see if it got better for you and how long after? Your feedback would be sincerely appreciated :)

Hsfbfan, I have been an alcoholic for many years and we all get the same symptoms. Have you ever considered going to AA? I have quit cold turkey, hot turkey, rancid turkey and I always went back no matter how bad it got. The reason is because I'm an alcoholic and abstaining from it doesn't make it go away. Going to AA and going through the 12 steps is the only way I have found to stay sober. I view alcohol as my mistress in a real bad relationship. I can't stand her but I can't stand to be apart from her. Fatal attraction perhaps. As many times I tried quitting on my own I ALWAYS went back drinking.


AA isn't a cult or a religion, it's people with the same disease as you and I have. It's genuine people helping each other to stay sober and it works. I just thought I would pass this along to you because you sound desperate like I was.

I'm going through this right now. I decided to quit today, and I'm nervous as hell. I've managed to get through three days before, but then I break again. I've gotten to the point where I have to drink half a case of beer before I get a buzz, and it's canadian beer (5% or more).
Everyone I know drinks, my neighbors drink, my family drinks... I don't think I can hang around people who drink after I quit.
I'm also ashamed of people finding out I have a problem, and thinking i'm worthless. I don't want to be in that situation.

I have been a heavy drinker for four year now. I decided to get sober so I quit cold turkey three nights ago. I too am so ashamed. I think that only my close family members know I have a problem. I am a full time accounting student and an active member at my church. I think I would just die if anyone there found out. I am having symptoms of withdraw, mostly fatigue and headache. I have a feeling that I have not seen the worst of these symptoms. I found that praying is the only thing keeping me strong... I tried to quit sometime before without Him... It was impossible

THERE ARE WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN RECOVERY PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT ARE CONFIDENTIAL. CELEBRATE RECOVERY AND OVERCOMERS ARE ONES THAT I AM AWARE OF.YOU WON'T BE JUDGED. IF YOU AREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR CHURCH FAMILY KNOWING FIND ONE IN A DIFFERENT CHURCH. I PRAY THAT YOU WILL LEAN ON JESUS AND THE FAMILY OF GOD. I SAY THERE IS NO REAL FREEDOM WITHOUT HIM. IN OUR WEAKNESS HE IS MADE STRONG... MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND ALL WHO ARE TRYING TO STAY CLEAN AND SOBER.

Day 2 here. I have a good head ache now, and I'm not digesting food very well.
I'm completely ignoring my neighbors now. I know it's being interpreted as rude, but I can't see any alternative. My co-worker called in this week to say he's going to a rehab center. I don't want anyone to know about me at work, because I can already see what's happenin to him...he's going to come back to find his job filled.
I'm noticing I'm having trouble concentrating and I'm short with the kids... that won't do.

Some places of employment will actually keep your position for you while you get treatment. It might be worth checking on if you think you need to get treatment. I hope it all works out for you and your family.

I've seen people talk about downing a bottle or half bottle of vodka per day, but there are different sized bottles. Is a "bottle" the little 13oz one, the wine bottle sized one or the "Big Gulp" Bottle of 58 oz. Just trying to get a handle on how much people are doing. Thanks

Mom died two years ago. She'd been clean for 7 years, but the damage to her body from drinking and smoking were staggering. I always avoided hard liquor because of her. She would drink a 40 oz. bottle of Gin everyday.
I'm smarter, because I stuck to beer and didn't mix.... The fact that I was drinking two 24 cases over a weekend surely wasn't as bad as drinking a 40 oz. of hard liquor...right? no.

I cheated over the weekend... I had three beers at a friends house. At first I refused, and but they were so persistant. I finally used stopped after three and switched to pop. Luckily, everyone else was drinking other things, and I wasn't tempted anymore. I didn't have anything else the rest of the weekend.
I'm sorry I was weak.